Red-hot Palatine Pirates sweeps Stevenson

After an 0-3 start, Palatine softball coach Jeff Manz said there is no secret why his Pirates have rebounded with 8 wins in their last nine game after a nonconference doubleheader sweep at Stevenson on Saturday.

"We graduated five seniors," Manz said. "So every single player we have is in a brand new position. Even our returning kids moved to new positions. It just took awhile for the kids to get used to each other. They are playing with confidence and they are trusting each other. It's really fun to watch."

Manz watched a 4-2 victory in Game 1 as junior Chrissy Roto (4-3) struck out six and walked one for the win.

Sophomore Joanne Jablonski (2-for-2, 2 RBI) belted her first homer of the season and third of her career.

Katie Scovic (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and catcher Alyx Ballenger (2-for-4, 1 stolen base), who caught a runner stealing second, were other multiple hitters for the Pirates (8-4).

Ballenger also picked a runner off first in the 8-1 Game 2 triumph.

Heather Zimmerman (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI) and Scovic (3-for-4) led the way at the plate, while Katie Mnichowicz, Michelle Dellamaria each had stolen bases and Meaghan Deegan had an RBI.

Sophomore Dana Boisvert improved to 4-1 with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Conant splits: Conant (6-9) edged Lake Zurich 3-2 in Game 2 as freshman Brianna Cavin (3-4) fired a 6-hitter with 5 strikeouts.

Bears sophomore Megan Mattera allowed 6 hits and struck out five. Neither pitcher walked a batter.

Paige Ward belted a home run for the Cougars, while teammate Kristina Gluth (double) had 2 hits.

Lake Zurich won 13-1 in Game 2.

Ward and Nichole Gross each doubled for the Cougars.

Prospect splits: Prospect (2-12) won the opener as freshman Hanna Lythberg notched her first career win with a 1-0 shutout over visiting York.

Lythberg struck out four and walked one while tossing a 4-hitter.

Prospect scored in the fifth when sophomore Nikki Surico led off with a walk. She went to second on Allison Maliweg's walk and scored on Nicole Naranjo's hit down the right-field line.

Lythberg, in relief of Sam Mangrum, took the 7-4 loss in Game 2. Lisa Dominick scored twice and Katie Dillon had an RBI single.

Elk Grove sweeps: Elk Grove (13-1) posted pair of shutouts over visiting Maine South.

Stephanie Maday (5 innings) and Krystina Leazer (2 innings) teamed up for a 5-hitter in a 3-0 win in Game 1.

Jessica Balzano (2-for-3, 3 RBI) was the hitting star as the sophomore belted a 2-run hoer over the left-field fence in the fourth and a 2-run double to left-center to score Brittany Tranchita in the third.

Maday (6-1) went 2-for 3.

Freshman Dani Goranson (5-0) struck out six in 4 innings to get an 8-0 win in Game 2. Leazer (2-0) worked the final 3 innings with 5 strikeouts.

Nikki Goranson (2-for-3, 1 run), Caitlin Garrison (3-for-4, 1 run, RBI), Dani Goranson (3-for-4, 1 run) and Brittany Tranchita (2-for-4, 1 run, RBI) led the Grens' offense, which produced 15 singles and doubles by Tranchita and Dani Goranson.

Fremd sweeps: Lena Brottman (7-1) came within one out of a no-hitter before Cary-Grove got a bloop single in the bottom of the fifth. The junior right-hander had a perfect game for 42/3 innings.

The host Vikings (11-1) won 10-0, as Brottman finished with a 1 -hitter and 10 strikeouts.

Jenny Schneider (3-for-3, double, 5 RBI), Kelly Voigt (3-for-4, 2 runs, double, stolen base), Tess Dinterman (4-for-4, 1 run, 2 RBI) and Alexa Cinquegrani (2-for-2, 2 runs) led the Vikings.

Senior Casey Latal (4-0) fired a 4-hitter with 3 strikeouts and an unearned run in Game 2 for an 8-1 triumph.

Kristine Werling (3-for-4, double, stolen base, RBI), Schneider (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Voigt (2-for-3, 1 run) and Cinquegrani (2-for-3, 2 run) led the offense.

Rolling Meadows sweeps: The Mustangs (5-8) posted 7-2 and 10-0 (5 innings) wins over visiting Maine East.

Freshman Josie Suchecki (3-6) fired a 2-hitter in Game 1 with 4 strikeouts. Kelly Keyzer (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Natilie Cannizzo (2-for-2, RBI) led the offense.

Shortstop Maddy Urban became the school's all-time leader for hits (124) with a two-out double in the seventh.

Kayla Mueller (3-1) notched the 10-0 shutout in Game 2, striking out four with a 1-hitter.

Maryclare Loughery doubled and the Mustangs took advantage of 7 walks, including 2 apiece by Urban and Suchecki.

Senior Danielle Margo, playing her first year on varsity, registered her first hit with an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Glenbrook South 15, Hersey 0 (5): Hersey (2-8) had 4 hits, by Aubrey Fulton, Stacey Schmiederer, Kim Ferraro and Aleene Morgenthaler.