Barrington wins Spring Fling
The Barrington softball team continues to sing in the Spring Fling.
The Fillies played the winning tune for the sixth straight season in the seventh annual eight-team event played at Barrington’s Fields of Dreams.
Coach Perry Peterson’s squad won its 18th consecutive Spring Fling game in Wednesday’s championship against Warren, which was playing for its first title in seven years.
After jumping out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, Barrington held on for a 7-6 triumph when relief pitcher Emma Woods picked up the save in a tense bottom of the seventh inning.
After two were out, Allie Schultz reached on an infield error and Megan Sowa followed with a single to left.
Abby Anderson then reached on another error, allowing Schultz to cross the plate and bring the Blue Devils to within 7-6 with runners on first and third.
But Woods, who also got the final two outs of the fifth inning, struck out the final batter of the game to give Barrington its third win of the season without a loss.
Barrington four-year varsity performers Colleen Shandley, Kiersten Tinkoff and Kristen Kuhn went 12-0 for their careers in the Spring Fling.
Fittingly, it was Tinkoff’s two-out base hit to center which scored Shandley for Barrington’s seventh run in the top of the sixth. That run turned out to be the difference in the game.
“Everyone comes out and plays as hard as they can for this tournament every year,” said Tinkoff, who also had an unassisted double play at first base. “It’s all heart. It’s all about winning that first championship of the season to start out the season with a bang.”
The Fillies’ offense started out with a bang, collecting 4 runs on 5 hits in the first inning. Tinkoff had a bloop RBI single and Jordan Wekony added an RBI single off the center-field fence.
Catcher Kristin Kuhn capped the scoring with a 2-run single to center scoring Elizabeth Owen, who’d singled to center, and Wekony.
“We’ve been practicing outside so many times on our field that we were really pumped up and ready to go for this tournament,” said Kuhn, who threw out a runner trying to steal second in the first inning. “Warren definitely put up a good fight and kept us on our toes at the end.”
Sophomore Loren Krzysko belted a 2-run homer over the left-field fence, her second of the season, to give Barrington its 6-0 lead in the second.
“They’re a great hitting team,” said Warren coach Carrie McGahan. “They only graduated one senior, and they’re a veteran team. We’re a young team but we have some youthful talent. We are still in the learning process but we are already making some big plays and getting some big hits.”
Tinkoff and Wekony each ended up 3-for-4 while Shandley, Krzysko and Kuhn each had pair of hits.
“It got nerve-wracking but Emma was awesome at the end,” Tinkoff said. “She really came through in the clutch.”
“Emma Woods was very impressive this game,” said Fillies coach Perry Peterson, who watched senior starter Kiley Dolezal improve to 3-0 by working the first 5 innings. “Emma’s poise and composure helped us finish it out the last two-plus innings.”
Sowa and Anderson each finished 2-for-4 for the Blue Devils (2-1). Anderson reached base three times.
“Abby is talented and experienced,” McGahan said. “Plus she is a captain for us this season. She is very focused and she does a nice job calming us down. We definitely have shown some perseverance. We were down 2-0 to Glenbrook North in the semifinals and chipped away to come back for a 3-2 win. These girls don’t put their heads down. A big part of softball is staying positive and thinking about the next play instead of what just happened. And these girls are doing that.”
Maine West 5, Deerfield 2: The Warriors (1-2) scored their first runs of the season and got their first win as junior Alyssa Bojarski struck out two for the win. Sophomore Ariel Valles picked up the save by retiring three straight in the seventh with 2 strikeouts.
Senior Katherine Kusner (2-for-3, 2 runs, sacrifice) and sophomore Holly Wengerski (2-for-4) helped lead the offense that received doubles from Kusner, Bojarski, sophomore Brie Montmarquette and sophomore Gina Larucci.
“It was nice to score a run and finally play well,” said Maine West coach Mike Murin. “We didn’t feel we played well our first two games so it was nice to finish the tourney (Spring Fling) on a high note and playing the way I think we are capable.”
Lake Zurich 7, Hersey 3: Sarah Platt and Danielle Becker each went 2-for-3 in the Huskies’ final game of the Spring Fling. Alex Tinaglia added a triple for Hersey.
Fremd 3, Prairie Ridge 1: Senior Megan Horn (2-for-3, 2 RBI) had a 2-run single in the fourth inning to give Fremd a 2-0 lead in its season opener in Palatine.
Junior Rachel Doering struck out six and threw a 4-hitter for the win while classmate Brittany Ciura had an RBI, base hit and stolen base.
Sophomore Michelle Mazur, senior Stacey Hnytka and junior Megan Hubbard (stolen base) also had base hits for Fremd, which travels to Grayslake Central today.
Conant 16, Resurrection 0 (five innings): Brianne Cavin threw a 2-hitter with 9 strikeouts for the shutout in Conant’s season opener in Chicago. She also went 3-for-3 with 5 RBI, a home run and double.
Sarah Thompson (3-for-4, 5 RBI) belted a two-out grand slam in the first inning to give Conant a 4-0 lead.
Miranda Cavin (2-for-4, 1 RBI) and Kim Jacobson (2-for-4, home run, 3 RBI) were other multiple hitters for the Cougars.
Vernon Hills 11, Palatine 8: Senior Sam Salomone (2-for-4) had 2 triples and classmate Joanne Jablonski doubled for visiting Palatine (1-1).
Sophomore Tori Walzak (2-for-4), senior Katie Scovic (2-for-4) and senior Dani Boisvert (2-for-4) were other top hitters for Palatine. Pirates senior pitcher Lauren Hedstrom struck out three.