Hoffman Estates surprises Elk Grove
Hoffman Estates softball coach Lindsey Hamma didn’t want her team to feel any pressure playing the No. 1 team in the Daily Herald softball poll.
“I told them all the pressure was on them (Elk Grove),” Hamma said. “Elk Grove is an extremely talented team. I told my girls they needed to go out there and believe they could do it.”
The Hawks (5-13-1, 2-4) did it, taking a 6-5 decision from the Mid-Suburban East leaders (15-3, 6-1).
Five of visiting Hoffman’s 6 runs came on home runs by Alex Tuminaro and Emily Fett.
With the game tied 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning and two outs, Kelsey Pellus (2-for-4) singled to right. Tuminaro then belted a 2-run blast over the center-field fence for a 6-4 lead.
Hawks pitcher Emily Allan (4-8) got the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh before Jessica Balzano doubled to left center and Devan Parkison singled to the same spot to get Balzano home.
But Allan retired the batter on a flyout to right for one of biggest wins of her career.
“Elk Grove is a solid hitting team and Emily kept them off balance the whole game,” Hamma said. “Our defense made the play behind her. It was a fun win. Our girls stayed together and I’m so proud of them.”
Junior Andrea Starr (4 strikeouts, 5 hits) went the first two innings for Elk Grove while Goranson (14-3) threw the final five (9 strikeouts, 4 hits).
Emily Fett (2-for-4) belted a 3-run homer in the Hawks’ 4-run second inning. Taylor Mann (2-for-3) had a double for the winners.
Senior Kristen Cetkovic (2-for-3, triple) led the Grens’ offense.
Rolling Meadows 7, Barrington 5: Host Rolling Meadows (11-8, 4-3) scored 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth with two outs as Sara Brunlieb (9-5) picked up the win.
Senior catcher Kelly Keyzer (3-for-4, 1 RBI) started the sixth-inning rally with an RBI double followed by a 2-run single by Sam Anderson (3-for-4, 2 RBI) and RBI single by Josie Suchecki (3-for-3).
Emily Skorin had a homer for Meadows.
Liz Owen (4-for-4, home run) and Loren Krzysko (2-for-4, home run) led the offense for Barrington (16-9, 4-3).
Fillies centerfielder Colleen Shandley made a great running catch near the fence to rob Grace Skorin with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning.
Fremd 18, Wheeling 0 (6 inn.): Allie Gaeding (4-for-4, triple) Michelle Mazur (3-for-4, triple, 4 RBI, 4 runs, double), Mandi Matsumoto (2-for-3, 2 runs, 3 steals), Megan Hubbard (2-for-2, 3 RBI), Caitlin Patenaude (double) and Megan Horn (double) led the offense for visiting Fremd (17-1-1, 6-1).
Fremd sent 17 girls to the plate when it scored 13 runs in the top of the sixth.
Sophomore Ashlynne Schwantz (9-1) got the win, giving up 2 hits and striking out eight in five innings.
Sara Kern had 2 hits for Wheeling (4-8, 0-6) including a double.
Conant 13, Prospect 0 (5 inn.): Junior Briana Cavin (13-1) fired a 1-hitter with 5 strikeouts and went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and 4 RBI for the Cougars (15-1, 6-1).
Other top hitters for Conant were Miranda Cavin (2-for-3, home run, double), Kim Jacobson (double, 2 RBI), Paige Ward (double, 2 RBI), Sarah Thompson (2-for-2, double) and Rachel O’Malley (3-for-3).
Junior Amy Graham had the only hit for Prospect (4-13, 1-6).
Palatine 5, Buffalo Grove 2: With the score tied 2-2, the visiting Pirates (15-3, 4-1) scored 3 runs after two outs in the top of the seventh.
Joanne Jablonski and Tori Walzak each had RBI singles in the inning.Alyx Ballenger and Lauren Logan each went 2-for-4 for the Pirate while senior Dani Boisvert (13-2) earned the win with a 3-hitter and 2 strikeouts.
Mari Dax (9-8) struck out five for the Bison (10-9, 3-5), who received a solo homer run from senior Danni Shapiro.
Maine West 3, Niles North 2: Host Maine West (9-7, 4-1) received a 7-hitter with 4 strikeouts from sophomore Ariel Valles (8-6) in the CSL North contest.
Junior Katie Fitzgerald (2-for-2, 2 doubles) drove home pinch runner Angela Cruz (running for Olivia Beers, who had singled) in the second inning for a 1-0 lead.
The Warriors added 2 runs in the fifth when Fitzgerald doubled and came home on a wild pitch. The second run came when Alyssa Bojarski reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch two batters later.
Leyden 4, Morton 3: Moira Quinlan had the game-winning hit for Leyden (15-2, 3-1) in the West Suburban Gold game.
Morgan Maize (14-1) threw a 4-hitter with 12 strikeouts as the offense was led by April Markowski (2-2, RBI), Maize (1-for-3, Christina Morgan (1-for-3, 1 run) and Brigid Mackey (1-for-3, RBI).
Christian Liberty 11, Westlake Christian 10: Megan Sullivan struck out six in 6 innings to get the win for host Christian Liberty. Megan Krizanovic (3-for-5, triple, double, home run, 6 RBI) led the Chargers#146; offense.
Rachael Sotomayer (3-for-4, 3 runs), Beth Cunningham (2-for-4, double), Brittany Negron (2-for-4) and Sullivan (2-for-4) were other key hitters for CLA.