Softball: Huff is tough in clutch for Palatine
Freshman Grace Huff has been enjoying a superb rookie season at the plate.
On Friday, she delivered her biggest hit yet.
Huff's two-out single to center scored Brooke Bauer with the winning run in Palatine's dramatic 6-5 triumph over visiting Buffalo Grove in the Mid-Suburban League softball crossover.
Sophomore Sarah Grossman (1-4) earned her first win for Palatine (3-5, 3-1), striking out three in the final 2 innings.
Starter Maddie Craver went the first 5 innings, striking out five.
Kenzie Craver and Victoria Parrott scored on singles by Grossman (3-for-4, double, 3 RBI) and Bauer (3-for-4) to give the Pirates a 4-0 lead after three innings.
BG went ahead with all five of its runs in the fourth inning.
The Pirates (3-5, 3-1) scored in the bottom of the fifth when Maddie Craver's fielder's choice tied the game at 5-5.
The Bison (2-7, 0-3) got a key defensive play in the sixth to keep the game tied.
Third baseman Jasmine Avalos caught a hard line drove by Victoria Parrott and threw to first for an inning-ending double play.
Bauer started the seventh-inning rally with one-out single. Emily Griffin and Jade Demars followed with base hits to load the bases.
After a strikeout, Huff (2-for-3) produced her game-winning hit.
"This was a true team win," said Pirates assistant coach Kristen Proffitt. "Every time we faced adversity, the girls stayed tough and remained positive.
"Despite being a young team, they trust each other and it is showing in the way they perform on the field."
Olivia Morini (2-for-5) and Alyssa Dephillips (2-for-3) led the Bison offense. Dephillips had 2 strikeouts.
Barrington 7, Rolling Meadows 0: Senior center fielder Carly Kordich went 4-for-4 with a triple, RBI and 3 runs for host Barrington (10-1, 3-0).
Teammates Abbey Jacobsen (2-for-3, RBI) and Kelly Katis (2-for-3, 2 runs, stolen base) also helped pace the Fillies offense.
Sophomore Catherine McMahon (9-1) went five innings for the win. She had 6 strikeouts and no walks while classmate Caroline Hoppe struck out two in the final two innings.
Elizabeth Elkins doubled for Rolling Meadows (6-3, 0-3) while Amanda Elkins was 2-for-2.
Schaumburg 12, Hersey 2 (5 inn): Paige Alt (4-2) earned the win and went 3-for-3 with a double and RBI for the host Saxons (5-3, 3-0) who won their fifth straight.
Top hitters for the defending MSL champs were Michelle Birkholz (2-for-2, home run, 3 RBI), Kaiden Jackson (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI) and Christina Candotti, Cate Poplar, Alex Cook and Delaney Evans also had hits for Schaumburg.
Katie Wingerter belted a solo homer for Hersey (3-4, 1-2) while teammates Jodie Hermann and Sofia Cano each doubled.
Elk Grove 28, Hoffman Estates 6 (5 inn): Haley Itzenthaler went 4-for-6 with 3 doubles and 8 RBI for the visiting Grens (6-1, 2-1) in the MSL crossover.
Other top hitters for EG were Sarah Pauscher (2-for-4, home run), Carly Crothers (3-for-5), Abbey Sloan (3-for-4), Jessica Kearns (3-for-5, double) and Mackenzie Flannery (3-for-3, 2 walks, 2 RBI).
Anna Bonder struck out three while notching her first win of the season.
Jordyn Fera (3-for-3, 3 runs, walk) belted a pair of homers for Hoffman (3-6, 1-3) while teammate Mary Bean went 2-for-2 with a walk and 3 runs.
Fremd 11, Wheeling 0 (5 inn): Host Fremd improved to 9-0 and 3-0 in the MSL West as sophomore Nikki Kehoe ran her record to 7-0.
The game's only extra base hit was a triple by senior Madison Mellin.
Wheeling (0-4, 0-3) dropped a 4-1 decision on Thursday against Willowbrook.
The Wildcats' run came when senior Christie Ambrose (1-for-3, stolen base) scored on sophomore pitcher Dakota Medrano's base hit. Medrano had 4 strikeouts in the nonconference game in Wheeling.