Drama-filled day in MSL
It was a day full of drama in the Mid-Suburban League as three softball games were decided by 1 run, including a pair of 1-0 victories in eight innings.
Conant 1, Hoffman Estates 0 (8): With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Nichole Gross singled home pinch runner Kailee Prasbrig from third base to give Conant a dramatic 1-0 victory over visiting Hoffman (4-8, 1-3) in the MSL West.
Freshman Brianna Cavin (3-4) struck out 15 to get the win for Conant (7-8, 1-1) over Hoffman senior Kaitlin Walsh (3-4), who struck out nine and has not given up an earned run in seven games.
"Brianna had good movement on the ball and kept them off balance," said Cougars coach Cathy Smith. "She worked real well with our freshman catcher (Kim Jacobson)."
Hoffman senior Alex Wulbecker's double was the only extra-base hit in the game.
Fremd 1, Schaumburg (8): Junior Jessica Tackett's double over the right fielder's head brought home Jenny Schneider with one out in the bottom of the eighth for host Fremd (12-1, 2-0) in the MSL West.
Junior Lena Brottman (8-1) fired a no-hitter for the Vikings, striking out 15 and walking one.
Junior Lauren Zaworski, whose sacrifice bunt got Schneider to second base, went 2-for-3.
Barrington 2, Palatine 1: Barrington improved to 16-1 and 4-0 in the MSL West as Elizabeth Owen singled home Kristin Kuhn in the fourth and winning pitcher Kim Cygan's sacrifice fly drove home Colleen Shandley (2-for-3) in the fifth for the winning run.
Cygan (15-1) tossed a 5-hitter with 9 strikeouts and no walks while Chrissy Roto (4-4) struck out one and walked one for Palatine (8-5, 2-1).
Heather Zimmerman tripled home Katie Scovic (2-for-3) in the fourth for Palatine's run.
Elk Grove 8, Prospect 1: She may be only 5-foot-2 but Brittany Tranchita showed she is capable of hitting the ball a long way.
The senior left-handed hitting left fielder belted the first home run of her career, a towering shot over the center field fence to cap the host Grenadiers' scoring in the bottom of the fifth.
"For a little girl with good wheels, she can turn on the ball real well," said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams.
"I was really in a big slump," Tranchita said. "I finally got past it. I forgot about all my problems and just hit the ball. This was one of my goals this season."
Other top hitters for the Grens (14-1, 2-0) were Jessica Balzano (2-for-3), Amanda Mertes (2-for-3), Nikki Goranson (2-run single), Dani Goranson (RBI single) and first baseman Stephanie Dolce (3-for-4), who collected 3 RBI with a 2-run double.
Stephanie Maday (7-1) went the first three innings, retiring all nine batters she faced. Krystina Leazer went the final four innings.
"We need to keep the energy in the front of our minds constantly," Grams added. "We started out well but then were a little inactive."
Prospect's Lisa Dominick started the sixth with a bunt single and came home on Katie Dillon's RBI groundout for the first run surrendered by Elk Grove in 48 innings.
"Elk Grove was ready to play," said Prospect coach Brenda Martin, whose team is 2-13 and 0-3. "And we were not. We know this group has talent. We just have to put it all together."
Hersey 5, Wheeling 2: Aleene Morgenthaler (3-for-4, 2 RBI) had 3 doubles while Stacey Schmiederer and Alyssa Kieffer also doubled for the Huskies (3-8, 2-1) in the MSL East.
Kristy Johnson earned the win with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk. Tori Menelle struck out four for visiting Wheeling (2-6, 0-3), which was led on offense by Scout Scanlon (2-for-4).
Meadows 6, BG 3: Freshman Josie Suchecki (4-7) went 2-for-4 and was the winning pitcher with 2 strikeouts for host Meadows (7-8, 2-3).
The Mustangs took the lead for good at 4-3 in the third on a two-out RBI single by Leah Liston.
Maddy Urban and Maryclare Loughery (2-for-3) had back-to-back RBI singles in the fourth for Meadows.
Emily Begnel homered for the Bison (7-7, 0-3) and K.C. Dunne and Ali Levato had 2 hits apiece.
Maine West 3, Highland Park 1: Junior Allie Ellwood (1-2) earned her first varsity win with a 6-hitter and 2 strikeouts for Maine West (10-9, 3-0 Central Suburban North).
West scored twice in the first inning as Ellwood was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Jenna Depa came home on an error.
The Warriors went ahead 3-0 in the seventh when Kelsey Hargesheimer led off with a double, went to third on a sacrifice bunt by Katherine Kusner and scored on Michelle Marlaga's sacrifice fly to center.
Emily Ott (3-for-3) and Depa (3-for-5) were top hitters for the Warriors.
St. Viator 4, Maine South 3: The host Lions (4-7) won in the bottom of the eighth on a hit by Jessica Etchingham. Julie Sweeney was the winning pitcher with 4 strikeouts in 8 innings. Tayler Lenart, Etchingham and Michelle Slawny each had 2 hits for Viator