Softball: Barrington's the best in Washington
The 13th trip to the 20th annual Washington Panther Classic was hardly unlucky for the Barrington softball team this weekend in the downstate town.
The Fillies, ranked No. 10 in the ICA Class 4A state poll, brought home the first-place trophy for the fourth time since 2004 by defeating Geneseo 2-1 in the title game, the same score by which they defeated Edwardsville (No. 4 in 4A) in the semifinals.
Two-run homers by Jenna Patino and Abbey Jacobsen proved to be the difference in both games.
"We are really proud of this group," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, whose team improved to 18-1. They've really come together and seem to be getting better all the time. I'm really proud of what they accomplished in Washington."
Middle reliever Caroline Hoppe was the winning pitcher in the semifinal, giving up no runs and striking out two in 3⅔ innings. Tori Meyer pitched the first 1⅓ innings, giving up 1 run and striking out one. Catherine McMahon earned the save with two strikeouts in the final inning.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Julia Kozar reach on a one-out error. Patino then belted a 1-1 pitch over the left center field fence for her first homer of the season and the 2-1 lead.
The game was stopped after the scoreless bottom of the inning due to the time limit.
Patino (2-for-3) and Kendall Peterson (2-for-3) were multiple hitter for the Fillies.
In the championship game against the No. 7 ranked Clas 3A team, Jacobsen's fifth homer of the season, another -run blast, once agin gave the Fillies a 2-1 margin that would hold up as the final score.
Jacobsen (3-for-3) and Patino (2-for-3, double) had all the hits for Barrington in the game. Kozar's 19-game hitting streak came to end.
McMahon (12-1) tossed a 7-hitter with 1 earned and 1 strikeout to notch the win.
The Fillies, who went 4-0 in the tourney (two wins on Friday) also won titles in Washington in 2004, 2010 and 1012.
Palatine wins two: Sophomore Emily Parrott made quite a return to the Pirates' lineup after being sidelined with an injury.
The sophomore belted a home run and had 2 RBI while Maddie Craver went 2-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI) and Brooke Bauer belted a triple as the consolation champion Pirates topped Evanston 5-0 at the Rolling Meadows tourney.
Sarah Grossman (8-1) struck out 12 strikeouts to earn the win.
Parrott came back to deliver the game-winning single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Palatine a 1-0 win over Maine West.
Maddie Craver was placed on second base to start the inning (tournament rule for extra innings). She went to third on Amanda Stanczuk's before an intentional weak to Bauer set up Parrott's game-winner.
Parrott (2-for-4), Craver (2-for-4) and Grace Huff (2-for-3) led the Pirates' offense.
Rhiann Dick threw a 5-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks to earn the win as Palatine improved to 13-3.
Maine West 12, Rolling Meadows 1 (5 inn.): Alison Eby was the winner for the Warriors (5-9), who received doubles from Katelyn Aragon, Bridget Christiansen, Gabbi Demma and Megan Swanson in the Rolling Meadows tourney game. Meadows (6-12) had a double from Sam Allen.
The Mustangs also dropped an 11-1 six-inning decision to Evanston.
Elk Grove sweeps: Senior Sabra Morton (5-2) and sophomore Jaimie Klicka (1-0) were the winning pitchers in Elk Grove's 9-4 and 7-3 wins over visiting New Trier.
Morton threw a 6-hitter and struck out eight in the opener while also going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double. Kylie Thomsen (2-for-4) and Christina Di Maria each doubles for the Grens.
Klicka pitched the first 4 innings in Game 2, striking out two and allowing 6 hits. Morton went the final 3 innings, striking out five and giving up 3 hits as the Grens improved to 13-4 overall.
Haley Itzenthaler (3-for-4, 2 doubles), Katia Pendowski (2-for-4, triple) and Leilani Rivera (2-for-2, walk) led the offense.
Fremd 6, Lake Park 5: Winning pitcher Nikki Kehoe (4-2) struck out three in the first 4⅓ innings and Jess Mazur recorded 5 strikeouts in the final 2⅔ innings as Fremd improved 9-4.
