Softball: Barrington edges Conant 2-1
Barrington's softball team remained perfect in the Mid-Suburban West on Wednesday - but not before getting its toughest test in seven league games.
The Fillies scored 2 runs in the top of the fifth inning to edge host Conant 2-1.
Barrington raised its record to 17-1 and 7-0 in the West while Conant, which scored its run in the bottom of the seventh, stands at 8-5 and 4-2.
Central Florida recruit Catherine Hoppe began the decisive fifth-inning rally with the game's only extra-base hit, a one-out double to center field.
The Fillies center fielder, who struck out 11 batters one day earlier as the winning pitcher at Schaumburg, scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
Abbey Jacobsen's two-out single to center brought home Jenna Patino for the second run in the inning.
Senior Catherine McMahon (7-1) earned the win, tossing a 4-hitter with 8 strikeouts.
Senior Jackie Carlucci (3-4) also had 8 strikeouts for Conant, giving up 5 hits.
The Cougars scored in the bottom of the seventh.
Morgan Long drew a one-out walk and pinch runner Katie Maize scored when Makenna McCarthy reached on an infield error.
McMahon got the final out on a grounder to Patino at second base.
Conant's Jackie Burchfield (2-for-3) was the game's only multiple hitter while Trystin Lovas and McCarthy had the other hits for the hosts.
Barrington's offensive received hits from Samantha Murphy, Tori Meyer, Kendall Peterson, Hoppe and Jacobsen.
Rolling Meadows 14, Wheeling 4 (5 inn.): Junior first baseman Sara Benner (2-for-2, 2 walks) hit her career record 18th and 19th homers as host Meadows improved to 6-9 and 3-4 in the MSL East.
Benner blasted a solo shot in the first inning and 2-run blast in the fourth for 4 RBI.
Caroline Slowik and Kendra Herring both doubled for the Mustangs, who received a 5-hitter with 8 strikeouts from Elise Kowalski (6-2).
Wheeling pitcher Emmie LaCaeyse went 2-for-2 at the plate and struck out three. Becky McAtee doubled for the visitors (0-9, 0-6).
Fremd 17, Hoffman Estates 9: Senior Jess Mazur (2-for-3, 5 RBI) punched out her career school-record 26th and 27th homers as the host Vikings raised their record to 10-4 and 4-2 in the MSL West.
Mazur also earned the win, giving up 5 hits and striking out eight in the first three innings.
Other multiple hitters for Fremd were Grace Stevens (2-for-4, 3 runs, 2 doubles), Anna Freveletti (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double) and Gianna Arnieri (2-for-3, 3 RBI, double).
Leading the offense for Hoffman (3-7-1, 2-3) were Giselle Velazquez (4-for-5, double, RBI, 2 runs), Mary Bean (2-for-3), Brianna Venegas (2-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and pitcher Emily Grossi (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
Elk Grove 14, Buffalo Grove 4 (5 inn.): Freshman Olivia Masnica (3-3) threw a 4-hitter with 7 strikeouts as host Elk Grove improved to 7-7 and 3-3 in the MSL East
Masnica also went 2-for-4 for the Grens while teammate Jaimie Klicka was 2-for-3. Katia Pendowski had a double.
Pitcher Megan Fontanetta belted a 2-run homer in the first inning for BG (2-10, 0-6) which also received a double from Olivia Morini.
Palatine 10, Schaumburg 0 (5 inn): Sarah Grossman (9-0) struck out 11 and threw a 3-hitter in the MSL West win.
The host Pirates were led on offense by Maddie Craver (3-for-4, 3 runs), Brittany Padden (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI, 2 runs), Kaitlyn Reed (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Mandy Logan (1-for-1, double)
Logan recorded her first career varsity hit with a double off the left field fence.
"I was thinking about starting off a rally," Logan said. "It felt really good to get my first varsity hit. Coach Proffitt told me to hit a double so I was trying to do that."
Junior Anna Selleck caught Grossman's gem.
"I'm focusing on Sarah and I know that I need to get the calls for her," Selleck said. "I'm doing my best to keep the runners from advancing so my team has confidence and less pressure going in to hit."
"Anna was rock-solid behind the plate," said Pirates assistant coach Kristen Proffitt. "She has caught every single inning. She is such an asset to our team and such a huge part of our success. The way she works behind the plate is outstanding. She really helps our pitchers to be successful and she keeps runners out of scoring position. She makes adjustments to each pitcher, puts them in the best position to be successful, and sets our team up for wins."
Padden had 2 doubles.
"I was going up there with the mentality to swing at the good strikes that she gave me," Padden said. "I knew that if I could just make contact and put it in play that I'd be able to get on base and my teammates would hit me in. Overall it was a great game and there was some great energy out there today"
Carmel 13, St. Viator 0 (5 inn.): Carmel had 3 extra base hits in the East Suburban Catholic Conference win and held the Lions (2-15) of a pair of singles.