Lenski lends more history in Prospect sweep
Casey Lenski added some more softball history in Prospect's sweep at Vernon Hills on Saturday.
Not only did the senior first baseman add to her school record for all-time home runs (12) by hitting two more, she also collected 9 RBI on the day to become the single-season record holder for Prospect.
She now has 47, breaking the former mark set of 45 set 28 years ago by Denise Terzic.
Lenski went 5-for-9 for the day with 2 homers and 2 doubles to help lead the Knights (12-17) to a 12-8 win in 8 innings and a 15-4 victory in 5.
"I can't say enough about what Casey Lenski has done for this team this year," said Prospect coach Jim Adair. "She has set three school records and we're not done yet."
Prospect wasn't done even though it fell behind 8-0 after two innings in Game 1.
Lenski led off the top of the fourth with a single. Delilah Malczewski followed with a single and freshman Colleen Palcyznski hit her first varsity homer, a 3-run shot to center field in only her second varsity at-bat (she singled in her first).
Prospect added 2 more runs in the 5th inning to close the gap to 8-5 when Alyssa Cacini (2-for-5) doubled and Lenski hit her first home run of the day.
Prospect sent the game into extra innings when freshman Jackie Orel led off the top of the seventh with a double to left-center.
With one out, Rachel Trebswether reached on an infield single that scored Orel. With 2 outs, Malczewski singled Trebswether home and courtesy runner Dezi Oraozco tied the game on a single by Palczynski (3-for-5, 5 RBI).
In the top of the eighth, Cate Meersman singled with one out. Orel walked and Cacini singled to load the bases.
With two outs, Lenski belted a grand slam to left center for a 12-8 lead that sealed the game. Malczewski (5-10) allowed 8 hits in the first two innings, but only 1 hit in the next six and retired the last 11 batters.
Cacini, Trebswether, Lenski, Schuldt, Meersman all doubled for Prospect while Cacini belted her fourth homer.
"We started the first game very disinterested," said Prospect coach Jim Adair. "Vernon Hills pounded the ball all over the place and it looked like we were done, but Palczynski's 3-run homer lifted us up and everyone focused and started hitting.
"I also credit Delilah because she could have caved in, but she just got tougher and Kelly Marshall made 4 great plays in right field."
In Game 2, Jenny Krengiel (4-4) scattered 8 hits for the win.
Prospect opened the game with 10 runs in the first inning.
"The first 13 batters had quality at-bats," Adair said.
The big hits in the first inning belonged to Ally Schuldt (2-run single), Cate Meersman (2-run double) and Cacini, who belted her fifth homer of the season, a 2-run blast.
Prospect added another run in the second when Schuldt (3-for-4, single, double, triple) led off the inning with a double and scored on a groundout by Erica Nelson.
Prospect added another run in the top of the third when Cacini (3-for-4, single, double, homer) doubled her home.
The Knights added 3 runs in the fifth when Trebswether (3-for-4, double) singled with one out. Lenski doubled her home, Lauren Caldrone had an RBI single and Schuldt tripled to score Caldrone.
"Jenny Krengiel pitched great today and our defense stepped up and was fantastic," Adair said. "Rachel Trebswether must have made five highlight film plays at second base. We had 34 hits for the day so I couldn't be happier with the way we played our last 12 innings of the day. The girls are excited and energized about the playoffs (Prospect will No. 4 seeded Zion-Benton at Zion on Tuesday in its regional opener)."
Naperville North 10, Elk Grove 0 (5 inn): Senior Brianna Leach went 3-for-3 with a double for Mid-Suburban League East champion Elk Grove, which finished the regular season at 26-9.
Maine South 9, Hersey 2: Sophomore Katie Wingerter (triple) had 2 of the 5 hits for visiting Hersey (10-19) in the Huskies' final regular-season game in Park Ridge.
Wheeling splits: Wheeling split a doubleheader at Highland Park, losing 7-6 and winning 17-3 in 5 innings.
The Giants scored 3 runs in the bottom of the seventh to edge Wheeling in the opener.
Nikki Mikosz (2-fr-3), Abby Greenspan (2-for-3, 2 doubles) and Megan Olsen (2-for-4, 3 RBI) led the Wildcats' offense while freshman pitcher Dakota Madrano struck out three.
In Game 2, the Wildcats (6-20) posted a 17-3 triumph behind Remy Jankowski who struck out three.
Mikosz (2-for-4, double, RBI), Christina Ambrose (2-for-4, triple, 2 RBI), Olsen 3-for-3, home run, 2 doubles, 3 RBI), Greenspan (2-for-4, RBI), Olivia Walker (2-for-4, RBI) and Kirsten Wilhelm (3-for-4, RBI) led the offense.