Elk Grove powers up, nears program record

Hall of Fame Elk Grove softball Ken Grams knew he had a couple of power hitters capable of belting the long ball this spring.

But he didn't quite imagine this year's club would have enough complementary sluggers for the team to make a run at last year's school record for home runs.

Sure enough, the Grenadiers have shown power up and down the lineup and now find themselves just 2 away from tying last year's record of 45 home runs.

The Grens hit three more in Saturday's 13-5 and 10-2 sweep of visiting Lyons Township which raised their record to 20-4.

Two of the homers came in Game 1 by Brianna Leach and Marjorie Sloan, who belted her second one in as many days.

Sloan ended up 3-for-4 with 5 RBI, including a 2-run homer and a 2-run single.

Leach cracked her 11th homer, a solo blast to lead off the seventh inning.

Other top hitters for the Grens in Game 1 were Haley Itzenthaler (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double), Sarah Pauscher (double), Alex Masnica (2-for-4, 3 runs) and Aleece Duffy (2-for-4, double).

Anna Bonder (5-0) notched the win, striking out four and walking one with a 6-hitter.

She allowed only 3 hits the final six innings.

Sabra Morton (8-2) picked up the win in Game 2 as the Grens were led on offense by Leach (3-for-4, double), Itzenthaler (3-for-4, double), Pauscher (2-for-4), Bonder (2-for-4) and senior Gabby Rathmell (2-for-3), who was making her first varsity start, serving as the designated player.

Shannon Taucher belted a 3-run homer in the first inning giving her five for the season.

Conant goes 2-1: Conant (15-5) won two of its three games at the Marengo tourney defeating Andrews and Hononegah by identical 6-4 scores and falling to Plainfield Central 13-3 in six innings.

Junior Sara Neuman (7-3) got the win against Andrew working the final 3⅓ innings with 1 strikeout.

The offense was led by Lauren Grzelak (2-for-3, RBI) and Morgan Bihun (2-for-3, 1 run). Rachel Falbo had a double.

Sa, Gadomski wen the first 4 against Hononegah to gain the win. She struck out four while Neuman relieved for the final 3 innings and struck out five.

The Cougars' offense was led by DeeDee Durr (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI), who belted 2 home runs. Kim Zaucha also had a homer while Alissa Wachal went 2-for-3 and Dream Aaron doubled.

Against Plainfield Central, Bihun was the Cougars' only multiple hitter, going 2-for-3 with 1 RBI. Wachal had a home run.

Prospect splits: The Knights (8-11) dropped their first in Lincolnshire 9-5 but came back to defeat Stevenson 29-14 (five innings) in Game 2.

In Game 1, Prospect took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly by Delilah Malczewski. It scored Rachel Trebswether who had reached on a one-out single and advanced to second on a single by Casey Lenski.

Ally Schuldt had an RBI triple in the game and she scored on a two-out single by Emma Gilhooly as Prospect took a 3-2 lead. But the Patriots rallied with 7 runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Alyssa Cacini, Schuldt and Jenny Krengiel had triples for Prospect.

In Game 2, Prospect jumped out to a 19-0 lead after two innings in a game that saw 43 runs cross the plate.

Knights senior Casey Lenski hit her school-record ninth home run of the season to key the 10-run attack in the first inning.

Prospect had 26 hits for the game, led by Kelly Marshall's 2 triples and 3 RBI.

For the day, Malczewski had 7 hits and 4 RBI while Lenski had five.

Vera Pflugradt (3-for-4, 4 RBI) belted a grand slam in the second inning for Stevenson.

Krengiel (2-3) earned the win.

Cacini and Lenski doubled for Prospect which also received triples from Cacini, Schuldt, Krengiel and Kelly Marshall (2).

"We made 13 errors and came away with a split," said Prospect coach Jim Adair. "I was pleased with the way we hit the ball, but we made way too many defensive mistakes and Stevenson capitalized every time.

"I'm always proud of my team because it's my team. But I was especially proud of Kelly Marshall. She hasn't gotten a lot of playing time but had 2 triples and made three fantastic catches in right field."

Buffalo Grove sweeps: Senior Julia Camardo (14-3) notched two more wins as the Bison (14-4) defeated visiting Vernon Hills 6-1 and 9-6.

Camardo threw a 3-hitter in Game 1 and she also had a double along with teammate Dea Barton.

Caitlin Catino, Camardo and Grace Gran all had doubled for BG in Game 2.

Wheeling splits: After losing 7-6 in the final inning of Game 1, Wheeling (3-13) came back to top Evanston 13-3 in five innings in Game 2.

Freshman Remy Jankowski earned her first varsity win with 3 strikeouts and a 2-hitter.

Leading the offense in Game 2 were Christina Ambrose (2-for-4), Megan Olsen (4-for-4, double, 2 RBI), Lauren Hart (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Alexa Orlando (2-for-3, triple), Dakoya Medrano (1-for-2, 2 RBI), Jankowski (1-for-3, 3 RBI) and Abby Greenspan (3-for-3, 2 RBI).

The Wildcats outhit Evanston 7-6 in game 12, led by Ambrose (2-for-4, triple), Olsen (1-for-2, double), Hart (2-for-3, triple, 3 RBI) and Orlando (RBI).

Maine West 13, Von Stuben 4: Grace Feldkamp earned the win for Maine West (7-9) and went 3-for-4 with 2 triples while teammate Alyssa Pegoraro was 3-for-5 with a triple.

St. Viator drops two: After the Lions fell behind 7-0 in the first inning of Game 2, St. Viator pitcher Grace Kaiser did not allow another run the next six innings in the 7-1 loss. Cam VanValkenburg had 2 hits for Viator while teammate Aryana Ziakas continued her hot hitting by driving in the Lions' only run.