Softball: Lemont’s Sage Mardjetko named Illinois’ Gatorade Player of the Year

Lemont senior pitcher Sage Mardjetko, who led her program to its second consecutive Class 3A state championship June 10, has been named Illinois’ Gatorade Player of the Year for the second straight year, it was announced in a news release.

Mardjetko capped her career in spectacular fashion June 10, throwing a no-hitter with a Class 3A state finals record 24 strikeouts in a 1-0, 12-inning win over Antioch. Mardjetko did not allow an earned run in 144 1/3 innings this season, posting a 23-0 record with 340 strikeouts. The South Carolina recruit recorded her 900th career strikeout in the June 9 semifinal win over Benet and led Lemont to three state tournaments, a second-place finish in 2021 and titles in 2022 and 2023.

Mardjetko led Suburban Life area softball players named All-State by the Illinois Coaches Association. Mardjetko and Lemont teammate Frankie Rita were named Class 3A First Team. Glenbard South’s Hannah Rafferty-Flatter and Lemont’s Avaree Taylor were named Class 3A Second Team. Lemont’s Raegan Duncan, Fenwick’s Madelyn Entler, Kailey Janda and Talia Lorenzo, Benet’s Angela Horejs and Nina Pesare and Nazareth’s Annabella Rychetsky were named Class 3A Third Team.

Downers Grove South’s Ella Cushing was named Class 4A First Team All-State. Class 4A Second Team selections included Glenbard West’s Ellie Adduci, York’s Lillianah Burda, Willowbrook’s Kayleigh Dennison, Downers Grove North’s Ashlynn Durkin and Ava Gusel, Downers Grove South’s Ella Dvoracek and Wheaton North’s Erin Metz. Class 4A Third Team selections included Downers Grove South’s Grace Taylor, Glenbard West’s May Adduci, Wheaton Warrenville South’s Katie Jensen, Maddie Pool and Parker Leonard, Downers Grove North’s Sam Lehnherr and Maya Rodriguez and York’s Madison Peck.

In Class 2A, IC Catholic Prep’s Analisa Raffaelli and Montini’s Brooke Kuczynski were named First Team. Class 2A Second Team selections included Montini’s Taylor Utrata and IC Catholic’s Angelina Dwyer. Class 2A Third Team selections included IC Catholic’s Riley Venn and Montini’s Katherine Filkowski and Erin Grimsely.