Cavin, homer-happy Conant roll
Conant’s softball team has an important conference test on Monday against visiting Barrington that will determine first place in the Mid-Suburban West.
But the Cougars had some other business to take care of first on Saturday.
And they did it with some heavy hitting, especially by Oklahoma-bound catcher Miranda Cavin.
The junior receiver (3-for-3, 3 runs) walloped 3 home runs for 8 RBI in Game 1 and then hit another one in Game 2 as the Cougars swept visiting Stevenson 12-2 and 16-4 in five innings each time. Conant hit a total of 8 home runs.
Also getting into the longball derby for Conant in Game 1 was Rachel O’Malley (2-for-2, 3 RBI, 2 runs), who blasted one over the right-center field fence in the first inning.
Senior ace Briana Cavin (12-1) earned the win, striking out five while tossing a 2-hitter.
In Game 2, the Cougars (13-1) hit 4 more homers, one apiece from Kim Jacobson (1-for-2, 4 RBI), Miranda Cavin (2-for-3, 3 RBI, 3 runs), Briana Cavin (3-for-4, triple, 4 runs, 4 RBI) and O’Malley (2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI).
Shortstop Allie Bauch added 2 runs and RBI for Conant.
Shannon O’Connor (1-0) got her first win by tossing a 3-hitter.
Rolling Meadows sweeps Niles West 0: Sara Brunlieb (7-4) extended her streak to 24 innings without and earned run as she shut out the Wolves 3-0 in Game 1.
The junior right-hander struck out three and got all the runs she needed in the first inning when Natalie Cannizzo (1-for-3) collected a two-out, two-strike 2-run double.
Sam Anderson went 2-for-3 for the Mustangs.
In Game 2, freshman right-hander Lauren Hattory made her varsity debut a winning one with a 7-hitter and 10-2 triumph. She struck out five and walked one.
Meadows (9-5) had 5 doubles, led by Cannizzo (3-for-5, 4 RBI), who had two. Other top hitters for the winners were Josie Suchecki (4-for-5, 3 RBI, double), Anderson (3-for-5, double, RBI), Lauren Hattory (2-for-4) and Jenny Watson (double).
Elk Grove sweeps Maine South: Elk Grove (11-3) won a pair of shortened games via the 10-run rule in Park Ridge.
In Game 1, senior Dani Goranson (6-3) threw a 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk for a 10-0 triumph in six innings.
Becca Walz (2-for-4, RBI), Devan Parkison and Megan Keegan (3-for-3, 2 RBI) each had a homer for the Grens.
Other top hitters for Elk Grove were Goranson (2-for-3, 2 runs) and Becca Maher (2-for-3).
Parkison hit a 2-run homer in the third and Keegan followed with solo blast. Walz led off the second inning with her homer.
In Game 2, Elk Grove won 14-0 in five innings behind Andrea Starr’s 2-hitter that included 4 strikeouts.
No. 7 hitter Elisa Payne collected an RBI in all four of her at-bats. The junior went 4-for-4 with 4 RBI and 2 doubles.
Other top hitters were Goranson (2-for-4, 3 RBI, double and home run to lead off game), Parkison (2-for-4, 1 run) and Maher (1-for-1, 2-run double, walk).
Carly Danek and Krista Soesbe also had doubles for Elk Grove.
Leyden, Andrews split: Andrew won the opener 9-0 at the Ballpark at Rosemont before the Eagles (12-4) won 5-0 in Game 2.
Leyden had 10 hits in Game 1 but committed 8 errors as senior Morgan Maize (9-4) took the loss. She gave up only 2 earned runs.
Top hitters for Leyden were April Markowski (2-for-4, double), Jen Hall (2-for-4) and Kelly Bjorvik (2-for-4).
In Game 2, Hall went 2-for-3 as Eagles freshman pitcher Sammi Caputo improved to 2-0 with a 2-hitter and 2 strikeouts.
Libertyville sweeps Buffalo Grove: Visiting Libertyville posted wins of 2-0 and 11-5 in the twin bill.
In Game 1, BG freshman Julia Camardo allowed only 6 hits while striking out four and walking two. The Bison had 3 hits in the game by freshman Caitlin Catino, junior Megan Fu and freshman Dea Barton.
Dea Barton went 2-for-4 in Game 2 for BG (5-10), which also received a double from Ali Levato.
BG pitcher Fu struck out three and did not walk a batter.
Lake Zurich 10, Palatine 2: Tori Walzak (1-for-2, 1 run), Lauren Logan (2-for-2, 1 run), Megan Hedstrom (3-for-3, double, 2 RBI) and Courtney (1-for-1, double) led the visiting Pirates (9-7).
Hedstrom (7-5) struck out two in 2 innings and reliever Dom Boisvert allowed 5 hits in final four innings.
Maine West, Kaneland split: Visiting Maine West (11-7) dropped the opener 5-3 and then won Game 2 by the same score.
Ariel Valles (7-4) threw all seven innings of Game 1 as the warriors were led on offense by Abbey Herling (2-for-3), who belted 2 solo home runs. Katie Fitzgerald (double) and Holly Wengerski each went 2-4 with a run and stolen base.
Junior Tara Nykiel improved to 4-3 with the win in Game.
Katie Fitzgerald belted a 2-run homer while other top hitters for West were Holly Wengerski (2-for-4), Hanna Udischas (2-for-3) and Gina Larucci, who had a timely 2-run single in the top of the sixth to give West the lead.
“We had two great pitching efforts and a great day defensively and offensively,” said Warriors coach Amy Gonzales.
Wheeling, Glenbrook South split: Wheeling (2-7) won the opener 9-4 behind sophomore pitcher Katie Quagliano (2-5), who struck out three and threw a 4-hitter.
The Wildcats had 5 doubles including 2 apiece from Sara Kern (2-for-3) and Ashley Hafertepe (2-for-4) and 1 from Nikki Mikocz, Nette Howard and Emily Walker. Randi Shapiro also had an RBI for Wheeling.
Glenbrook South won 8-0 in Game 2 as the Wilkdcats were led by Kaitlyn DeBusk (2-for-3).
Schaumburg, Jacobs split: Senior Alyssa Lancaster (5-1) threw a 6-hitter with 6 strikeouts as visiting Schaumburg (8-5) won the opener 10-1.
Courtney Plackner (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Hannah Kerr (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Lancaster (2-for-3, 2 RBI), Shannon Felde (4-for-5) and Sarah May (2-for-5, 3 RBI) led the Saxons’ offense.
Kerr (1-2) took the 7-3 loss in Game 2.
“Hannah pitched another great game,” said Saxons coach Ellen Stoddard about her junior pitcher who gave up only 4 hits and struck out seven.
Plackner (3-for-4, double), Lancaster (2-for-3, RBI) and Carly Brossard (1-for-2, RBI) led the Saxons offense.
York sweeps Prospect: York won 10-1 and 6-3 over the Knights (4-11) in the nonconference doubleheader in Elmhurst.