Softball: Conant stays on Barrington's heels
Conant's softball team raised its record to 11-3 and remained 1 game behind Barrington for first place in the Mid-Suburban West with a 4-0 triumph over visiting Schaumburg on Monday.
Jackie Birchfield belted a homer for the Cougars while Maddy Meier went 2-for-3 with 1 run and an RBI. Morgan Bihun (double), Delaney Szwed, Carly Rossdeutcher and Sydney Correa also had hits for the Cougars (6-1 in the West, behind 7-0 Barrington), who received a 2-hitter with 5 strikeouts from senior Sam Gadomski.
Pitcher Michelle Birkholz (7 hitter, 1 strikeout) and Brittany Butt had the hits for the Saxons (4-9, 3-4).
Hersey 11, Rolling Meadows 0 (6 inn.): Sophomore Sarah Bailitz threw a 1-hitter with 3 strikeouts for visiting Hersey (11-4, 4-3), which remained in a first-place tie with Elk Grove in the MSL East.
Elizabeth Elkin's single with two outs in the fourth inning was the only hit off Bailitz, who had a 6-0 lead after one inning.
Makayla Tsagalis (2-for-4, double), Hannah Graff (3-for-4) and Remy Gerew (2-for-3) led the offense for Hersey.
Lydia Schultz took the loss for Meadows (6-13, 1-4).
Elk Grove 7, Wheeling 0: Senior Kylie Thomsen (7-2) threw a 1-hitter with a season-high 14 strikeouts for the host Grenadiers (14-4, 4-3) who are tied for first with Hersey in the MSL East.
Haley Itzenthaler (2-for-3, double, 2 runs) and Sabra Morton (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) were multiple hitters for the Grenadiers while Keeley Cronin and Katia Pendowski each went 1-for-2 for the Grens other hits.
Freshman pitcher Emmie LaCaeyse, who gave up only 1 earned run, also had the only hit for Wheeling (2-12, 0-7).
Prospect 7, Buffalo Grove 4: Junior Colleen Palczynski belted a home run and had 2 RBI to help Prospect win the MSL East game and improve to 7-5 and 2-4. Freshman Claire Doherty (5-3) earned the win as Prospect outhit BG 10-6.
Jasmine Avalos had a double for BG, which received 2 RBI from Grace Gran.
Barrington 15, Hoffman Estates 9 (5 inn): Kendall Peterson (3-for-3, double 3 RBI), Rachel Krzysko (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI) and Abbey Jacobsen (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI) led the offense for host Barrington (19-1, 7-0) while junior Caroline Hoppe (3-0) threw a 2-hitter with 2 strikeouts.
Other multiple hitters for the Fillies were Carly Kordich (2-for-3, 3 runs) and Julia Kozar (2-for-4, RBI).
Emily Grossi and Mary Bean had the hits for Hoffman (2-10, 1-5).
Maine West 11, Elmwood Park 1: Freshman Jessica Steingard (4-6) threw a 2-hitter with 3 strikeouts for the host Warriors (6-90 in the nonconference game.
Steingard (2-for-3, RBI) and Bridget Christiansen (2-for-3, triple, 3 runs, 1 run) were multiple hitter for West. Teammates Alison Pearson (double), Megan Swanson, Amanda Bryne (double) and Katelyn Aragon each had 1 hit and 2 RBI. Gabriella Demma also double for the Warriors.
St. Viator 10, Maine South 7: Winning pitcher Grace Kaiser and Jenna Breslin each belted a homer and double for the host Lions (9-4) in the nonconference game. Ardito also had a double.
It was the first homer of the season for Kaiser, who had 3 hits along with teammate Adeline Swiderski.
Cameron VanValkenburg added 2 hit for Viator while Maggie VanValkenburg made an inning-ending diving catch in right field to save 2 runs.
It was Breslin's fourth homer and she had 4 RBI in the game.
"Grace Kaiser was hit hard early," said Lions Coach John Scotillo "But she didn't get rattled and made big pitches when she had to. All of a sudden she had 9 strikeouts and allowed only 1 unearned run the last 4 innings."