Softball: Fifth perfect MSL campaign for Barrington
Barrington's softball team completed the fifth perfect conference softball season in the school's 50-year history of the sport.
Senior Catherine McMahon (12-1) fired a 3-hitter with 4 strikeouts as the Fillies topped visiting Conant 11-1 in 5 innings at the Fields of Dreams on Tuesday.
Barrington (28-3) finished 16-0 in the Mid-Suburban West to join four other perfect conference teams (1982, 1994, 2003 and 2013). Pam Devins was the head coach of the 1982 squad, with Perry Peterson directing the last four.
The Fillies will host their first MSL title game since 2008 on Thursday at 5 p.m.
Leading the offense on Tuesday were Kendall Peterson (2-for3, 2 RBI, double), Rachel Mori (2-for 3, double) and Jenna Patino (double).
Morgan Long belted a home run for Conant (14-9, 10-6).
Palatine 9, Schaumburg 0: Senior Sarah Grossman (17-2) struck out 12, giving her more than 200 strikeouts for the season as the visiting Pirates improved to 23-5 and a 14-2 finish in the MSL West.
"Sarah worked extremely hard in the off-season and had a season goal to get to 200 strikeouts," said Palatine coach Nicole Capalbo. "Her focus to hit her spots, her gamer mentality, and her trust in her coaches is why she is one of the best pitchers in the state.
"This win gave us momentum going in to post season. I love postseason because it's all about the team - the team trumps individual statistics. I'm excited to watch our girls compete for a state title."
Leading the Pirates' offense were Grace Huff (2-for-4, home run, double, 4 RBI), Amanda Stanczuk (2-for-4, 4 RBI), Emily Parrott (3-for-5), Brittany Padden (3-for-4) and Maddie Craver (2-for-4, walk 2 runs, stolen base.
Grossman finished 10-1 in the West.
"This team is very special to me on and off the field and has worked extremely hard for the last year, and it is exciting to see it all coming together," Grossman said. "I was just focusing on making the ball spin today and move the way I wanted it to and hit the spots that were being called. Accomplishing our goals and pushing for more is going to help us mentally and I am very proud of everyone for helping each other reach them."
Talia Torosian (double), Tiffani Rudnick and Tatiana Cooper had the hits for Schaumburg (2-20, 2-14).
Fremd 7, Hoffman Estates 2: Lexi D'Ambrosio (2-for-4), Hannah Ban (2-for-4, double), Jess Mazur (double) and Kelsey Brauer (double) led the offense for visiting Fremd (17-9, 9-7) in the MSL West win.
Mazur recorded the win, striking out eight and giving up 3 hits in 6 innings.
Emily Grossi, Ayanna Ward and Giselle Velazquez (RBI) had the hits for Hoffman (4-17-1, 3-13) which also received a bases-loaded walk from Brianna Venegas.
Buffalo Grove 12, Rolling Meadows 5: Freshman Kylie Mainville was the winning pitcher as host Buffalo Grove improved to 6-16 and 4-11 in the MSL East.
Megan Fontanetta belted a home run and went 4-for-4 the 4 RBI for BG. Sam Hanser also homered for the Bison while Olivia Morini went 2-for 5.
Multiple hitters for the Mustangs (9-16) were Caroline Slowik (2-for-4) and Kendra Herrin (2-for-3, 2 RBI) while Parker Cavanaugh doubled.
Hersey 7, Vernon Hills 5: Visiting Hersey (20-5) earned its second straight 20-win season under coach Molly Freeman with the nonconference win.
Leading the Huskies' offense was Makayla Tsagalis (2-for-3, double), Hannah Graff (2-for-4, double), Jodi Hermann (2-for-3, double) and Renae Curtis (2-for-3). Winning pitcher Brianna Luciano (10-4), Ria Patel and Sarah Bailitz all saw time on the mound.
St. Viator 9, Highland Park 5: Lions senior Jessica Taylor scattered 6 hits while striking out 11 as the winning pitcher. She also had 2 hits for the visiting Lions (5-24) in the nonconference win.
Viator was up 1-0 in the second when Nicole Ardito (3 hits, 2 doubles, 4 RBI) doubled home a pair of runs. She doubled home another run in the fourth inning.
The Giants had cut the lead to 1 after 6 innings.
In the seventh innings, singles by Annie Sweeney (2 hits), Morgan Bielfeldt (2 hits) and Taylor set the table for a 2-run single by Maggie VanValkenburg. Haley Robinson (4 hits) kept the inning alive with her fourth hit and Ardito drove in her fourth run with a single.