Softball: Neuman's pitching prowess powers East
Sara Neuman was often lauded by her Conant softball coaches as the ultimate team player.
So her role in the 22nd edition of the Mid-Suburban League Senior All-Star softball game on Monday night in Barrington could not have been more fitting.
With the MSL East squad coming up a few players short, Neuman didn't bat an eye when asked if she would switch from the West team to the East.
Then she helped silence the bats of the East team in a terrific pitchers' duel with Schaumburg ace Paige Alt.
With Elk Grove players providing all of its RBI and runs, the East edged the West 2-1 at the Fields of Dreams.
"When she was asked if she and her catcher (Dream Aaron) could help out the East, Sara was like 'Sure, no problem'," said Cougars coach CathyAnn Smith. "So she just jumped right in. It was kind of a fitting way to end her career."
Neuman threw a 5-hitter with 5 strikeouts to earn the Nancy Frisk Most Valuable Player Award, which she will receive from former Daily Herald sports editor Bob Frisk prior to next year's all-star game.
Monday marked the final time Neuman (Saint Leo University in Florida) and Aaron (Indian River Community College in Florida) would be high school battery mates.
"That was an emotional moment," said Neuman said of her final time pitching to her longtime teammate and friend. "It's the last time we will play together as teammates."
It was also fitting the player who Neuman will join as a collegiate teammate gave the East a 1-0 lead.
Saint Leo recruit Sarah Pauscher, Elk Grove's all-time leading home run hitter (47), belted a towering blast to center field with one out in the top of fourth.
Barrington coach Perry Peterson believes it was the longest home run he has seen in all his years at the Fields of Dreams - about 260 feet, over the trees and on to the railroad tracks.
The West answered with its run in the bottom of the fourth when Jordyn Fera (Hoffman Estates) and Alt led off with singles.
After a fly out, Kenzie Craver (Palatine) drew a walk to load the bases with one out.
Butler recruit Christina Candotti (Schaumburg) then singled to right to score Fera with the tying run.
But the East produced the decisive run in the top of the fifth.
Elk Grove's Mackenzie Flannery reached on an error with one out. Her EG teammate Alex Masnica drove her home from first base with a two-out double to center field.
Flannery was also part of a clutch 7-4 defensive play in the sixth inning.
She fielded a base hit in left field and threw to second baseman Megan King (Rolling Meadows), who made the tag preventing a double.
"This was a great experience," said Masnica, who will play at Shaw University. "Playing with all these other seniors and a great way to end a high school career."
Masnica learned after the game that she, Flannery and Pauscher were responsible for all of the East runs.
"Mr. (Ken) Grams told us that," said Masnica, who caught for the MSL East champs who made it to the Leyden supersectional. "That's pretty neat, and having Sara and Dream play with us was pretty cool, too."
Neuman pitched against batters she faced multiple times in West conference games this spring.
"I knew it would be tough going against the West and all the great hitters," said the Daily Herald all-area honorary captain who was 21-2 this spring. "But I had great defense backing me up."
Alt, a College of Coastal Georgia recruit, struck out eight and allowed only 3 hits (the other one went to Hersey first baseman Kim Labahn).
Labahn almost had a second hit with a blooper to shallow left center. But center fielder Candotti charged in and made a terrific catch for the second out following Pauscher's blast.
Palatine's Emily Griffin and Fremd's Abby Iuorio also had hits for the West.
"It was a good game," said Elk Grove hall of fame coach Ken Grams. "It was fun to watch. Our Elk Grove girls represented themselves well with both RBI and runs. And it was good defense both ways.
"I knew those were two terrific pitchers out there (Neuman and Alt) so I am not surprised by the score by any means."