O'Hara's slam powers Barrington
Moira O'Hara watched her birthday present fly over the right field fence on Friday.
Her daughter Maggie gift-wrapped it as a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning to lift Barrington to a dramatic 6-2 triumph at Fremd.
After loading the bases in the top of the eighth with infield hits by Loren Krzysko and Jordan Wekony and a fielder's choice for Raegan Fingerman, Barrington's next two batters were called out on strikes.
That brought up O'Hara, who was planning on going out to dinner for her mother's birthday after the game.
“I knew I had to put the ball in play,” said O'Hara, a junior and first-year varsity player who now has 2 homers. “I got the perfect pitch and just went with it to the right side. I figured it was coming outside so I just threw my hands out at the ball. I guess I threw them hard enough. That was my birthday present for my mom.”
The ball sailed over the fence and all of a sudden Fillies junior Cassidy Kraimer had herself a 4-run leading going into the bottom the eighth.
Kraimer (15-6) retired the side in order to complete a 5-hitter with 3 strikeouts.
Senior Rachel Doering went the first five innings for Fremd while Ashlynne Schwantz (12-3) threw the final three, striking out four.
“It was too bad for Ashlynne,” said Fremd coach Jim Weaver. “She pitched great to get us to that point. We didn't give her much (defensive) help the start the inning and then those two called third strikes were big.”
Barrington improved to 26-7 and 10-5 in the Mid-Suburban West as Fillies coach Perry Peterson moved into seventh place for all time wins among Illinois softball coaches. Peterson notched career win No. 615, one ahead of former Belleville East coach Rita Menke (1982-2005).
“Maggie's home run wasn't surprising to me,” Peterson said. “I had confidence in her. She hits the ball hard. And Cassidy (Kraimer, who retired the final 10 batters she faced) is getting better and better all the time.”
O'Hara also had a part in the Fillies' first run in the second inning. She reached on an error that allowed Danielle Di Iorio to score from second base for a 1-0 lead.
Fremd (24-7, 11-4) got the lead in the bottom of the third when Michelle Mazur (2-for-3) singled home Mandi Matsumoto and Leigh Farina, who had doubled to center with one out.
The Fillies tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth after two were out. Loren Krzysko (2-for-4) singled up the middle, stole second and came home on an infield single by Wekony (2-for-4).
“The bottom line is they outplayed us.” said Fremd coach Jim Weaver. “You don't give chances like that and expect to be successful against a good team.
“We didn't seem ready to play and that is my fault.”