Goranson, Elk Grove get it done

Scoreless game. Bases loaded. Two outs. Bottom of the fifth inning.

Elk Grove senior Dani Goranson was in the batter’s box.

“No place I’d rather be with the bases loaded,” said the Grenadiers slugger, who was also pitching against a 22-5 Barrington team from the Mid-Suburban West.

Goranson showed why she felt right at home.

The lefty batter lined a 2-run single to left field scoring junior Elisa Payne and sophomore Becca Maher.

Those 2 runs would be plenty for the hard-throwing right-hander, who actually got one more run in the inning when her catcher Devan Parkison singled to center and brought home pinch runner Danielle Boffice for a 3-0 cushion.

That’s how the game ended as Goranson fired a 2-hitter with 10 strikeouts in Wednesday’s MSL crossover softball game.

The host Grens improved to 18-4 and 9-2 in the MSL East.

The Michigan State-bound Goranson (14-4) was coming off an MSL record 20 strikeouts for a seven-inning game on Monday against Palatine.

“I told Dani that was a terrific performance on Monday,” said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams. “But I told her this (Wednesday) was every bit as good because she was dealing with a change of weather, getting behind early in some counts and having to fight through some difficult situations.”

Barrington (24-5, 8-3) threatened with runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings before Goranson retired the side in order in the sixth and struck out the side in the seventh.

A two-out single to left by K.D. Madden (1-for-1) followed by a bunt single by Ally McLaughlin (1-for-2) in the top of the fifth were Barrington’s only hits.

But Goranson got a bouncer back to the mound and threw to first baseman Becca Walz for the final out.

“That’s what impressed me,” Grams said. “In the tough parts of the game mentally, Dani was able to transform over to physical toughness.”

Barrington junior Cassidy Kraimer (14-4) retired every batter in the first four innings except Tori Liewergen, who singled to left center to lead off the third.

“We were just trying to hit the ball, play good defense and get on base,” said the Grens second baseman.

Payne’s one-out single to left got the Grens rolling in their big fifth inning.

“I was just trying to keep my cool because I knew we needed a hit, it was getting late,” said the lefty hitting Payne “She (Kraimer) was pitching outside and I got the ball on the ground.”

Maher and Megan Keegan each drew walks before Goranson came to the plate.

“It seems if we can score first, we can win a lot of games,” Walz said. “So we just wanted to break through in that inning. Those 3 runs gave us a nice cushion.”

Barrington coach Perry Peterson credited the Grens’ offense.

“We were really close in this game,” he said. “We did a lot of goods things but we just didn’t get the clutch hit when we needed it and they did. That’s why they won.

“We’ve got to keep plugging away, keep concentrating and we’ll get there. We’re close.”