Chardonnay Harris, whose masterful pitching led Oak Park-River Forest High School to back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017, is returning to the Windmills as our lead pitching instructor. 

Chardonnay, 24, is a graduate of the University of Louisville with a degree in communications. She pitched for Auburn and Louisville, two Division I schools with premier softball programs, in her distinguished college career. 

Her proudest college moment came as a sophomore in 2019 when she struck out 17 batters in 10 innings against Florida, breaking the Auburn school record for most strikeouts in a Southeastern Conference (SEC) game. She appeared in 26 games that year, starting 17 of them. She led the Tigers with 121 strikeouts and just 30 walks, tying Auburn’s record for fewest bases on balls in a season for a pitcher who hurled more than 100 innings.

Chardonnay, who also answers to four nicknames — Char, Chardy, ChardyParty123, and C — says she is thrilled to be returning to her home community and stepping back into the WIF for lessons with our players. 

“I am very grateful to look back on my career, and it all began with the Windmills," Chardonnay says. "The organization gave me the flexibility to play other sports and build a foundation around my friendships, hard work, long days and my character. That holds a lot of weight in my life to this day.”

Besides the Windmills, Chardonnay is coaching at Trinity High School and her alma mater of OPRF. She's also serving as a special assistant coach for several of our teams. Her coaching goal is to offer both personal counsel and professional instruction to help girls survive and thrive on the field. 

“It’s been a great experience to exceed at a high level and take what I learned about myself in between the lines to be successful outside of them. Being a part of something bigger than yourself with a community that has the same goals — it creates the best feeling,” she says. “I am really fortunate. But I understand that not everyone has access to the right coaching, or has parents who can offer just the right words to motivate a player to help her work hard to achieve her softball goals.

“So it’s important to remember that no matter where you are in the mix, it’s OK — we all have our own journey."

The spring uniform shop is currently CLOSED. All items should deliver by late February.

Our 10U squad is seeking a couple of additional players to add to its roster. If you are interested in a tryout, contact Coach Ryan McCarthy at RyanPMcCarthy46@yahoo.com.

All Windmills players/parents:

Please click on the below link to formally register your player for the 2022-23 season.

Most of our coaches for the 2022-23 season have filled their rosters, although a few are still adding players. If you did not attend our tryout and are seeking a private tryout, please contact a coach at your age level.

Our coaches this coming year are as follows:

8U/Pinwheels Program: Katie Brennan (keightbrennan@gmail.com)

9U: Brian Alvers (Brian_Alvers@hotmail.com)

10U: Ryan McCarthy (RyanPMcCarthy46@yahoo.com)

11U: Nick Sakellaris (NSakellaris@op97.org)

12U: Damian Cruz (damianc192@gmail.com)

13U/14U: Adam Young (AandDYoung@yahoo.com)

15U: Mike Solberg (msolberg99@aol.com)

15U: Elizabeth Kiefer (enkiefer@gmail.com)

16U: Laura Chambers (lchambers11@comcast.net)

18U: Emily Noel (EmilyNoel139@gmail.com)