Softball: Fremd rallies late to reach MSL championship game vs. Barrington

Fremd used its trademark resilient attitude to put itself in Thursday's 51st Mid-Suburban League softball championship game.

Trailing 5-3 going into the top of seventh inning of the MSL playoff semifinal, the second-place MSL West Vikings scored 3 runs, capped by senior Amanda Poniecki's RBI single to left, to take a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish against East champion and host Palatine.

Senior Molly Kanupke (9-5) then retired three straight batters in the bottom of the seventh for her 19th career win.

That put Kanupke in the Vikings' top 20 for pitching wins and put Fremd in its eight title game since the MSL showcase event began in 1974.

"Molly wants to compete," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner said of his right-hander who surpassed 200 strikeouts on Monday night in an 11-1 win over Lakes. "She competes hard and does everything you ask her to do. Today she did that. Maybe she didn't have her best stuff but she fought, fought and fought against a very good Palatine team."

Now the Vikings (15-6-1) will face a very good Barrington team (31-0) on Thursday in the title match under the new final four format. The West champ Fillies defeated East -second-place Schaumburg 12-0 in the other semifinal Tuesday.

"We knew coming into this game we were facing, for me, the best pitcher in the conference," Teschner said of junior right-hander Mia Woldman, a Loyola recruit. "We knew we were going to have to keep the pressure on and respond to the challenge. The first time we played them we did not do that (1-0 loss)."

Poniecki, a four-year starter, went 2-for-4 with a double and came through with her clutch game-winning RBI in the seventh that drove home Suzana Grosman, a freshman who moments earlier came through with a 2-run single to right center that tied the game at 5-5.

"We've been in so many tight games where we've had to figure out how to fight back in different situations," Poniecki said. "I think we just really pulled off another one today."

The Vikings had to find a way to make up a 1-0 deficit after Palatine's Sammie Kendrick singled home Eliza Piecuch for a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.

And it was Poeniecki tying the game at 1-1 in the fourth when her fielder's choice ground ball got home the speedy Grosman from third base.

"We knew if we wanted an opportunity to play for a conference championship, we had to continue to compete like we had been and Amanda (Poniecki ) is a prime example of that," Teschner said. "Today everything she did was making a way for the team to win. It was an outstanding game for her. Some incredible at-bats. And talk about some clutch hits in big spots. That was Amanda all day and really that has been Amanda for the last three weeks. She has responded so well to any adversity she had early in the year."

Fremd edged ahead 3-1 in the top of the fifth, as Penelope Schmidt was hit by a pitch and sacrificed to second by Avery Sheridan for the second out. Anna Montella (2-for-4) then came through with an RBI single to left center before Grossman's double brought home Montella for the 3-1 lead.

Palatine answered smartly, though, getting 2 runs in each of the next two innings.

Madelyn Lebo began the bottom of the fifth with an infield hit followed by Eliza Piecuch (double), Quinn Schwartz (RBI single) and Jenna Hubert ( RBI single to left to tie the game).

The hosts then went ahead 5-3 in the sixth when Ashley Au led off with a walk. Meghan Czyzowicz reached on an error before 2 runs came home on Piecuch's RBI single to left that was just barely out of the reach of Grossman's leaping try.

"We fought the whole time," said Palatine coach Janalee Lyke, whose team is 20-4. "I'm very, very proud of that. This (tough loss) is just part of the game and they came out on top today.

"It was a fantastic game. Props to Fremd. Props to our girls. It was awesome competition and we always look forward to playing each other in this crosstown rivalry. They came out on top this time and that's OK. We'll come back and try to get it next time."

Leadoff batter Piecuch led the Pirates' offense, getting on base four times and going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.

Grossman also went 3-for-4 for Fremd, including 3 RBI.

"Suzzana was incredible today," Teschner said. "Defensively , she is as good as any player in the conference. And she is an absolute menace on the base. So it's a lot of fun to watch these kids compete."

Unfortunately centerfielder Audrie Corrado, who has been hitting over .450 the past two weeks, could not compete in the final three innings after an injury sliding into third base.

"To lose her there was a tough thing but the great thing is that Reagan Bokios came in and played great defense," Teschner said. “She did everything she needed to do and then we just found a way to pass the bat and give the next person the opportunity. They lift each other up every time they get an opportunity."

And now Thursday they have an opportunity at the conference championship.

Barrington 12, Schaumburg 0: The Fillies improved to 31-0 with a 12-0 victory over Schaumburg (14-5) in five innings to advance to Thursday's title game in Barrington at 4:45 p.m.

Junior Harlow Engel (1-for-2, sacrifice) belted a 3-run homer in the third inning and senior Ava Glosny (1-for-1) had a 3-run walk-off homer.

Izzy Zwolinski (3-for-3, double) and Liana Maggio (2-for-3, 2 runs) were other top offensive players for the Fillies who have now won a school-record 31 straight games.

Senior Katie Taraschewsky (27-0) earned the 2-hit win with her seventh shutout of the season, compiling five strikeouts and no walks in five innings.