Barrington rallies for Classic finish
Barrington’s softball team produced a classic rally in the bottom of the eighth inning to win the 15th annual Washington Classic on Saturday in the downstate Peoria area.
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect and trailing downstate Morton 3-2, Jordan Wekony’s one-out single to center scored Ally McLaughlin from second base to tie the game.
With two outs, pinch runner Krista Moore then scored on the game-winning base hit by Raegan Fingerman.
The Fillies (23-4) won all four games in the round-robin tournament to claim the championship for the third time since 2004 and first since 2010.
Earlier in the day, Barrington defeated Joliet West 1-0.
“The girls were incredible all weekend,” said Barrington coach Perry Peterson. “We played two opponents on Saturday (12-10 Joliet West and 16-6 Morton) who never made an error in either game. We had to be at our best and the girls were just that.”
Junior Cassidy Kraimer (13-3) got her eighth shutout of the season when she struck out 10 in five innings against Joliet West.
“It’s the best we’ve seen Cassidy pitch,” Peterson said. “She got the strikeout to end the game when we needed it most.”
Joliet West had runners on second and third when Kraimer got the big strikeout.
The Fillies scored the game’s only run in the first inning on a one-out single by Jordan Wekony to score Ally McLaughlin, who had singled.
Barrington’s only other hit in the game was a single by Erin Ward in the third inning.
In the game against Morton, Loren Krzysko had 2 doubles and Kelsey Kazmier one.
Senior Emma Woods pitched 5 innings of relief with 6 strikeouts.
Kraimer, who started the game, also went the final innings, to notch the win.
Prospect, Stevenson split: After being no hit by Stevenson’s Samantha Feder in a 4-0 loss, host Prospect bounced back for a 12-0 five-inning victory in Game 2.
Stephanie Sofinski was the only Knight to reach base after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning of Game 1.
Senior Hanna Lythberg (5-12) suffered the loss
In Game 2, Prospect’s bats came alive with 11 hits, including home runs by Cassie Poulos and Meghan Doyle.
Prospect (7-18) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Michele Molini and came home on Jill Sadowski’s one-out doubled to left center.
Prospect scored 7 runs in the second as its first eight batters reached base.
Allie Likes singled to start the big inning. Meghan Doyle (2-for-3) then homered to deep left center to make it 3-0.
An infield hit by Sarah Scaccia and a walk to Molini led to a 2-run single up the middle by Amy Graham (2-for-3).
Jill Sadowski then reached on an error and Cassie Poulos (3-for-4, 3 RBI) doubled home Graham as 12 Knights batted in the inning.
Prospect added 3 runs in the third when Sadowski was hit by a pitch with two outs and Poulos homered.
Ally Schuldt followed with a double and came home on a sacrifice fly by Likes.
Michelle Korf (1-1) earned the win, throwing 4 innings with only 1 hit, 2 walks and a strikeout. Jill Sadowski pitched the final inning for the Knights.
“Stevenson is a good team and it was great to compete with them,” said Knights coach Jim Adair, who worked hard to get the field ready for Saturday’s twin bill. “I’m really glad for our girls. We had a tough week but we’re getting better.”
Lane Tech 4, Palatine 2: Trailing 1-0, Lane Tech scored 3 runs in the top of the fourth in the semifinals of the Rolling Meadows Invite.
Tori Walzak (1-for-3, double, 1 run), Lauren Logan (3-for-3; 1 run; RBI) and Kaileigh Moertl (1-for-3; RBI) led the offense for Palatine (12-13).
Jules Udoni (1 hit, 1 strikeout) pitched 3 innings for Palatine while Megan Hedstrom (3 hits, 4 runs, 4 strikeouts) went 4 innings.
Whitney Young 8, Rolling Meadows 1: Sophomore Jenny Watson (1-for-2, double) and senior Kelly Sarussi (2-for-3) led the offense for the Mustangs (13-11) in the consolation semifinals of their own Rolling Meadows Invite.
Maine West 11, Hononegah 0 (6 inn.): Junior Ariel Valles (12-5) threw a 6-hitter for the Warriors in the consolation semifinals of the Rolling Meadows Invite.
Holly Wengerski (3-for-4, double, 3 runs), Abbey Herling (3-for-3, double, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Katie Fitzgerald (3-for-4, 2 runs), Hanna Udischas (2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Caroline Baird (2-for-4, double, 1 run, 3 RBI) led the offense for West (16-8).
“Janie Feldkamp was great on defense in center field taking away a home run at the fence,” said Maine West coach Amy Gonzales. “It was a great offensive and defensive effort all around.”