Peterson hits 600 in Barrington victory
Senior Kelsey Kazmier was a freshman shortstop on the Barrington softball team when Perry Peterson coached in his 500th career win.
On Monday at the Fields of Dreams, Kazmier was still playing shortstop, exactly 100 wins later.
Peterson joined some exclusive company when he notched his 600th victory with an 8-0 triumph over visiting Rolling Meadows in the Mid-Suburban League opener.
According to IHSA records, he becomes only the eighth softball coach to win 600 games and the second in the MSL behind Elk Grove’s Ken Grams, who has 753 (second most all-time).
“He is just a really good coach, in practice, in games and off the field,” said Kazmier, who went 2-for- 4 and scored one of Barrington’s 4 runs in the first inning. “It’s not that he is real strict. He just likes to have us work hard no matter what we are doing. He’s intense. He likes to push us.”
The Fillies (10-2, 1-0) also pushed across 4 runs in the sixth inning to complete the decision that gave Peterson 584 wins in 20 seasons at Barrington. He also won 16 games at St. Viator in 1992, five years after graduating from Prospect.
“He says the right things,” added senior leadoff batter Ally McLaughlin, who went 3-for-4 with and a double, RBI and 2 runs. “He and his coaching staff put so much time into giving us all the info they can about the team we are playing. They prepare us so well and that helps so much.”
Junior pitcher Cassidy Kraimer (5-1) helped shut down the Mustangs’ lineup by tossing a 5-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and 1 walk.
Mustangs ace Sara Brunlieb (5-3) struck out three and walked one.
Emily Hattory led off the game with a single to center for Meadows (6-3, 0-1) before Kraimer retired nine of the next 10 batters.
“Their pitcher did a nice job pitching us away,” said Meadows coach Tony Wolanski. “We didn’t adjust to her. We’ve got to get better swings but give her (Kraimer) all the credit.”
The scorebook showed the Fillies with 5 doubles, one apiece from McLaughlin, Loren Krzysko, Raegan Fingerman, Tess Bolger (2-for-4, RBI) and Maggie O’Hara (2-for-3, 1 run). Fingerman’s double to right in the first inning brought home the first 2 runs (McLaughlin and Kazmier).
“We had the two bad innings where they hit the ball and we didn’t make some plays,” Wolanski said. “They got some hits to fall. They did a nice job.”
The Mustangs got 2 hits in the fourth when senior Josie Suchecki led off with a single to left.
Sam Anderson then lined out sharply to center fielder McLaughlin before Natalie Cannizzo reached on a fielder’s choice.
A line drive single to center by Lane Winkler gave the Mustangs runners on first and second but Kraimer got of the mini-jam with a strikeout.
Meadows threatened again in the sixth when Chloe Prodanovic led off with a walk and went to second on a one-out line drive single to right by Anderson.
But Kraimer struck out the side to keep the shutout intact going into the final inning.
The right-hander struck out the first two batters in the seventh before pinch-hitter Kelly Sarussi singled to center.
Kraimer then ended the game with a groundball back to the mound. She threw to first baseman Fingerman for the final out of Peterson’s milestone win.
“We have been blessed over the years to work with really talented, hardworking athletes who come from quality family settings,” said Peterson, who is 600-144 (584-135 in 20 seasons at Barrington). “And that makes all the difference in the world when you ask for the commitment that we are looking for.
“Barrington High School is a wonderful environment for today’s student. We have an outstanding community and administrative support for our program that allows us to keep our entity moving forward each and every day.”