Sandburg Makes No. 1 Part of its Lex-i-con

1. Sandburg (40-2 last year): The old adage about the rich getting richer applies here. The Eagles won the Class 4A state championship and return 10 players, including Kansas recruit Lexi Bryant. The senior catcher hit .500 with 15 homers. Laura Olson (Indiana) compiled an 18-0 record with a 1.00 ERA. And senior third baseman Jessica Perkins (Illinois) hit near the .375 mark. Opener: Saturday at Moline.

2. Andrew (32-5): The T-Bolts live in the world of a Sisterhood. Wisconsin recruit Katie Christner returns after hitting .434 with two homers, 12 doubles and 35 RBIs. She is a fixture at shortstop. Sister Kelly Christner covers plenty of ground in the outfield. And defense is her second-best attribute. She hit .559 with three homers, 15 doubles, 11 triples and 50 RBIs. She also had a 24-game hitting streak. Opener: March 25 vs. Thornton Fractional South.

3. Providence (28-8): The “P” in Providence might as well stand for “pitching” and that’s the name of the game. The Celtics return sophomore Amanda Wilson and junior Allie Strick to head their pitching staff. Wilson won 20 games as a freshman and had a 1.07 ERA. Strick is one of Providence’s three returning all-conference picks. She’ll spend a majority of her time in right field. Senior third baseman Kelly Engwall had a team-high 28 RBIs. Opener: March 22 at Plainfield South.

4. Lincoln-Way East (23-9): Oh, yes, the Butler did it. Senior catcher Megan Butler smacked nine home runs and drove in 36 runs. She returns for her third season as a starter for the Griffins at the catcher position. Three other all-conference selections are back in the fold, too, including speedster Jillian Reed. She plays center field and wreaks havoc on the basepaths. Opener: Friday vs. Oak Lawn.

5. Marian Catholic (23-11): Seven is the lucky number for the Spartans. That’s how many starters return, giving rise to the notion this could be the year for Marian in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Senior first baseman Rachel Glenn hit .426. Becca Gray was 13-5 with a 1.44 ERA. And St. Louis transfer Shawana Sadler hit .477 with two home runs and 27 RBIs. She will play second base. Opener: Thursday vs. Bradley-Bourbonnais.

Next best (in alphabetical order): Chicago Christian, Lincoln-Way North, Oak Forest, Stagg, Tinley Park.

(Covering the following Patch communities: Chicago Heights, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Homewood-Flossmoor, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos, Tinley Park and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).