Northwest/Scouting softball sectionals
Class 4A
Barrington sectional
This just might be the most talented lineup of teams an area softball sectional has ever seen. Conant is ranked No. 2 in the Illinois state coaches poll while Elk Grove is 14th, Barrington 17th and Fremd 18th. Ten of the top 20 teams in the poll have already been eliminated. “I think it’s one of the strongest sectionals in the state,” said Fremd coach Jim Weaver, who has brought nine teams to sectional competition in his 11 seasons. “In a year where there have been a lot of upsets around the state, our sectional is one of the few where the top four seeds all advanced,” said 20-year Barrington coach Perry Peterson, whose Fillies are playing in a sectional for the 11th straight season. “We are really looking forward to hosting such a prestigious event at our complex.” The four teams have a combined record of 120-25. Ken Grams has guided the Grens to their 16th sectional appearance in his 32 seasons and 11th-year Conant coach CathyAnn Smith has guided the Cougars to their first sectional berth since 2000 and only third in school history. This is the first time in many years where 11 of the 12 MSL teams have played in the same sectional. Only Wheeling went a different direction (Niles West sectional). Top-seeded Conant (32-3), No. 2 Elk Grove (28-8), No. 3 Fremd (30-7) and No. 4 Barrington (30-7) all lived up to their seeds. On Wednesday, the MSL champ Cougars will meet MSL West third-place finisher Barrington for the third time this season in the 4:30 p.m. semifinal. On Thursday, MSL East champ Elk Grove faces off against MSL West runner-up Fremd for the second time this season. Conant features ace pitcher Briana Cavin (29-2), who has set a single-season school-record for wins. The Wisconsin Green-bound senior recorded 10-0 (six innings) and 7-1 (nine innings) victories over Barrington this season. Barrington’s mound work has been handled by junior Cassidy Kraimer (18-6) and senior Emma Woods (8-0). Thursday’s game also features some of finest pitchers in the area. Senior Rachel Doering (17-4) and junior Ashlynne Schwantz have led the Vikes while Michigan State-bound senior Dani Goranson (22-7) ignites the Grens with arm and bat. Goranson was a 5-2 winner over Fremd on April 11 at Elk Grove.
Niles West sectional
Just like the Barrington sectional, the top four seeds have advanced to the semifinals in this sectional. No. 1 New Trier faces No. 4 Loyola on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. and No. 2 Maine West takes on No. 3 Glenbrook North at 4:30 p.m. First-year coach Amy Gonzales’ has guided the Warriors (24-10) to their third regional title in school history, The first two came in 2003 and 2008 under Mike Murin. Warriors pitcher Ariel Valles threw for Murin’s final two teams and is now 19-7 in her junior season. She fired a 4-hitter in the Warriors’ 13-3 six-inning victory over No. 6 Niles North in the championship game of the Niles North regional. Offensive leaders for West were Angela Cruz (4-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Brie Montmarquette (2-for-3, double, 2 runs) and Hanna Udischas (2-for-3, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI). Pinch hitter Caroline Baird contributed 1 hit, 1 run and an RBI. West defeated its regional opponents (Central Suburban League North rivals Highland Park and Niles North) for the third time this season. Now the Warriors are meeting Glenbrook North for the third time. The Warriors and Spartans shared the CSL North crown with 9-1 records. West shut out North 2-0 and then fell 3-2 in Northbrook.
Trinity sectional
No. 2-seeded Leyden will face No. 5 Lane Tech on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. while top-seeded Trinity takes on No. 6 Lyons at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The championship is Saturday at 11 a.m. The Eagles, who defeated Chicago Public League champ Lane Tech 3-1 on May 15, are led by DePaul-bound pitcher Morgan Maize. The powerful senior helped lead the Eagles (28-7) to their third straight regional crown and second straight 20-win season. Leyden notched its seventh overall regional title in school history when Jen Hall’s base hit in the bottom of the eighth inning scored April Markowski for a 7-6 victory over No. 10 Whitney Young in the championship game of the Morton regional. On that same day, Lane Tech edged No. 3 Fenwick 4-2 for the regional crown.