Elk Grove opens title defense with win

Elk Grove's Devan Parkison enjoys catching Grenadiers pitching aces Stephanie Maday and Dani Goranson.

"They're both really intense, really good pitchers," said the sophomore receiver. "By far, the best two pitchers I've ever caught. It's nice catching pitchers who you know are going to be accurate."

Parkison's accuracy with the bat helped give Maday (4-1) the win and Goranson (4-1) the save as Elk Grove's softball team opened defense of its Mid-Suburban League championship with a 3-2 victory at Palatine.

With Parkison at the plate, the Grens (8-2, 1-0) scored all 3 of their runs.

In the first inning, she singled home Jessica Balzano, and Olivia Roback also came home from first with an error on the play for a 2-0 lead.

The Pirates (6-5, 0-1) charged back with 2 runs in the second thanks to an RBI single to left by Meaghan Deegan and an infield RBI single by Katie Scovic.

But Parkison answered again in the third inning when she ripped a two-out double to the gap in right-center that scored Roback with the decisive run.

"I got some inside pitches that I liked," said Parkison, who batted No. 5 in the order. "I just kept my head in there and hit it hard. I like when there's pressure with runners on base. I just try to focus."

Palatine coach Jeff Manz liked how his team focused after falling behind by 2 runs.

"I was really proud of how the girls came right back," he said. "Getting behind 2-0 early to a good team, things could have got ugly fast. But Chrissy (Roto, Pirates senior pitcher) settled down and did a nice job. And I thought we did a nice job staying in the game."

The Pirates had a chance to tie in the final inning with Deegan (leadoff single to center) on second base and two outs.

Melissa Serio put in a good at-bat before her liner to left was snared by sophomore Megan Keegan, who made a fine catch while racing in.

"I was going all-out, no matter what," Keegan said. "I knew 1 run would tie the game. I just had to make the play. You live for those kind of plays."

Roback was 2-for-2 with a walk and 2 runs for Elk Grove and made some nice plays at short,

"For the most part we hit the ball well," said Elk Grove's Ken Grams, one of the winningest coaches in the state. "But now adays, you've got to score more than 3 runs (because of the new mound distance of 43 feet more runs are being scored). "They didn't have any multiple runners on base after the third inning so that was good by our pitchers. Palatine puts a lot of pressure on you."

Sophomore Krista Soesbe had a pair of doubles for the Grens, whose senior first baseman Amanda Gatonne made a nice catch on a foul ball near the first-base fence.

Sam Salomone, Joanne Jablonski and Lauren Logan also had hits for Palatine, which had only one baserunner against Goranson (2 strikeouts) the last three innings.

"It was game of inches," Manz said. "We can't give a team 3 runs with two outs. In the third inning, we got the first two outs and then they scored. We've got to finish innings."

Fremd 3, Buffalo Grove 1: Senior Lena Brottman (5 strikeouts, 1 intentional walk) earned her seventh win without a loss as Fremd (7-0, 1-0) won its MSL opener over BG (8-2, 0-1).

An RBI single by Alexa Cinquegrani (2-for-3) tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth and the Vikings went ahead in the fifth when sophomore Megan Hubbard doubled and came home on an error following senior Kristine Werling's bunt. Werling (2-for-4) later scored on an error.

BG lefty Andrea DiPrima (2-for-3) belted an opposite-field homer with two outs in the first inning. KC Dunne went 2-for-4 for BG, while Bison junior Maria Dax (5-2) struck out two and walked two.

Fremd's Jenny Schneider went 3-for-3 and scored a run.

Barrington 9, Hersey 2: Barrington senior Nora Logue (1-for-2, 2 walks) belted her second homer of the season, a 3-run blast over the left-field fence in the first inning at Barrington.

Other top hitters for the Fillies (11-1, 1-0) were Kiersten Tinkoff (3-for-5, double, 2 runs), Colleen Shandley (2-for-3, 3 runs) and Liz Owen (2-for-3, 3 RBI).

Kiley Dolezal (10-1) threw a 5-hitter with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk as Barrington began defense of its MSL West title.

Sophomore Haley Henriksen and senior Alyssa Kiefer (doubles) each went 2-for-3 for Hersey (3-7, 0-1).

Prospect 2, Schaumburg 1: Prospect (2-5, 1-0) scored its 2 runs in the fourth inning as the Knights outhit the host Saxons 8-6.

Junior Nikki Surico went 3-for-3 for Prospect, while classmate Sam Mangrum earned the win. Senior Amanda Mlikan doubled for the winners.

Saxons sophomore pitcher Alyssa Lancaster went 3-for-4 with a double. Junior Brianna Lingl also doubled for the hosts (5-3, 0-1).

Conant 11, Rolling Meadows 0 (5 innings): Senior Vicki McGuire homered for the Cougars (9-1, 1-0), while sophomore teammates Briana Cavin and Kim Jacobson each doubled.

Allie Bauch (2-for-2, triple, 3 RBI), Hilary O'Donnell (2-for-3, double) and Paige Ward (2-for-3) were other key hitters for Conant.

Cavin (5-1) earned the win, striking out nine while tossing a 5-hitter.

Junior Abby Matayka went 2-for-3 for Meadows (4-3), while senior Maryclare Loughery extended her hitting streak to 24 games.

Hoffman Estates 4, Wheeling 3: Junior Kelsey Pellus (2-for-4) belted the game-winning home run over the left-field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Sophomore Linden Fick went 2-for-2 for the Hawks (1-2, 1-0) and junior teammate Molly Mangione had a double.

Winning pitcher Emily Allan threw a 5-hitter against the Wildcats (1-6, 0-1).

Joliet Catholic sweeps St. Viator: The Lions (7-3, 0-2) opened play in the East Suburban Catholic Conference by falling 16-3 and 5-3 in Joliet.