Fremd's Brottman can hit, too, and proves it in MSL All-Star Game

Lena Brottman, the Daily Herald All-Area honorary captain, has been one of the finest pitchers the Mid-Suburban League has produced.

But she left area fans with a unique memory outside of pitching from Monday's 17th annual Mid-Suburban League Senior All-Star Game.

Brottman, who didn't make a plate appearance all season, delivered an RBI single to right that scored Schaumburg's Theresa McGreevy in the sixth inning.

One inning later, Brottman completed a 2-hitter with a senior-game record 14 strikeouts as the MSL West defeated the East 6-1.

"I've got to get her a fifth year of eligibility," joked Fremd coach Jim Weaver about his career 82-game winner. "She can hit."

Nora Logue also showed her hitting power as the Barrington center fielder went 3-for-4 and drove home half of the West's runs. Logue earned the Nancy Frisk Most Valuable Player Award.

"It was so fun to play with all these girls," said Logue, who will study graphic design at the University of Illinois after working once a week this summer on the Fields of Dreams' maintenance crew. "It was a very nice experience."

The West wasted little time getting on the board as Brottman's high school catcher, Kristine Werling, led off the game with a walk and raced home on Logue's double to left.

Werling reached on a bases-loaded error in the second inning that allowed McGreevy to score from third for a 2-0 lead.

Logue then delivered a 2-run single to left for a 4-0 cushion.

Werling (2 walks) was the only player to reach base four times in the game, including twice on errors.

"It was nice to be a part of the West team and play with all these girls you compete against in conference," said Werling, who will study at Northwestern after leading Fremd with a .512 batting average this season. "It's a unique experience and really fun."

Werling came home from third when her Fremd teammate Jenny Schneider flied out to center in the top of the seventh for the 6-1 lead.

The Vikings' Tess Dinterman also singled in the game.

The East hits came off the bats of Hersey's Alyssa Kieffer (third inning) and Elk Grove's Amanda Gattone (sixth inning).

The East scored its only run in the second when Hersey's Kristy Johnson walked and later came home on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and one out.

Brottman escaped further damage by striking out the next two batters.

"It was a blast," Brottman said. "It was awesome to play with everyone in the conference."