Malek helps Lake Zurich win opener

Katie Malek pitched a 4-hitter, as Lake Zurich's softball team opened its season with a 2-0 win over Maine West in Barrington's annual Spring Fling at the Fields of Dreams on Monday.

The sophomore allowed back-to-back singles with one out in the seventh but got the final two outs on strikeouts to end the game.

Lake Zurich scored both runs in its last half of the first inning. Senior Rachel Dawson (2-for-3) singled and scored on sophomore Amanda Guercio's double. Guercio (2-for-3) then raced home on sophomore Sarah Schnecker's sacrifice fly.

"I really liked the way we came out strong," Bears coach Amanda Rodriguez said. "I wish we could have kept it going, but for the first game, I was really happy that they came out strong."

Sophomore Grace Feldkamp, who took the loss, had 2 hits for the Warriors.

Guercio, who was an all-area catcher as a freshman, is Lake Zurich's only returning starter.

"So I'm glad we got a 'W' today," Rodriguez said with a smile.