Conant grabs MSL West lead
Conant’s softball team took over sole possession of first place in the Mid-Suburban West after its 3-1 victory on Wednesday over visiting Hersey.
The Cougars improved to 17-1 and 8-1 in the MSL West, 1 game ahead of Fremd (18-2-1, 7-2).
Kim Jacobson and Allie Bauch each went 2-for-3 against Hersey while junior Briana Cavin and her sophomore sister and catcher Miranda also had doubles.
Hersey (5-14, 2-7) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth but the Cougars answered with all their runs in the bottom of the inning on a 3-run homer by Jacobson.
Winning pitcher Briana Cavin (15-1) and teammate Kailee Pasbrig each had 2 strikeouts.
Abbey Petersen went 2-for-3 for the Huskies.
Palatine 4, Prospect 2: Senior Lauren Hedstrom (3-1) struck out three as the winning pitcher for host Palatine (16-4, 5-2), which is 1 game behind Fremd in third place in the MSL West.
Sophomore first baseman Lauren Logan went 2-for-3 for the Pirates while junior Hanna Lythberg struck out two batters for Prospect (4-15,1-8).
Rolling Meadows 5, Hoffman Estates 1: Visiting Rolling Meadows (12-9, 5-4) was led on offense by sophomore Sam Anderson (2-for-4) and junior Natalie Cannizzo (2-for-3) while sophomore Sara Brunlieb (10-5) struck out four as the winning pitcher.
Hoffman Estates (5-15-1, 2-6) was led on offense by Alex Tuminaro (2-for-3) and Linden Fick (double).
Barrington 10, Wheeling 0 (6 innings): Dana Moran (3-for-3, double, 5 RBI), Liz Owen (2-for-3, double, RBI), Kiersten Tinkoff (2-for-3) and Kelsey Kazmier (double) led the offense for host Barrington (17-9, 5-3).
Sara Kern and Taylor Schroeder had the only hits for Wheeling (4-10, 0-8) off winning pitcher Kiley Dolezal (13-6), who struck out six in five innings. Reliever Loren Krzysko had 2 strikeouts in the final inning.
Schaumburg 3, Buffalo Grove 2: Junior Renee Kakareka (6-1) got the win with 5 strikeouts for host Schaumburg (11-5, 5-3).
“Renee pitched a great game and really kept her composure on the mound,” said Schaumburg coach Ellen Stoddard. “And the defense was there to back her up.”
Rebecca Thompson belted a home run to cut BG’s lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
The Saxons went ahead in the bottom of the sixth with 2 runs.
Thompson led off with a walk, followed by Brianne Lingl; single and an intentional walk to Alyssa Lancaster.
Jessica Cook produced an RBI single to tie the game before Jenna Lane delivered the game-winning RBI.
BG (10-10, 3-6) had a runner on third with two outs in the top of the seventh before Kakareka got the final out.
“Renee pitched her heart out and the defense made the plays,” Stoddard said. “The girls pulled through and played like a team. They played with heart.”
St. Viator 4, Regina 2: Freshman Gina Mastrodomenico (3 walks) stole four bases and scored 3 runs for the host Lions (9-12) in the nonconference game.
Michelle Presslak (2-3, RBI) and Tayler Lenart (1-2, RBI) each drove in runs while Angelica Dickey tripled and Julie Sweeney (2-3) doubled.
Sweeney struck out nine in her ninth victory.
“We need to continue to excel in all facets of our game,” said Lions coach Dan Twarog, who was a classmate at St. Viator with Regina coach Jim Goranson.
“Our pitching has been excellent this year. Hitting has been good and fielding is improving. Today we won with heads-up baserunning from Gina and timely hitting.”
Maine West 11, Maine East 1: Host Maine West improved to 11-7 and 6-1 in the CSL north as sophomore Ariel Valles (10-6) earned the win for coach Mike Murin’s Warriors.