Chesterton softball ready to power up at the plate this season, starting with Tuesday opener at Hobart

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

The quickest path to softball success lies in having a power pitcher who piles up the strikeouts and keeps the pressure off the defense.
It remains to be seen whether Chesterton will have that this season, but all signs point to the Trojans having power at the plate.
Sophomore third baseman Jillienne Pittman leads the way in that department and has plenty of company with juniors Lila Miller, a shortstop, and Hannah Florian, a pitcher/corner infielder, and freshman Payton Cherep, a pitcher first baseman, also can clear fences.
Miller, still sidelined by the foot injury she suffered sliding, won’t be ready for Tuesday’s season-opener, but is on track to return soon, according to first-year head coach Erin Cochran.
“I’m going into this season with high hopes for these girls,” Cochran said. “They’ve been working hard in the offseason, coming to everything, working on their speed, working on their endurance, so hopefully it pays off. I think we’re going to hit really well this year.”
Center fielder Aubrey Ciupak was the lone senior on last year’s team that went 9-15 overall and 8-6 and tied for fourth place in the DAC.
The added year of maturity for everyone else on the roster makes it reasonable to expect fewer mental mistakes on the basepaths and in the field compared to last season.
Sophomore catcher Olivia Milton, who handles herself well behind the plate and at the plate, will be counted onto supply some of the leadership void created by Ciupak’s departure.
“We’re going to miss Aubrey Ciupak, but I think we’ll do really well,” Milton said. “The team chemistry is really good. We’re all getting along, no drama.”
Florian will get the ball for the start in the season opener, and she is convinced the team behind her will be the best in this, her third season at Chesterton.
“We have the most experienced players, compared to my freshman year and sophomore year when we were still trying to develop everything,” Florian said. “But now it seems like we have the higher-level players that we needed.”
Pittman chimed in: “Definitely better. I feel like we work together better.”
Cochran returns to the coaching staff after a two-year hiatus from serving as an assistant to departed coach Dan Lynch, shared her thoughts on the lineup the Trojans’ lineup possibilities.
In addition to the battery of Florian and Milton, Cherep will be at first base, either sophomore Ava Vagner or senior Claire Demeter at second base, either Vagner or junior Lexi Smith at shortstop, Pittman at third, sophomore Kaydence Ford in left, senior Alexia Franco in center, and either sophomore Maddie Nichols, Rilee Henry or Demeter.
Cochran said that she expects to use four pitchers: Florian, Cherep, Vagner and Ford.
The coach is bullish on Cherep’s pitching potential, but for now, the freshman said it’s not her greatest strength.
“I’m a power hitter,” Cherep said. “I like hitting.”
She’s good at it, and so are plenty of her teammates.
2025 CHS VARSITY SOFTBALL ROSTER
No. Name Grade
1 Morgan Darnell 12
2 Maddie Nichols 10
5 Claire Demeter 12
6 Rilee Henry 12
7 Lexi Smith 11
9 Jillienne Pittman 10
10 Alexia Franco 12
11 Olivia Milton 10
12 Kaydence Ford 10
13 Ava Vagner 10
14 Lila Miller 11
17 Aubree Bergner 12
19 Payton Cherep 9
20 Hannah Florian 11

2025 CHS JV SOFTBALL ROSTER
2 Aubrie Foster 9
3 Lily Cibak 11
4 Kaylynn Darnell 10
6 Annebell Haas 10
8 Claire Swiste 10
11 Emilia Franco 9
12 Savannah Dyer 9
13 Ava Bozak 10
15 Millie Demeter 10
16 Kylee Fieffer 10
18 Alana Smith 10
21 Elizaeth Dodds 10

2025 CHS SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
Date/time Opponent
April 1, 4:30 p.m. @Hobart
April 3, 5 p.m. GRIFFITH
Arpil 4, 5 p.m. @Hanover Central
April 5, 5 p.m. MISHAWAKA (DH)
April 8, 4:30 p.m. @Michigan City
April 9, 4:30 p.m. LAPORTE
April 15, 4:30 p.m. @Lake Central
April 16, 4:30 p.m. CROWN POINT
April 19, 10 a.m. @Illiana Christian
April 21, 4:30 p.m. PORTAGE
April 22, 4:30 p.m. @Valparaiso
April 23, 4:30 p.m. MERRILLVILLE (senior night)
April 26, 10 a.m. @New Prairie (Ziolowski Field)
April 29, 4:30 p.m. MICHIGAN CITY
April 30, 4:30 p.m. @LaPorte
May 5, 4:30 p.m. HEBRON
May 6, 4:30 p.m. LAKE CENTRAL
May 7, 4:30 p.m. @Crown Point
May 13, 4:30 p.m. @Portage
May 14, 4:30 p.m. VALPARAISO
MAY 16, 7 p.m. @Highland
May 19, 5 p.m. @Munster
May 20, 4:30 p.m. @Merrillville
May 22, 5 p.m. @Lowell
May 27-30, TBA SECTIONAL @Home