Softball: Barrington holds off Rolling Meadows

Nursing a 5-4 lead heading into the top of the sixth inning, Barrington's softball players knew they still had some work to do at Rolling Meadows.

"We were a little nervous but we knew we could do it," said Fillies senior Leyden Atlas. "We just knew we had to get some hits."

After one was out, Kendall Peterson and Atlas got some hits - some big hits.

Peterson walloped her third double of the game and 18th of the season and Atlas followed with her ninth homer of the spring to make it 7-4.

The two extra runs proved to be plenty of insurance as sophomore Jackie Albrecht closed out the final two innings for Tori Meyer (5-1) and the Fillies finished in front 9-4 in their last Mid-Suburban League conference game of the season Tuesday.

"Those are the kids you depend on in pressure situations," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson. "Your best hitters have to keep it rolling.

"We wanted to make sure Leyden stayed patient. And she drove one. She is a tremendous hitter and she just got ahold of that ball. It got out of the park so fast and it just changed the momentum back to us."

Albrecht made sure the momentum never shifted as she allowed only 1 hit and no runs in her relief role.

"Jackie was smooth," said Perry Peterson. "She is a pretty good pitcher for being a young kid and she knows how she has to throw to be effective. She was good."

The Fillies have been good all season, finishing at 14-2 in the MSL West and now standing at 27-4 overall.

Rolling Meadows finished 8-8 in the MSL East and is 16-11 overall.

"It was a good team win for us," said Kendall Peterson, who went 4-for-4 and scored 2 runs. "Rolling Meadows is a really good team. They've had a lot of growth in my four years here and I really respect them. They played tough and we were able to come through at the end."

The Fillies gave Albrecht another 2 runs in the top of the seventh.

Sydney Granby walked while Lily Weidler and Peterson each had hits as the visitors went ahead 9-4.

Meyer, Gina Magro, Samantha Murphy, Brynn Nevers (RBI) and Ellie Wintringer also had hits for the Fillies.

"It was a good game," Perry Peterson added. "A lot of credit goes to Rolling Meadows. They're having a great season and they played very competitively. They should be very proud of their body of work this season."

In addition to notching her first save, Albrecht also belted her first career homer to lead off the fourth inning and hit two deep flies to center.

"That was a good hit (homer) by Jackie," Kendall Peterson said. "And she pitched well. I was really proud for her. She had a good day."

Sara Benner had a good day for Meadows, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks while her sister Sam was 2-for-3 and scored 2 runs.

Kelsie Cambell had a big two-out single to right in the bottom of the fifth that cut the deficit to 5-4.

"Kelsie had a nice base hit and Sara Benner had a nice game," said Meadows coach Tony Wolanski. "I thought our overall hitting approach as a team was where it needed to be.

"Barrington has good pitching. You need to focus on every pitch and I thought our kids had good at-bats today against real good pitching."

Mustangs pitcher Kendra Herring (8-3), Caroline Slowik (2B) and Sammy Elenz (RBI) also had hits for Meadows.

"I thought our girls really played a good softball game against a good team," Wolanski said. "Our energy was good and we were in the game all the way. They just a made a few more plays than us.

"They're a great program and you can't make little mistakes but our kids gave their all and we're going to keep trying to improve and try to get a regional next week."