Softball / Northwest roundup

Mid-Suburban East champion Elk Grove, which was third in the Class 4A state softball tourney last June, got off to a winning note in this year’s postseason event.

The top-seeded Grenadiers (30-4) posted a 2-0 shutout over No. 16 Schaumburg (18-11) in Tuesday’s semifinal of the Proviso West regional in Hillside.

Elk Grove will play in Saturday’s 11 a.m. title game against the winner of today’s semifinal between No. 8 Glenbard West and No. 9 Geneva.

Grens junior ace Dani Goranson (27-4) threw a 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts while Schaumburg ace Alyssa Lancaster (9-8) struck out six.

Senior Kristen Cetkovic belted an RBI single in the first inning and junior Megan Keegan (2-for-3) doubled home a run in the third inning. Devan Parkison scored both runs.

Goranson and Becca Walz also went 2-for-3 for Elk Grove.

Palatine 9, Wheeling 0: Senior Dani Boisvert (19-9) threw a 3-hitter with 6 strikeouts while Alyx Ballenger (3-for-4, double), Joanne Jablonski (1-for-3, triple), Lauren Logan (4-for-4, 2 doubles) and Alexis Bauer (2-for-4, double) led the offense for regional host and No. 2 seed Palatine (24-9).

Freshman Katie Quagliano had 3 strikeouts for Wheeling (5-22).

Palatine will play in Friday’s 4:30 p.m. championship against the winner of today’s semifinal between No. 7 Warren and No. 9 Rolling Meadows.

Maine West 13, Clemente 1 (5 inn.): No. 3 Maine West advanced to Saturday’s 11 a.m. championship against the winner of today’s game between No. 6 and regional host Glenbrook North and No. 12 Northside Prep.

Nicole Mavraganis (3-for-4, 3 runs), Gina Larucci (2-for-3, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Katie Fitzgerald (3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Renee Pond (2-for-2, 2 RBI) and Angela Cruz (2-for-3) led the offense for the Warriors (18-9).

West sophomore Ariel Valles (16-7) threw a 5-hitter with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Fremd 11, Libertyville 1 (6 inn): Allie Gaeding (2-for-3, 2 runs), Janelle Schneider (2-for-4, 3 RBI, home run, double), Brittany Ciura (2-for-3, home run, 3 RBI), Michelle Mazur (2-for-4) and Caitlin Patenaude (2-for-4) led No. 1 Fremd (26-5-1) over No. 17 Libertyville in the Mundelein regional semifinal.

Ciura belted a 2-run homer in the fourth and Schneider had a solo blast in the second.

Fremd junior Rachel Doering (13-4) struck out six in six innings for the win.

The Vikes play in Saturday’s 10 a.m. title game against the winner of today’s semifinal between No. 8 Buffalo Grove and No. 10 Mundelein.

Barrington 7, Prospect 0: Sophomore designated player Savonnah Osmanski belted a 3-run bases-loaded double in the fifth inning and classmate Loren Krzysko (2-for-4) reached base four times and scored 3 runs for the No. 4 Fillies in the Zion-Benton regional semifinal.

Other top hitters for Barrington (26-10) were Colleen Shandley (2-for-4), Liz Owen (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Kiersten Tinkoff (1-for-3, 2 RBI).

Senior Kiley Dolezal (22-7) struck out four and walked none for the win while junior Hanna Lythberg recorded 7 strikeouts for the Knights (8-23).

Lythberg also had one of Prospect’s 4 hits along with Mary Styzek, Nicole Naranjo and Michele Molini.

Barrington will play the winner of today’s semifinal between No. 5 Zion-Benton and No. 12 St. Viator for the championship on Saturday at 11 a.m.