Fremd takes MSL West, to host Elk Grove in championship
After a dramatic rally for a 5-4 win a few weeks ago at Conant, the Fremd softball team made things much less suspenseful in its rematch with the Cougars on Saturday.
This time, the Vikings jumped ahead 4-0 in the fourth inning and never looked back en route to a 6-0 triumph that locked up their first appearance in the Mid-Suburban League softball championship since 2002.
The Vikings (25-3, 14-1) will host Elk Grove (28-3, 14-1) for the crown on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
"The first time (against Conant) we had a great comeback to pull it out (3 runs in the seventh and 1 in the eighth)," said Loyola-bound first baseman Lauren Zaworski, who went 3-for-3 from the No. 3 spot. "We wanted to prove that first game was no fluke."
Three consecutive RBI doubles by Alexa Cinquegrani (2-for-3), Kelly Voigt (2-for-3) and Megan Hubbard (2-for-2) - all on the first pitch and to nearly the same spot in right-center field - sparked the Vikings' 4-run fourth.
The rally started with a single to right by Zaworski, who advanced to second on Jenny Schneider's sacrifice bunt.
Caitlin Patenaude capped the rally with a bloop single up the middle to bring home the fourth run.
"That was really exciting," Voigt said of the big inning. "We knew she (Briana Cavin, who had 4 strikeouts) was pitching well and we had to jump on her early. We all hit the first pitch.
"Conant really played us well the first time. We wanted to show we could play well against them because we know they are a good team."
Winning pitcher Lena Brottman (22-2) struck out a dozen (including six straight in the second and third innings) and threw a 5-hitter to senior receiver Kristine Werling.
Less than 18 hours earlier, Brottman and Werling combined to blank Palatine 2-0.
"Back-to-back shutouts against Palatine and Conant, that's dealing," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver, whose team shared the MSL West crown in 2008. "Lena pitched well. Our girls executed the game plan all the way around.
The Vikings gave Brottman 2 more runs in the fifth inning when Zaworski led off the inning with a single.
Schneider moved her to second with a grounder to first base, and Zaworski came home on Cinquegrani's double to left, which was followed by Voigt's RBI single to left-center.
"It was amazing to see them hit those doubles," Zaworski said. "Mr. Weaver told us to take advantage of the count. We were aggressive and didn't let a strike go by. Jenny Schneider was vital moving the runner up in each inning. This was so exciting. It was one of our goals all season."
"This was one goal we had at the start of season," Weaver said. "I'm proud of the kids. They made the plays on defense. And I thought we hit well against a good pitcher."
Conant (19-10, 7-8) received hits from pitcher Briana Cavin (11-9), Miranda Cavin (double), Allie Bauch, Hilary O'Donnell and Vicki McGuire.
Two hits came in the sixth before two were out, but Brottman escaped with a foul popout to third baseman Voigt and a nice running catch by center fielder Tess Dinterman.
"Fremd has a solid team," said Conant coach CathyAnn Smith, whose Cougars' short-term goal is 20 wins. "Our bats have been quiet lately, but our defense was solid again. This team has a lot of heart. We didn't get where we wanted to in the conference, but we are starting out new in the postseason. We have a lot of eager youth who want to make something happen. Fremd deserves to win the conference. They are solid all around."
Schaumburg wins two: Schaumburg (20-10) has won 20 games for the second straight season under coach Erin Malinowski as the Saxons stopped Rockford Boylan 8-1 and the host Storm 8-3 in the South Elgin tourney.
Sophomore Alyssa Lancaster (17-10) threw a 5-hitter with 9 strikeouts against Boylan and went 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple.
Other top Saxon hitters were Alexis Carravetta (3-for-4), Nicole Chase (2-for-3, 2 doubles), Brianne Lingl (2-for-3) and Shannon Giovannone (2-for-3).
Senior Rachel Kakareka improved to 3-0 with 4 strikeouts against the Storm. She also went 2-for-3.
Other offensive leaders were Lancaster (2-for-4, double), Carravetta (2-for-4), Becca Thompson (2-for-4, triple), Lingl (2-for-4, double) and Chase (3-for-4).
Schaumburg scored all of its run in the last two innings after trailing 3-0.
The Storm had runners on second and third with two outs when Carravetta made a diving catch in center to end the game.
Wheeling 10, Highland Park 4: Junior Sejal Shah earned the win for the host Wildcats (5-18), who received doubles from Sami Spinabella and Becky Menelle.
Leyden sweeps Niles North: The host Eagles won 9-3 and 3-0 to improve to 25-6 overall.
In Game 1, Morgan Maize (17-3) fired a 4-hitter with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks and went 2-for-4.
Hannah Seymore (7-3) hurled a shutout in Game 2, allowing 3 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Markowski went 1-for-3 with a triple and 2 RBI.
St. Viator falls twice: Visiting Providence Catholic posted 5-0 and 12-1 victories over St. Viator (16-14, 4-12) in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.