Elk Grove, Barrington advance
Eighth-seeded Glenbard West scored both of its runs against No. 1 Elk Grove in the first inning on Saturday.
“It was a little scary there,” said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams about his team falling behind 2-0 when the Hilltoppers collected 4 of their 8 hits in the game.
But the Grenadiers battled back with 1 run in the third and fifth innings to tie the game at 2-2.
Sophomore Elisa Payne then belted a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the sixth to score Danielle Boffice and Krista Soesbe with the runs that proved to be the difference in Elk Grove’s 4-2 win in the championship of the Class 4A Proviso West regional.
The top-seeded Grens (31-4) advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal of the Schaumburg sectional, where they will meet No. 5 West Chicago (21-10).
It will be the 17th time that Elk Grove plays in a softball sectional, the 15th under the Hall of Famer Grams.
Junior ace Dani Goranson struck out five and walked one to improve to 28-4.
Payne also played a key part in the Grens’ first run.
She singled in the third inning and later scored on Devan Parkison’s groundout which made it 2-1.
The Grens tied it in the fifth when Tori Liewergen singled and came home with two outs when Glenbard West made an error on Jessica Balzano’s (2-for-3) base hit.
Goranson led off the Grens’ 2-run sixth with a single. The Grens eventually loaded the bases when Becca Walz drew a walk and then Payne (2-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI) produced her big hit.
Senior Kristen Cetkovic also had a hit for Elk Grove.
Barrington 4, Zion-Benton 0: Senior first Kiersten Tinkoff (2-for-3, 2 RBI) belted a two-out, 2-run homer to left field in the first inning and that was all senior pitcher Kiley Dolezal (23-7) needed as she threw a 1-hitter to lift Barrington to its 10th straight regional crown under coach Perry Peterson.
It was the Fillies’ 15th regional crown, 12th under Peterson in 19 seasons.
No. 4 Barrington (27-10) advances to Wednesday’s semifinal of the Warren sectional to face top-seeded Fremd (27-5-1) at 4:30 p.m.
Before Tinkoff’s blast, Colleen Shandley walked and stole second.
Barrington scored its other 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth against No. 5 Zion-Benton.
Sophomore Loren Krzysko (1-for-3, RBI) led off the inning with her single-season school record 12th homer.
Liz Owen (1-for-3) then doubled and pinch runner Tess Bolger later came home on an RBI single by Savonnah Osmanski (2-for-3, double, RBI).
Dolezal struck out eight and walked none.
Glenbrook North 4, Maine West 0: After falling twice to Maine West during Central Suburban North play, the Spartans were able to blank Warriors on a 3-hitter in the Class 4A Glenbrook North regional championship.
Alyssa Bojarski, Kelly Farnan and pitcher Ariel Valles (16-8) had the hits for West, which finished at 18-10.