Fillies, Grens decide MSL champ again
Yes, we've seen this one before.
For the fifth time this decade, the Barrington and Elk Grove softball teams will collide for the Mid-Suburban League crown.
The coaches, Elk Grove's Ken Grams and Barrington's Perry Peterson, are the winningest in the MSL with 1,134 combined victories.
The Fillies (24-6, 14-2) will host the Grenadiers (29-4, 13-3) at 4:30 p.m. today at the Fields of Dreams.
From 2003 to 2006, Barrington defeated Elk Grove (2-0, 5-0, 3-1 and 5-0) in this annual showcase event. Last year, the Fillies stopped Prospect 1-0 for an unprecedented fifth straight title.
If the Fillies are to make it six straight, they will have to defeat an Elk Grove team that is just 4 wins shy of the single-season school record.
The Grenadiers are appearing for the eighth time in nine years.
"We have a tremendous amount of respect for the Elk Grove program," said Peterson, whose career record is 490-120 in 17 seasons. "Ken Grams always does such a good job with them."
An Illinois Coaches Association Hall of Fame member, Grams owns a career record of 644-289-2 in 29 seasons.
His 1982 team, which he co-coached with Doug Millstone, was second in the Class AA state tourney. Those 33 wins are the school standard.
Grams has a starting lineup that includes eight players batting better than .300.
Leading the way is junior catcher Nikki Goranson (.402, 25 RBI, 9 doubles) and freshman right fielder Jessica Balzano (.385, 31 runs, 28 RBI, 9 triples).
They are followed by junior left fielder Brittany Tranchita (.360), junior center fielder Amanda Mertes (.351, 11 stolen bases), junior first baseman Stephanie Dolce (.327, 20 RBI), senior second baseman Jamie Campus (.316), junior catcher Amber Hane (.313, 21 RBI) and senior third baseman Kayla Mahoney (.309, 25 RBI), who leads the club with 5 homers.
Sophomore shortstop Olivia Roback is batting better than .270.
On the mound will be Stephanie Maday, a sophomore getting her first start in the MSL title game. The hard-throwing right-hander is 18-3 with an ERA of 1.33 and 133 strikeouts.
Her back-up is junior Krystina Leazer (11-1, 1.94 ERA and 77 strikeouts).
Kim Cygan (23-6, 0.81 ERA, 184 strikeouts), who was the Fillies' third baseman for their Class AA state runner-up a year ago, handles the pitching duties this spring.
Cygan (24 RBI, 3 doubles) is one of five Fillies who were on the 2007 team.
Barrington's infield features freshman third baseman Kristin Kuhn, senior shortstop Michal Jane Maropis (.341, 4 home runs, 4 doubles, 25 RBI), senior second baseman Jessica McGurn (.299, 17 RBI, 2 home runs) and freshman first baseman Kiersten Tinkoff.
Senior left fielder Lisa Shandley (.357), freshman centerfielder Colleen Shandley and junior right fielder Lindsey Dulla (team-high .366 and 19 stolen bases) handle the outfield.
Behind the plate is senior Devinne Wapotish, who is batting .356 with 4 home runs and 21 RBI.
The Fillies topped Elk Grove 7-4 when the teams met on April 24.
Softball
MSL championship
Elk Grove (29-4) at Barrington (24-6), 4:30 p.m.