Softball / Northwest roundup

One day after playing in the 37th annual Mid-Suburban League championship, Elk Grove’s softball team was back on its own diamond again for a nonconference game with Marengo.

The Grenadiers bounced back from the 5-1 loss to Mid-Suburban West champ Conant with a 3-2 triumph over Marengo (25-8) on Friday.

Junior Dani Goranson (25-4) fired a 7-hitter with 14 strikeouts and 1 walk as the Grenadiers improved to 28-4.

They will finish their regular season today when they travel to Stone City to meet Lincoln-Way North at 5 p.m.

Friday’s win saw a dramatic ending as the Grens scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Mid-Suburban East champs had the bases loaded with two outs when Andrea Starr singled home Devan Parkison (3-for-4, 2 runs).

In addition to her mound work, Goranson also went 2-for-3 at the plate with 1 run while teammate Kristen Cetkovic was 2-for-3 with a double.

Fremd 13, Maine South 0 (5 inn.): Junior Rachel Doering (12-4) struck out seven and walked none while throwing a 1-hit five-inning shutout in Park Ridge.

For the ninth time in 10 seasons under coach Jim Weaver, the Vikings (25-5-1) have won 24 or more games.

Fremd erupted for 17 hits, led by Megan Horn (2-for-3, 1 run), Allie Gaeding (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 1 stolen base), Mandi Matsumoto (2-for-2, 2 runs, 1 stolen base), Michelle Mazur (2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI) and Megan Hubbard (2-for-4, double, 3 RBI).

Freshman Leigh Farina also added a double for Fremd, which scored 8 runs in the top of the fourth.

Palatine 9, Hersey 0 (5 inn.): Senior Joanne Jablonski (2-for-3) belted her third home run (3-run blast to center in the sixth inning) in as many games for visiting Palatine (22-9).

Pirates senior ace Dani Boisvert (17-8) threw a 3-hitter with 6 strikeouts.

Other top hitters for the Pirates were Alex Ballenger (2-for-5, double), Alexis Bauer (2-for-4), Kaileigh Moertl (2-for-4), Megan Hedstrom (double) and Katie Mnichowicz (2-for-3, double).

Junior Haley Henriksen, junior Melissa Cecala and senior Abbey Petersen had the 3 hits for Hersey (8-19).

Maine West 2, Mundelein 1: Central Suburban North champion Maine West finished its regular season with a 2-1 nonconference triumph over visiting Mundelein.

It was the first time the two schools played each other during Warriors coach Mike Murin’s 10 years running the program.

West sophomore Ariel Valles fired a 3-hitter with 6 strikeouts and 1 walk.

The decisive run came in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Junior Katie Fitzgerald, who went 2-for-3, singled with two outs. Sophomore Brie Montmarquette then drove a double to right center to scored Fitzgerald from first base.

Holly Wengerski also doubled for the Warriors.

“Now we’re looking forward to the state tournament,” said Murin, whose team (17-9) begins play at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the Glenbrook North regional against the winner of Monday’s play-in game between Clemente and Prosser

Buffalo Grove 5, Libertyville 3: The visiting Bison (15-14) scored all their runs in the fifth ining as senior Maria Dax (13-11) notched the win with 3 strikeouts.

Senior Andrea DiPrima (2-for-4) belted a 2-run homer to left center and KC Dunne had a 2-run double.

Erin Barton also had an RBI single in the fifth.