Fremd hands Barrington rare home loss
Barrington's softball team didn't go down without creating some noise Thursday at its own Fields of Dreams.
But it was Fremd's Vikings who made one thing loud and clear: They mean business in the Mid-Suburban West this spring.
The Vikings handed the six-time defending MSL champs their first home loss in 28 games dating back to April 3 of 2008 (5-1 against Burlington Central).
Fremd junior Lena Brottman (9-1) struck out 10 and tossed a 7-hitter as the Vikings edged Barrington 6-5 for their first win at the FOD since a 3-2 triumph on May 7, 2001.
"Fremd and Barrington is always the best show in town," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver, whose team (13-1, 3-0) led 6-0 before Nora Logue's grand slam cut the deficit in the bottom of the sixth. "People come out and watch. It's always a battle. We obviously have a lot of respect for their program and at the same time, we want to play well."
The Vikings sure did, grabbing a 6-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Junior second baseman Lauren Zaworski's one-out sacrifice fly scored Jenny Schneider (doubled to left center) in the first for a 1-0 lead.
Alexa Cinquegrani singled home Kelly Voigt in the second with one out for a 2-0 cushion.
The Vikings gave Brottman a 6-0 advantage in the sixth with 4 runs, including a 2-run single by Casey Latal and RBI single by Voigt. Cinquegrani was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for another run. Zaworski had a double in the inning.
But the Fillies didn't go down quietly.
Logue belted her second grand slam of the season over the center field fence to close the deficit to 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth.
Jordan Wekony, who had singled home losing pitcher Kim Cygan (15-2), Kristin Kuhn and Kiersten Tinkoff scored on Logue's blast.
"Our kids are always looking for confidence," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, whose team is 16-2 and 4-1. "So sure it was nice to come back in the sixth. I'm proud of the way they did that. But the credit goes to Fremd for this game. They did the job that had to be done. Kudos to Fremd."
Schneider (2-for-4, double), Zaworski (2-for-3, double) and Tackett (2-for-3, walk) were multiple hitters for Fremd.
"We have the same intensity for every team,"Brottman said. "Barrington was definitely our focus (Thursday). But we have to get back to business (today) and keep playing Fremd softball.
"She's (Logue) a great hitter. And Barrington is a great team. I always have things I must work on. I have a list of things I still need to do."
Her list Thursday must have included a win over Barrington, which had defeated the Vikings in 16 of the team's last 17 meetings.
"You know they weren't go ing to go away," Weaver said of the 5-run rally in the sixth. "That's nothing new. Lena pitched eight innings Wednesday (1-0 win over Schaumburg). It was great to see her gut it out and do what she had to do to get out of that inning."
Conant 1, Palatine 0 (10): Briana Cavin (5-4) threw a 3-hitter with 13 strikeouts as Conant (8-8, 2-1) stopped the visiting Pirates (8-6, 2-2).
Junior Jess Gennuso (3-for-5) led off the bottom of the tenth with a single to center.
Senior Kristina Gluth's sacrifice bunt advanced Gennuso to second.
Freshman Kim Jacobson then bunted the ball to the right side to get Gennuso to third base.
Senior Nichole Gross then drew a walk, but the fourth ball was a wild pitch that allowed Gennuso to score the game-winning run.
Buffalo Grove 2, Hersey 1 (10): Buffalo Grove's Lexi Bueno led off the bottom of the tenth with a double, took second on a sacrifice bunt by Mallory Smith and scored the winning run on a one-out single by KC Dunne (2-for-5).
Andrea DiPrima doubled twice for the Bison (8-7, 1-3) to help make a winner of Maria Dax, who went the distance in her first start and allowed 5 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Kari Tunney and Julie Klawitter doubled for the Huskies (3-9, 2-2) while Stacey Schmiederer went 2-for 4.
Schaumburg 2, Hoffman Estates 1 (8): Senior Missy Anderson (7-2) struck out 12 and tossed a 2-hitter for the Saxons (8-5, 3-1), who scored the winning run when Brianne Lingl singled home Aly Poehlmann (walk) in the top of the eighth.
Poehlmann had the game's only extra base hit with a double and also drew 3 walks.
Colleen Roberts and Mary Hacker had the hits for Hoffman (4-9, 1-3), which received 7 strikeouts and a 2-hitter from senior Kaitlin Walsh (3-5).
St. Viator 4, Wheeling 0: Junior Melanie Slawny shut out the host Wildcats with a 5-hitter and 5 strikeouts. Slawny also had an RBI.
Bridget Urbanus (2-for-4) and Julie Sweeney (home run and 3 RBI) led the Lions' offense.
Becky Menelle was 2-for-3 for Wheeling (2-7).
M. West 14, R.M. 4 (5): Maine West improved to 11-9 as freshman Alyssa Bojarski (1-4) earned her first win.
Senior Emily Ott homered and doubled for the Warriors while Allie Ellwood tripled. Teammates Jenna Depa and Michelle Marlega each had doubles for the winners.
Libby Marsh had a double for Meadows (6-9).