Softball: Craver collects second win; Fremd edges Prospect

Maddie Craver was making only her second start of the season on Friday.

But the Palatine junior right-hander made it her second win.

Craver (2-0) threw a 4-hitter with 4 strikeouts as Palatine raised its record to 16-4 and 7-2 in the Mid-Suburban West with a 5-1 softball triumph over visiting Wheeling.

Leading the Pirates' offense was Amanda Stanczuk (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Craver (1-for-3, 2 RBI).

Craver had a perfect game through the first four innings.

Dakota Medrano broke it up with a single to left in the top of the fifth.

The next two batters reached safely and Sarah Grossman came in with bases loaded and no outs. She finished the game giving up 1 unearned run.

The Pirates scored all their runs in the bottom of the fourth. Brittany Padden led off with a single, Brooke Bauer doubled and Stanczuk hit a shot in the gap to drive in. Anna Selleck then drove in Stanczuk with a single. Grace Seiffert singled, and after a strikeout, Rhiann Dick singled.

Grace Huff then hit a hard shot up the middle but shortstop Peyton LaCaeyse snagged it and threw home for the force. With two outs, Craver helped herself with a 2-rin single two RBI single to make to 5-0.

Wheeling (2-14, 0-9) scored its run in the top of the sixth.

Fremd 12, Prospect 10: Grace Stevens (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs) belted 2 homers while Jess Mazur (3-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 runs) and Lexi D'Ambrosio (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 1 run) each had one to lead the offense for host Fremd (11-5, 6-3) in the MSL crossover.

Other multiple hitters for Fremd were Anne Marie O'Sullivan (3-for-4, RBI) and Nikki Kehoe (2-for-3, RBI, run), who was the winning pitcher (5-3), giving up 8 hits and striking out eight in 6 innings. Mazur went the seventh, allowing 1 hit.

Alex Kanter was the offensive player of the game for Prospect (9-6, 4-5). She went 4-for-4 with a homer, double and 5 RBI.

Hersey 12, Hoffman Estates 1 (5 inn.): Visiting Hersey (14-4, 6-3) grabbed a one-game lead for first place in the MSL East over Elk Grove (15-5, 5-4) as sophomore Brianna Luciano (10-4) earned the win with 7 strikeouts. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Makayla Tsagalis belted a home run for the Huskies while Remy Gerew (2-for-4, double) and Sofia Cano (2-for-3) were other multiple hitters for the Huskies.

Patricia Wadas, Mary Bean and Brianna Venegas had the 3 hits for Hoffman (2-13, 1-8)

Conant 14, Buffalo Grove 2 (5 inn): Morgan Bihun (2-for-2, homer run, 4 RBI, 2 runs), Delaney Szwed (2-for-4, double, 2 runs), Makenna McCarthy (2-for-3, 3 runs), Jackie Burchfield (2-for-4, 2 RBU, 3 runs) and Carly Rossdeutcher (2-for-3, 4 RBI, 3 runs) led the offense for host Conant (12-4, 7-2) in the MSL West game.

Sam Gadomski (3 innings) and Jackie Carlucci (2 innings) combined for a 7-hitter.

Olivia Morini (2-for-3) and Jasmine Avalos (2-for-2) were multiple hitters for BG (11-10, 3-6) while Kylee Gucwa, Lauren Beiersdorf and Katie Fontanetta each had 1 hit.

Schaumburg 7, Rolling Meadows 0: Schaumburg senior Michelle Birkholz (2-5) threw a 5-hitter with 11 strikeouts and also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Other top hitters for the host Saxons (6-9, 5-4) were Kaiden Jackson (2-for-3, triple), Alex Cook (2-for-4, double, RBI), Cate Poplar (2-for-3, RBI), Micaela Encarnacion (2-for-4, double, 2 RBI) and Natalie Napier (2-for-4). Other hits were contributed by Brittney Butt (2 RBI) and Talia Torosian.

Stephanie Thompson led the Mustangs (6-16, 1-7) by going 2-for-3 with a double while Caroline Slowik had a double and Parker Cavanaugh and Lydia Schultz recorded singles.