Barrington 7, Elk Grove 4
Elk Grove's softball team was one strike away from defeating five-time defending Mid-Suburban League champion Barrington on Thursday.
But Fillies left fielder Lisa Shandley was one determined hitter.
"I just set my mind that I wasn't going to make the last out," Shandley said. "I hadn't gotten a hit in my first 3 at-bats so I was determined. And coach 'P' (Perry Peterson) tells us to never give up."
With junior Lindsey Dulla (2-for-3) on second base, and a 1-2 count, Shandley sliced a line drive double to left field allowing Dulla (who had singled with one out and stole second with two) to race home with the tying run.
After Devinne Wapotish (solo homer in first inning) singled to center, Michal Jane Maropis belted a 2-run double to right.
Pitcher Kim Cygan (17-2) then singled home a run as the Fillies exploded for 4 runs after two were out and went on to post a 7-4 victory.
Barrington (17-2, 8-1) moved into a half-game lead over Fremd (12-1, 7-1) in the MSL West. Elk Grove (18-2, 8-1) suffered its first league loss and leads Prospect (9-4, 6-2) by 1½ games in the MSL East.
"We have been struggling as individuals," Maropis said. "I knew the game wasn't over. We weren't going to give up. That attitude is what kept us going with two outs in the seventh."
Grens sophomore ace Stephanie Maday, who lost for the first time in 13 decisions, struck out eight and walked none. Cygan struck out six with no walks.
"We've been playing well but today we played back on our heels," said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams. "Maybe because we were playing a ranked team. We made some mistakes we haven't made in a while. We weren't as aggressive at the plate or on defense as we have been."
Jessica Balzano doubled in the first and scored on an error while Nikki Goranson had an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2.
The Grenadiers took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Amber Hane (single) scored on an error and Jamie Campus (infield hit) crossed the plate on a heads-up first and third situation when Barrington was paying attention to the runner on first.
"Great coaching on Ken's part," Peterson said. "To Elk Grove's credit, they made us lose our focus."
Campus was 2-for-3 while seniors Wapotish, Maropis and Cygan were all 2-for-4 for Barrington.
"We told the seniors they had to carry us," Peterson said. "They are ones with the experience from East Peoria last spring. They came through when we needed it at the end."
Hersey 1, Hoffman 0: Sophomore Alyssa Kieffer's two-out, two-strike single to center in the sixth inning scored Jessie Harris from second base for the only run.
Hersey (3-14, 3-6) won its second straight behind Mallory O'Donoghue (3-10), who struck out four and walked two while tossing a 2-hitter.
"The girls were excited to win back-to-back," said first year Huskies coach Molly Freeman. "This is uplifting for them."
Hoffman junior pitcher Kaitlin Walsh (2-10) struck out seven. Alex Wulbecker and Rachel Marinoff had the hits for Hoffman (2-12-1, 2-7).
Aleene Morgenthaler and Maggie Tunney also had hits for Hersey.
Maine W. 14, Maine E. 0 (5 innings):ŒFreshman Amanda Wessell (3-0) threw a 3-hitter with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk for Maine West (12-2, 6-0) in the Central Suburban North.
Jackie Janecek (2-for-3), Kelsey Hargesheimer (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Kaleigh McGing (2-for-3) and Caryn McGinley (3-for-4, 2 RBI) led the Warriors' offense.