Lythberg pitches Prospect past Mundelein
The temperature was in the mid-40s but the game was sizzling.
Prospect junior Hanna Lythberg and Mundelein sophomore Erin Kennelly hooked up in a nifty pitcher’s duel in Mount Prospect on Thursday.
Lythberg (1-1) came away with a 1-0 shutout, as Prospect senior shortstop Nikki Surico doubled with one out in the third inning and came home two batters later on an infield hit by third baseman Michele Molini.
“Defensively, it was a solid softball game by both teams,” said Mundelein coach Ted Juske, whose team is 0-3, with its other losses to Lake Zurich. “It came down to offensive execution. We missed some signs and some opportunities.”
The Knights were missing designated player Nicole Naranjo (sprained knee) and center fielder Mary Styzek (mononucleosis).
Knights coach Jim Adair expects Naranjo back by next week and Styzek on April 30.
“It broke her heart,” Adair said about Styzek learning about the illness. “She is a resilient kid and she will be back.”
Lythberg (1-1) and the Knights (3-2) bounced back with big plays every time Mundelein threatened.
Mustangs senior Justina Doll led off the first with a triple to center and started sixth with a single up the middle.
Lythberg sparkled with her first-inning defense. She fielded three groundballs, held Doll at third, and threw to first baseman Sam Mangrum for all 3 outs.
In the sixth, Doll got all the way to third base on a sacrifice bunt by senior Deanna Wise.
But the Knight got the next two outs when Surico looked Doll back to third and threw to Mangrum for the second out before Lythberg struck out the next batter.
“My defense really helped me,” said Lythberg, who struck out six and walked one. “We worked on defense all week in practice and that made a big difference. When we got the one run, it made me less nervous and more confident on the mound.”
Surico reached base three times as the Knights leadoff batter. No. 2 batter Michelle King was 2-for 3 while No. 9 Amy Graham went 2-for-2.
“Our defense played so well with runners on base and Hanna did a great job,” Surico said. “We really want to back her up.”
The Knights did not make an error.
“We did a fantastic job on ground balls and freezing the base runners,” Adair said. “We worked a lot on defense this week because we looked a little rusty over the past weekend (swept at Glenbrook North).
“Hanna pitched her heart out. She did a real nice job with her control. It’s only our fifth game of the season. We still have a lot of things to work on.”
Kennelly struck out one and did not walk a batter in her sophomore debut.
“She threw a heck of a game,” Juske said. “She was locating her fastball and throwing a drop ball. And Justina did a good job getting on base for us.”
Hillary Bunnelle, Haley Morelli and Abbey Rosenow had the other hits for Mundelein which got its lead off batter on base to start the seventh inning.
However, Knights sophomore catcher Cassie Poulos threw a strike to Mangrum to pick off the runner.
Lythberg then got the next two batters on groundouts to end the game.
“I figured since Cassie tried to pick her off once (after first pitch to next batter), she’d throw it again after the next pitch,” Mangrum said. “It was a nice low throw and right on the money.”
“That was a huge play,” Adair said.
Elk Grove 13, York 4: Junior Megan Keegan belted a 3-run homer in the first inning and a 2-run homer in the second to finish 2-for-2 with 5 RBI and a walk for host Elk Grove (7-1).
Senior Kristen Cetkovic followed Keegan’s homer in the first with one of her own.
In all, the Grens had a season-high 8 extra-base hits.
Winning pitcher Dani Goranson (7-1) was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and she struck out eight. She has given up only 1 earned run in 41 innings.
Senior second baseman Jessica Balzano (2-for-5) doubled to lead off the game, keeping her hitting steak alive at 42 straight games.
Krista Soesbe and Katie Keegan also doubled for the Grens.
Schaumburg 11, St. Viator 1 (5 inn.): Winning pitcher Alyssa Lancaster (2-1) was 2-for-3 with 2 solo home runs.
Senior Rebecca Thompson had 2 doubles and 4 RBI for the host Saxons (4-1) while teammate Jenna Lane was 2-for-2 with 2 doubles. The Lions slipped to 2-7.
Buffalo Grove 7, Grant 1: Senior Andrea DiPrima belted an opposite field 3-run homer to left scoring Amanda Salzman and Erin Barton in the bottom of the fifth inning for host Buffalo Grove (5-2).
Bison senior ace Maria Dax (5-1) threw a 4-hitter.
Senior KC Dunne went 2-for-3 and also homered for the Bison.
Hoffman Estates 16, Addison Trail 0 (5 innings): The visiting Hawks collected 17 hits, led by Linden Fick (3-for-4, double), Kelsey Pellus (2-for-3), Emily Fett (3-for-4, 2 doubles), Nicole LaBeck (2-for-4, double), Alex Tuminaro (3-for-4, double) and Taylor Mann (2-for-4, double).
Hawks senior Emily Allan (1-2) threw a 1-hitter with 5 strikeouts.
Barrington 5, Lakes 4: Senior catcher Kristin Kuhn (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Colleen Shandley (2-for-4, 1 run) and Loren Krzysko (double) led the offense for host Barrington (7-3) over the visiting Eagles (2-3).
Kiersten Tinkoff, Krzysko and Kelsey Kazmier each had an RBI for the Fillies.
Winning pitcher Kiley Dolezal (6-1) went the final five innings, striking out four.
Glenbard East 14, Rolling Meadows 8: Emily Skorin (3-for-4, 2 RBI, double), Emily Hattory (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Kelly Sarussi (2-for-3), Ellie Morgan (2-for-3) and Sam Anderson (double) were top hitters for the visiting Mustangs (4-3).