Fremd edges Carmel
After playing on the Turpin High School varsity softball team in Cinninnati last year as a freshman, Michelle Mazur admits she had some early-season nerves playing for her new Fremd team.
“I was nervous but I was so happy to be here.” she said. “Everyone has helped me so much and been so supportive. They made it easy for me to fit in.”
Mazur sure looked right at home Thursday when she led off the bottom of the eighth inning against visiting Carmel.
The sophomore right fielder drilled a double to the left center field gap, advanced to third on Caitlin Patenaude’s single to right and came home when Carmel made an infield error on catcher Kristine Herdegen’s ground ball.
Mazur’s run gave Fremd a 7-6 victory, spoiling Carmel’s clutch seventh-inning rally. The Corsairs had scored 5 runs to tie the game at 6-6.
“This team (Fremd) is really intense,” Mazur said. “I really like it.”
Fremd fans have liked it, too, as the Vikings are off to a 4-0 start.
Making her first start of the season, sophomore Ashlynne Schwantz picked up the win with 6 strikeouts.
The right-hander went the first 5 innings before Fremd coach Jim Weaver sent junior Rachel Doering (3-0) to the mound to start the sixth.
Weaver went back to Schwantz in the middle of the seventh and the sophomore got all three outs, thanks to a double play lineout to second baseman Megan Hubbard and a popout to shortstop Allie Gaeding.
“Carmel swings some good bats,” Weaver said. “They have a nice offense. We have to play better. It’s all about consistency.”
Erika Schoenfeld and Abby Andrejek started the seventh with base hits for Carmel followed by a walk to Abbey Monsalud.
Kelley Dodge then connected for a 2-run double. An infield error led to the Corsairs’ third run before Skyler Zak crushed a 2-run double to left center to tie the game.
“It’s nice to see that we came back,” said Carmel coach Jason Raymond, whose starting lineup featured four freshmen and three sophomores. “One of the positives we talked about is the confidence this would give us for later in the season. It shows we can come back.”
Freshman Nicole Bitter threw the first 5 innings for Carmel, and sophomore Schoenfeld went the last 2.
Gaeding, who was 3-for 4 with 2 stolen bases, 2 runs and an RBI, scored the Vikes’ first run in the first inning.
“Allie played lights out,” Weaver said of his shortstop, who also was perfect in the field.
Carmel (0-2) tied the game with a sacrifice fly by Amy Abel in the third before Fremd went ahead 3-1 in the bottom of the inning.
Brittany Ciura had an RBI single and scored when Megan Hubbard reached on an error for a 5-1 lead.
Fremd added 2 more in the fourth on back-to-back RBI singles by Gaeding and senior pinch hitter Haley Libert.
The Vikes went ahead 6-1 in the fifth when senior Megan Horn sat on a change-up and lined it to center.
“Megan is a real professional hitter up there,” Weaver said of his first baseman, who also played for Fremd’s girls basketball team.
Horn eventually came home on Mazur’s groundout to short.
Three innings later, Mazur played her big role to help the Vikes close out the win.
“I thought it was a great at-bat by Michelle,” Weaver said. “She made a nice adjustment and let the ball to come to her instead of jumping out at it.”
Conant 8, South Elgin 1: Junior Briana Cavin (5-0) threw a 6-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk for the host Cougars.
Top hitters for Conant (5-0) were Kim Jacobson (2-for-4, 2 doubles), Sarah Thompson (2-for-4) and Marisa Gray (3-for-3, double).
“I have been proud of the girls’ efforts to meet their goal every game,” said Conant coach CathyAnn Smith.
Barrington 9, Bradford, Wis. 2: Host Barrington avenged a 3-0 loss in 2010 to Bradford as senior Kiley Dolezal (5-0) earned the win with 4 strikeouts in 3 innings. Junior Emma Woods closed out the game for the Fillies (5-1), who defeated Bradford senior Ali Brems, last year’s Southeast Conference Player of the Year.
Top hitters for Barrington were Kelsey Kazmier (2-for-2, RBI), Loren Kryzsko (2-for-2, RBI), Kiersten Tinkoff (2-for-4, RBI), Jordan Wekony (2-for-3, RBI) and Ally McLaughlin (2-for-3, 2 runs).
Elk Grove 10, Lane Tech 0 (5 inn.): Junior ace Dani Goranson (2-1) fired a no-hitter with 9 strikeouts and no walks as host Elk Grove (2-1) received 3-run home runs to left-center field by senior Kristen Cetkovic and junior Megan Keegan. They were the first homers of the season for both.
Juniors Devan Parkison (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI) and Krista Soesbe (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) were other key hitters for Elk Grove.
Goranson allowed just one baserunner with a two-out walk in the first inning.
Hoffman Estates 6, Deerfield 5: Senior Emily Fett (3-for-3) belted 2 triples and a double and also walked as visiting Hoffman improved to 2-1 behind junior pitcher Elaine Lord (1-1), who struck out five and threw a 6-hitter.
Senior receiver Kelsey Pellus went 3-for-4 for the Hawks while classmate Taylor Mann had a triple.
Rolling Meadows 13, Libertyville 3: Sophomore Sam Anderson (2-for-3, 2 RBI, double) led the host Mustangs’ offense as classmate Sara Brunlieb (2-0) earned the win by tossing a 7-hitter with 4 strikeouts.
Grace Skorin also doubled for Meadows (2-1), which also had hits from Emily Skorin, Josie Suchecki, Abby Matayka and Ellie Morgan.
Leyden 11, Ridgewood 0 (5 innings): Morgan Maize (3-0) threw a 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts and no walks for visiting Leyden (3-0).
Bri Michels (3-for-3, double, 3 RBI), Moira Quinlan (2-for-2, double, 2 RBI), Dana Sullivan (1-for-2, double, 2 RBI, 3 runs) and Maize (1-for-4, triple, 3 RBI) paced the Eagles’ offense.
Dundee-Crown 6, Wheeling 2: Sara Kern had a double and single for the host Wildcats (1-1), who also received base hits from Alyson Fallon and Ashley Hafertepe.
Loyola 7, Hersey 6 (9 innings): Juniors Alex Tinaglia (2-for-5, double), junior Haley Henriksen (3-for-5, triple, double) and Melissa Cecala (2-for-4) led the offense for host Hersey (1-3).
Lake Zurich 4, Palatine 2: Joanne Jablonski (2-for-3), Lauren Logan (1-for-2) and Alex Ballenger (1-for-3, double) led the offense for host Palatine (3-2). Senior Dani Boisvert (3-1) struck out two.