Softball: Pendowski puts on impressive debut for Elk Grove
Talk about starting your high softball career with a bang.
In her first at-bat, Elk Grove freshman Katia Pendowski hit a rocket over the left-center field fence for a 2-run homer as the host Grenadiers began their season with an 11-1 victory over visiting Fenton on Monday.
"The ball was hit hard and left the yard quickly," said Elk Grove hall of fame coach Ken Grams, who did not recall any other Grenadier in his 37 seasons who homered in their first varsity at-bat. "It was a nice start for her. Hopefully, it a sign of good things to come."
Pendowski, who caught all five innings and batted clean up, finished 2-for-4 with 5 RBI and hadthe game-ending 2-run double to center in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Seniors Kylie Thomsen (4 innings) and Sabra Morton (1 inning) combined for a no-hitter. Thomsen struck out five.
Other top hitters for the Grens were Haley Itzenthaler (2-for-4) and Morton (2-for-3) while Thomsen had a double in the first inning and scored on Pendowski's homer.
The Grens are scheduled to host Ridgewood on Wednesday and travel to Resurrection on Thursday.
Fremd 8, New Trier 4: Junior Jessica Mazur (2-for-3, 2 RBI) belted a home run and double as Fremd rallied from a 3-0 first inning deficit to win its season opener at Heritage Park in Wheeling.
Junior Grace Stevens also went 2-for-3 for Fremd with 2 RBI and a run while classmate Hannah Ban was 1-for-2 with 2 RBI and senior Ann Marie O'Sullivan had a hit and 2 RBI.
Junior Nikki Kehoe earned the complete game win, striking out five while tossing a 4-hitter, as Vikings first-year coach Josh Teschner earned his first career win.
Wheeling 13, Maine East 3: Wheeling freshman Emmie LaCaeyse made her debut as the winning pitcher with 12 strikeouts and she also had a RBI at the plate as the Wildcats won their season opener played at Heritage Park in Wheeling.
Junior Dakota Medrano belted a homer for the Wildcats while Becky McAtee (RBI) and freshman Peyton LaCaeyse each tripled. Senior Kaitlyn Schuetz doubled for Wheeling and sophomore Nikki Ferraro went 2-for-4.
Spring Fling: Barrington kicked off its own Spring Fling tourney with a 13-1 victory over Maine West as Catherine McMahon (2-0) and Caroline Hoppe combined for a 2-hitter in the five-inning quarterfinal contest.
The Fillies (2-0) will face Lake Zurich in Tuesday's semifinals. The Bears defeated Glenbrook North 6-2.
Tuesday's other semifinal matches Warren and Deerfield.
The Blue Devils topped Hersey 15-1 while Deerfield posted a 10-5 win over Zion-Benton on Monday.
Hersey will face Zion-Benton in today's consolation semifinals while Maine West takes on Glenbrook North.
McMahon went the first three innings for Barrington on Monday.
She struck out five and walked none while Hoppe recorded 4 strikeouts and gave up 1 earned run in the final two innings.
The Fillies' offense was led by Abbey Jacobsen (2-for-3, 3 RBI, double), Leyden Atlas (3-for-4, RBI, double) and Julia Kozar (2-for-3, 3 RBI). Carly Kordich and Kendall Peterson were each 1-for-3 with 2 runs and 2 stolen bases while Jenna Patino, Haley Luczak, Rachel Mori and Grace Kraus also had hits.
Glenbard East 7, Buffalo Grove 4: Olivia Morini had 4 hits, including a double, and Katie Fontanetta had 2 hits for the Bison in their season opener