Hoffman Estates 2, Wheeling 0
After going 2-for-2 with a walk, Hoffman Estates leadoff batter Colleen Roberts had to leave Tuesday's game with visiting Wheeling in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a practice exam for the ACT.
"I wasn't too happy about it," said the junior shortstop with a laugh. "That's why I had to make sure I got on base every time so I could make up for it."
After she had singled with one out, Hoffman coach Lindsey Hamma brought sophomore Melissa Wilkes in to pinch run as Roberts departed for the school's cafeteria for testing.
Wilkes came in to score on Jenna Pellus' single to left giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead, which ended up the final score in their first win of the season in the Mid-Suburban League softball contest.
"This was a really important win," said Hawks junior ace Kaitlin Walsh, who fired a 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk. "Hopefully, this starts a bunch of wins. We needed this and now we can take things from here."
The Hawks (1-8-1, 1-3) took advantage of Natalie Miceli's leadoff single to right in the third inning to score their first run.
Freshman catcher Kelsey Pellus singled to left with one out and Miceli came home on freshman Emily Fett's groundout to senior shortstop Cheryl Bauer.
Wheeling's best chance came in the top of the fifth when it loaded the bases with no outs.
Senior Nicole Schroeder started with a double of the left field wall, then Bauer reached on a fielder's choice and Kara Giordano on an error.
But Walsh got a 5-2 fielder's choice (third baseman Rachel Marinoff to catcher Kelsey Pellus), a strikeout and a grounder to Roberts to escape.
"Kaitlin did her job," Hamma said. "She got groundball outs when we needed them and the defense did the job behind her. She made quick work of things."
Wheeling ace Carly Speidel gave her team a chance to win, too.
The senior right-hander struck out six and made a terrific catch on Miceli's liner right back at her to end the fifth.
Also in the inning, Wildcats sophomore third baseman Kelsi Jurik made a great play on Marinoff's blazing ground ball.
"A couple of our younger kids are coming around," said Wheeling coach Beth Anderson. "Kelsi Jurik made that nice play at third. Scout Scanlon ran down a tough ball in right field.
"Carly doesn't even see those shots back at her. She just reacts so well. She's been pitching since she eight years old."
Speidel, Becky Menelle and Scanlon had the other hits for Wheeling (0-5, 0-4).
"We definitely had our chances," Anderson said. "We're still looking for some of our seniors to step up, especially at the plate."
Roberts was the only player with multiple hits in the game. Alex Wulbecker also had a hit for Hoffman.
"We'd like to not have to settle for only 2 runs," Hamma said. "But it will come. In the fifth inning with runners on second and third, we had two shots that they made nice plays on. I told the girls that as long as they hit it like that, it's a hit in our minds.
"Hopefully, this win proves to be a catalyst for us through the rest of the week."
Meadows 5, Maine S. 3: Freshman Kayla Mueller won her first varsity start, throwing 6¿ innings with 3 strikeouts and no walks. Carissa Stewart got the final batter to pop to shortstop Maddie Urban with runners on first and second.
Freshman Abby Matayka's RBI double made it 5-2 in the fifth inning.
The Mustangs went ahead 4-0 in the second on an RBI double by Urban (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and RBI single by Angela Mahanna (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
Senior Bonnie Weglarz was also 2-for-4 for the visiting Mustangs (3-4) and Stewart had a double.
Maine W. 2, Glenbrook N. 1: Junior ace Emily Ott (6-1) threw a 1-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks for host West (8-2, 2-0) in the Central Suburban North.
Junior Jackie Janecek went 2-for-3 with two singles.