Softball: Pancini puts Prospect on winning end

Just when it appeared Fremd might have been making an improbable comeback in Mt. Prospect on Wednesday, Kaitlyn Pancini came into to spoil the plotline for the Vikings, who had the tying run in the batter's box .

The Prospect senior right fielder raced to her right and made a nifty running catch on McKenna Schneider's well-hit flyball to the right-center gap, allowing the Knights to hang on for a wild 15-13 triumph in the Mid-Suburban League crossover.

"I was running into it," Pancini said. "I thought I had it and I knew I just had to squeeze it."

When it landed in her glove, the Knights (7-1, 2-0) were finally able to breathe easier after leading by as many as 11 runs.

It was 13-2 going into the top of the fifth when Fremd (5-2, 1-0) was down to its final out to avoid the 10-run rule. That's when Grace Stevens' 2-run single made it 13-4 and the game moved on.

"It was getting a little nerve-wracking there at the end," said Knights coach Krystina Mackowiak. "Their bats were hot. I knew we could never count them out. That was an outstanding catch by Kaitlyn (Pancini). I couldn't have asked for anything more."

Nor could she have asked for a better start when Laurene Caldrone belted her first grand slam and Alyssa Cacini hit a 3-run blast over the fence to highlight a 9-run bottom of the first.

"Everyone was just ready to attack in the first inning," said the Northwestern-bound Caldrone, who went 4-for-5 with a career-high 8 RBI and a double. "You could see that by us getting those 9 runs. Everyone was in it to win it."

"I'd say this was one of the most exciting games I've played in," said Cacini (2-for-5, 4 RBI), also a four-year starter who will play at Dayton. "The same thing happened last year when we played Fremd except we were on the other side (12-10 loss). So it was exciting to get the win this time. I think we can compete with any team in our conference and this showed it. We've definitely been working for this."

Fremd was working hard in each inning to get back in the game.

Pitcher Hannah Ban came in to get the final out of the first inning and ended up with 6 strikeouts.

"Hannah kept us in the game," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner. "In that moment after watching them hang 9 runs on us, it's tough to come in there and stick it out, but she did it against a very good lineup which had a good approach on us today."

Also getting hits for the Knights were leadoff batter Cassie Cunniff (2-for-3, 3 runs), Jackie Orel (1-for-1, double, 2 walks, hit by pitch), Madeline Borkowski, Pancini and Alex Kanter.

Sophomore pitcher Claire Doherty kept her record perfect at 5-0, getting 7 strikeouts.

The Vikings ended up outhitting the hosts 14-12, led by Ban (3-for-3, double, walk), Stevens (3-for-5, 4 RBI, double), starting pitcher Jess Mazur (2-for-4), Anna Freveletti (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Gianna Arnieri (1-for-2, double, 3 RBI). Lexi D'Ambrosio reached base four times and had a double while Nikki Kehoe and Hailey Hazlett also has hits. Kaylee Goluch had an RBI.

"Fremd is a good team," Mackowiak said. "This is definitely a good start to the week for us."

Junior Emalee Deppa entered the game in the top of the sixth inning and recorded the final 6 outs for the Knights.

"Getting those 9 runs in first inning got us off to a great start and it always helps your pitchers," Mackowiak said.

"Our bad first inning actually started in the top half when we didn't score after getting three runners on base (Arnieri, Stevens and Mazur all reached)," Teschner said. "We did not really have a good approach at the plate there. The good thing was that we fought through it and found ways to score in four of next six innings against a very good team. But like I told our girls, we did it to ourselves."