Malinowski bids Schaumburg seniors victorious farewell

Erin Malinowski and Ally Poehlmann joined the Schaumburg varsity program four years ago.

That's when Malinowski came in as the head coach and Poehlmann as the varsity catcher.

Both are leaving the program after this season.

Malinowski has accepted a position as a counselor at Fremd High School, while Poehlmann is graduating.

Both will remember Monday's senior day as one of the many highlights over the past four years.

Poehlmann scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an infield hit as the Saxons (17-9, 8-5)) rallied from a 4-1 deficit for a 5-4 triumph over visiting Palatine (17-12, 7-6) in the Mid-Suburban West Division contest.

"It's the first time we've won on senior's day in my four years," said Malinowski, who honored seniors Poehlmann, Theresa McGreevy, Nicole Chase and Rachel Karareka before the game."

"I'm going to miss these kids," said Malinowski, a former standout softball player for Buffalo Gove and Barrington High Schools and Bradley University.

"Huge win," said Poehlmann, who started the seventh-inning rally with an infield single. "We were tied for third with them so we knew we had to step up."

Alyssa Lancaster stepped up again on the mound and in the batter's box.

The sophomore winning pitcher (15-8), who is hitting .520, belted a two-out, RBI double to right-center in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 3-3.

"Alyssa was awesome," Poehlmann said. "She was hitting all her spots. She knew where she wanted to place the ball."

Joanne Jablonski and Lauren Logan belted back-to-back, two-out doubles to give Palatine a 1-0 lead in the fourth.

Chase led off the bottom of the inning with a home run over the center-field fence to tie the game1-1.

The Pirates went ahead 3-1 in the fifth when Alyx Ballenger reached on a bases-loaded error to score Katie Scovic.

One out later, Jablonski (2-for-3, 2 doubles) drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Heather Zimmerman.

The Pirates added another run in the sixth when Melissa Serio singled to right-center with two outs to score courtesy runner Dani Boisvert (running for Megan Deegan, who had singled to center).

Brianne Lingl singled to center to start the Saxons' 3-run sixth in which Jessica Cook had an RBI single to right-center and McGreevy (single to left) scored on a wild pitch.

Then came the big double by Lancaster (2-for-4). The Saxons' Becca Thompson (2-for-4) and Chase (2-for-3) also had multiple hits.

"We fought hard to get 4 runs with hits and errors," Jablonski said. "But then we made too many errors ourselves. We didn't finish like we can. We've got to finish and get the outs at the end of games."

Barrington 6, Conant 4: Junior Kiersten Tinkoff (2-for-3, 3 RBI) belted a first-inning 2-run homer over the left-field fence and fourth-inning RBI single to right to lead host Barrington (26-4, 10-3) in the MSL West.

Other top hitters for the Fillies were Liz Owen (2-for-4, 1 run, RBI) and Colleen Shandley (2-for-4, 1 run), while Kiley Dolezal (24-4) earned the win with 4 strikeouts.

Allie Bauch (3-for-4, home run, double, 3 RBI) and pitcher Briana Cavin (2-for-3, 2 runs) led the offense for Conant (19-8, 7-6).

"Our girls were relisient because Conant never stops battling," said Perry Peterson, who surpassed legendary baseball coach Kirby Smith at Barrington as the school's all-time leader in victories of any boys or girls IHSA-sanctioned sport.

Peterson, who has amassed a 540-120 record at Barrington in 18 seasons (19-year career coaching record of 556-129) eclipsed Smith's record total of 539-196-7 from 1977-1998.

Fremd 13, Hoffman Estates 0: Kristine Werling (3-for-3), Kelly Voigt (3-for-3) and Allie Gaeding (2-for-3) led the offense for visiting Fremd (23-3, 12-1), which received a 1-hitter from ace Lena Brottman (20-2). Brottman recorded 13 strikeouts with 1 walk.

Sophomore Amanda Harris's leadoff single in the fourth inning was the only hit for Hoffman (3-18, 2-11).

Prospect 5, Hersey 4: Winning pitcher Hanna Lythberg (3-for-3, RBI, double), Amanda Mlikan (2-for-2, RBI walk) and Allison Malewig (1-for-2, 2 RBI) led the offense for host Prospect in the MSL East.

Taylor Reeves (2-for-4), Michelle Cecala (2-for-3), Stacey Schmiederer (2-for-4, l double), Haley Henriksen (2-for-3) and Aubrey Fulton (2-for-3, 2 walks) led the Huskies (7-21, 3-10).

Rolling Meadows 11, Wheeling 1 (6 innings): Kelly Keyzer went 2-for-3 with a home run and 2 runs and Sam Anderson was 3-for-4 for visiting Meadows (16-13, 3-10) in the MSL East.

Kayla Mueller (4-2) earned the win with 6 strikeouts.

Elk Grove 12, Buffalo Grove 0: Olivia Roback (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 3 runs), Kristen Cetkovic (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI) and Elisa Payne (2-for-3, 2 runs) led the offense for visiting Elk Grove (27-2, 13-0) in the MSL East.

Winning pitcher Stephanie Maday (11-1) struck out three in 4 innings, while Dani Goranson (16-1) recorded 5 strikeouts in the last 3 innings for a combined a 2-hitter.

Andrea DiPrima and Megan Fu each singled for Buffalo Grove (16-14, 4-9).

BG junior Maria Dax (11-9) struck out four in 7 innings.

Deerfield 15, Maine West 11: Visiting Maine West (11-17, 5-3) was led on offense by Olivia Beers (3-for-4), Vanessa Bagneschi (2-for-3), Alyssa Bojarski (2-for-5), Michelle Marlega (2-for-5) and Allie Ellwood (3-for-4) and Katie Fitzgerald (3-for-5, 2 doubles) in the Central Suburban North.

Leyden 5, Hinsdale South 1: Leyden (21-6) improved to 7-1 in the West Suburban Gold as Morgan Maize (15-3) threw a 3-hitter with 11 strikeouts and was 2-for-4 with 2 doubles. April Markowski (3-for-4), Dana Sullivan (double) and Dana Thomas (2-for-3) led the Eagles' offense.