Softball: Palatine stops York again
Rhiann Dick had Monday's nonconference softball game with York summed up well.
"Going into this game, we knew it was going to be tough since we both made it so far last year (Final Four) in the state tournament," said the Palatine junior pitcher. "Before the game we knew we had to take it pitch by pitch and we did exactly that."
The Pirates came away with a 4-3 win on Monday to raise their record to 2-1.
Palatine blanked York 2-0 for third place last year in the IHSA Class 4A state finals.
Wisconsin-Whitewater bound Dick (2-1) struck out 10 to get the win over Michigan recruit Lauren Derkowski on Monday.
"My defense backed me up and the offense got hits when we needed them most," Dick said. "This win felt really good going into the rest of the week.
Chase Friel (2-for-4, 2 doubles), 2 RBI) and Grace Huff (2-for-3, 1 run) led the Pirates' offense.
"Chase really came through for us today," said Pirates assistant coach Kristen Proffitt. "She's a great team player who always works hard and this year she's seeing her hard work pay off for the team.
"Rhiann did a great job hitting her spots today and keeping the batters off balance. She's a tough pitcher and when she mixes up her speeds and locations, it puts our team in a great position."
Friel's 2 doubles helped key the offense.
"My teammates did a nice job getting on base before me and putting us in a position to score," she said. "I wanted to help the team by driving them in. Going up against a tough pitcher, I knew I just needed to swing and hit the ball to get runners on and around the bases."
Rolling Meadows 8, Glenbard East 3: Rolling Meadows senior Sara Benner belted a pair of home runs as the host Mustangs (1-1) got their first win behind winning pitcher Kendra Herring (4 innings) and Elise Kowalski (3 innings), who got the save. Benner went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI while teammates Stephanie Thompson (double), Sam Allen, Herring, Kowalski Kelsey Campbell, Emily Schmidt and Sam Elenz (first varsity hit) all had singles. Benner belted a 2-run homer in the first inning and solo blast in the third, giving her 17 homers for her career.
Wheeling 7, Niles North 5: Emmie LaCaeyse threw a 6-hitter with 4 strikeouts to earn the win for host Wheeling in its season opener. Freshmen Nikki Niznik (2-for-4, 2 run) and Danni Moser (2-for-3, 1 run) were multiple hitters for the Wildcats while Nikki Ferraro, Emmie LaCaeyse (double), Peyton LaCaeyse (double), Sophia Stanke (double) and Lexi Blumka each had 1 hit.
Glenbrook South 14, Conant 9: Conant was led on offense by Ali Falcone, who went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI. Julia Flaishaker and Payton Andjulis each had doubles for the Cougars (0-4).
Streamwood 9, Hoffman Estates 6: Emily Gross (2-for-4, double, RBI), and Gracie Velasquez (2-for-3, double, 1 run) led the offense for host Hoffman Estates (0-2).
Ayanna Ward and Emily Morris also had hits for the Hawks, who received 8 strikeouts from Grossi.