Conant doesn’t Cavin to pressure
Whenever she is under pressure, Conant pitcher Briana Cavin says she pretends the bases are loaded.
Well, the junior ace was under pressure in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday when Barrington got its first two runners on base while trailing by 1 run.
One could say Cavin then proceeded to pitch a “grand slam.”
She struck out the next three batters to give Conant a 7-6 triumph and its first win over the Fillies since April 30, 2001 when Kristen Landis earned a 4-3 decision also at the Fields of Dreams.
“It’s probably my biggest win since I’ve been here,” said Cavin, the Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit (9-1) who struck out 10 while ending Barrington’s 18 game-winning streak over Conant. “It’s a very big win.”
The Cougars (11-1, 2-1) got a very big home run by senior first baseman Paige Ward in the second inning.
The southpaw’s opposite field 3-run blast over the left-center field fence tied the game after the Fillies scored 3 runs in the first inning.
“After they got those 3 runs in the first, Kim (Jacobson) promised me we’d get those runs back,” Cavin said. “Paige’s homer was a great way for us to start.”
The Cougars weren’t finished after the homer as freshman Rachel O’Malley followed with a single to center and came home on Cavin’s RBI single to center for a 4-3 lead.
Barrington (11-4, 2-1) tied it at 4-4 when Kiersten Tinkoff walked in the third inning and came in when Jordan Wekony (2-run double in the first inning) reached on an error.
Conant went back in front 5-4 in the fourth when Sarah Thompson singled home Cavin.
The Fillies tied it in the fifth on Wekony’s groundout which brought home Tinkoff.
Conant went ahead for good in the sixth when Sarah Pawlik scored on an infield error. Hilary O’Donnell scored on Miranda Cavin’s RBI single to center off reliever Emma Woods, who came in one batter earlier for starter Kiley Dolezal (8-2).
Fillies left fielder Liz Owen (3-for-4, double) made a great sliding catch to prevent further damage in the inning.
Barrington got one run back in the sixth when Kelsey Kazmier’s sacrifice fly drove in Jazlynn Skor, who was running for sophomore catcher Savonnah Osmanski.
Osmanski went 2-for-4 with a double in her first varsity game while filling in for Kristin Kuhn (ill).
“Obviously, we were nervous at the end but we had Bri’s back and she’s a great pitcher,” Ward said. “Our main focus is always to have each other’s backs.
“It was nerve-wracking but I had faith in our team. This was a really important win for us. It feels amazing.”
Conant coach CathyAnn Smith was proud of her team’s composure.
“To play against a state-caliber team like Barrington really gives our girls the belief they need,” she said. “We’ve been telling them all season what they can do so I’m really proud of all 12 of them.”
Nine Cougars had at least 1 hit, led by Briana Cavin and Pawlik, who were each 2-for-4.
Colleen Shandley was 2-for-3 for Barrington while Tinkoff (1-for-1) reached base four times (2 walks and a hit by pitch).
“We always kept our spirits up,” Shandley said. “Our defense lacked a little but we battled all the way.”
“It was an exciting game all the way to the end,” added Barrington coach Perry Peterson. “Conant just executed better than we did and deserved to win the game.”