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Softball: Perfect result for Neuman, Conant in MSL title game

Softball symmetry was truly in the air at Conant High School late Thursday afternoon in Hoffman Estates.

The host Cougars, playing in their fifth Mid-Suburban League championship game since 1974, kept their record perfect (5-0) in the showcase event with a perfect game against Mid-Suburban East power Elk Grove.

Just five days after missing a perfect game by a dropped third strike, senior Sara Neuman tossed the first one of her career in her final home game.

Squaring off in a terrific pitchers' duel with Elk Grove junior Kylie Thomsen, Neuman came away with a 1-0 shutout that included 7 strikeouts.

“It's definitely going to be a game to remember,” said Neuman, now 19-1. “Being a Conant Cougar the last four years has been amazing, and to end at home this way in incredible.”

Incredibly, the symmetry went right down to the final batter.

It happened to be Neuman's future teammate, Sarah Pauscher, Elk Grove's leading home run hitter.

The two standouts will play at Saint Leo University in Florida, and Lions assistant coach Pat Affrunti was at Thursday's game.

“Sara pitched awesome,” said Pauscher, whose has clubbed 14 homers this spring following a junior season in which she belted a single-season school-record 19. “I get nervous when I face her because I know she is very good.”

“I have to be real careful with Sarah,” Neuman said. “Especially making sure I hit my spots because she is super aggressive. She even has no problem jumping on the first pitch.”

The Cougars (23-5) jumped off to a 1-0 start in the second inning despite Thomsen striking out the side.

With one out, senior catcher Dream Aaron reached on an outfield error.

With two outs, her sophomore pinch runner Paige Nallen scooted home on another outfield error on sophomore Makenna's McCarthy's flyball.

“We wanted to come out aggressively and put the ball in play,” Aaron said.

The unearned run stood up as the game-winner.

Thomsen gave up only 2 hits, both to Aaron in her next two at-bats.

The recruit of Indian River State College (also in Florida) singled to left with one out in the fourth and singled to right with one out in the sixth, giving the Cougars runners on first and third. But Grens senior catcher Alex Masnica came up with a big play, picking the runner off third base with Pauscher making the tag.

Thomsen then caught a pop back to the mound to end the threat and finish without giving up an earned run.

“She's (Thomsen) really tough, a great pitcher,” said Cougars coach CathyAnn Smith, who is now 4-for-4 in title games (Barb Bostian coached the Cougars to the 1974 crown).

Thomsen struck out five, retiring the side in order in the first and third innings.

“Your heart goes out for her because she pitched an amazing game,” said Smith, who won her 310th game in 16 seasons.

“Kylie was tremendous against a team that scores a lot of runs,” said Elk Grove hall of fame coach Ken Grams (879 wins in 36 seasons), who was appearing in his 21st MSL title game. “She was outstanding. And their pitcher, too. We've faced her twice now and have had only four runners reach base in 14 innings. Give her the credit there.”

Neuman always credits her defense and catcher Aaron, who is the Cougars' other four-year varsity player.

“Sara is a really a strong pitcher,” Aaron said. “I was ready for this game from the minute I woke up. I stayed focused and wanted to help my team any way I could.”

Thomsen, now 13-4, helped keep her team (23-6) in the game start to finish with her splendid effort.

“I put everything I had into it,” Thomsen said. “My curve ball was really effective and my rise ball was OK.

“We stayed with the curve ball and tried to stay away from the hitters. I love all these girls on my team to death and we all gave it all we had.

“Even though we weren't hitting the ball that well, we didn't let it affect us. We gave it our all on every pitch.”

The Cougars made their pitch as one of the top five teams of all time in school history.

“Sara was phenomenal and I can't say enough about her, Dream and the whole group as a team,” Smith said. “We put the ball in play and that's exactly what we told them to do. The girls were in a zone and they picked the right day for that.”

A day of perfection for Conant softball.

  Conant celebrates its 1-0 victory over visiting Elk Grove in the Mid-Suburban League softball championship game. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Conant pitcher Sara Neuman focuses during her perfect game against Elk Grove on Thursday in the Mid-Suburban League title game. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Conant pitcher Sara Neuman is hugged by teammate Dream Aaron after throwing a perfect game against Elk Grove in the Mid-Suburban League softball championship game. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Elk Grove's Anna Bonder picks off Conant's Morgan Bihun at third base after a throw from catcher Alex Masnica in the Mid-Suburban League softball championship game at Conant. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
  Elk Grove's Jessica Kearns bobbles the ball after battling the sun on a ball hit by Conant's Makenna McCarthy in the second inning of the MSL softball championship game at Conant. Mark Welsh/mwelsh@dailyherald.com
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