Softball: Barrington makes more history with undefeated regular season
Obviously, with 1,321 wins in 58 seasons, Barrington has made a lot of history.
The Fillies made some more Thursday, becoming the first Mid-Suburban League softball team since Prospect in 1986 to complete a perfect overall regular season.
Barrington pushed its clean slate to 32-0 by winning the 52nd MSL championship game 5-3 over visiting Fremd at the Fields of Dreams.
It is the 18th MSL crown in 23 attempts with 16 of the wins coming under hall of fame coach Perry Peterson (16-3 in title games).
"It feels really good because we've been working really hard toward this all season," said senior Nina Brebach, who went 3-for 3 with an RBI. "Our team is really confident and we've really been working together. We have a real strong connection and it's nice to see it all paying off. Our connection as a team and the friendships we've made has really helped us through the season."
A season in which the Fillies have put together their longest winning streak in program history in which they won a record 38th straight home game Thursday.
Senior ace right-hander Katie Taraschewsky (28-0) threw a 3-hitter with 5 strikeouts and now owns an 87-10-1 pitching record, just three wins away from tying the program record for wins (2015 graduate Keenan Dolezal was 90-21).
Fremd (15-7-1) got on the board first when senior second baseman Amanda Poniecki singled sharply to left for a two-out RBI to score Avery Sheridan, who led off the game with a walk.
But the hosts, who won their fourth MSL crown in six seasons and second in a row, took command for good in the second inning with 5 runs, started by Madi Van Ryn's infield single.
An error on Shaylee Hiser's sacrifice bunt gave the Fillies runners on second and third. Van Ryn scored the first run on Izzy Zwolinski's infield hit and Hiser came in when Emma Zorzy reached on an infield error.
The lead grew to 5-1 when Liana Maggio doubled off the center-field fence.
"I know we gained a lot of confidence after those 5 runs," Brebach said. "It was really good to get ahead there because they're a really good team."
"An inning like that is something that's bit us against Barrington this year (8-7 and 14-6 losses)," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner.
"That one, though, in particular, a little more. You spot them 5 runs in the second inning and that is tough to respond to. There is momentum that builds and ultimately I thought we responded incredibly well. We kept ourselves in the game and from that point forward it's 2-0 in our favor, which is a small win but ultimately when you're playing an undefeated team. You've got to keep that pressure on them."
Peterson said the 5-run inning meant a lot.
"That was critical, it gave us a cushion to work with," he said. "And Katie got some outs when she needed them."
Taraschewsky got two defensive gems in the top of the fourth. Second baseman Morgan Donahue raced to her right to snare Poniecki's hard grounder for the first out and shortstop Hiser scooped a one-bounce smash off the bat of Hadley Carter for the second out.
"One of the things we felt we did well against Katie all season was knowing how to approach her," Teschner said. "But today I think we were a little more out in front than normal. But I think that happens in a big moment. The great thing is we get to learn from it and we get to use it immediately on Saturday against a tough Riverside-Brookfield team (24-3) leading into the state series."
Fremd added a run in the top of the fifth when Emily Usalis led off with a stand-up double off the left field fence and scored when Asha Shah reached on an infield error.
But Taraschewsky did not allow another run, getting a strikeout, grounder to Harlow Engel who made a nice stop of a hard grounder and a flyout to Van Ryn in right.
Fremd ace Molly Kanukpe (9-6) got out of a second-and-third jam with no outs in the top of the fifth with a strikeout and double play when she caught a pop bunt and threw to third baseman Avery Sheridan to double up the runner.
Fremd got to within 5-3 in the sixth as freshman Suzana Grosman led off with a single to left center, stole second, got to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
"We talked about resilience and care for one another all season," Teschner said. "Our bus leaves 40 minutes late and the girls still had a great vibe on the bus and they were excited to be here playing for each other and they showed that time and time again all season."
Taraschewsky retired the side in order in the seventh, getting the final out on a terrific over-the-shoulder running grab behind first base by Engel.
"It's been a great season," Peterson added. "And we look forward to the state playoffs beginning next Tuesday."