Softball: Grossman, Palatine pull out third win
Senior Sarah Grossman tossed a 2-hitter with 15 strikeouts and did not give up an earned run as the Palatine softball team improved to 3-0 on Wednesday with a 7-4 nonconference win at Evanston.
Grossman kept her ERA at 0.00 in 14 innings as the Wildkits (2-1) took advantage of 5 errors to score their 4 runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game.
But the Pirates answered with 3 runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away for Grossman.
"The confidence we have as a team helps us keep our heads in the game all seven innings," Grossman said. "I was doing my best to hit my spots and keep us in the game. I had confidence that the offense would come through to score those runs at the end and give us the win."
"Sarah did a great job hitting her spots and remaining calm when things weren't going our way," said Pirates assistant coach Kristen Proffitt. "It's tough to pitch in these conditions, and I was really impressed with how tough she was.
"Fifteen strikeouts in a game is an incredible feat, and in this cold it was even more impressive. It has been really fun calling pitches for her so far this season."
In the top of the seventh, Anna Selleck started the inning with a single. Kaitlyn Reed followed with a single to left field to give the Pirates two baserunners. Emily Parrott then belted a 2-run triple to left for a 6-4 lead.
Maddie Craver singled and Grace Huff grounded out to second for the third run of the inning.
Grossman completed the win by striking out the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the seventh. She then got pop outs to second baseman Grace Seiffert and shortstop Parrott to secure the win.
Craver finished 4-for-4 with a double and RBI.
"I was just trying to get on base to help put our team in the best position to score as many runs as we could," Craver said. "I was confident that we would string hits together and we pulled it out as a team in the end."
Other leading hitters for coach Nicole Capalbo's Pirates were Reed (2-for-3, triple, 2 runs), Huff (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Parrott (1-for-3, triple, 2 RBI). Amanda Stanczuk also doubled for Palatine.
Barrington 18, Maine West 0 (5 inn.): Senior Caroline Hoppe fired a 2-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks as the Fillies (3-0) advanced to the championship game of their own Spring Fling against Warren (3-0) at 4:45 p.m. Thursday.
Barrington senior Jenna Patino (2-for-3, 4 RBI) belted her third homer of the season while teammate Abbey Jacobsen also hit one over the fence. Other multiple hitters for Barrington were Katherine Stagnito (2-for-3, 4 runs) and Samantha Murphy (2-for-2, double).
Maine West (3-1) will face Hersey (1-1) for third place today at 4:45 p.m.
The Huskies fell to Warren 6-0.
Crystal Lake Central 23, Hoffman Estates 2 (5 innings): Morgan Paaske went for 4-for-4 with 2 home runs for CLC (2-0), which did not commit an error while handing Hoffman Estates a loss in its season opener.
The Hawks got doubles from Mary Bean, Emily Grossi and Jenny Calimiere and a single by Allura Magsino.