Softball: Conant cruises to win over Schaumburg

After falling by just 1 run to Barrington, the Illinois Coaches Association's No. 3-ranked Class 4A softball team, Conant, took some good vibes into its Mid-Suburban West game with visiting Schaumburg on Thursday.

"We were definelty feeling good after that Barrington game (2-1 on Wednesday)," said Cougars senior shortstop Jackie Burchfield. "I think everyone stepped up that game."

Everyone stepped up for the Cougars in Thursday's third inning. The Cougars enjoyed their first double-digit inning of the season, putting up 11 runs en route to 15-5, five-innnng triumph.

Burchfield made a big contribution in the inning, collecting an RBI double and single as 15 batters took went to the plate

"It was a big inning," said Cougars coach Cathyann Smith. "We had a lot of intensity on Wednesday and the girls stayed focused. We had some god hits. Jackie (Burchfield) is seeing the ball really well. I'm really proud of all the girls."

"Our Barrington game was very impressive, especially for the younger girls and seeing how they performed in such an intense game," Burchfield said. "Then to come back and win by the 10-run rule is very solid. Now we've go to keep going one game at a time. We're looking forward to keeping our hitting going."

The Cougars raised their record 9-5 and 5-2 in the West while Schaumburg stands at 0-11 and 0-6.

Leading the Cougars' 11-hit attack was Sydney Correa, who went 3-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI. Delaney Szwed was 2-for-4 including an RBI single in the fifth inning while Makenna McCarthy (double to left center), Morgan Long (RBI), Paige Nallen (2 RBI) and Tara Lovas each had 1 hit.

Lovas also belted a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center in the bottom of the fifth which scored Correa to end the game.

"At any given time, someone can come through for us," Smith said. "Tara is only a freshman and she gave us that sacrifice fly to end the game so I'm pretty proud of her.

"It's good when our team comes together and we are consistently here for the same purpose every game, especially with the way the weather has been and playing so many games in a row (because of make-ups). So I am really proud of the girls' dedication and discipline through the whole week."

Schaumburg came out swinging the bats with authority and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Sophomore Talia Torosian (2-for-3) singled to center with one out and senior catcher Janalee Lyke (2-for-3) followed with a 2-run homer over the left-center field fence.

"Janalee is doing a heck of job behind the plate," said Schaumburg coach Ellen Abreu. "She has been like that all season. She is definitely one of our bigger leaders."

Junior Sage Morton, also 2-for-3, also singled in the first inning before winning pitcher Julia Flaishaker (4-2), a freshman, got a popout to shortstop Burchfield to end the rally.

Also getting hits for the Saxons were Tiffani Rudnick and Ashley Felde, who singled hard off the center field fence in the second inning.

"We talked about how the girls still have fight at the plate," Abreu said. "We've got to clean up our defense (7 errors)."