Softball: Barrington stays perfect with heart-stopping win over Fremd

Barrington and Fremd, two perennial softball powers in the Mid-Suburban League, have played numerous dramatic games over the years.

On Friday in Palatine, they played one dramatic inning.

Picking up a suspended game from 11 days ago due to darkness, the two teams started in the top of the eighth inning with the score tied 7-7.

Barrington scored an unearned run in the top half of the inning, and Fillies pitcher Katie Tarachewsky then got out of a jam in bottom half to preserve an 8-7 triumph which boosted her team's record to 15-0 and 4-0 in the Mid-Suburban West.

An error on Harlow Engel's flyball allowed her to reach second base. Tarachewsky, batting cleanup, drew a walk giving the Fillies runners on first and second with no outs.

After a beautiful running catch to her right by center fielder Skyler Spedale, Shaylee Hiser reached safely on an error to load the bases.

Izzy Zwolinski followed with a fielder's choice as Engel raced home to score what would be the winning run.

"It was a great job by Harlow to get us started," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, who notched career win No. 1,021.

"I knew as soon as the ball touched the ground I had to fly," Engel said. "I was just proud of Izzy for making contact and putting the ball in play with less than two outs and giving us something we could work with. That was really good."

Fremd ace Molly Kanupke (3-3 with an ERA under 2.00) got the final batter on a ground out to third baseman Avery Sheridan who threw a perfect strike to first baseman Anna Montella, who went 4-for-5 in the game with a homer and three singles.

Like Barrington, the Vikings also got their first two runners on base in the bottom half of the inning as freshman Spedale led off with a walk and classmate Suzanna Grossman followed with a line-drive single to center.

But Tarachewsky (14-0) dug in and retired the heart of the Vikings order with a pop to second, a strikeout and a fly out to center fielder Nina Brebach to end the game.

"After the first two runners got on, I was like 'We got this.' " Tarachewsky said. "My fielders have been making plays all season and I knew they'd be there for me. Getting that one run in the top of the inning really helped because it gave us the confidence and mindset that we just had to get three outs and we'd be good."

Fremd (4-4, 3-2) appeared in good shape with its two quickest players on base and no outs.

"Certainly the freshmen (Spedale and Grossman) are having a phenomenal start to their Fremd careers," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner. "They are dynamic players. They put us in position there with runners on first and second and no outs. And they are the two fastest kids on the field.

"But then we didn't execute and that's been a microcosm of the season. If we had done the little things right in the top of the inning and then at the plate in the bottom of the inning, it's a lot different outcome. You can't give Barrington extra opportunities. They are masters at doing the right things in the right moments and in the moment, that's exactly what they did."

Thanks to a gritty performance by the senior on the mound.

"I know she works well under pressure," Engel said. "I knew that was a situation she could get out of. And I knew our infield and outfield could make the plays to back her up. I'm really proud of us. I thought it was very good execution and exactly what we wanted to do when we came out here."

"She's something," Peterson said of his senior right-hander, who pitched the Fillies to second place in the Class 4A state tourney last spring. "That was her 73rd career victory, placing her fourth on the all-time list at Barrington behind only Keenan Dolezal (2015, 90 wins), Abby Reed (2004, 80 wins) and Claire Voris (2007, 75 wins). "We've got a lot of veteran kids who have gone through a lot of big games. They played in a state championship (second place to Oswego). If they bring the right mindset and stay hungry, it's possible good things can happen."

Peterson ranks third on the all-time list for wins in IHSA softball history, now standing at 1,021-219-1, putting him at 802 wins above .500, the same number as Randy Wolken of St. Joseph-Ogden finished at (1,044-242). Wolken now stands in second place for IHSA wins behind Elk Grove's Ken Grams who is at 1,060 wins as the all-time leader.