Softball / Northwest roundup
Conant's area-high home run total climbed to 34 on Friday as the Cougars hit two more in a 12-0 five-inning win over visiting Palatine on Friday
Rachel O'Malley (3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs) belted a 2-run homer in third inning while Alissa Wachal (3-for-3, 3 RBI, 3 runs) hit a 3-run homer in the fourth for the Mid-Suburban League West softball leaders who improved to 17-1 and 11-1, owning a 1-game lead over Barrington.
It was O'Malley's sixth homer of the season and No. 5 for Wachal. Each had a double, too
Teammate Elisa Ambrose went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and a double.
Winning pitcher Kali Schumacher struck out four and walked none while improving to 5-0.
Emily Plesnicar had a double for Palatine (8-19, 3-9) while teammates Nora Walsh and Courtney English also had hits.
Buffalo Grove 10, Hersey 0 (5 inn.): Buffalo Grove (15-8, 9-3) retained its one-game lead over Elk Grove in the Mid-Suburban East as junior Julia Camardo (12-4) threw a 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Camardo, Jasmine Avalos, Katie Conley and Emily Cranes each had a RBI for the Bison who had seven players get 1 hit.
Cassie Zouras and Payton Anderskow had the hits for Hersey (8-15-1, 2-10)
Schaumburg 9, Hoffman Estates 2: Winning pitcher Paige Alt (7-2), a sophomore, struck out 10 and also hit a home run and went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly for visiting Schaumburg (16-7, 8-3).
Sophomore Kelly Loughman (3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 doubles) and junior Rozanne Kakareka (2-for-3) also hit home runs for the Saxons.
Natalie Napier (2-for-4, double) and Jamie Kudjer (2-for-4, double) were also multiple hitters for Schaumburg which travels to Rolling Meadows today for a 10 a.m. MSL make-up game.
Jordyn Fera went 2-for-4 for the Hawks (13-11, 5-7).
Elk Grove 7, Rolling Meadows 3: Sophomore Sarah Pauscher belted a home run for host Elk Grove (21-5, 8-4) while teammates Becca Maher (2-for-4) and Brooke Barges (2-for-4) each had doubles.
Other multiple hitters for the Grens were Brianna Leach (3-for-3) and Gina Cirrincione (2-for-3).
Senior Megan Eul (15-4) picked up the win while Mary Hirschauer faced the final two batters (popout and strikeout) to pick up the save.
Maddie Morgan went 2-for 2 and homered for the Mustangs (4-19, 1-10).
Prospect 8, Wheeling 1: Making her second varsity start, junior Jenny Krengiel got her first win for the Knights (6-17, 4-8). She took a perfect game into the fourth inning before allowing an infield hit to leadoff hitter Christie Ambrose (2-for-3, walk).
Krengiel struck out nine, walked two and allowed 3 hits.
Prospect scored twice in the bottom of the first when Maggie Pancini reached on an error. Rachel Trebswether (4-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) singled to center. and with one out, Casey Lenski belted a 2-run single to left center.
The Knights added 2 more runs in the bottom of the second when Angela Roman (3-for-4, double) led off with a single followed by a walk to Krengiel.
With one out, Pancini's sacrifice fly scored Roman. Rachel Trebswether then singled to score courtesy runner Dezi Orozco.
The Knights added another run in the fourth as Trebswether singled with two outs and scored on an outfield error. Prospect added 3 runs in the bottom of the fifth when Emma Riordan singled with two outs. Pancini reached on an error and Trebswether's RBI single brought home Riordan.
The Wildcats (3-20, 210) scored in the top of sixth when Ambrose singled and scored on an error.
"I really don't like to focus on individual efforts, but Jenny Krengiel and Rachel Trebswether were fantastic," said Prospect coach, Jim Adair. "Jenny was phenomenal and Trebs' RBI single in the fifth inning was huge because it kept the inning going. Without that hit, this is a 5-1 game."