Conant success continues
Conant ended its most successful softball regular season by splitting a doubleheader with New Trier on Saturday in Hoffman Estates.
In a battle between two top-seeded sectional teams, the Cougars (30-3) outlasted the Trevians in Game 1 for a 2-1 victory in nine innings.
Junior Miranda Cavin singled, went to second on Kim Jacobson’s sacrifice and eventually scored on an error in the bottom of the ninth for the winning run.
Senior Briana Cavin (27-2) notched the win, striking out six while tossing a 6-hitter.
The two-time defending MSL champs tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning when shortstop Allie Bauch led off with a double. She went to third on Rachel O’Malley’s single and scored an Jacobson’s single.
New Trier won the second game, 8-3, as senior Shannon O’Connor (3-1) took the loss after striking out one in 62⁄3 innings. Megan Reff, Samantha Pincente, Briana Cavin (double) and Bauch had the Cougars’ 4 hits in the game.
Elk Grove 4, Waubonsie Valley 3: The MSL East champs improved to 26-8 with the victory at the Stone City Jamboree in Minooka.
Michigan State-bound Dani Goranson (3-for-4, double) got the game-winning hit when she capped the Grens’ 4-run sixth inning with a two-out RBI single for a 4-3 lead.
The Grens trailed 3-0 going into the inning.
Junior Elisa Payne collected a one-out 2-run single to cut the deficit in half and the Grens tied the game on Tori Liewergen’s groundout.
Goranson threw a 6-hitter to improve to 21-7 as she struck out nine and did not walk a batter.
Maine West, Schaumburg split: Visiting Maine West won the opener 4-3 as junior Ariel Valles threw the complete game, striking out seven. Holly Wengerski (3-for-4, 2 RBI), Katie Fitzgerald (1-for-3, home run) and Renee Pond (2-for-3, 1 run) led the Warriors’ offense.
Maine West (22-10) trailed 3-0 when it scored 4 runs in the top of the fifth.
“It was another great all-around team effort to come back and take the lead and hold on until the end of the game,” said Maine West coach Amy Gonzales.
Losing pitcher Alyssa Lancaster (5-6) went 2-for-3 for the Saxons with 2 doubles while teammate Renee Kakareka (1-for-3) belted a 2-run home run.
Other Saxons with hits were Shannon Felde, Courtney Raschk and Kirsten Safley.
In Game 2, Schaumburg won 10-0 in five innings as Kakareka (10-5) threw a no-hitter with 9 strikeouts.
Dana Giannelli (2-for-3, double, home run, 2 RBI), Lancaster (2-for-3, RBI), Kakareka (2-for-2) and Julia Bellinger (1-for-1, 2 RBI) led the Saxons’ offense.
“Renee pitched a great game,” said Saxons coach Ellen Stoddard, whose team finished the regular season at 17-14.
Wheeling sweeps Highland Park: Wheeling improved to 11-21 with 10-0 (five innings) and 14-4 (six innings) wins over visiting Highland Park.
Katie Quagliano struck out seven and threw a 1-hitter in the opener as the offense was led by Sara Kern, who went 4-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBI.
Other key hitters were Jackie Resnick (double, RBI), Anne Janulis (2-for-3, triple), Amanda Zammatta (double, RBI), Emily Walker (RBI) and Taylor Vasey (RBI).
Vasey picked up the win in Game 2 with a 4-hitter.
The offense was paced by Resnick (4-for-4, double), Kern (3-for-5, home run, 3 RBI), Nikki Mikosz (2 doubles, 5 RBI), Jen Laffey (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Megan Olsen (2-for-3, 2 RBI).
Palatine 4, Resurrection 1: Palatine (16-19) received a 4-hitter from junior Megan Hedstrom (12-16), who struck out eight and did not walk a batter. Lauren Logan (1-for-2, RBI, 1 double, 1 run), Kaileigh Moertl (2-for-3, 2 triples, 1 RBI, 2 runs), Jamie Haze (2-for-3, 1 RBI) and Tori Walzak (1 run) were top hitters for the host Pirates.