Softball/Fox Valley roundup
Huntley 6, McHenry 1: Taylor Larson (9-8) scattered 7 hits and struck out 2 to lead the Red Raiders (11-10, 6-3) to a Fox Valley Conference victory. Larson also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and an RBI while Brittany Koss (2-for-4, triple) and Ashley Laxner (triple, 2 RBI) also contributed offensively.
Rockford East 17, Westminster Christian 9: The Warriors (6-8, 2-4) battled but could not push enough runs across the plate in this nonconference game. Porsche Griggs (3 RBI) and Aly Janusek paced the Warriors with a double apiece. Rachel Fugiel (2-3) took the loss in the circle.
Burlington Central 12, North Boone 2 (5 innings): The Rockets (12-10, 5-2) scored early and often as they cruised to an easy Big Northern East Conference victory on the road. Sarah Kisch and Audrey Djukic (double) recorded multihit games with 2 apiece. Kelsey Johnson (3-2) threw all 5 innings. She surrendered 6 hits and struck out 3 to earn the victory.
Batavia 12, Elgin 10: The Maroons (15-12, 4-9) pounded out 11 hits for 10 runs, but 6 errors proved to be costly as they were defeated by the Bulldogs in this Upstate Eight Conference matchup. Hannah Perryman belted a grand slam in the bottom of the fifth inning to keep the game close while freshmen Jennah Perryman and Kelly Bremer also hit home runs for the Maroons. Jennah Perryman (7-6) suffered the loss despite striking out 4.
Neuqua Valley 6, South Elgin 5: The Storm (13-10, 6-6) jumped to an early 3-1 lead after an inning, but were unable to hold on as they were defeated in Upstate Eight Conference action. Alyssa Buddle (3-for-3, 2 RBI, home run), Shannon Conway (3-for-4, RBI), and Katelyn Stonecipher (2-for-4, home run) paced the Storm at the plate. Freshman Taylor Rees (3-2) suffered the loss.
Hampshire 8, Harvard 7: Jen Hurst (2 hits) drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Whip-Purs (5-15, 2-4) a Big Northern East Conference victory. Tiffany Bentley also added 2 hits for the Whips. Hurst (4-9) earned the complete-game victory, scattering 11 hits and striking out 3.
Grayslake North 4, Dundee-Crown 1: The Chargers fell behind 4-0 early and could not mount a large enough comeback to avoid a loss in Fox Valley Conference play. Melany Love, Tiffany Rawlinson (RBI), and Brittany Schultz each recorded a single for the Chargers. Love suffered the loss in the circle despite allowing just 5 hits and striking out 9.
3A and 4A Regional seeds released: Seeds were released Thursday by the IHSA for the 2011 softball postseason. Cary-Grove, Jacobs and South Elgin were each named top seeds in regionals within the Class 4A Rockford Guilford Sectional, which will be fed by regionals at McHenry, Harlem, Rockford Jefferson, and South Elgin.
Bartlett will compete in the 21-team Schaumburg sectional. The Hawks were named the No. 13th seed.
In Class 3A, Burlington Central earned the top seed at the Kaneland regional. The Rockets would advance to the Rochelle sectional. Hampshire was named the No. 4 seed in its own regional within the Grayslake Central sectional.
College softball
Judson loses twice: The third-seeded Judson University softball team was eliminated from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. The Eagles (32-16) were defeated 5-2 by No. 6 Calumet St. Joseph College, and they lost 4-3 to No. 4 St. Francis.