Fremd 9, Palatine 0

Second baseman Lauren Zaworski was asked if she considered herself a power hitter after her Fremd softball team blanked visiting Palatine 9-0 Wednesday.

"I don't know, I never really thought about it," she said. "That's a funny question."

There was nothing funny for Palatine when Zaworski belted a 2-run homer and 3-run homer -- both over the right-center field fence -- in her first 2 at-bats.

Her third and fourth homers staked the Vikings to a 5-0 lead and sophomore Lena Brottman (9-1) took over the rest of the way by throwing a 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks.

Zaworski also belted 2 homers against Hersey this season.

"I can't believe it," Zaworski (2-for-3, 5 RBI, walk) said of her home run power. "I used to pull the ball a lot and the coaches have told me to just wait on it a little more. I just think everyone on the team is hitting well. And Lena and Casey have been pitching so great all season."

Alexa Cinquegrani and Tess Dinterman (double) each went 2-for-3 for Fremd (12-1, 7-1) while teammate Kristine Werling was 2-for-4.

"Good day for 'Z,"' said Fremd coach Jim Weaver about Zaworski. "When she stays on the ball, she's a tough out. She can hit it as far as anyone.

"Cinquegrani's 2 at-bats in front of her, though, were very important. She stayed alive in both with two strikes. Otherwise, if she doesn't get on, the inning is over."

Bre Quaritsch, Heather Zimmerman and Caitlin Carpenter had the hits for Palatine (6-6, 4-4).

"They took advantage of every mistake we made," said Palatine coach Jeff Manz. "They were aggressive at the plate and on the bases. And obviously their No. 4 hitter (Zaworski) got us twice.

"Looking back, I probably should have put her on (intentional walk) the second time. When you get behind early like we did (6-0 after three innings), it kind of takes your momentum away."

Buffalo Grove 6, Prospect 5: Freshman K. C. Dunne's two-out single to right proved to be the difference in the top of the seventh as freshman Danni Shapiro (leadoff double) scored to make it 6-3.

Host Prospect (9-4, 6-2) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh in the MSL East.

Amy Varner scored in a first-and-third rundown and Mary Kate Ward came home on Paige O'Neil's fielder's choice ground ball.

Amanda Mlikan doubled in the inning.

The Knights had a runner on third with two outs when pitcher Sheri Weidner (9-4) put down a bunt.

Bison freshman pitcher Andrea DiPrima (4-4) fielded it and made the throw to second baseman Lexi Bueno, who was covering first for the final out.

Bison senior catcher Katie Lee belted a 2-run homer in the second inning over the left-field fence and wound up 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs. Lee singled and scored in the first inning.

Katie Dillon also doubled for the Knights.

DiPrima and Shapiro doubled for BG (6-9, 3-5) while shortstop Stephanie Rudolfi had a triple.

Schaumburg 10, Conant 0: Junior pitcher Missy Anderson belted a 3-run homer to left with one out in the fourth inning and was 2-for-3 with 4 RBI.

The right-hander (6-4) struck out four and walked one by tossing a 4-hitter for the host Saxons (7-6, 3-5).

Brianne Lingl (3-for-4) Rachel Borgman (2-for-4, triple), Aly Poehlmann (2-for-3) and Nicole Benedict (double) were other offensive leaders for Schaumburg.

Tricia Kutramanes (2-for-2) and Lauren Ambrose (double) paced Conant (3-10, 1-7), which received 2 strikeouts from pitcher Julie Hartsfeld.

Hersey 5, Meadows 4: Mallory O'Donoghue pitched 6½ innings for the win as host Hersey (2-13, 2-6) was led on offense by senior Melanie Standish (2-for-2 , 2 runs).

Hersey took a 5-0 lead in the fifth when Standish reached on slap hit, went to second on Jessica Harris' base hit and scored on Danielle Gore's single to left.

Meadows (5-7, 4-4) scored all its runs in the sixth. Maddie Urban was 3-for-3 with a double and walk while pitcher Carissa Stewart (4-7) was 2-for-4.

Angela Mahanna and freshman Kelly Keyzer also doubled for the visitors.

Elk Grove 11, Wheeling 0 (5 innings):ΠJunior Krystina Leazer (6-1) threw a 2-hitter for Elk Grove (18-1, 8-0), which was led on offense by Jessica Balzano (2-for-4, 3 RBI, triple, 1 run), Amanda Mertes (2-for-2, 1 run), Kristy Ottosen (2-for-2, RBI), Nikki Goranson (2-for-3, double, 1 run, 3 RBI) and Amber Hane (2-for-3, double, 2 RBI, 1 run).

Nicole Schroeder and Carly Speidel had the only hits for host Wheeling (2-10, 1-7).

Barrington 4, Hoffman 2 (8 innings): Freshman Kristin Kuhn's two-out single to left brought home Kiersten Tinkoff and Michal Jane Maropis with the winning runs in the top of the eighth.

Kim Cygan (16-2) threw a 5-hitter with 10 strikeouts and 1 walk to edge Hoffman junior Kaitlin Walsh (2-9), who threw a 7-hitter with 11 strikeouts and 2 walks.

Colleen Roberts and Jenna Pellus doubled for host Hoffman (2-11-1, 2-6).

Colleen Shandley and Lisa Shandley were 2-for-4 for Barrington (16-2, 7-1).

Leyden 8, Proviso East 0: Dana Thomas threw a 4-hitter for Leyden (8-7, 3-1) in West Suburban Gold contest.

Alyssa Stephens doubled for the host Eagles.