Conant rallies to edge Palatine

Mid-Suburban League West Division champion Conant pulled out a squeaker in its final conference game Monday.

Trailing 2-1 going into its last at-bats, the Cougars (25-2, 14-2) scored twice and held on for a 3-2 triumph at Palatine (19-9, 7-7).

Conant senior first baseman Paige Ward (2-for-3) led off the top of the seventh with a home run to tie the game.

Winning pitcher Briana Cavin (20-2) got a two-out single to center and Hilary O’Donnell drove in the winning run with a double to right-center. O’Donnell scored the decisive run in Conant’s MSL West-clinching victory over Fremd on Saturday.

After Cavin recorded a leadoff strikeout in the bottom of the seventh inning, Palatine got two runners on base.

But Cavin struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Palatine’s Katie Mnichowicz and Conant’s Hilary O’Donnell each doubled in the game.

Elk Grove 24, Rolling Meadows 7: Mid-Suburban East champion Elk Grove (27-3, 15-1) belted 4 home runs while scoring a season-high 24 runs.

Megan Keegan (4-for-5, home run, double), Andrea Starr 2-for-3, home run), Jessica Balzano (3-for-3), Carly Danek (2-for-2), Kristen Cetkovic (3-for-5) and Becca Walz (4-for-5, 2 doubles, home runs, 5 RBI) led the offense.

Junior Dani Goranson (25-3) struck out three in 3 innings for the win.

The Mustangs (16-14, 8-8) were led by Natalie Cannizzo, Sam Anderson and Grace Skorin, who were all 2-for-3.

Prospect 17, Wheeling 5: Mary Styzek (2-for-4), Michele Molini (4-for-4, double), Nikki Surico (2-for-4, double), Sarah Forssander (2-for-4, triple), Amanda Forssander (2-for-4) and Sarah Scaccia (2-for-3) led the visiting Knights (6-21, 3-12) in the MSL East.

Mary Liberty notched the win, while junior Amanda Zamatta (2-for-3) had a homer and double for the Wildcats (5-18, 0-15).

Buffalo Grove 8, Hersey 7: Senior Maria Dax (12-9) struck out five and tossed a 5-hitter for host Buffalo Grove (14-12, 7-8) in the MSL East.

Top hitters for BG were KC Dunne (2-for-4), Jessie Lazzara (2-for-3) and Andrea DiPrima who doubled against Hersey (8-16, 5-9).

Schaumburg 6, Hoffman Estates 3: Host Schaumburg (14-9, 8-7) received a 5-hitter with 7 strikeouts from Renee Kakareka (7-3) as Alexis Carravetta (3-fr-4, RBI), Rebecca Thompson (2-for-4), double), Alyssa Lancaster (4-for-4, double, 3 RBI) and Jessica Cook (2-for-3,) led the offense.

Kelsey Pellus (3-for-4) led Hoffman Estates (6-21-1, 4-10).

Maine West 6, Resurrection 3: Holly Wengerski (3-for-4, double), senior Nicole Mavraganis (3-for-4), Renee Pond (2-for-3), senior Kelly Farnan (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI) and Gina Larucci (double) were top hitters for host Maine West (16-9).

Seniors Colleen Finander, Olivia Beers and Katherine Kusner also had hits as all five seniors had at least 1 hit on Senior Day.

Sophomore Ariel Valles earned the win with a 4-hitter and 5 strikeouts.

Nazareth 3, St. Viator 1: Lions senior Julie Sweeney struck out eight and only allowed 3 hits. She also went 2-for-3 and tripled in the Lions’ only run. Kelly O’Brien, Tess Kaiser, Gina Mastrodomenico and Tayler Lenart had the other hits for the Lions.

“We played a very good game and come up short with a few miscues in critical situations,” said Lion coach Dan Twarog. “Out outfield played excellent and Lenart called a great game for Sweeney. It’s a good start to the week and a great game to prepare us for regionals next week.”

Leyden 7, Addison Trail 2: Morgan Maize hit her 14th home Run of the season while driving in 3 runs, giving her 69 RBI.

Christina Morgan 2-for-3, April Markowski 1-for-2 (double) and Moira Quinlan (2-for-4) were other top hitters for Leyden (23-5, 8-2 in the West suburban Gold).

Maize (20-3) threw a 2-hitter 11 strikeouts.