Cook softball notes: Fremd, Palatine set to pave the way

Any meeting between Fremd and Palatine's sports teams takes on a special meaning because it's been a longtime crosstown rivalry.

When the school's softball teams take the field on Wednesday at Fremd, there will be even more of a celebration than normal.

The Vikings are hosting their annual “Pave the Way” game, where the varsity team will be wearing shirts honoring powerful, inspiring and influential women who are “paving the way” for them in society.

All of the Palatine Stingrays and park district teams are invited to the game with the idea that Fremd and Palatine's varsity teams are “paving the way” for the younger players.

The Fremd varsity players are also organizing this day to serve as an item drive for the Palatine Food Pantry.

Barrington: Barrington junior third baseman Reese Cullen is having a stellar junior season. The third-year varsity player is hitting .486 with 4 doubles and a triple in the team's first 12 games. Cullen, who is verbally committed to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, thrives with elite-level arm strength at third base and aggressive swings in the batter's box according to Fillies coach Perry Peterson. "I give Reese credit," he said. "She comes to practice each day with a desire for improvement. We are always analyzing what is going well and what we can adjust to perform at a higher level.“

Buffalo Grove: Bison second-year coach Martha Kelly believes Kayla O'Malley is the best outfielder in the area. "With her in the outfield, the outfield is where fly balls go to die," Kelly said. "She can cover more ground than anyone I have ever seen. She leads by example every day with her effort — diving for balls at practice and tossing lazer-like throws."

Erin Ryan and O'Malley are leading the Bison on offense. Ryan is hitting .476 and O'Malley is at .409, respectively.

"They are both tough outs," Kelly added. "Erin started the year going 5-for-5."

Junior Sammie Kosnoff has had to carry the load on the mound and has done a great job. She has 39 Ks in 37 innings pitched.

Conant: After waiting nearly two weeks for their first game, the Cougars have begun the season with a 3-2 record under interim coach Kelly Wolff, who has taken over for Allie Bauch Jay who is on maternity leave.

"We are a unique blend of veterans who are becoming great mentors to our younger players as they handle the adjustments of being varsity athletes and all that comes with that," said Wolff, a longtime assistant in the program. "Understanding how our leadership groups work, practice plan expectations and study table obligations are all a bit more than what they are used to in their travel programs that play tournaments primarily on the weekends."

Wolff said freshman twin sisters Jenny and Maddie Ryan have been great as battery mates.

"They have that special understanding of each other that we haven’t seen since the Cavin sisters (Bri and Miranda)," Wolff said. "It is nice to see how they are coming together not just as teammates but as friends as well.

"Practices have been more unified and they work hard but have fun which is such an important part of being an athlete."

One of Conant's biggest fun events is this Saturday when there will be a program-wide Hit-A-Thon which is open to the Conant community.

"There is fierce competition among the leadership groups as well as celebrity hitters which are usually teachers, alumni, or family members who are invited to hit by one of the players," said Wolff, who is being assisted this spring by former Cougars head coach and hall of famer CathyAnn Smith.

Elk Grove: Lewis University pledge Ariana Trausch is off to a solid start for the Grens. The senior shortstop has 6 home runs and 19 RBI in the Grens' first nine games.

Senior pitcher Erika Gore, a Northwest Missouri State commit who pitched well as a sophomore, basically missed all of last year because of an injury. She is close to being able to play again this year.

Coach Ken Grams, second all time in IHSA wins with 1,025 (behind retired St. Joseph-Ogden's Randy Wolken's 1,044), is hoping she can return next week.

Hersey: Ariya Patel and Ellie Lindberg have been tough in the circle combining to allow no runs against Schaumburg and Conant and working 8 scoreless innings against Fremd before falling on a grand slam in the ninth inning. Reese Izenstark has belted 5 homers to spark the offense while Gabby Felman and Grace Grabowy have been providing runs.

Prospect: Knights coach Krystina Mackowiak said her Knights have had their ups and downs but continue to grow as a team. In the first 30 innings pitched this spring, freshman Megan Maresco has compiled 59 strikeouts.

Junior Gina Falls (6 doubles) and senior Rachael Sasanuma (10 RBI) have been leading the offense. Falls has six doubles and Sasanuma has 10 RBI. "We are looking forward to continuing conference competition and making little adjustments that will make a big impact along the way,“ Mackowiak said.

Leyden: Following an opening season doubleheader loss to Elk Grove, the Eagles won four in a row over Jones College Prep, Regina Dominican, Trinity, and Hinsdale Central.

Against Hinsdale Central, Leyden collected 7 triples, which put the Eagles into the No. 3 spot in the IHSA record book for most triples by one team in one game.

Maine East: Blue Demons coach Kyle Eller says his team (0-8, 0-3) continues to improve every day but the results are not where they want them to be.

"However, Jayden Coppe has 45 strikeouts in 5 outings and is batting .600," he said. "MacKenzie Walker is playing a great third base and hitting .438. And Emma Asien hit her first home run (last week) against Maine West and is hitting .412.

Maine South: The Hawks are sitting at 7-1 following a 9-3 win over York in which pitcher Jess Homman struck out 17.

"Ryan Mullarkey (catcher) and Jess were absolutely great together," said Maine South coach Emmy Pasier.

The Hawks had 11 different players combine for 35 hits and 31 RBI in their first three games last week.

"The girls and their bats were working hard," Pasier said. "The pitching was really good."

Ryan was behind the plate for three games last week and Christina Piotowski caught one. In the first three games leading up to Maine South game, Jessica and Hanna Hoffman combined for 16 innings allowing only 11 hits and 3 earned runs.

St. Viator: After a challenging start and a week of indoor practices due to the rain, the Lions ran off four wins in a row and finished the week 4-1.

"lt was an exciting week," said Viator coach John Scotillo. "We set a program record with 4 home runs in one inning in a big comeback win at Evanston, 11-8. The next day we had a walk-off win over St. Edward, 3-2. We finished a win over Regina and split a doubleheader with Marian Catholic."

Senior Hannah Grossman had a big week for the Lions, hitting .600 with 9 RBI, 2 homers and was the wining pitcher three times. However, two freshmen generated the most excitement. Ava Moreno hit .467 with 9 RBI and 2 homers while classmate Mia Lund, brought up for an injured player, hit .438 with 7 hits to spark the top of our lineup.

Maggie Ratzki and Jillian Bollard each hit .333 with 8 RBI combined.

"We are excited about the future," said Scotillo, whose team now stands at 5-10.

Wheeling: Wildcats pitcher Ava Shrake picked up her first varsity win with an 8-4 decision over Schaumburg, which was also the Wildcats’ first Mid-Suburban East win this spring.

Coach Mike Caringella has been getting some solid work from Shrake., who has been injured the previous two seasons.

"She has been pitching well," said the veteran coach. "Alaina Costello and Katrie Moser led the offense (against Schaumburg).“