Softball: Romanski returns to Elk Grove lineup with a bang

Junior Kaylee Romanski had been a two-year starter for hall of fame coach Ken Grams when he heard the news last July that his first baseman had injured her knee.

"I was playing at nationals (for her travel team) and was running to catch a foul ball at first base when it (left knee) just buckled," Romanski said.

She underwent surgery Sept. 12.

"She kept telling me (all winter) she'd be back by the end of March and she was right," Grams said.

Romanski was also right on with her bat Wednesday at Wheeling.

She went 3-for- 5 with an RBI and 2 runs to help lead the offense in a 9-2 win that kept the Grens (9-5, 3-1) just one game behind Palatine (10-2, 4-0) in the Mid-Suburban East standings. The two teams meet Thursday with Brianna Magner back on the mound.

The junior right-hander tossed a 7-hitter to sophomore catcher JJ Wirtz on Wednesday. Magner struck out seven and walked none.

She had all the runs she needed by the third inning when EG scored 3 times, including an RBI single by freshman third baseman Keira McHorney for a 5-0 cushion.

Bella Aguirre had a big double to right in the fourth inning for a 6-0 lead before EG scored its final 3 runs in the fifth with base hits from senior Mari Tan, Romanski and Magner.

Besides Romanski, other multiple hitters for the Grens were Magner (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Tan (2-for-4), who reached base four times.

Romanski's final hit was a two-out double to left in the top of the seventh.

"She's got a really nice picturesque-type swing," said Grams, the state's all-time winningest coach who now has 1,065 wins. "She swings the bat well. She had the knee surgery and it took little for her to get her rhythm going and now she is hitting the ball really well. That was a nice game for her."

Romanski spent plenty of time rehabbing.

"The doctor expected it would take six months so I put in all the work to make it happen," Romanski said.

And the Grens made it happen on the field Wednesday.

"It was just communication," said Romanski, who is hitting above. 400. "Just everyone cheering each other on. When someone makes a little mistake, we all pick each other up and keep it going."

Wheeling got its offense going in the final two innings, scoring twice and producing 4 of its 7 hits in the game.

Senior Viansa Pollina and classmate Mia Smith (2-for-3) each had hits in the Wildcats' 2-run sixth inning.

Leadoff batter Alaina Costello doubled sharply to left center to give the hosts runners at second and third with two outs before Grens shortstop Katie Wirtz, who led off the game with a double, caught a pop up to end the game.

"We didn't give up," said Wheeling coach Mike Caringella. "We've been having a good season (7-5, 2-2). Both teams came into this game 2-1 in the division and they played better than us. We had too many errors. There were even hits dropping in on us on plays that we've been making all season. Olivia Aquino keeps pitching well."

Aquino, Wheeling’s freshman ace, went all seven innings with four strikeouts to catcher Caitlyn Fitzgerald.

Tan made a nice play running forward and falling to the turf to rob Costello in the first inning of extra bases.

"Alaina hit the ball hard the whole game,“ Caringella said of his senior shortstop.