Keegan keys Elk Grove to thrilling indoor win

With Friday morning temperatures hovering in the low 30s, it wasn't exactly conducive to playing softball games.

However, thanks to Illinois Bash Jamboree director Jim Goranson, area teams were feeling quite comfortable when they took the field Friday at the McCook Max Indoor facility in McCook.

Goranson began planning for the 21-team, five-day indoor event several months ago.

It features several teams from the Northwest and North suburbs, including defending Mid-Suburban League champion Elk Grove and defending MSL West champ Barrington.

"The kids really enjoyed the experience (playing indoors)," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, who took his Fillies downstate five consecutive times from 2005-09. "It's something new. Something different. We really appreciate the time Jim Goranson spent to get everything organized. It was good for our team to be able to play in this."

Elk Grove played one of the most exciting games of the day, edging Stagg 3-2 in 10 innings.

Elk Grove's season-opening victory was complete when sophomore Megan Keegan's two-out double to left-center in the bottom of the 10th brought home classmate Andrea Starr.

Keegan was 3-for-5 with a triple, double and single. In the fourth, she had a leadoff triple over the center fielder's head and came home on Devan Parkison's two-out double to right.

"We brought her (Keegan) up to the team last season because she could hit," said Grens coach Ken Grams. "Needless to say, she got off to a good start here."

Sophomore Dani Goranson pitched the final 52/3 innings, giving up 1 hit with 10 strikeouts to earn the win. Senior Stephanie Maday went the first 41/3 innings, giving up 2 runs while striking out four and allowing 4 hits.

"They are two good pitchers," Grams said. "I just figured we'd bring Dani in to let them (Stagg) see something different. It's a nice luxury to have. I don't know if either one was ready to go seven innings yet."

Senior shortstop Olivia Roback, who made a spectacular diving catch in the hole for the last out in the first inning, also doubled for the Grens.

Another defensive highlight was right fielder Amanda Gattone's terrific running catch to her right. Gattone fired to first baseman Becca Walls to double up the runner at first, ending Stagg's 2-run fourth inning.

Barrington 15, Oswego East 1: Colleen Shandley (3-for-4, 2 runs), Nora Logue (3-for-3, double, 4 RBI), Loren Krzysko (3-for-4, 3 RBI), Liz Owen (3-for-4, double, 4 RBI), Kiley Dolezal (2-for-2) and Kiersten Tinkoff (2-for-3, 4 runs) led the offense for Barrington (4-0) in the five-inning contest.

Dolezal (4-0) recorded 6 strikeouts and 1 walk in the first 4 innings, and sophomore Emma Wood faced four batters in the fifth, striking out one and giving up 1 hit.

Logue's 2-run double to left in the first inning proved to be all the runs the Fillies would need as Kelsey Kazmier and Tinkoff came home to score. Owen brought in the third run with a one-out single.

"Most of these kids already have experience playing indoors," Peterson said. "We've practiced a lot the last two weeks on our artificial turf in the football stadium. So this was kind of an extension of that. Our kids didn't have to make any major adjustments. They looked pretty comfortable out there."

Stagg (0-1) was led by cleanup batter and Oklahoma State recruit Tarah Ettinger (2-for-3, RBI), who caught her sister Morgan.

Schaumburg wins pair: Sophomore Alyssa Lancaster was the winning pitcher for Schaumburg (3-0) in each of its games at the McCook Max competition.

The Saxons defeated Oswego East 11-1 in five innings as Brianne Lingl (2-for-3), Jessica Cook (2-for-3), Alexis Carravetta (double) and Lancaster (2-for-4, 3 RBI) led the Saxons offense.

"It was good to be able to play indoors on a day like (Friday)," said Saxons coach Erin Malinowski, whose team came right back and defeated Evanston 11-2.

In that game, Lancaster entered in the second inning and ended up with 10 strikeouts and 2 walks.

She also went 4-for-5 at the plate with an RBI.

Other top hitters for the Saxons against Evanston were Rachel Kakareka (2-for-4, 3 RBI, 2 doubles), Becca Thompson (2-for-3, triple, 2 RBI) and Carravetta (2-for-5).

Homewood-Flossmoor 5, Prospect 4: Prospect (1-2) went ahead 4-3 in the top of the seventh before falling in its second and final game of the McCook tournament.

Palatine 10, Libertyville 2: In the area's only game played outdoors, Palatine and pitcher Danielle Boisvert won their second straight game in as many days.

The junior lefthander (2-1) struck out four and walked one while tossing a 5-hitter.

The Pirates got all the runs they needed in the first inning, sparked by freshman Lauren Logan, who recorded her first varsity hit while batting in the No. 6 spot.

She'll remember it forever because it was an inside-the-park 3-run homer down the left-field line that drove in Meaghan Deegan and Sam Salomone.

"I looked up and she was already coming to third base," said Palatine coach Jeff Manz, who has guided the Pirates to four regional crowns in his seven years and three appearances in sectional championship games.

"She really has wheels."

Salomone (3-for-5, double, 3 runs) also had 3 RBI with a triple, double and single. Katie Mnichowicz went 2-for-5 with a double, 3 runs and 2 stolen bases.

Teammates Katie Scovic had a pair of RBI and Joanne Jablonski had 1 RBI.

Second baseman Scovic and shortstop Mnichowicz each had nifty catches of popups that were in the gaps to highlight what Manz called his team's best defensive performance of the season.