Elk Grove clinches division crown
Elk Grove’s softball team had its share of firsts in Tuesday’s game with visiting Rolling Meadows.
Senior Kristen Cetkovic belted the first grand slam of her career.
Junior Andrea Starr walloped the first home run of her career.
And junior Devan Parkison launched her first home run of the season.
But there was one thing that was hardly a first for the Grenadiers — a Mid-Suburban League East Division title.
The Grenadiers (23-3, 12-1) clinched their 10th in the last 11 seasons with a five-inning 11-0 victory that ended by the 10-run rule on Starr’s 2-run blast over the left-field fence with two outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Grens junior ace Dani Goranson (21-3) fired a 1-hitter with 7 strikeouts.
Starr’s homer capped a 6-run inning that included Parkison’s homer over the left-field fence to start the inning.
Cetkovic, who went 3-for-3 with a home run, double and single, notched her fifth RBI when she singled to center to score Goranson (2-for-3) in the big inning.
“I thought we had some pretty good swings at the plate,” said Grens Hall of Fame coach Ken Grams, who owns 18 division titles in 31 seasons.
One of those swings was Cetkovic’s sixth homer of the season with one out in the first inning. It brought home senior Jessica Balzano (walk), Parkison (single to left) and junior Megan Keegan (reached on an error).
“We knew Rolling Meadows (15-12, 7-6) was right behind in the standings,” Cetkovic said. “So we knew if we got this one, we could win the title.”
It marked the fourth division championship for four-year starter Balzano.
“It’s a great feeling,” said the Loyola recruit. “We worked hard for it.”
Goranson worked efficiently for her 21st win, retiring the first eight batters before Mustangs sophomore pitcher Sara Brunlieb (12-6) became the only baserunner for the visitors when she blooped a single into shallow center.
“She (Goranson) is a great pitcher and we struggled against her,” said Meadows coach Tony Wolanski. “Her fastball was a little too much for us. And they hit our mistakes. Credit goes to Elk Grove.”
Starr’s game-ending homer followed an RBI single by junior Carly Danek.
“That was my first homer in a long time, since eighth grade,” Starr said with a smile. “I just went up there ready for the first pitch and went with it.”
The East champion Grens will host the Mid-Suburban League title game a week from Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The West division champion has yet to be determined. Conant (11-1), Fremd (9-2) Barrington (8-4) and Palatine (7-4) are the top four. Fremd visits Conant in a first-place showdown today at 4:30 p.m.