Prospect turns on the power with 3 homers

A power surge hit the Prospect softball diamond Tuesday.

In one game, the Knights doubled their season home run total.

Senior catcher Nicole Naranjo and junior pitcher Hanna Lythberg hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.

Senior shortstop Nikki Surico then belted a 2-run shot over the fence in left-center in the bottom of the sixth as Prospect posted a 7-4 triumph over Buffalo Grove

Going into its final Mid-Suburban League East game of the season, Prospect (7-21, 4-12) had 3 home runs in 27 games.

“We all had good at-bats,” said Naranjo, who caught an 8-hitter from Lythberg with 6 strikeouts. “We are just happy that we’re finally starting to click as a team.”

Senior Mary Styzek went 2-for-4 with a double, while Cassie Poulos also doubled for Prospect.

Surico’s two-out, full-count homer gave Lythberg a 5-run cushion going into the seventh.

“This was a very good way to end the conference schedule,” Surico said. “I’m proud of how we stayed in the game and how we hit.”

“We thought we had the hitters this season,” said Knights coach Jim Adair. “We’ve struggled, though, so it was nice to see some go yard this game.”

Bison sophomore Erin Barton belted a 2-run double to right-center in the top of the seventh to get BG to within 7-4 with one out.

Andrea DiPrima (2-for-4, double) was then intentionally walked. Lythberg got the final two batters on a fielder’s choice and a grounder back to the mound.

KC Dunne, who singled sharply to center in the seventh and scored on Barton’s double, also went 2-for-4 for BG (14-13, 7-9), while Danni Shapiro had a double.

Naranjo and Surico both hit their second home runs, while it was the first for Lythberg. Sam Mangrum also has one for Prospect.

Barrington 6, Schaumburg 2 (8 innings): Visiting Barrington (24-10, 12-4) scored 4 runs in the top of the eighth to give Kiley Dolezal (6 strikeouts) her 20th win against 7 losses.

The Fillies tied the game in the top of the seventh when Colleen Shandley delivered a two-out, two strike single to score pinch hitter Ally McLaughlin — who had singled, stole second and went to third on an error.

Seniors Kiersten Tinkoff and Liz Owen (2 RBI) each went 2-for-4, while teammate Dana Moran (double, RBI) went 2-for-3 for the Fillies who finished second in the MSL West.

Alexis Carravetta (2-for-4), Brianne Lingl (2-for-3, RBI), losing pitcher Alyssa Lancaster (2-4, double, RBI) and Courtney Raschk (2-for-4) led the host Saxons (14-10, 8-8).

“Alyssa pitched a great game,” said Saxons coach Ellen Stoddard. “She worked really hard at getting ahead in the count and walked only 2 batters.”

Palatine 10, Wheeling 0 (6 inn.): Alyx Ballenger (3-for-4), Joanne Jablonski (1-for-2, home run), Tori Walzak (3-for-4, triple) and Alexis Bauer (2-for-3) led the offense for host Palatine (20-9, 8-7) which enjoys its 20th win season in nine years under coach Jeff Manz.

Pirates pitcher Lauren Hedstrom improved to 5-1.

Sara Kern went 2-for-3 for Wheeling (5-19, 0-16).

Fremd 7, Glenbrook South 5: Senior Stacey Hnytka (1-0) got the start on Senior Day and struck out two in 5⅖ innings.

Fremd sophomore Ashlynne Schwantz struck out two in the final 1⅔ innings.

Michelle Mazur belted a bases-loaded triple in the Vikes’s 4-run first inning, and teammate Megan Horn went 2-for-3 in the nonconference game.

Rolling Meadows 18, Glenbrook South 8 (5 inn): Kelly Keyzer (2-for-4, 2 doubles), Natalie Cannizzo (2-for-3), Josie Suchecki (3-for-4, 4 RBI, home run, double), Sam Anderson (4-for-4, 2 doubles) and Grace Skorin (2-for-3) for host Meadows (17-14).

Sara Brunlieb (14-7) earned the win with 4 strikeouts in 5 innings in the nonconference game.

Downers Grove South 8, Leyden 2: Pitcher Morgan Maize belted her 15th homer for Leyden (23-6, 8-3 in the West Suburban Gold) against DGS (22-6, 10-1), which clinched its 16th conference championship in the last 19 years.