Softball: Rolling Meadows holds off Addison Trail

The Rolling Meadows grounds crew came through on Tuesday, and so did the Mustangs softball team in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Trailing 6-5, Meadows pushed 4 runs across the plate and then held off another rally by Addison Trail in the top of the seventh for a 9-8 nonconference victory.

It was one of the few softball games played in the northwest suburbs due to wet field conditions.

The Blazers broke up senior Lydia Schultz' no-hitter in the fifth inning when they scored their first run before the big 5-run sixth inning highlighted by Alyssa Pham's 3-run homer.

But Meadows (2-1) got its bats rolling in the bottom of the sixth.

A double by Amanda Elkins (4-for-4, 2 RBI) scored Elise Kowalski to tie the game at 6-6. Amanda Elkins crossed the plate when Paige Connor reached on an error to give the Mustangs the lead for good at 7-6.

Emily Schmidt and Caroline Slowik (2-for-3, 2 RBI) each added hits which helped get 2 more runs home and Meadows led 9-6 going into the seventh.

Other top hitters for Meadows were Elizabeth Elkins (2-for-4, RBI) and Sara Benner (2-for-4).

The Blazers had the tying run on base with one out but Schultz got two groundballs to end the game and give Mustangs coach Tony Wolanski his 192nd career win.

Sandburg 9, Barrington 5: Senior Haley Luczak (double, RBI) and junior Julia Kozar (RBI, 2 runs) each went 2-for-4 for Class 4A No. 11-ranked Barrington (6-1), which was going up against No. 10 Sandburg.

The two teams have a combined 21 appearances in the IHSA state finals (12 by Sandburg).

They have met four times (1993, 2004, 2005 and 2006) in downstate action, with three in the third-place game and once in a quarterfinal.

This was the first time the Fillies have played on the Eagles' home field in Orland Park.

"This was a great opportunity to compete against a program of their caliber," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, who used Catherine McMahon (4-1), Tori Meyer and Caroline Hoppe on the mound. "I'm glad we had a chance to play them."

Sandburg belted 3 home runs in the game and led 9-2 before the Fillies pushed across 3 runs in the top of the sixth.