Loughery, Meadows record a convincing victory

Rolling Meadows senior Maryclare Loughery went into the IHSA softball record books earlier this week when she completed a hitting streak of 34 consecutive games.

Thirty-four also happens to be the number the second baseman wears on her jersey.

While that happens to be a coincidence, the modest Loughery felt she was lucky to rank among the top five in Illinois for the state's longest hitting streak.

"I was lucky," she said. "I tried not to think about it. I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Now, there is no pressure."

Her Mustangs put the pressure on visiting Hoffman Estates Thursday with a 7-run second inning, and that proved too much for the Hawks to overcome.

Rolling Meadows went on to post a 13-6 victory in the Mid-Suburban League game.

Sparking the big inning was junior Abby Matayka's third homer of the season, a 3-run blast over the left-field fence that brought home sophomore Megan O'Donnell (RBI single to center) and winning pitcher Josie Suchecki.

Freshman shortstop Sam Anderson (3-for-4) also had an RBI double down the left-field line in the big inning.

"Early on, you could tell it was going to be an offensive game," said Hawks coach Lindsey Hamma, whose team jumped ahead 2-0 and also led 4-2. "But they (Meadows) did a nice job coming right back at us and not waiting to catch up. They kept pounding the ball."

Mustangs leadoff batter Suchecki went 3-for-5 with a double and 2 runs.

Matayka ended up 2-for- 4 and scored 3 times while Loughery, Emily Skorin and Natalie Cannizzo each had a hit for Meadows (11-9, 2-7).

"We played better defense and we pitched well," said Mustangs coach Tony Wolanski, who used freshman pitcher Sara Brunlieb for the final three innings. "Sometimes when you are a young team like we are, there are bumps in the road. We've got to learn to play hard all the time."

The Mustangs had a hard time retiring Hawks leadoff batter Emily Fett (3-for-4), who had a single, double and triple while reaching base four times and scoring twice.

Hawks junior pitcher Emily Allan also went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI single and 1 run. Teammate Alex Tuminaro was 2-for-4 with a run.

Amanda Harris, Kelsey Pellus, Linden Fick and Taylor Mann also had hits for Hoffman (2-10, 2-7) on a day when the wind often played havoc with balls hit in the air.

"It seem every time we come here it's windy," Hamma said. "It was nice to see our kids take advantage of the conditions (with 12 hits). I thought we ran the bases well, too.

"I told the girls that we have a lot of moments of greatness but we've got to put a full seven innings together. They've made improvement but have to starts playing to their full potential."

Barrington 10, Wheeling 0 (6 inn.): Junior Kiley Dolezal (16-4) had a double and earned the win as the visiting Fillies (18-4, 6-3) were led on offense by Colleen Shandley (2-for-4, walk, 2 runs), Loren Krzysko (2-for-4, 1 run) and Jordan Wekony (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, walk).

Liz Owen, Nora Logue, Kristin Kuhn and Kiersten Tinkoff also had hits for the Fillies.

Scout Scanlon and Becky Menelle had the only hits for Wheeling (2-13, 1-8).

Elk Grove 11, Resurrection 1 (5 inn.): Senior Stephanie Maday (7-1) pitched five innings for the win as host Elk Grove (19-2) belted 3 home runs in the nonconference game.

Senior Olivia Roback (2-for-3, double, 4 RBI) belted her fourth homer of the season while junior Jessica Balzano (3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI, double) and junior Kristen Cetkovic connected for their third round trippers.

Balzano has hit safely in every game this spring.

Sophomore Dani Goranson, who pitched the final inning for EG, went 3-for-3 with 3 runs and a double. Maday and Amanda Gattone also had doubles.

Elk Grove has 21 homers in 20 games, 4 shy of tying the school record of 25 set last season.

The Grens (18-2, 8-0) host Fremd (18-1, 8-0) ) today at 4:30 p.m. in a showdown between the MSL East and West unbeaten leaders.

Fremd has belted 18 homers in 19 games.

Palatine 2, Grant 1: Senior Chrissy Roto (6-8) earned the win with 9 strikeouts and no walks as the Pirates improved to 13-10 with the nonconference road win in Fox Lake.

Palatine's 3 hits were singles by junior Joanne Jablonski , senior Melissa Serio and senior Meaghan Deegan.

Leyden 14, Evanston 2 (five innings): Sophomore Morgan Maize (10-2) went 3 innings to earn the win with 3 strikeouts and no walks. Classmate Hannah Seymore went the final 2 innings.

Ciara Mackey was 3-for-3 with 2 homers, a double, 3 runs and 3 RBI for the Eagles (16-4). Other top hitters were Dana Sullivan (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 1 run), Christina Morgan (2-for-4, 2 runs) and Amanda Moran (2-for-4, 2 runs).

Maize had a triple and April Markowski a double.

Christian Liberty 25, Lake Forest Academy 16: Amber Monasterio was the winning pitcher while Megan Kryzanovic (3-for-4, 2 home runs), Rachel Sotomeyer (2-for-5, double, triple) and Zoe Whyte (3-for-5) led the Chargers' offense.