Maine West takes 2 from Resurrection

If the Maine West softball team needed a confidence builder, it sure got one Wednesday afternoon in Chicago.

After a 1-2 start at the Spring Fling tournament last week, the Warriors returned to the diamond and swept a doubleheader from a Resurrection team (2-2) that has been ranked among the top five in the Chicago area.

The defending Central Suburban North champs defeated highly-regarded junior Hannah Somogyi 1-0 in the opener.

West junior Emily Ott threw a 2-hitter to notch the win, striking out 10 and waling two.

Making her varsity debut in Game 2, freshman southpaw Amanda Wessell fired a 2-hit shutout as the Warriors won 6-0.

In the opener, featuring the team's two aces, the Warriors got the only run in the top of the fourth.

Ott (2-for-5) reached on a one-out single and took second on an error on the play.

After Margo Ehorn flew out sharply to right, Caryn McGinley's bloop single to center brought home Ott for the game-winner off Somogyi, who was 25-2 last year with an ERA of 0.93.

"It was a good game with two great pitchers," said Maine West coach Mike Murin. "We just took advantage of that 1 error in the fourth inning.

"It was a great team effort. Emily pitched well and the defense played great (no errors) behind her."

Wessell struck out two and walked four in Game 2. Ott and Katie Lowe each had doubles while Jacki Janecek was 2-for-3 with 1 run. Junior Jenna Depa was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI as the Warriors scored 3 runs in the third and fifth innings.

"Amanda did a pretty decent job," Murin said. "She gave up just 2 hits and defensively, we played well again behind her."

Maine West has won three straight since an 0-2 start.

"The girls are playing well," Murin said. "It's always good to take down a good team like Resurrection. The girls were pretty excited."

Barron Collier (Fla.) 3, Prospect 0: Playing its second game in as many days in Florida, Prospect (0-2) ran into a another stellar pitcher from Florida on Wednesday.

Barron Collier right-handed ace Kirsti Buchholz, a four-year varsity performer and team captain who was Class 5A all state honorable mention last spring, struck out eight while tossing a 3-hitter.

Prospect ace Sheri Weidner, Mary Kate Ward and Amanda Milikan had the hits for the Knights, who return home Saturday for a game with Glenbrook North.

"We know what direction we must head now," said Knights coach Brenda Martin. "We played two of the best teams around. We'll be ready when we get back."

Weidner (0-2) struck out five and walked none while throwing on the mound 43 feet from home as opposed to Illinois' 40 feet.

"They went to that distance about two years ago," Martins said. "Florida was one of the guinea-pig states for that longer distance. Sheri did real well to adjust. She and Cyndi (Becker, the catcher) really did a great job. They complemented each other really well."

Martin said the Knights put down some good slap hits but Collier's defense handled them well.

"And defensively, we were not as sharp as Tuesday," Martin said. "Offensively, the girls wanted to hit so bad that they got away from the basics. So hopefully we'll get back on track when we get home."

Leyden 3, Larkin 1: Sophomore Dana Thomas (3-0) struck out three and walked one while tossing a 7-hitter for the Eagles (3-0).

Chris Cook's 2-run single in the sixth brought home Nicole Spisak and Gina Reggi for the game's first 2 runs.

Spisak, Amanda Moran, Lauren Sullivan and Kim Giannini also had hits for Leyden.

Thomas has 16 strikeouts in 3 wins.

Bartlett sweeps Hoffman: Bartlett won 12-8 and 6-0 in the twin bill.

Losing pitcher Natalie Miceli went 4-for-5 in Game 1 with 3 RBI and a triple while freshman Kelsey Pellus was 2-for-4. Christina Bartoszewski also had a double for Hoffman (0-2).