Cygan, Barrington (7-0) blank Loyola
Loyola softball coach Marty Jennings left Barrington's Field of Dreams on Thursday hoping he'd see the Fillies again.
Getting a 4-hitter from senior Kim Cygan, Barrington scratched out a run in the first and got an RBI single in the sixth by junior Nora Logue to post a 2-0 nonconference shutout over the Ramblers, who lost for the first time in four games.
"I told Perry (Peterson, head coach of Barrington) that maybe we'd see him again downstate," said Jennings, who is in his second season at the Wilmette school. "I was happy with how we played. I don't think anyone likes losing, but hopefully we learned from this."
The Fillies (7-0) learned they can compete with the best of them.
Loyola features a Division I battery of pitcher Devin Miller and catcher Teresa Aguilar. Both are Illinois-Chicago recruits.
Miller, a four-year varsity member who was 3-0 coming into the game, threw a 5-hitter with 11 strikeouts.
"They're a good team," Miller said.
"They're good at small ball. They made us work hard defensively which is good for us. We have to work on defensing offensive slappers."
Sophomore slapper Colleen Shandley led off for the hosts with an infield hit. She stole second and went to third on Lindsey Dulla's sacrifice and came home on a passed ball.
"I just had to go in there with confidence," Shandley said. "As the leadoff batter, you know it is important to get things going right away."
"That was huge by Colleen - it always helps when you get that first run," said Cygan, who struck out four and walked none. "Then the defense can relax a little and settle in. We knew this game would be a challenge and we wanted to prove we belonged with a team like them."
Cygan (7-0) got an insurance run in the sixth when sophomore Kiersten Tinkoff doubled off the right-field wall with one out and came home on Logue's single to center.
"What a great win against the best team we've seen all season," Peterson said.
"One of the biggest things is that I really wanted to beef up our schedule from last year," Jennings said. "And when you play a program like Barrington's, you know they're going to show up and compete. Just look at all the banners (five straight trips to state) on their fence. Were happy. For the most part, this was a 1-0 game."
Prospect 10, St. Viator 5: Junior cleanup hitter Amanda Mlikan collected 4 doubles (one almost over the fence) and 4 RBI, while sophomore Nikki Surico belted a bases-loaded double in the fourth inning as Prospect outhit St. Viator 14-4 en route to a 10-5 nonconference win.
Senior Lisa Dominick (2-for-3, 3 runs, 2 stolen bases) reached base in all 4 at-bats. Freshman Hanna Lythberg (2-for-3) and senior Kathryn Dillon (2-for-4) also had multiple hits for the Knights (1-3).
Sophomore Sam Mangrum earned the win, striking out two and walking one.
"We've been waiting for something like this from Amanda," said Knights coach Brenda Martin about Mlikan's 4 doubles.
"We knew she had the power."
Palatine 5, Cary Grove 3: Host Palatine (2-3) received a two-out, 2-run double by sophomore catcher Alyx Ballenger in the sixth inning, and a two-out, 2-run single by junior Katie Nawrot in the first.
Narwot (2-for-3) also belted a solo homer in the third.
"We did a nice job getting some timely hits with two outs," said Pirates coach Jeff Manz. "It was our best hitting game of the season. And Chrissy (Roto, junior pitcher) really settled down after the first two innings."
Roto struck out seven while picking up her first win of the season.
York 1, Elk Grove 0: Host Elk Grove (3-1) suffered its first loss as junior pitcher Stephanie Maday (2-1) struck out 10, walked three and did not give up an earned run.
Catcher Nikki Goranson went 2-for-3 for the Grenadiers, while Amanda Mertes had the other hit off the York pitcher, who struck out 10.
"Only one team had an opportunity to score and it did," said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams.
Libertyville 8, Rolling Meadows 7: Libertyville scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to edge the visiting Mustangs in their season opener.