Elk Grove gets past 20 wins again

For the 13th straight time since 2000, and for a 25th time under 32nd-year hall of fame coach Ken Grams, the Elk Grove softball team will have a season exceeding 20 wins.

The Grenadiers notched wins No. 20 and 21 at the Marengo Invite on Saturday, defeating the host school 8-1 and Fenton 8-0 before falling 6-0 to tourney champion Andrew.

Senior Dani Goranson (17-4) threw a 3-hitter with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk against Marengo, one of the state’s top teams.

Seniors Devan Parkison (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Carly Danek (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Megan Keegan (2-for-3, RBI) were top hitters for the Grens (21-5).

Danek, back from an injury, was making her first appearance in about two weeks.

Senior Andrea Starr (5-0) had a no-hitter against Fenton until one out in the seventh inning. She finished with a 1-hitter and 10 strikeouts. Starr also doubled at the plate.

Goranson (2-for-4, double, RBI), Danek (3-for-4, triple), Krista Soesbe (2-for-4, RBI) and Becca Maher (3-for-4, double, 2 RBI) were top hitters for Elk Grove.

The Grens uncharacteristically committed 6 errors against Andrew, which includes three Division I players on its roster just like Elk Grove.

Parkison and Tori Liewergen had doubles for the Grens while Goranson struck out two and allowed only 1 earned run.

The Grens will take a 10-2 conference record into Monday’s game at Hersey, when they can clinch the MSL East crown with a victory.

Hersey 16, Maine East (5 innings): Coach Molly Freeman honored seniors Val Burke, Melissa Cecala, Angela Lazzeritti, Alex Tinaglia and Haley Henriksen before the Huskies went out and improved to 13-13.

Cecala (2-for-3, double), Becca Derka (2-for-2, double), Alysia Zaucha (1-for-2, double), Sarah Platt (1-for-2, home run), Val Burke (2-for-4), Michelle Helminski (1-for-2) and Henriksen (1-for-3) led the Huskies’ offense.

Henriksen’s single in the fourth inning was her first hit since recently returning from a knee injury suffered in the second game of the season.

Platt (7-5), who belted a 3-run homer over the left field fence in the Huskies’ 5 -run fourth inning, also got the win. She struck out three and did not give up a hit in 2 innings while Michele Bolker had 4 strikeouts and 2 hits in 3 innings.

Wheeling, Lake Forest split: Wheeling (5-18) won the opener 26-1, scoring 13 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game.

Sara Kern (3-for-3, 2 walks), Ashley Hafertepe (2-for-4), Nikki Mikosz (3-for-5), Nette Howard (2-for-3), Amanda Zammatta (2-for-3), Emily Walker (3-for-4) and Kaitlyn DeBusk (2-for-3) led the Wildcats’ offense.

Sophomore Katie Quagliano (5-13) struck out five and tossed a 2-hitter for the win.

Wheeling had 21 hits in Game 2 but dropped an 11-8 decision.

Leading the hitting attack were DeBusk (2-for-4, double), Zammatta (2-for-4), Randi Shapiro (2-for-4), Howard (3-for-4, double), Jennifer Laffey (2-for-2), Jackie Resnick (2-for-2), Kern (3-for-5, triple), Anna Janolis (2-for-2) and Mikosz (3-for-4).

Howard (0-3) suffered the loss while striking out six.

Libertyville sweeps Prospect: Libertyville won 8-3 and 11-0 (five innings) in Mt. Prospect.

With the score 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Prospect (8-22) scored 3 runs. Sarah Scaccia singled, Amy Graham walked and Michele Molini collected an RBI single. Meghan Doyle then delivered a sharp 2-run single to right center.

Julie Mazur had 2 hits as teammate Michelle Korf (2-4) took the loss.

In Game 2, Hanna Lythberg and Amy Graham had the only hits for Prospect, which committed 6 errors. Jill Sadowski (1-6) suffered the loss.

Maine West sweeps Geneva: JuniorsAriel Valles and Tara Nykiel each earned win as Maine West (19-9) won 15-8 and 11-10 in Des Plaines.

Renee Pond (4-for-4, 1 run, 4 RBI, triple), Abbey Herling (2-for-3, 2 runs, double, 3 RBI), Gina Larucci (2-for-3, 2 runs, solo home run) and Katie Fitzgerald (2-for-5) led the Warriors’ offense.

In Game 2, Angela Cruz (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI), Herling (2-for-5, 2 runs, RBI) and Larucci (1-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI) were the Warriors’ top hitters.

Warren 2, Palatine 0: Tori Walzak (1-for-3), Courtney English (1-for-3, double), Megan Hedstrom (1-for-3) and Kayla Borgan (1-for-3) led the offense for host Palatine. Junior Megan Hedstrom (9-11) threw a 4-hitter for the Pirates (13-16).