Softball: Big return for Elk Grove's Thomsen

Kylie Thomsen returned on Friday from a broken finger she suffered on her pitching hand over a week ago against Resurrection.

There was nothing broken with Thomsen's bat.

The senior pitcher belted pair of 2-run homers (second and sixth innings) and earned the win in Elk Grove's 9-1 win over visiting Glenbard West in the nonconference softball game.

Thomsen threw the first four innings while Sabra Morton went the final three as Elk Grove improved to 5-0 on the young season.

"It was nice to have her back," said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams of Thomsen, a St. Cloud State recruit who went 2-for-3 with 4 RBI.

Other top hitters for the Grens were Jaimie Klicka (2-for-4), Morton (2-for-4) and Alexa Fontanetta (2-for-3).

Barrington 10, Waubonsie Valley 2: Kendall Peterson (2-for-4, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Haley Luczak (2-for-4, double, 3 RBI), Abbey Jacobsen (2-for-4, RBI) and Leyden Atlas (2-for-2, 2 runs) led the Fillies (8-1).

Carly Kordich and Rachel Krzysko also had doubles for Barrington, which improved to 7-0 at the Fields of Dreams.

Catherine McMahon (6-1) earned the win, pitching the first four innings (6 strikeouts). Tori Meyer struck out the side in the fifth and Caroline Hoppe recorded 1 strikeouts while working the final two innings.

Palatine 13, Leyden 3 (6 inn): Junior pitcher Sarah Grossman struck out five in a compete game and improved to 3-0 as the Pirates topped host Leyden 13-3 in the six innings in Rosemont.

Leading the offense for the Pirates (3-1) were Grace Huff (4-for-5, double, RBI, 1 run stolen base), Amanda Stanczuk (2-for-3, 2 doubles, 4 RBI), Emily Parrott (2-for-4, triple, 2 runs) and Brittany Padden (1-for-4, triple).

Stanczuk had a 2-run two run double in the first inning to give the Pirates their first lead. Grace Seiffert and Grossman also drove in runs.

Huff doubled in the second inning and Emily Parrott singled. Stanczuk delivered another double for 2 more runs.

Parrott's triple drove home Huff in the fifth before the Pirates added 2 more runs in the sixth.

Freshman Emily Brinckerhoff came in to pinch hit and got her first varsity hit, driving in Brooke Bauer. Padden then tripled to score Brinckerhoff and Anna Selleck.

Leyden threatened in the bottom of the sixth. But with the bases loaded, Huff caught a fly in center field and threw home to cut down the runner who had tagged at third.

Hersey 7, Niles North 1: Senior Katie Wingerter belted her fifth homer of the season and pitcher Brianna Luciano improved to 3-1 as Hersey raised its record to 5-1 with the nonconference win in Skokie.

Hannah Graff (2-for-3), Jackie Bednar (2-for-4) and Remy Gerew (2-for-4) were multiple hitters for the Huskies, who also received a double from Asia Luboyeski.

Sara Bailitz (2-0) worked the fourth through sixth innings for Hersey before Luciano came back for the seventh.

St. Viator 11. Hoffman Estates 6: Jenna Breslin had 2 doubles while Cam VanValkenburg (3 hits) and Cece Kaiser had one apiece for the host Lions, who improved to 4-2.

Winning pitcher Grace Kaiser (3-1) also collected 3 hits along with 3 RBI.

Maggie VanValkenburg had an infield hit and scored the run ended up at second.

Cece Kaiser laced a single to right to score Maggie Van Valkenburg for the game-winning RBI in the fifth inning.

The Lions added 4 insurance runs in the sixth after a leadoff walk.

Breslin doubled off the wall. Addie Swiderski, Aryana Ziakas and Haley Robinson followed with singles and Maggie VanValkenburg capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.

Grace Kaiser retired 12 of the last 15 hitters she faced, shutting out the Hawks for the final three innings.

Mary Bean had a home run and triple for Hoffman (0-4) while Brynn Connelly had 2 doubles and Emily Grossi one.

St. Viator hosts Wheeling at 2 p.m. today.

Niles West 6, Rolling Meadows 2: Junior pitcher Lydia Schultz (2-for-3, double) and sophomore Sam Allen (1-for-3, double) led the Mustangs (3-2), who were the visitors on the scoreboard but playing on their home field.

The Wolverines scored 5 runs in the top of the first. Schultz gave up only 1 run in the final six innings, and finished with 9 strikeouts.

Willowbrook 13, Wheeling 8: Dakota Medrano went 3-for-4 with 3 doubles, 2 runs and an RBI for visiting Wheeling (2-2). Other top hitters for the Wildcats were Nikki Ferraro (2-for-4, 1 run), Peyton LaCaeyse (2-for-4, double, 2 RBI), Kaitlyn Schuetz (2-for-4, double, 1 run) and Olivia Walker (2-for-4, 1 run), who made a terrific catch over the fence to prevent a home run in the fourth inning.

Hampshire 13, Schaumburg 8: Kaiden Jackson (2-for-5, RBI), Michelle Birkholz (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Summer Schulz (1-for-4, home run, 3 RBI), Cate Poplar (2-for-4), Natalie Napier (2-for-4, double RBI) led the offense for Schaumburg.

Other hits for the visiting Saxons (0-2) were by Micaela Encarnacion, Talia Torosian (RBI), Rachel Kissamis, Brittney Butt and Alex Cook.