Unfortunate injury sidelines Garrison

Elk Grove's Caitlin Garrison, a two-time all-conference softball selection and all-area as a sophomore, has been sidelined for the season with a knee injury.

Grenadiers coach Ken Grams said his junior second baseman tore her ACL and MCL while sliding into third base 13 days ago in the first game of a doubleheader against Niles West.

"There was no collision, no contact," said the Hall of Fame coach, whose club was 10-1 going into Wednesday's game at Prospect. "She just heard something pop and that was it."

Grams said Garrison will have surgery next month and require six months before she can get back into action.

"Absolutely a major loss,' Grams said. "Caitlin has been a big run producer (hit .319 last year with 24 RBI, 8 doubles and 4 home runs) for us the last two years. She batted third or fourth both years running and was very productive."

Garrison played shortstop as a freshman, then moved to second base last fall.

"It's a shame," Grams added. "You hate to see it. She is such a competitive girl. I guess the only good thing is that she still has next season to play."

Jamie Campus, a four-year varsity veteran, has moved into second base.

"With a glove in her hand, Jamie is as good as anyone around," Grams said. "Without a doubt, she will fill in well from a defensive standpoint."

Campus missed her sophomore season with a shoulder injury.

New footwear: Metal cleats are being allowed for the first time in Illinois girls softball.

Among the teams using them extensively is five-time defending Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington.

Fillies coach Perry Peterson said he has no complaints from any athlete.

"l've seen no difference," he said. "It's better traction for the girls. Our kids love them."

The Fillies wear red metal cleats at home and black on the road.

"They help the kids make sharper cuts on the field," Peterson added. "They just run the field better with them."

Peterson has seen no slipping on home plate.

"In the past, I've seen kids slip while running across home plate with the molded cleats," he said.

Barrington softball players on all levels are wearing the metal cleats.

The Amateur Softball Association, for which many of the high school players compete in the summer, still does not allow the metal cleats.

"That's the No. 1 negative," Peterson said. "They will not be allowed this summer.

"All in all, I think they're a non-factor. Just like you heard people worry about the designated player and flex when it was introduced or illegal pitches being called, I don't think any of these things have made a real difference to our game.

"I respect what others say about those things but I have had no problems."

Elk Grove coach Ken Grams said his girls are not wearing metal cleats.

"I told my girls, 'Let's wait and see,'" he said. "I don't want to go out and make them buy them because they can't wear them in the summer.

"I'm not going to stop them from getting them, but no one has. To be honest, I haven't seen too many teams wearing them."

Grams believes as more players get used to them and if they're ever allowed in summer ball, then maybe they will be more the norm.

"Our kids are so used to the rubber cleats, they'll take some time to get used to," he added.

Wheeling coach Beth Anderson has four or five players wearing the metal cleats.

"They like them." she said. "They've had a hard time getting used to them with the sliding and digging in.

"But in terms of feeling faster with them, they say they do, and that's half the battle."

Coach Tony Wolanski's Rolling Meadows Mustangs are all wearing the metal cleats expect for the pitchers, who have special rubber cleats.

"For the most part, the kids like them because they have better traction," Wolanski said. "We've had no negatives."

Sisterly advice: When freshman Colleen Shandley made her gave-saving catch in centerfield Monday against Fremd, she had a familiar voice guiding the way.

As Colleen made her way back toward the centerfield wall for Tess Dinterman's towering fly ball in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third and two outs, Lisa Shandley was a keen observer.

Lisa, a senior and sister of Colleen, plays left field for the Fillies.

"I was getting pretty close to the fence," Colleen said. "But I knew I had room, because Lisa kept yelling, 'You have space, You have space!'"

Sure enough, the confident Colleen made the grab and Barrington prevailed 6-5 in another classic showdown with Fremd.

"It was definitely comforting to hear Lisa shouting at me," Colleen said moments after the game. "My heart is still racing."

Dinterman, one of six sophomores starters for Fremd, made the big hit on a 3-0 pitch.

"It was little high but right down the middle," she said. "I liked it. It was a great game."