CHAMPAIGN – On the surface, there's little similarity between the softball teams that played one another Thursday at Carrie Busey School.

Monticello's Sages have an 8-1 season record after dispatching winless Champaign Central 12-2.

Both programs, however, are in a state of flux and transition.

Monticello entered the season needing to replace an All-Area battery which graduated: pitcher Jenna Harshbarger and catcher Ali Moss.

Central started the year with its eighth head coach in nine years and the desire to snap a 14-year streak of losing seasons.

Thus far, the building is going quicker at Monticello, which has no seniors on its team.

Sophomore Sarah Foran – who hit a three-run homer against Central – has taken over behind the plate.

"She's a raw talent, and we're working a lot with her," Monticello coach Courtney Hoffman said. "Each game, she is getting better and better, We still have two more years with her."

After driving in four runs against Central, Foran is the team RBI leader.

Monticello is showing its pitching depth. Karli Harshbarger (5-1) picked up where her sister left off before learning Wednesday that she'll be sidelined at least two weeks with a knee injury.

Sophomore Jaimey Watrous has thrown back-to-back complete games, striking out eight while fashioning a five-hitter (two by Claire Feely) against Central (0-5).

"She showed she can be a leader, even as a sophomore," Hoffman said.

Foran (3 for 4) led the Sages' 12-hit attack against Central. Teammates with multiple hits were Kristyn Barrett, Kaitlyn Barrett and Sammi Thompson, who is hitting over .500.

Foran's home run was memorable. "My first (ever) over the fence," she said. "I was running as hard as I could. I'm not used to hitting them."

Central coach Brett Roberts is making strides in getting the Maroons to be taken seriously even though just one umpire showed up Thursday.

A teacher at the school who "recruited the halls," Roberts' efforts have paid off with a squad nearly twice as large as what participated in 2009. The roster has swelled from 18 to 35, with more than two dozen freshmen and sophomores. The junior varsity team has been reinstated.

"We have to work hard and build from the bottom up," Roberts said. "There hasn't been a lot of consistency, and we're trying to change that.

"A lot of these girls haven't participated in fastpitch softball. We're teaching fundamentals in everything, hitting, throwing and base running."

He has a standout example in senior catcher Monica Rondon, the reigning Area Player of the Year.

"She is the clear leader, and she has fun while she's doing it," Roberts said. "She's a coach on the field, teaching the young people what to do."

Rondon is keeping an exemplary attitude. At one point Thursday, after Foran hit a foul ball, Rondon picked up her bat and waited to hand it to Foran before retrieving her helmet.