Rolling Meadows 11, Palatine 3

Rolling Meadows' softball players came out sporting pretty spiffy-looking new black uniforms Monday at Palatine for their Mid-Suburban League opener.

They also came out looking pretty good with their bats and gloves.

The Mustangs were flawless in the field and belted 12 hits, including a solo home run by senior catcher Angela Mahanna and a bases-loaded triple by senior right-fielder Kim Liwag to defeat the Pirates 11-3.

"It's funny, we were all saying it's the new uniforms," said Mahanna, whose other career homer was over the Meadows' fence last spring. "We were all laughing when Caitlin (Adair) said they (uniforms) make her feel faster. Maybe they do give us more confidence. Plus, we were so ready to play after all the postponed games this season."

Carissa Stewart (1-2) notched the win for the Mustangs (1-2, 1-0). The senior right-hander struck out seven and did not walk a batter.

Stewart was given a 2-0 cushion right off the bat as junior shortstop Maddie Urban (2-for-5) singled home Bonnie Weglarz and Urban came home on a wild pitch.

Liwag (2-for-4, 4 RBI), who played soccer the last three years, blooped a single to center to drive home Stewart for a 3-1 lead in the second inning.

The Mustangs added 3 in the third, taking advantage of 2 errors and the solo blast by Mahanna (2-for-5, 2 RBI) over the right-center field fence.

Meadows extended the lead to 10-2 when it scored 4 runs in the sixth, capped by Liwag's 3-run triple to the right field fence which brought home freshman Kelly Keyzer, Stewart and MaryClare Loughery.

"I had been a little late getting the bat around," Liwag said of her big two-out triple. "I had talked to (assistant) coach (Greg) Benes and he told me that I just had to keep my head in the batter's box a little longer."

Senior third baseman Connie Porters led the Mustangs' offense by going 3-for-4 with 2 runs.

"We talked about being more aggressive," said Mustangs coach Tony Wolanski. "We wanted to swing more at the first pitches and that worked today."

Senior centerfielder Nikki Linares was the toughest out for Meadows. The Pirates speedy leadoff batter went 3-for-4 with 3 infield slap singles, 2 stolen bases and scored all the Pirates' runs.

"When Nikki gets on base, we can score runs." said Pirates coach Jeff Manz. "Meadows played great. They hit the heck out of the ball.

"And when they did hit the ball at us, we didn't make the plays."

Pirates senior catcher Caitlin Carpenter went 2-for-4 and threw out a runner trying to steal second in the third inning.

Amy Modic, Joanne Jablonski, Samantha Salomone and Heather Zimmerman also had hits for Palatine.

"When you get off to a slow start, the other team will take advantage of it," Linares said. "We need to connect more on offense and communicate more on defense."

Sophomore Christine Roto took the loss for Palatine (1-3). Manz said that Anne Wcislo suffered a fractured bone in her right foot three weeks ago.

Manz is hoping his ace right-hander (17-8 last spring) will have clearance to play this Friday when the Pirates face Elk Grove.