Cavin dumps the slump as Conant rolls
Going into Wednesday’s game at Maine South, Conant’s Miranda Cavin said she was in a hitting slump.
“I was just grounding out a lot,” said the sophomore catcher, who bats cleanup. “This game, I was hitting more liners.”
She even hit the scoreboard — for a home run.
Cavin (4-for-4, 4 RBI, walk) led off the top of the second by blasting an 0-2 pitch into in the middle of the left-field scoreboard for a 1-0 lead.
The Cougars weren’t done playing long ball.
Two batters later after Kim Jacobson singled to center, shortstop Allie Bauch just missed hitting the scoreboard.
Her home run — just to the right of the big outfield board — gave the Cougars a 3-0 lead. They went on to claim a 15-2 victory in six innings.
Miranda Cavin’s sister, Briana, fired a 1-hitter with 9 strikeouts to improve to 6-0.
“She was really hitting the corners and changing her speeds well,” Miranda said of her sister, who’s a junior. “I’ve been catching her since I was 7 years old.
“Everyone is on top of their game. We are playing all seven innings every time we go out.”
Cougars coach CathyAnn Smith watched her first eight batters all get at least one hit and No. 9 batter Kailee Pasbrig reached base three times (2 walks, a hit by pitch) with 2 RBI.
No. 2 hitter Hilary O’Donnell was 3-for-5 with 2 runs while Sarah Thompson, Bauch and Sarah Pawlik each had 2 hits.
“It was really about all 12 girls,” Smith said “Allie (Bauch) came back strong in her first full game (after recovering from a stress fracture in ankle),” Smith said. “The girls are playing as a team and doing the things they need to do.
“What I really like is how smart Briana and Miranda are together. They are working on different combinations of pitches.”
Maine South’s only hit came in the bottom of the third when left fielder Zoey Sowinski pulled a two-out triple down the right-field line to cut the Hawks’ deficit to 3-2.
However, Conant batted around in the fifth and sixth innings to put the game away.
Wheeling 3, Evanston 2: One year after losing at Evanston on a walk-off hit, the Wildcats (2-2) won in the same fashion over the Wildkits.
With one out and the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, freshman Katie Quagliano singled a 3-2 pitch to the right-center gap to drive home Alyson Fallon for the winning run.
The rally started when Sara Kern (2-for-4, 2 runs) connected for a one-out single. She stole second and Fallon followed with a walk.
Winning pitcher Sejal Shah (3-for-3) then singled home Kern for the tying run.
Quagliano pitched the first 5 innings, striking out seven.
Shah (2-2) struck out two in the final two innings to pick up the win.
St. Viator 6, Hersey 2: St. Viator sophomore Michelle Presslak (2-for-3, 3 RBI) tripled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie.
Winning pitcher Julie Sweeney walked to start the inning. Courtesy runner Erika Kreiner stole second. Kelly O’Brien was hit by a pitch and Kristen Cozzi hit a bloop single to load the bases for Presslak’s double.
Angelica Dickey and Sweeney also had RBI doubles for the host Lions (2-5).
“We had some outstanding play from Tayler Lenart (catcher) and Alex Flasch (shortstop),” said Lions coach Dan Twarog. “This was a team win with good defense, great pitching and timely hitting.”
Kaneland 9, Hoffman Estates 8: Linden Fick (3-for-4, double, 2 runs), Kelsey Pellus (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 4 RBI), Alex Tuminaro (3-for-4, 2 home runs, double, 3 RBI) and Kaileen Hendle (3-for-4, double), Taylor Mann (2-for-4) and Amanda Harris (2-for-4) were top hitters for host Hoffman (1-6), which rallied from a 7-2 deficit.
Leyden 7, Hinsdale Central 0: Morgan Maize (6-0) threw a 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts and no walks for visiting Leyden (7-0).
The Eagles (7-0) were led on offense by Christina Morgan (3-for-4, 1 run), April Markowski (2-for-4, double, RBI), Maize (2-for-4 double, RBI, 2 runs and Dana Sullivan (2-for-4, double, 1 run).