Wrap: Hawks' Walsh, defense deliver

Hoffman Estates junior ace Kaitlin Walsh threw one of the best games of her career Thursday.

And her defense served up a gem, too.

Walsh struck out 10 and allowed only 4 hits as the Hawks edged visiting Schaumburg 3-1 in the Mid-Suburban League West Division.

The defense behind Walsh was flawless, including a superb scoop by first baseman Alex Wulbecker that might have saved the tying runs from scoring in the top of the sixth.

With runners on second (Nicole Chase) and third (Amy Poehlmann), shortstop Colleen Roberts made a nice pickup of Sarah McGinn's slow-rolling grounder.

Roberts quickly fired to Wulbecker, who made a terrific scoop to get the final out of the inning.

"We've been playing together a long time," Wulbecker said. "I know anything Colleen gets, that she and I will get the job done. We have that connection."

"I trust Alex with everything I throw to her," Roberts said. "I just knew I had to get rid of the ball quickly."

The Hawks (7-16-1, 4-10) scored all 3 of their runs in the third.

Roberts (2-for-3) had the only hit in the inning, and she scored on a 4-2 fielder's choice. Jenna Pellus came home on a wild pitch and Wulbecker scored when Rachel Marinoff was thrown out at first by Schaumburg right-fielder Meghan Fielmann.

"Our defense was very solid," said Hawks coach Lindsey Hamma. "Rachel played well at third base against their slappers. Jenna (Pellus) and Colleen (Roberts) were strong in the middle, and Alex made some heads-up plays at first."

Poehlmann walked to lead off the fourth and scored the only run for Schaumburg (10-10, 5-8) on a passed ball.

Saxons ace Missy Anderson gave up only 3 hits.

"Poor Missy," said Schaumburg coach Erin Doyle. "She pitched a great game. She was hitting all her spots and she put down a bunt when asked (to get Poehlmann to second base).

"Our defense killed us. All season we have been giving teams too much by making errors."

Hersey 7, Buffalo Grove 6: Senior Maggie Tunney's 2- run homer over the fence in left-center with one out in the sixth inning gave the visiting Huskies the lead for good at 6-5 after they had trailed 5-0 after two innings.

Mallory Donoghue (4 hits) pitched the final 5½ innings for the win, striking out one and walking none.

Tunney (3-for-4, 3 runs) and senior catcher Danielle Gore (2-for-4, double, RBI) led the Huskies (8-18, 5-9).

Hersey caught three runners at the plate. Donoghue threw to Gore twice for putouts, while Gore flipped to Donoghue for the other.

K.C. Dunne (3-for-4, 2 double), Andrea DiPrima (2-for-4, double, 3 RBI) and Stephanie Rudolfi (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double) led BG (14-12, 6-8).

Prospect 7, Wheeling 0: Amy Varner (2-for-4, double), Cyndi Becker (2-for-4, double), Paige O'Neil (2-for-3), Lisa Dominick (2-for-3) and Sheri Weidner 2-for-3, RBI single in fourth) led Prospect (16-8, 10-4).

Sheri Weidner (16-6) threw a 6-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks.

Becky Menelle (3-for-3, double) and Carly Speidel (2-for-3) led Wheeling (6-16, 2-12).

Palatine 10, Libertyville 0 (six innings): Joanne Jablonski (4-for-4, 4 RBI) homered and doubled for Palatine (14-7) as Anne Wcislo (11-4) went 5 innings to earn the win. Chrissy Roto struck out the side in the sixth.

Nikki Linares (3-for-4, stolen base, 2 runs), Wcislo (3-for 4, double, 3 RBI), Heather Zimmerman (2-for-3) and Amy Modic (triple) were other top hitters for the visitors.

Barrington 10, Conant 1: Fillies junior Allison Martin (1 run, 4 hits) went the final 3 innings to complete a suspended game from Wednesday.

Kelly Kantarski had a sacrifice fly for Barrington's run in the fifth inning.

Kim Cygan (21-6) earned the win for the Fillies (22-6, 12-2).

Paige Ward was 2-for-3 for Conant (4-17, 1-13)

Maine West 11, Highland Park 2:ΠCentral Suburban North champion Maine West (21-3, 10-0) received a 4-hitter from senior Caryn McGinley (3-1), who struck out two.

Jacki Janecek (2-for-5), Emily Ott (2-for-3, triple), Nicole Eisenberg (2-for-3, triple), McGinley (2-for-4), Jillian Ellwood (3-for-4) and Katie Lowe (2-for-3, triple) led the offense.

Prairie Ridge 8, Fremd 3:ΠKristine Werling (3-for-4, triple), Kelly Voigt (2-for-3) and Jenny Schneider (double) led Fremd (21-3).

Rolling Meadows 10, St. Viator 1: Connie Porters (4-for-4, 6 RBI) belted a 2-run homer to center in the third inning for Meadows (8-13).

Maddy Urban had 2 doubles for the winners. Angela Mahanna had one.

Carissa Stewart (6-12) pitched 4 innings for the win, while Kayla Mueller went the final 3 innings.

Elk Grove 3, Maine South 0:ŒKayla Mahoney's fifth homer of the season, a solo shot to center in the second inning, was the game-winning RBI.

Kristy Ottosen also tripled and came home on an error in the seventh inning for visiting Elk Grove (25-4).

Grens junior Krystina Leazer (9-1) threw a 3-hitter with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk.