Latal makes big difference for Fremd
Casey Latal is Fremd's No. 2 softball pitcher but she could easily be a No. 1.
The senior right-hander improved to 8-0 on Tuesday with a 5-hitter and 6 strikeouts as the Vikings topped visiting Prospect 9-4.
And just because she's only pitched about a third of Fremd's games this spring doesn't mean Latal sits idle on the bench the rest of the time.
She also plays a key role in the Vikings' batting order as a designated hitter.
Latal showed why Tuesday when she led off the bottom of the second inning with her first career home run over the left field fence and went 2-for-3 in the game.
The Vikings improved to 23-2 and 11-1 in the Mid-Suburban West, where they trail Barrington (12-1) by a half game.
"Casey's having a great senior year," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver. "It's really a luxury having her as your No. 2 pitcher (behind No. 1 Lena Brottmann, who is 15-2). She would make a very good No. 1. And she's in our lineup every day. She's hitting around .300 with power. She's doing a great job for us."
Every starting Viking had at least 1 hit, including Jenny Schneider (2-for-3), Lauren Zaworski (2-for-4), Jessica Tackett (2-for-4), Kelly Voigt (2-for-2) and Alexa Cinquegrani (2-for-3, 2 RBI).
Nicole Naranjo had a double for the Knights (6-20, 4-9) while Lisa Dominick, Katie Dillon, Hanna Lythberg and Allie Travis had base hits.
Elk Grove 2, Conant 0: One day after locking up the MSL East crown for the ninth time in 10 years, Elk Grove (24-2, 11-1) kept the momentum with a combined shutout from senior Krystina Leazer (5 strikeouts and no hits in 4 innings) and freshman Dani Goranson (4 strikeouts and 3 hits in 3 innings). Leazer is now 3-0.
Stephanie Dolce (2-for-3) belted an RBI single to right in the first inning to score Jessica Balzano (2-for-4).
Nikki Goranson (2-for-3) doubled to lead off the third and her pinch runner Kim Gulik eventually came home on a sacrifice fly by Dani Goranson.
Freshman Megan Keegan and senior Kristy Ottosen had the other hits for Elk Grove.
Sophomore Kailee Prasbrig (3-5) struck out two while pitching the first 3 innings for Conant (9-15, 3-8). Freshman Briana Cavin went the final 3 innings and struck out five.
Lauren Ambrose, Paige Ward and Jessica Gennuso had the hits for Conant.
Schaumburg 7, Rolling Meadows 2: Alexis Carravetta (3-for-4, triple), Aly Poehlmann (2-for-3, double), Sarah McGinn (2-for-3) and Shannon Giovannone (2-for-3) led the offense for Schaumburg (15-10, 8-5).
Senior Missy Anderson (12-7) picked up the win for the Saxons while freshman Natalie Cannizzo was 3-for-3 for the Mustangs (10-16, 5-8), who host Wheeling today at 7 p.m. in a game to support breast cancer awareness.
Highland Park 2, Maine West 1 (8): Playing the leadoff spot with perfection, Maine West senior Emily Ott went 4-for-4 with a triple and 3 singles.
But Highland Park pitcher Diana Santullano was able to shut down the majority of the other Warriors to help give her visiting team (10-19, 3-6) the Central Suburban North win.
It was the first loss for West (15-12, 6-1) in the North. The Warriors are tied for first with games remaining at home against Niles North (today), Deerfield (Thursday) and Maine East (next Tuesday).
"This game was so close," said Ott, who plans to be a walk-on at George Mason University. "All we were missing was that one little hit when somebody was on base.
"Our only goal right now is be ready for Niles North (today). We are not looking past this game."
Pitchers can never look past Ott, who is hitting better than .500 and had a streak of reaching base 20 straight times last week.
"I love hitting," said Ott who is also 10-3 on the mound but has not been able to pitch recently because of a back injury which she is having evaluated today.
Maine West is seeking a fifth CSL North title in eight years under coach Mike Murin.
"The Highland Park pitcher did a great job," Murin said. "She kept us off balance. We wasted a 4-for-4 effort by Emily. It's a shame because that was a great effort by her.
"She put the bat on the ball hard every time. But one person can't do it all. We've got to get back to where everyone contributes."
Murin did like the contribution from Warriors freshman pitcher Alyssa Bojarski (3-4), who went all eight innings throwing a 7-hitter with 9 strikeouts.
"Alyssa is getting better and better with every game," Murin said. "I was really pleased with her. I thought she gave us a real gutsy effort. It was just one of those games where we didn't get a run when we needed it."
Allie Ellwood went 2-for-3 with and was hit by pitch while West's other hit was an infield single by Bojarski.
The Giants have won five straight.
"We're finally getting on a roll," said Highland Park coach Lydia Gonzales, whose team was led on offense by Santullano, who was 3-for-3 and scored the winning run in the eighth when she came home on Emily Tresley's double to right.
St. Viator 6, Fenwick 4: Trailing 4-0, the Lions (10-16, 5-9) scored 6 runs in the top of the seventh to pull out the ESCC win in Oak Park.
Sophomore Julie Sweeney won her sixth game and recorded 10 strike outs.
Melanie Slawny, Jessica Etchingham and Tayler Lenart started the seventh with consecutive singles.
Torey Lenart and Kristen Cozzi followed with RBI ground outs. Ronnie Mack walked and Abby Dickey legged out a single. Urbanus then doubled to bring in 2 runs. Julie Sweeney's single brought in the sixth run of the inning.
Abby Dickey and Bridget Urbanus each had 2 hits for the Lions while Urbanus doubled to bring in the 2 runs that put the Lions ahead. Four of the 6 runs scored were scored after two outs.
Palatine 21, Wheeling 2 (5): Katie Mnichowicz (3-for-4, RBI), Alyx Ballenger (2-for-5, 2 RBI), Alexis Bauer (3-for-4, 3 RBI, double), Heather Zimmerman (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Sam Salomone (2-for-3, 2 RBI) led the Pirates' 20-hit attack. Kelsey Griffin (1 RBI) also doubled for the hosts.
Chrissy Roto (8-8) struck out five in three innings and Dani Boisvert had 2 strikeouts in 2 inning for the Pirates (12-13, 8-9).