Fremd rallies to earn victory over Conant

State power Fremd was one out away from its first loss in the Mid-Suburban League West Division.

But when it counted, the Vikings (14-1, 6-0) showed why they have earned that lofty ranking among the state's softball teams.

Trailing host Conant 3-0 with runners on first and second, Kristine Werling kept the Vikings' hopes alive with a single up the middle that scored Tess Dinterman (3-for-3, walk).

Pinch hitter Caitlin Patenaude then drove a liner to the right-center field gap, dramatically scoring Emily Janes and Werling for the tying runs.

Fremd won 4-3, as Jenny Schneider (reached base three times and doubled) came home with one out on an RBI fielder's choice by Alexa Cinquegrani in the top of the eighth.

"That game was amazing," said Vikings senior first baseman Lauren Zaworski. "Caitlin is just a sophomore and she was so composed in her big at-bat."

Patenaude, who has also been playing with the junior varsity, had only 7 at-bats with the varsity with 3 hits.

But the undaunted varsity rookie produced the first extra-base hit of her career.

"We had a couple of different ways we could have gone in that situation," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver. "We were looking for an extra-base hit. It was a heck of at-bat for a kid who hasn't had a lot of time up here on the varsity."

Patenaude said she knew she had to be aggressive.

"I was ready for anything," she said. "I just wanted to hit the ball. It's nice being on the varsity and getting some at-bats.

Weaver said Patenaude earned her big double.

"She works so hard during the off-season," the coach said. "We're just happy to get out with a win here. The best thing I saw today was that when we were down 3-0, the intensity was still there. Conant played well all the way."

The Cougars (15-4, 3-3) jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first when No. 2 batter Allie Bauch crushed a homer over the fence in right-center.

"Allie played her heart out," said Conant coach CathyAnn Smith. "She made big defensive plays, too."

Conant added a run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Vicki McGuire.

In the fifth, pitcher Briana Cavin (2-for-4) lined a one-out double to center that brought home Amanda Van Jacobs (2-for-3), who had reached on a leadoff infield single.

"Briana (8-4) kept one of the top teams in the state off balance for 6 innings," Smith said. "We hung in there with them all the way. I'm very proud of the way the girls played. The scoreboard doesn't reflect what the girls wanted it to show but if this makes us better for the rest of the conference season and postseason, we'll take it."

"Fremd is a good team and knows how to come through when it has to."

Vikings ace Len Brottman (13-1) came through as the veteran right-hander retired the final 11 batters she faced and finished with 9 strikeouts.

"Lena held us in the game the whole way," Zaworski said. "This was a great team effort."

"Lena pitched well," Weaver said. "She did what she had to do and that's the mark of an experienced varsity pitcher. We're capable of playing better defense behind her."

Barrington 2, Schaumburg 1: Sophomore pinch hitter Courtney Blum singled sharply to center to drive home pinch runner Carolyn Dacunha from third base with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning for host Barrington (14-3, 4-2).

The Fillies took a 1-0 lead in the third when Colleen Shandley's RBI single to center brought home Dacunha, who was courtesy running for Kristin Kuhn (leadoff double).

The Saxons' run came in the fifth on an RBI single by Nicole Chase that scored Becca Thompson, who had doubled.

Junior Kiley Dolezal (13-3) struck out six and did not walk a batter while tossing a 4-hitter.

Sophomore Alyssa Lancaster (8-6) struck out six for the Saxons (8-6, 3-3).

Prospect 12, R. Meadows 2 (6): Prospect freshman Michelle Molini (2-for-2, 3 RBI) belted her first career home run, a 3-run blast in the fifth inning over the center-field fence.

Classmate Cassie Poulos was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI, while senior Allison Malewig (3-for-4) also had 3 hits for the host Knights.

Nicole Naranjo was 2-for-3 for the winners with 4 RBI as Hanna Lythberg (2-5) earned the win with a 5-hitter and 5 strikeouts.

Meadows senior Maryclare Loughery extended her hitting streak to 32 straight games with a single in the first inning.

Pitcher Josie Suchecki (3-for-3) homered for the Mustangs (8-7, 1-5).

Buffalo Grove 10, Wheeling 3: Maria Dax (7-5) was the winning pitcher and homered for host Buffalo Grove (11-7, 2-4), which also received a home run from Andrea DiPrima.

Danielle Brown ad Megan Fu each double for the Bison.

Seal Shah struck out three for Wheeling (2-10, 1-5), which had a home run from Sami Spinabella.

Palatine 12, Hoffman Est. 1 (5): Junior Joanne Jablonski (3-for-4) belted 2 home runs while Katie Mnichowicz (2-for-3, triple), Lauren Logan (3-for-4, triple) and Sam Salomone (2-for-3) were other offensive leaders for the Pirates (11-7, 4-2). Junior Dani Boisvert (7-1) struck out three while tossing a 5-hitter.

Sophomore Amanda Harris was 2-for-3 for the Hawks (2-6, 2-4), who also received a double from sophomore Linden Fick.

Elk Grove 10, Hersey (5 innings): Elk Grove (16-2, 6-0) received a 2-hitter with 7 strikeouts from sophomore Dani Goranson (10-1) as Grens sophomore Becca Walz (2-for-3, 4 RBI) belted a 3-run homer. The Grens have hit 18 homers in 18 games and at least 1 in their last five games. Other top hitters for the winners were Jessica Balzano (2-for-3, double, 3 runs, RBI) and Goranson 2-for-3, 2 runs). Balzano has hit safely in every game this season.

New Trier 10, Maine W. 0 (5): Alyssa Bojarski and Alli Ellwood had the only hits for the host Warriors (8-10) in the nonconference game.