Walker ties IHSA record with 4 homers

Elaine Walker had a softball game to remember Tuesday.

The Schaumburg catcher belted 4 home runs while going 4-for-6 with 10 RBI as Schaumburg topped host Hoffman Estates 25-1 in five innings.

Walker is now tied with five other players in Illinois softball history who have hit a record 4 homers in one game, including Stefanie Berecz of St. Benedict who did it twice - April 13, 2000 and April 18, 2002.

For the game, Schaumburg had 29 hits, 6 homers and 6 doubles.

Other offensive leaders for the Saxons were Paige Alt (3-for-3, home run, 3 RBI), Christina Candotti (3-for-5, home run, 2 RBI), Roxanne Kakareka (4-for-5), Michelle Birkholz (3-for-3, double, RBI) and Kaiden Jackson (4-for-4, double, 3 RBI), Sarah Schwind (2-for-5, double, 2 RBI), Shannon Felde (2-for-5 2 doubles), Natalie Napier (2-for-3 RBI) and Brittney Butt (1-for-2).

Felde earned the win to improve to 6-1 for the Saxons, who are now 14-1 and 5-0 in the Mid-Suburban West.

Brynn Connelly (2-for-3, home run), Giselle Velazquez (2-for-3, double), Charlotte Allen (1-for-1) and Alexus Venegas (1-for-2) paced the offense for Hoffman (8-6, 2-2).

Conant 17, Palatine 4 (5 inn): The host Cougars (11-1, 4-0) wrapped up the game with 5 runs in the bottom of the fifth.

Kim Neuman fired a 4-hitter with 6 strikeouts to improve her record to 6-1.

Sophomore Lauren Grzelak enjoyed one of her finest games, going 5-for-5 with 2 home runs, including a game-ending grand slam that gave her 7 RBI and 3 runs for the game.

Other top-hitting Cougars were DeeDee Durr (2-for-4), Dream Aaron 2-for-4, 2 runs), Alissa Wachal (3-for-4, home run, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Hailey Rothstein (3-for-3) and Morgan Bihun (2-for-4, home run, 2 RBI 2 runs).

Emily Griffin (3-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 run) and Kenzie Craver (1-for-2, double, 2 RBI) led the offense for Palatine (5-10, 2-3).

Elk Grove 12, Rolling Meadows 0 (5 inn): Junior third baseman Sarah Pauscher's eighth home run in seven games gave her 13 for the season, tying the Elk Grove single-season record set by Becca Maher last year.

Pauscher finished the game 2-for-3 with 4 RBI.

Other top hitters for the Grens (13-4, 2-2) were Brianna Leach (3-for-3, 3 runs, 2 RBI) who belted her seventh homer of the season, Haley Itzenthaler (2-for-3, 3 runs, RBI), Alex Masnica (3-for-3) and Anna Bonder (2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI).

Kylie Thomsen threw a 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts and no walks to raise her record to 4-2.

Leading the offense for Meadows (1-13, 0-4) was Paige Connor (2-for-2) while Jordan Giachetti and Mallory King each had a hit.

Maine West 7, Maine East 3: Kayla Pociejewski (2-for-4, home run) and Grace Feldkamp (2-for-3) each belted homers for visiting Maine West which won its first CSL North game under first-year coach Mike McGovern.

Allison Pearson and Kati Roycroft had 2 hits apiece for te Warriors (4-7, 1-2), who received a 1-hitter and 11 strikeouts from Feldkamp.

St. Viator 12, Wheeling 9: Grace Kaiser got the win and also helped her own cause with 3 hits and 4 RBIs for the host Lions in the nonconference game.

St. Viator scored 8 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when they received singles from Cam VanValkenburg, Krystal Harris, Kaiser and Cara Haubner. Addie Swiderski and Aryana Ziakas added doubles.

Wheeling came back with 7 runs in the top of the fifth.

"To their credit, Wheeling never gave up," said Lions coach John Scotillo. "They kept hitting and had 7 runs in and the go-ahead run on base. We were lucky to stop the bleeding when we did."

Jenna Breslin provided the Lions with some breathing room when she belted her first home run of the year over the center field fence.

Krystal Harris pitched 2 scoreless innings for the save.