Palatine resets, eliminates mistakes
After a defensive lapse played its part in a loss to Barrington on Friday, Palatine wanted to get back on track heading into a tough week of softball beginning Monday.
The Pirates accomplished their goal with a 7-2 victory over visiting Wheeling on Saturday afternoon.
After committing 6 errors against Barrington, the Pirates made only 1 on Saturday while raising their record to 13-8 and 7-3 in the Mid-Suburban West.
“That was tough,” said Pirates senior shortstop and Benedictine recruit Tori Walzak about Friday’s 7-1 loss. “But we came back this game and got done what we needed to do.
“We have a huge week coming up (including two games with Fremd and one apiece against Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove and Hoffman Estates).
“We have to keep hitting the ball hard and our defense has to keep communicating like we did (Saturday).
“Wheeling has good hitters but Megan (Hedstrom) did a good job shutting them down and we did a good job supporting her.”
Hedstrom went 51⁄3 innings to notch the win.
The senior right-hander (10-8) struck out seven while Dom Boisvert recorded 2 strikeouts in the 12⁄3 innings she worked.
Wheeling ace Katie Quagliano struck out four.
The top hitters in the game for each team — Palatine catcher Lauren Logan and Wheeling center fielder Sara Kern — will be softball teammates playing for Missouri- St. Louis next season.
Logan led the Pirates’ offense by going 3-for-4 with a triple, double and 2 runs. Kern led the Wildcats, going 2-for-3 with a sharp line drive double to right center in the top of the seventh.
Walzak was 2-for-4 with a 1 run and Hedstrom, a North Dakota recruit, had a double and scored 2 runs.
“We did a good job manufacturing runs,” said Pirates coach Jeff Manz.
Sophomore Nora Walsh collected her first varsity hit for the Pirates, who had 10 hits.
“Palatine is a good team,” said Wheeling coach Mike Caringella. “When you make errors (3), they will take advantage. And Hedstrom is a good pitcher.”
Jackie Resnick had the other hit for the visitors.
Fremd 14, Prospect 4 (6 inn.): Fremd seniorAshlynne Schwantz (13-3) struck out five and gave up 1 hit in the first three innings while sophomore Joanna Josten went the final three innings with 2 strikeouts.
Leigh Farina belted her fourth homer while other top hitters for the host Vikings (14-6, 9-1) were freshman Alysia Garcia (4-for-4, triple, 2 RBI, 1 run), senior Kristine Herdegen (2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI, double), junior Tracy Welninski (2-for-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI, double) and Schwantz (2-for-2, 2 runs).
Maggie Pancini had a homer for Prospect (4-16, 2-9) while teammate Casey Lenski doubled.
Conant 7, Hoffman Estates 1: Sophomore Hailey Rothstein (2-for-2) led off the second and fourth innings with home runs while junior Rachel O’Malley and senior Miranda Cavin (2-for-3) also hit solo blasts in the first and fifth innings, respectively, for host Conant (10-6, 5-4).
Alissa Wachal added a double for the Cougars, who received a 5-hitter with 2 strikeouts from freshman Kali Schumacher (5-4).
Andrea Wolinski doubled for the Hawks (3-15, 3-7).
Conant 10, Niles West 5: After winning its MSL West game, Conant came back and posted another win for pitcher Kali Schumacher (6-4), who struck out four in 42⁄3 innings. Kim Zaucha also had 2 strikeouts in her 21⁄3 innings of work.
Multiple hitters for the Cougars were Sarah Thompson (2-for-4, double, 2 run, 2 RBI), Elisa Ambrose (2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI), Dream Aaron (2-for-3, 2 runs) and DeeDee Durr (2-for-3, 2 runs).
Telly Hunter doubled while Rachel O’Malley and Hailey Rothstein each had an RBI.
Elk Grove goes 2-1: Elk Grove (17-9) defeated Marengo 13-9 in eight innings and Fenton 17-2 in five innings before dropping a 4-3 decision to Plainfield Central (20-4) in the Marengo tourney.
The Grens scored 5 runs in the top of the eighth to top the host school.
Junior Megan Eul (8-4) earned the win with 2 strikeouts.
Leading the Grens’ offense were Brianna Leach (3-for-5, 2 RBI), Eul (3-for-4, double, 3 RBI), Rylee Romano (3-for-5, 2 RBI) and Becca Maher (double).
Against Fenton, Brianna De Silvia (4-1) threw a 3-hitter with 4 strikeouts.
Maher (2-for-2, triple, 2 walks), Aleece Duffy (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI), Leach (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Elisa Payne (2-for-4, triple, 2 RBI), Shannon Taucher (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Eul (2-for-4, double, RBI), Romano (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI) and Taylor Brown (triple) led the Elk Grove offense.
Plainfield Central rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the final two innings as Romano (5-4) suffered the tough loss.
“Rylee pitched very well against a very good team,” said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams. “She gave up only 1 earned run. She had a real nice day.”