Vikes get Weaver win No. 200
Perhaps it was appropriate this year's team gave Fremd softball coach Jim Weaver his 200th career win.
After all, the core of the 2009 club has given the coach a quarter of those wins the last two seasons.
After 28 wins last season, the Vikings reached 26 this spring with a 9-0 victory at Rolling Meadows on Wednesday in the second-place Mid-Suburban League crossover game.
"It's sweet," said Casey Latal, the winning Fremd pitcher who improved to 10-1. "And I'm sure Mr. Weaver is really happy. He'll probably get 300 in the next five years or less. He's just a very good coach who keeps us positive. If we are down, he gets you back up."
The Vikings (26-4) were never down in Wednesday's game and took control with 6 innings in the third inning when they batted around.
Latal started the big rally with a single to right. Jenny Schneider had a 2-run double, Lauren Zaworski an RBI double, Ali Gaeding an RBI groundout and Alexa Cinquegrani a 2-run single in the big inning.
"It's pretty exciting," said senior first baseman Jessica Tackett. "The whole team was really hoping to get this win for Mr. Weaver. I'm glad that I could be part of it."
Weaver has been a part of the program for a long time, going back to his days as an assistant for head coach Rob Harris. Weaver replaced replaced Harris eight seasons ago.
"I've had an unbelievable coaching staff," Weaver said. "They keep me relaxed, they are knowledgeable and they dedicate a lot of time into it.
"It would have been nice for No. 200 to have come in the MSL title game, but I'm glad these kids were a part of it. The core of this group has won 54 of the games so that's a pretty big crooked number. These kids deserve it."
Latal had a no-hitter going until Maddy Urban's single in the fourth inning. Abby Matayka, MaryClare Loughery, Josie Suchecki and Gina Holzner also had hits for the Mustangs (15-17).
"Obviously, we didn't have as much focus as they did," said Mustangs coach Tony Wolanski. "They came out with a lot of energy and obviously that's why they are a 26-4 club."
Schneider was the only multiple hitter in the game as the junior went 2-for-4 and reached base three times.
Weaver said Vikings ace Lena Brottman (16-3), who has been nursing an ankle injury, might see action Friday against Glenbrook South.
"Casey (Latal) did a nice job," the coach said. "She gutted it out for us. She's had to eat up a lot of innings for us with Lena on the mend. She (Latal) didn't have her best stuff but she gutted it out and got the job done."
Hoffman Est. 8, Wheeling 0: Senior Kaitlin Walsh (8-13) threw a 5-hitter with 12 strikeouts and 2 walks for visiting Hoffman Estates (12-17).
Alex Wulbecker scored 3 runs while going 3-for-4 with a double for the Hawks, who also received hits from Colleen Roberts (2 runs), Kelsey Pellus, Taylor Mann, Emily Fett and Walsh.
Sophomore Sejal Shah struck out two and walked one for Wheeling (3-19), which received a double from Becky Menelle.
Conant 3, Buffalo Grove 0: Freshman Briana Cavin (11-11) threw a 5-hitter and shut out the host Bison with 9 strikeouts and 3 walks. Cavin also doubled as the Cougars improved to 14-18.
Jess Gennuso scored the Conant's first run in the sixth inning when she came home on a two-out error.
Sophomore Maria Dax (7-6) struck out 10 and walked one for the Bison (16-17).
BG sophomore K.C. Dunne went 2-for-3 with a triple.
Schaum. 6, Prospect 1 (16): Visiting Schaumburg (18-14) scored 5 runs in top of the 16th inning to give freshman Alyssa Lancaster (1-0) her first varsity win.
Lancaster struck out three in the final 12 innings replacing starter Missy Anderson, who struck out two in the first four innings.
Anderson now has 394 career strikeouts (193 this spring) while averaging only 1 walk every 9.2 innings.
Freshman Hanna Lythberg went all 16 innings for Prospect (7-23), striking out four.
Top hitters for the Saxons were Lancaster (3-for-8), Aly Poehlmann (4-for-8), Briane Lingl (3-for-7) and Shannon Giovannone (2-for-7).
Prospect was led by Nikki Surico (2-for-7), Amanda Mlikan (2-for-7), Malewig (2-for-7), Kaila Walter (2-for-7) and Lisa Dominick (3-for-7).
Saxons coach Erin Malinowski credited Knights third baseman Surico with making some fine defensive plays.
Caitlin Becker, Giovannone, Lancaster and Poehlmann all had RBI singles in the 16th.
Palatine 11, Hersey 1 (5): Joanne Jablonski (2-for-4), Katie Scovic (2-for-3), Alexis Bauer (2-for-3) and Alyx Ballenger (2 RBI) led the offense for Palatine (15-14), which received a 1-hitter from junior Chrissy Roto (11-10), who struck out three.
Caralyn Trom doubled for the host Huskies (6-20).