Hoffman Estates presents Hamma with big win

For Hoffman Estates softball players, it was a "win one for the coach" kind of game,

In her first three seasons leading the Hawks, Lindsey Hamma had never defeated Buffalo Grove, the school where she starred for four years as a shortstop.

But behind senior Kaitlin Walsh's 6-hitter and 7 strikeouts, the Hawks rose to the occasion Thursday with a 3-2 decision over the visiting Bison.

"We were trying to win because we knew coach wanted this one real bad," said Walsh (7-8), who has 135 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.72. "We've always had tough games with Buffalo Grove, but we came through this time."

Hoffman senior shortstop had an RBI single in the first to score Emily Fett, and then Alex Wulbecker came home when her teammate got caught in a rundown between first and second.

K.C. Dunne (2-for-4) singled home Becca Winter in the second inning to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Hawks (9-13, 4-6) went ahead 3-1 in the second when Kaitlyn Kliver led off with a walk and later scored on Melissa Wilkes RBI fielder's choice.

BG threatened in the top of the seventh when Andrea DiPrima (2-for-3) singled home Dunne, who had stolen second.

DiPrima stole second, but Walsh got the next two batters on a flyout to center fielder Linden Fick and a strikeout.

Both starting catchers had to leave the game in the top of the second inning.

BG's Danni Shapiro injured her knee while passing first base, and Hoffman's Kelsey Pellus took an apparent foul tip on the side of her head while catching.

Bison coach Laura Stock was not sure how long she would be without Shapiro, who was replaced by Dunne behind plate.

Taylor Mann filled in for Pellus.

"Kelsey is solid behind the plate and she is always a constant for us on offense," Roberts said. "You hate to see her have to leave the game but she'll be back. She's tough."

Hamma's Hawks have won three straight and five of their last six games.

"We built some momentum at that St. Charles tournament last weekend (2-1 record) and said we wanted to keep that confidence going," Hamma said. "I can't say enough about Kaitlin (Walsh). She keeps us in every game. When she gets the offense and defense behind her, she's tough to beat."

Sophomore Nicole Soderholm also went 2-for-2 for the Bison (13-12, 2-8) with a walk.

DiPrima pitched all 6 innings, giving up 4 hits while throwing only 83 pitches.

"We just didn't come out sharp the first two innings," Stock said "And they (Hoffman) put the ball in play. Then we couldn't get the hits when we needed them and they made some nice catches."

Fremd 5, Wheeling 0: Senior Casey Latal (6-0) fired a 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts and no walks for Fremd (20-1, 9-0) which was led on offense by Jenny Schneider (2-for-4, 1 run, RBI) and Jessica Tackett (2-for-4, RBI).

Lauren Zaworski did not have an official at-bat while walking four times.

It marks the eighth straight season the Vikings have won at least 20 games under coach Jim Weaver.

Prospect 5, Conant 4: Playing its fourth 10-inning game of the spring, host Prospect (5-18, 3-7) landed the victory as Hanna Lythberg's hard shot to third base brought home pinch runner Mary Styzek for the winning run. Styzek was running for Kaila Walter, who had singled and went to third on Katie Dillon's sacrifice bunt.

Lythberg also had an RBI single in the Knights' 4-run third inning, which brought home Allison Travis and Lisa Dominick on an error. Amanda Mlikan had a fielder's choice RBI in the inning which brought home Walter and Lythberg (with an error on the play).

Vicki McGuire's triple was the only extra-base hit in the game as each team had 6 hits.

It was a battle of freshman pitchers who each went 10 innings.

Lythberg earned the win, striking out five and walking one, while Briana Cavin (5-7) struck out seven and walked none for the Cougars (9-12, 3-5).

Elk Grove 6, Rolling Meadows 1: Jessica Balzano (2-for-4, 2 RBI, home run, double), Amanda Mertes (2-for-4), Nikki Goranson (2-for-4, double), Olivia Roback (2-for-4), Stephanie Dolce (2-for-4, double) and Dani Goranson (2-for-4, double) led the offense for Elk Grove (22-1, 9-0) in the MSL East contest. Kristen Cetkovic added a double for the visitors.

Dani Goranson (8-0) threw the final 41/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking one to earn the win.

Abby Matayka, Maddy Urban and Mary Loughery (RBI single) had the hits for Meadows (9-13, 5-6).

Meadows freshman Deanna Fahey entered the game in the top of the seventh inning and retired three straight batters to end the inning.

Meadows freshman pitcher (5-9) Josie Suchecki remains sidelined with a hip injury.

Maine West 11, Maine East 2: Freshman Alyssa Bojarski (2-3) threw a 7-hitter with 7 strikeouts and no walks for visiting Maine West (14-9, 6-0), which won its fifth straight game.

Bojarski also went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while other top hitters for West were Kaleigh McGing (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Margo Ehorn (2-for-4, 2 RBI).

Katie Fitzgerald also had double for the Warriors, who host Resurrection today at 4:30 p.m. and visit Geneva for a twin bill starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Lake Zurich 8, Palatine 2: Katie Scovic had an RBI and catcher Alyx Ballenger picked a runner off first for the Pirates (10-12) in the nonconference game.