DiPrima, Buffalo Grove deliver sweep of Maine West

Andrea DiPrima wasn't exactly thrilled with the way she pitched in a 12-2 five-inning victory over visiting Maine West on Tuesday.

"I need to hit my spots better," she said.

DiPrima sure hit the softball better than anyone in the nonconference twin bill.

The junior slugger went 6-for-7 with 6 RBI in two games and ended the second one with a towering 2-run homer over the right-center field fence in the bottom of the fifth.

"She killed us all day long," said Maine West coach Mike Murin. "We even walked her unintentionally once. She's a player and did us nice job against us both games.

"Buffalo Grove is very solid, and they are well-coached."

Laura Stock's team improved to 4-0 as junior Maria Dax (2-0) threw a 6-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks in the Bison's 9-4 win in the opener.

DiPrima also improved to 2-0 and she wasn't even expecting to be on the mound.

"Emily Begnel (junior first baseman) was going to be pitching but she can't right now because of an injury so we've had to use Andrea," Stock said.

"Apparently, Andrea didn't want to pitch anymore after that fifth inning," Stock added with a laugh.

DiPrima's walk-off homer ended the game by the 10-run rule. She also hit two over the fence last spring.

"It felt good off the bat," said DiPrima, who set a school record with 65 hits last spring. "Everyone contributed to these wins. Everyone got on base. And everyone backed me up on defense when I was pitching. They did a great job behind me."

In Game 2, DiPrima went 3-for-3 with 5 RBI.

In her first varsity start, Bison sophomore Kami Hutchings went 2-for-3 while classmate Jessie Lazzara had a double and sacrifice fly in her second career start.

Western Illinois recruit KC Dunne, playing shortstop, went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI.

Dunne also took a perfect strike from catcher Danni Shapiro to tag out a Maine West runner trying to steal second base in the fifth inning.

In Game 1, top hitters for the Bison were DiPrima (3-for-4, double, RBI, 1 run), Dunne (2-for-4, 1 run), Begnel (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double, sacrifice fly), sophomore Sara Penelle (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 doubles) and junior Danielle Browne (double).

Warriors senior Vanessa Bagneschi was 3-for-4 while sophomore teammate Katie Fitzgerald was 2-for-3 with a double for West (0-5) in the opener.

In Game 2, Angela Cruz (2-for-3), Katherine Kusner (1-for-2, double), Colleen Finnander (1-for-1, walk) and Nicole Mavraganis (1-for-2, double) led the way for West.

Warriors sophomore Alyssa Bojarski pitched every inning of the doubleheader.

"Alyssa did a fine job pitching," Murin said. "We are just not where we have to be defensively right now. We are making mistakes and the more we make, it gets harder and harder for Alyssa.

"Katherine Kusner hit well in Game 2 and Vanessa Bagneschi and Nicole Mavraganis hit well in Game 1. We're coming along offensively but we definitely need to put it together on defense."

One defensive highlight for BG in Game 2 was center fielder Hutchings' shoestring grab to take away a hit from Bojarski in the first inning.

"The kids have been doing a nice job moving around to different positions," Stock said. "Everyone is contributing."

Conant sweeps Maine East: Kailee Prasbrig got the Cougars (3-0) off and rolling in their doubleheader in Park Ridge.

The junior right-hander threw the first no-hitter of her career, striking out six and walking none in a 22-0 five-inning shutout over the host Blue Demons, who defeated VonSteuben 14-2 one day earlier in their season opener.

"My catcher (sophomore Kim Jacobson) framed all my pitches real well," Prasbrig said. "It was exciting. Most of my pitches were on."

"Kailee was hitting her spots," said Cougars coach CathyAnn Smith. "She did not walk a batter and had good control. And offensively, we did a good job.

"And Paige (Ward) pitched well in Game 2."

In the second game, Conant won 15-0 behind Ward's 6-hitter which included 4 strikeouts and no walks.

Ward also had a double in the contest.

The junior also had a big game at the plate in Game 1 as she collected 5 RBI with a 3-for-5 performance, including a 2-run double.

Other top hitters for the Cougars in Game 1 were Jacobson (4-for-5, 3 RBI), sophomore Briana Cavin 2-for-4, RBI), sophomore Allie Bauch 2-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI), junior Hilary O'Donnell (3-for-5, 2 RBI), senior Lauren Wozniak (3-for-4, RBI) and junior Sarah Pawlik (2-for-5).

A defensive highlight for the Cougars came in the second inning when freshman right fielder Miranda Cavin fielded a grounder and threw in time to first baseman Ward to beat the batter for the second out of the inning.