O'Connell, Deerfield deny Maine West a title

Kelly O'Connell didn't hit 3 home runs like her amazing feat the first time Deerfield played Maine West this spring.

But the Deerfield junior third baseman did do plenty of damage again this time and helped lead her team to the Central Suburban League softball championship Monday in Des Plaines.

Entering the game with a staggering .750 batting average in the conference, O'Connell (2-for-4) collected 3 RBI with a triple and 2-run single while reaching base three times in Deerfield's 9-2 victory over Maine West.

Deerfield (18-6) clinched its second CSL North crown in six years under coach Susan Johnson as it finished 9-1 in the conference.

Maine West (15-12, 6-2) will try for second place as it closes out with Maine East today and Niles North Wednesday.

West had rallied from a 7-1 deficit to defeat Deerfield the first time 13-9 in eight innings.

So even when the visitors jumped to a 5-1 lead after two innings Monday, they knew no lead was safe.

"We just had to put as many runs on the board as possible," said O'Connell, whose third homer against West three weeks ago tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. "That was a tough loss to them the first time. But now we came back and got the win."

West coach Mike Murin hardly forget about O'Connell Monday.

"She hurt us with those 3 homers the first time," he said. "We wanted to keep the ball in the park today. But she still big hits on us. They hit the ball extremely well and they are well coached."

While O'Connell didn't hit it out of the park, senior shortstop Elizabeth Heitzinger (2-for-3, 3 RBI) did with a 2-run blast over the left field fence to provide a 9-1 lead in the top of the sixth.

O'Connell is hitting nearly .530 overall this spring.

"I'd like to see her play at the next level," Johnson said. "She has to decide if she wants to. She is just a strong kid. They were trying to pitch around her, and she still hit it hard. She sees the ball so well, and she's very competitive."

Senior Amy Reed ran her record to 6-0 in the conference with a 5-hitter and 8 strikeouts.

After Katie Fitzgerald (2-for-3) and Kelsey Hargesheimer singled back-to-back to lead off the seventh, Reed struck out the side to give Deerfield its title-clinching win.

Emily Ott (10-3), who has not been able to pitch the last few weeks while nursing a back injury, went 3-for-4 and scored both of Maine West's runs.

"That hurts West not having Emily able to pitch," said Johnson, whose has faced the senior the last few years. "She is an awesome pitcher."

Freshman Alyssa Bojarski and junior Allie Ellwood, who defeated Deerfield the first time, shared the pitching duties Monday.

"We need to play better defense," Murin said. "We've been saying that since day one."

Barrington 5, Hoffman Est. 0: Senior Kim Cygan (24-2) fired her 16th shutout with 6 strikeouts for the host Fillies (28-2, 14-1).

Senior Lindsey Dulla (2-for-4, 2 runs) and freshman Kelsey Kazmier (1-for-3, 1 run) each had triples for Barrington while Colleen Shandley was 2-for-4 with 2 runs.

Kristin Kuhn added an RBI single for the hosts and Jordan Wekony (RBI) also singled.

Colleen Roberts went 2-for-3 for the Hawks (11-16, 6-9) while Melissa Wilkes had their other hit.

Elk Grove 9, Wheeling 0: Junior Stephanie Maday (14-2) earned the win with 7 strikeouts in 5 innings while senior Krystina Leazer struck out two in the final two innings.

Jessica Balzano (3-for-5, double, RBI), Nikki Goranson (2-for-4), Kristen Cetkovic (2-for-4,) Caitlin Garrison (2-for-4, double) and Kristy Ottosen (2-for-4, 3 RBI, double) led the offense for Elk Grove (27-2, 14-1) Leazer also doubled for the Grens.

Alyson Fallon and Samie Spinabella each went 2-for-3 for Wheeling (3-18, 1-14).

Prospect 9, Buffalo Grove 4: Lisa Dominick, Katie Dillon, Hanna Lythberg, Nicole Naranjo and Megan Geraghty each had an RBI for visiting Prospect (7-21, 5-10)

Winning pitcher Sam Mangrum (2-for-4, 2 runs) threw the first five with 5 strikeouts while Lythberg struck out one in the final two innings.

Andrea DiPrima (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), K. C. Dunne (3-for-4, 2 runs) and Danni Shapiro (2-for-3, RBI) led the Bison (16-15, 4-10), which received 4 strikeouts from Maria Dax (7-4).

Fremd 7, Palatine 3: Senior Casey Latal (9-0) threw 6-hitter with 9 strikeouts as visiting Fremd (25-3, 13-2) won its 199th game under eighth-year coach Jim Weaver.

Jessica Tackett (2-for-4, RBI, double) and Alexa Cinquegrani (2-for-3, double) led the offense for Fremd while Kristine Werling (triple) had 2 RBI. Lauren Zaworski (double) and Tess Dinterman each an RBI. Jenny Schneider and Kelly Voigt also doubled for the Vikings.

Chrissy Roto struck out eight for Palatine (13-14, 7-9). Alexis Bauer and Joanne Jablonski had RBI for the Pirates.

Conant 5, Schaumburg 4: Paige Ward's 2-run homer with Vicki McGuire on base in the third inning proved to be the difference for host Conant (12-18, 6-9).

Freshman Briana Cavin (9-11) threw a 6-hitter with 9 strikeouts while Missy Anderson (14-9) went he first four innings for the Saxons, striking out four to give her 183 for the spring.

Cavin was also 2-for-3 for Conant, which received doubles from Amanda VanJacobs and Kim Jacobson. Lauren AmbRose, Hilary O'Donnel and McGuire also had hits for the hosts.,

Nicole Chase went 2-for-3 with an RBI for Schaumburg (17-13, 8-7) while Alyssa Lancaster and Aly Poehlmann (double) had RBI.

Rolling Mead. 3, Hersey 2 (9): Senior Tierney Larson's sacrifice bunt advanced Abby Matayka to second and Matayka came home on freshman Natalie Cannizzo's two-out single to right for the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

Maddy Urban also had a two-out RBI single for Meadows (14-16, 7-8) which clinched second place in the MSL East. Teammate Libby Marsh also had an RBI fielder's choice.

Freshman Josie Suchecki (10-9) struck out five as the winning pitcher and also had a double.

Kristy Johnson had 9 strikeouts for Hersey (6-18, 5-10), which scored its runs on Haley Henriksen's 2-run single in the first inning. The Huskies' Aubrey Fulton was 2-for-5.