Fremd had 1 hit from six different players - Reagan Schneider (RBI), Becca Uhrich, Anne Marie O'Sullivan, Anna Freveletti (RBI), Lexi D'Ambrosio (RBI) and Mazur, who went 1-for-1 with 3 walks.
Lake Park had the tying run on base in the top of the seventh with one but Mazur got a strikeout and liner to center fielder Hannah Ban to end game.
Prospect sweeps: The Knights defeated Niles North 5-4 and 11-4 in Skokie.
Lauren Caldrone (2-for-3, double), Eileen Donohue (2-for-3, double), Colleen Palczynski (3-for-3, home run) and Madeline Borkowski (home run) led the Prospect offense in Game 1 as Borkowski also earned the win with a 8-hitter, 5 strikeouts and no walks.
In Game 2, Alex Kanter (2-for-4, triple), Jackie Orel (2-for-3) and Kaitlyn Pancini (2-for-4) were multiple hitters for the Knights (6-5) while sophomore Emalee Depa tossed a 9-hitter with 8 strikeouts to earn her first varsity win.
Wheeling drops two: Host Wheeling fell to Glenbrook North 6-3 and 6-5. Emmie LaCaeyse went 2-for-4 in Game 1 and Becky McAtee had a double. Wildcats pitcher Dakota Medrano had 4 strikeouts.
Multiple hitters for Wheeling (2-11) in Game 2 were Nikki Ferraro (2-for-4, double, 1 RBI, 1 run), Medrano (3-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI) and Peyton LaCaeyse (2-for-3, 1 run). McAtee had her second double of the day. Wildcats pitcher Emmie LaCaeyse struck out four.
Conant wins three: Conant (9-3) defeated Crystal Lake South 8-0, South Elgin 12-7 and Johnsburg 6-1 at the Woodstock tournament.
Sam Gadomski (4-1) earned the win vs. South Elgin as Makenna McCarthy and Carly Rossdeutcher each belted a pair of home runs and Delaney Szwed had one. Szwed also doubled twice and Ally Lira had one.
Batavia 13, Hoffman Estates 6: Hoffman freshman pitcher Emily Grossi belted 3 doubles and went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 1 run for the visiting Hawks. Mary Bean (2-for-3) and Giselle Velazquez (2-for-4, double, RBI, 2 runs) were other top hitters for Hoffman (2-9).
St. Viator drops two: Host St. Viator fell 8-6 in Game 1 as the Roadruners scored twice in the top of the seventh. Cece Kaiser had a double and belted her first career home run. Jenna Breslin also had 2 hits, including an RBI double.
Breslin also had 2 hits and another RBI double in Game 2 when the visitors posted a 10-4 triumph. Haley Robinson had the Lions other extra base hit with a double
Buffalo Grove 1, Wauconda 0: Senior Alyssa DePhillips threw a 4-hitter for the shutout that raised the Bison record to 10-8.
Buffalo Grove scored the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sophomore Kylee Gucwa drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a ground out to short by Olivia Morini. Katie Fontanetta followed with a single to left and an error on the play allow Gucwa to score.
Morini, Fontanetta and Grace Gran had the 3 hits for BG.
Hersey sweeps: Sophomores Brianna Luciano (7-4) and Sarah Bailitz (3-0) threw complete games as the host Huskies raised their record to 10-4 with 4-0 and 11-1 wins over Mundelein.
Sophomore Makayla Tsagalis led off the bottom of the first inning hitting with first homer of the season and it proved to be the game-winnng RB I in Game 1. Luciano struck out seven while tossing an 8-hitter.
Bailitz fired a 5-hitter in Game 2, striking out four.
Senior shortstop Katie Wingerter belted her 13th homer of the season and went 4-for-4 with a double. Other multiple hitters for the Huskies were Hannah Graff (2-for-4), Luciano (2-for-4, double) and Jodie Hermann (2-for-4).
Maine West 12, Rolling Meadows 1 (5 inn.): Alison Eby was the winner for the Warriors (5-9), who received doubles from Katelyn Aragon, Bridget Christiansen, Gabbi Demma and Megan Swanson.
Christiansen also tripled for West while Meadows had a double from Sam Allen.