Softball: Barrington holds off Palatine for 12th win

Barrington softball players knew they were in for a tough test on Monday when they visited a Palatine team that started off the season 9-1.

The Fillies got it, and passed - but not before a tense final two innings.

Barrington led 5-0 going into the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Anna Selleck belted a two-out bases loaded triple to right center to cut the deficit to 5-3.

The Pirates got the tying run on base in the seventh with a one-out infield hit by the speedy Grace Huff.

But sophomore reliever Tori Meyer closed the door with a pair of strikeouts to give the Fillies the 5-3 Mid-Suburban West victory.

"I credit Palatine," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, whose state-ranked club improved to 12-1 and 4-0 in the Mid-Suburban West. "They did not quit. When the game was 5-0, they kept battling and that has a lot to do with their quality athletes and the leadership of Nicole Pauly (Pirates coach). She has her team believing."

Junior Catherine McMahon (9-1) went the first five innings to earn the win over junior Sarah Grossman (7-1), who went the first 4⅓ innings (3 strikeouts).

Rhiann Dick entered in the fifth with two runners on base and struck out the two batters she faced.

"Rhiann did a really good job bailing us out at the end," said Pauly of her freshman left-hander, who struck out three and retired the side in the seventh thanks to an outstanding diving grab in center field by Huff.

Huff, who has also thrown out three runners at the plate this spring, had 2 of the 5 hits for the Pirates (9-2, 2-1).

"Grace gets on base any way she can and it becomes so contagious," Pauly said. "Her leadership skills as a sophomore are outstanding and she is truly the heart of out team."

Barrington senior Rachel Krzysko accounted for the game-winning RBI when her sacrifice fly to center in the third inning brought home Jenna Patino, who led off the inning by reaching on an error.

The Fillies made it 3-0 in the fifth on back-to-back bases-loaded singles by Haley Luczak and Julia Kozar, which scored Abbey Jacobsen and Leyden Atlas.

Barrington extended the lead to 5-0 in the sixth on Jacobsen's RBI triple to right followed by Atlas' RBI groundout.

"Things didn't fall our way," Pauly said. "Our energy and bats didn't come out until the last few innings and against a great team like Barrington that's too late."

Junior Maddie Craver and freshman Chase Friel also had hits for the Pirates.

Carly Kordich (2-for-4), Kendall Peterson and Haley Luczak each went 2-for-3 for the Fillies and Kozar was 2-for-4.

"I thought our pitching was pretty dominant and that's a credit to Catherine and Tori," Jacobsen said. "We wanted to get that lead early and I'm very glad we were able to get a win like this."

Meyer came through after the Pirates picked up their momentum in the sixth inning.

"I didn't do well my first full inning in the game," said Meyer, also an all-area basketball guard. "I just had to try and finish the game off. After they got the runner on base (in the seventh), I knew I had to find a way to get the next two outs. Kendall (Peterson, also a sophomore, playing third base) kept talking to me and calming me down."