Softball: Elkins' walk-off lifts Rolling Meadows
Softball
Wednesday was Mid-Suburban League season-ending crossover day.
One game featured the winning run crossing the plate in the final inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Carroll College recruit Elizabeth Elkins singled to left field with the bases loaded to drive in Caroline Slowik and give Rolling Meadows a dramatic 7-6 triumph over visiting Schaumburg (13-15).
"We finally played a complete game," said Meadows coach Tony Wolanski, whose team visits Highland Park at 4:30 p.m. today.
Elkins (2-for-5), Sam Allen (3-for-3) and Mallory King (2-for-4) were multiple hitters for Meadows (8-24), which received doubles from Stephanie Thompson, Parker Cavanaugh, Allen and Amanda Elkins.
Micaela Encarnacion (2-for-4, double), Michelle Birkholz (2-for-4) and Cate Poplar (2-for-4) were the top hitters for Schaumburg, which got a 2-run, two-out homer by Summer Schulz to tie the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning, capping a Saxons comeback from a 6-1 deficit.
Sophomore Elise Kowalski went all the seven innings for the win.
Palatine 11, Elk Grove 1 (5 inn.): Freshman Rhiann Dick (7-6) struck out three to earn the win in the second-place MSL crossover game at Elk Grove (22-9).
Kylie Thomsen struck out five for the Grens.
Brittany Padden (3-for-4, double, home run, 6 RBI), Grace Huff (3-for-4, 3 runs), Maddie Craver (1-for-2, 2 walks, 2 runs) and Sarah Grossman (2-for-3, RBI) led the Pirates' offense.
Padden reached base in all four trips to the plate and belted her 12th double of the year. Grace Seiffert also doubled for Palatine (22-7).
Keeley Cronin singled home Katia Pendowski for the Grens' run in the fifth inning. Haley Itzenthaler went 3-for-3 for EG. Kylie Thomsen struck out five for the Grens.
Conant 15, Buffalo Grove 0 (5 inn.): Carly Rossdeutcher and Morgan Bihun each doubled for visiting Conant while Lauren Grzelak had 3 RBI and Maddy Meier had 2.
Jackie Carlucci (9-2) earned the win for the Cougars. Grace Gran doubled for BG (14-17).
The win gave Cougars hall of fame coach CathyAnn Smith another 20-win season as her Cougars raised their record to 20-6.
Fremd 10, Prospect 0 (5 inn.): Fremd (18-7) scored 7 runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back as Hannah Ban (4-2) went the first three innings to earn the win. Nikki Kehoe threw the final two innings, striking out two.
Leading the Fremd offense were Jessica Mazur (2-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI, double), Reagan Schneider (2-for-3, 2 runs), Becca Uhrich (2-for-3, double, 2 runs, RBI), Ann Marie O'Sullivan (2-for-4, 3 RBI) and Anna Freveletti (double).
Alex Kanter, Lauren Caldrone, Jackie Orel and Eileen Donohue had the 4 hits for Prospect (12-14). Knights pitcher Madeline Borkowski struck out seven in five innings of work.
Wheeling 16, Hoffman Estates 6 (5 inn.): Nikki Ferraro (2-for-3, 4 runs, 2 RBI, triple), Katelyn Schuetz (2-for-4, 4 RBI 3 runs), Emmie LaCaeyse (3-for-5, 4 RBI, double), Dakota Medrano (2-for-3, RBI), Sophia Stanke (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 run) led the offense for host Wheeling (4-22).
LaCaeyse also earned the win, throwing a 4-hitter with 7 strikeouts.
Freshman Emily Grossi struck out four in 3⅔ innings of relief and also went 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 doubles for visiting Hoffman (3-20).
St. Viator 11, Carmel 3: Adeline Swiderski, CeCe Kaiser and Nicole Ardito each homered for Viator. It was Kaiser's fourth of the season and Ardito's first of her career.
Cam VanValkenburg (3 hits) had a double and triple for the Lions while Ardito doubled.
The Lions scored in every inning but the second.
"Nicole Ardito, who is not 5 feet with her spikes on, said after hitting the home run, 'Well, that was weird,' " said Lions coach John Scotillo. "She is quick to the ball. l hoping that weird feeling becomes normal over the next three years."