Camardo in command for BG in MSL finale

Julia Camardo had a good feeling Tuesday.

"I felt really good going into the game," said the Buffalo Grove senior pitcher. "I knew it was my last conference game ever."

She made it one to remember.

With 10 strikeouts, including a streak of nine in ten batters, Camardo broke her own single-season school record while tossing a 1-hitter in an 18-0 shutout over visiting Rolling Meadows.

Camardo just missed the first perfect game of her illustrious four-year career.

Pinch hitter Jordan Giachetti reached on an infield hit with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

"Jordan gave a great effort to get that base hit there," said Rolling Meadows coach Tony Wolanski.

Camardo then struck out the final batter giving her 187 for the season, breaking the mark of 181 she set as a sophomore.

The Wisconsin-Whitewater recruit has shattered the school's record. She now had 638 strikeouts.

"Julia pitched well," said Caitlin Catino, who will be Camardo's teammate at Whitewater. "This was a nice confidence-booster for us. We've been hitting real well so it was good to see that continue and our fielding has been clean. Hopefully we can take this into regionals."

Catino (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 runs) and Camardo (2-for-3, double, 4 RBI) were the team's only multiple hitters.

Katie Fontanetta (double), Emily Carnes (2 walks), Grace Gran (double, 2 runs) Nikki Longdon (double, 2 runs), Jasmine Avalos and Lauren Beiersdorf 1-for-2, 2 walks, 3 runs) each had a hit for the Bison (18-7, 10-6), who took second place in the Mid-Suburban East behind Elk Grove (26-7, 12-4).

Bison senior shortstop Dea Barton reached base three times on 2 walks and a hit by pitch. In her fourth at-bat, she was robbed of a hit on a nice running catch by center fielder Eliana Psarros.

"Julia pitched real well today and our defense played real well behind her," said Bison coach Jamie Paul, whose team hosts Barrington in the MSL second-place crossover game at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. "Offensively, we were able to generate some hits so, all in all, it was a good day. Hopefully, we can keep it going into (today)."

Third baseman Avalos kept the perfect game going when she made a superb backhand of Paige Connor's hard grounder down the line and then threw to first baseman Longdon for the final out of the fourth inning.

Fontanetta made a nice catch while running on sophomore Gina Hubka's liner to left for the second out of the fifth inning.

In stark contrast to the veteran Camardo, junior Megan King of Rolling Meadows (2-25, 0-16) was making her first varsity start on the mound.

"Megan battled," said Mustangs coach Tony Wolanski. "She gave a great effort. Obviously we've got to give her more support on defense (5 errors).

"Lauren Hattory (pitcher, first base) has been giving great effort. And (sophomore twins) Amanda (catcher) and Elizabeth (right field) Elkins are battling out there, too."