Softball: After 13 scoreless innings, Barrington finally breaks through, beats Buffalo Grove

Barrington and Buffalo Grove, ranked No. 2 and 4 respectively in the Daily Herald Top 20, raised the curtain on their 2023 Mid-Suburban League seasons with a dramatic performance.

After opening on Monday with 10 scoreless innings, the suspenseful theater came back for an encore on Tuesday and went three more innings without a run.

But the defending MSL champion Fillies (5-3) finally broke through with 4 runs in the top of the 14th and senior pitcher Allie Goodwin (4-3 after Tuesday's 3-hitter) retired the side in the bottom of the inning, capped by center fielder Mimi Cline's diving catch to rob Jenna Kosnoff and give the visitors a 4-0 shutout over the defending MSL East champs (6-2).

Barrington's Emma Kavanagh began the 14th with a walk and Ainsley Muno followed with a line drive double to right center for the game-winning RBI.

"I was looking more for a high up-pitch because Kate (Ryan, Bison ace who is 4-2) is a great drop-ball pitcher," Muno who went 2-for-6. "And that's what she'd been doing to get us to ground out the whole game. Emma is a great base runner and I knew she was going to make it home."

The Fillies proceeded to score 3 more runs, taking advantage of 3 errors and an RBI infield hit by Cline. Reese Cullen, Muno and Cline all scored.

"Two great teams competing all the way to the end," said Fillies coach Perry Peterson. "Both teams should be super proud of their effort."

"It was great weather and a great way to start the conference," said BG coach Martha Kelly. "Two great teams. I think when people think about who the top teams are in the area we both come to mind."

"I know it was 4-0 but I think it really came down to that first run. This was a great experience for us as we move forward and we're going to learn from this."