Schaumburg sweeps Evanston

Schaumburg’s girls softball team completed a perfect opening week by sweeping host Evanston 3-0 and 9-8 on Saturday.

The Saxons improved to 3-0 for the season after winning their home opener 16-0 in five innings over St. Viator on Wednesday.

Senior Alyssa Lancaster (1-0) struck out four in 4 innings to get the win in Game 1 over the Wildkits’ Jenna Ehrensaft, who struck out eight in 7 innings.

Junior Hannah Kerr went the final 3 innings, striking out five, to complete the Saxons’ shutout.

Senior Rene Kakareka (2-0) got the win in Game 2 over Evanston’s Allie Managlia, who struck out six.

“This is the best I’ve ever seen Evanston play and I think we’re showing that the hard work we have been doing is paying off,” said Evanston coach Kristen Proffitt, a former all-area hurler for Maine West. “We feel like coming this close to Schaumburg is an accomplishment and I’m proud of the way our girls played, especially since our starting lineup included seven freshmen and sophomores.”

Sophomore Caitlin Boer (3-for-4, 4 RBI) belted a home run in Game 2.

“Caitlin’s home run was the hardest hit home run I’ve ever seen in all my years of playing and coaching,” Proffitt said. “I thought our pitchers did a great job against their powerful lineup.”

Prospect falls twice: Prospect (3-3) dropped a pair of games at the University High triangular at Champion Field in Bloomington.

Highland Park blanked the Knights 2-0 despite senior Hanna Lythberg (2-2) allowing only 5 hits and 2 unearned runs.

“We made 2 errors that both led to runs and that killed us, especially when we’re hitting as poorly as we are right now,” said Prospect coach Jim Adair.

“Luckily, we’ve got next week to work on our hitting technique. told the girls that we’re starting over.”

Prospect’s best scoring threat came in the top of the fourth when the Knights loaded the bases with one out. But Highland Park escaped further damage.

Sophomore Meghan Doyle had Prospect’s only 2 hits.

“Meghan has been quite a pleasant surprise,” said Prospect coach Jim Adair. “But I shouldn’t really say we’re surprised because we know she’s a good player. But for her to be hitting the way she is so early in the season really says a lot about her approach to the game.”

In the second game, host school University High stopped the Knights 6-2 as Prospect committed a season-high 5 errors.

Jill Sadowski (1-1) allowed only 1 earned run in her four innings of work (4 hits, no walks, 2 strikeouts) but the Knights defense allowed 3 unearned runs.

Six Ironmen came to the plate in the first inning on 1 hit, a fielder’s choice and 2 errors, but no runs were scored.

However, eight Ironmen came to the plate in the second inning as they got 3 hits and 2 errors for 4 runs.

Prospect scored in the top of the fourth when Doyle (1-for-3, 3-for-6 for the day) singled to center and Lythberg (1-for-2) was hit by a pitch.

Doyle advanced to third on a snap-throw pickoff attempt to first base and then scored on Lythberg’s stolen base.

With two outs, Cassie Poulos singled to center to score Lythberg and cut the deficit to 4-2. Amy Graham and Lythberg had the other hits for Prospect.

U-High scored twice more in the bottom of the sixth for the final margin.

“U-High was definitely the best team we’ve faced this year, and I think they’re a lot like many of the teams we’re going to see the rest of the year,” Adair said. “They’re not as good as Elk Grove, Fremd, or Conant, but I’d say that they’re a very good team. Even still, I think we could have or should have beat them. But you have to play defense. Right now, we’re not clicking, but we’ll get there.”

Elgin 6, Buffalo Grove 3: Elgin ace Hannah Perryman struck out 15 and overcame 7 walks as the visiting Maroons (3-1) won the nonconference game. Perryman allowed just 4 hits in moving to 3-0 for the spring. She also went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI at the plate. Caroline Sobeski hit her first varsity home run for the Maroons, a 3-run shot in the sixth inning, and Kelly Bremer added a double.

Junior Megan Fu pitched for Buffalo Grove (1-3), which hosts Maine West on Tuesday at 11 a.m. for a doubleheader.