Roto right on as Palatine blanks Schaumburg

When they met two weeks ago, the Palatine and Schaumburg softball teams combined to put 14 runs on the scoreboard.

This time, when first baseman Katie Narwot fielded a groundball and stepped on first base for the final out Thursday, there were only 2 runs on the scoreboard.

Both belonged to Palatine.

Junior Chrissy Roto (9-9) needed just 72 minutes to toss a 2-hitter with 7 strikeouts as the Pirates (13-13, 7-7) posted a 2-0 shutout in the Mid-Suburban West Division and avenged a 9-5 loss to the visiting Saxons (15-11, 8-6).

"This was great," Roto said. "It feels great because we've had such a bad run for a while (the Pirates had lost five of seven). We all knew we could do better. We played better defense and got the runs when we needed them."

The runs came in the sixth when sophomores Katie Mnichowicz and Alyx Ballenger (3-for-3) started with an infield hit and bunt single. Sophomore Joanne Jablonski's groundout to second moved the runners to second and third.

Cleanup hitter Sam Salomone, another sophomore, hit a hard grounder that deflected off the glove of Saxons pitcher Missy Anderson (12-8), and shortstop Nicole Chase scooped it up and threw Salomone out at first. But Mnichowicz scooted home for the first run.

Junior Heather Zimmerman's single drove in pinch runner Melissa Serio for the 2-0 cushion.

"My catcher (Ballenger) has improved so much," Roto added "We graduated a great catcher (all-area Caitlin Carpenter), and Alyx is proving she can fill her shoes. I'm glad to have her as my catcher."

"It was a great team win, and Chrissy did a great job," said Pirates coach Jeff Manz. "Erin (Malinowski, Saxons coach) has done a great job with Schaumburg and that's why this is such a big win for us, our biggest of the season."

Sophomores Jessica Cook and Shannon Giovannone had the only hits (back to back in the third inning) for Schaumburg.

"Missy Anderson (5 strikeouts, no walks) did a great job on the mound," Malinowski said. "She kept them off balance and our defense made some solid plays. But Palatine is a good team and they hit the ball hard."

Fremd 11, Hoffman Estates 0 (5): Lena Brottman (16-2) struck out seven in 4 innings to earn the MSL West win as Kelly Voight (2-for-2, double) and Alexa Cinquegrani (2-for-2, 3 RBI, double) led the offense for Fremd (24-2, 12-1).

Conant 8, Wheeling 1: Freshman Briana Cavin (7-11) threw a 3-hitter for Conant (10-18, 4-8) and also belted a 2-run homer in an MSL crossover win. Teammate Paige Ward was 2-for-3, while sophomore Alyssa Fallon (2-for-3) led the offense for Wheeling (3-16, 1-13).

Elk Grove 2, Hersey 0: Senior Krystina Leazer (4-0) struck out 11 and gave up only 1 hit as the winning pitcher for Elk Grove (26-2, 12-1) in the MSL East. Jessica Bolzano belted a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first, and Kristy Ottosen (2-for-3) scored on a double steal in the fifth.

Stacey Schmiederer had the only hit for Hersey (5-18, 4-10) with one out in the seventh.

Rolling Meadows 6, St. Viator 5: MaryClare Loughery (2-for-4) had a 2-run single, and Abby Matayka scored on an error on the play to give Meadows a dramatic nonconference win in the bottom of the seventh. The Mustangs trailed 6-1 going into the inning.

Sophomore Kelly Keyzer was 2-for-3 for Meadows (12-16), while Abby Dickey (2-for-4), Julie Sweeney (3-for-4) and Angelica Dickey (2-for-3) led Viator (10-17). Freshman Josie Suchecki (8-9) threw the final 22/3 innings to earn the win.