Elk Grove's Soesbe has a blast against Barrington

Add another terrific game to the Barrington-Elk Grove Mid-Suburban League softball rivalry.

A big difference-maker this time was a sophomore playing for the first time in one of the area's most storied series.

With the game tied 2-2, Krista Soesbe led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a long blast over the left field fence and that was all sophomore reliever Dani Goranson needed to secure a 3-2 win for the host Grenadiers (10-2, 2-0).

"She (Soesbe) sealed the deal," said Goranson (6-1), who retired the last five batters she faced. "It's a lot easier to pitch with a 1-run lead."

Soesbe (2-for-3) said it's been easier for her to hit since she stopped dipping her hands when swinging.

"That makes a big difference," said the three-sport athlete (basketball and volleyball), who played on the Grens freshman softball team last spring. "This was only the second time I've hit a homer over the fence."

The lefty-batting Goranson (2-for-4), who replaced starting pitcher Stephanie Maday (4-1) with one out in the third inning, crushed a towering one-out homer over the right field fence to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Barrington (11-2, 1-1) battled back and took the lead in the fourth when southpaw-swinging junior Kiersten Tinkoff went to the opposite field for a double to score Kelly Kazmier and Liz Owen.

"Kiersten is a good hitter," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson. "She has worked hard and competes well. We are always confident that she can get the clutch hit."

The Grens tied the game in the fifth when sophomore catcher Devan Parkison singled to left-center to drive in Jessica Balzano (2-for-4) with one out.

But junior Kiley Dolezal (10-2) got the next two batters with a pop up to second baseman Colleen Shandley and a strikeout, leaving two Grens stranded on base.

"Barrington is always disciplined at the plate and makes your pitchers work," said Grams, whose team blanked the Fillies 3-0 in last year's MSL championship game. "We always have great battles with them."

One of the defensive highlights for Elk Grove was centerfielder Kristen Cetkovic's superb running catch toward the right-center gap to take away extra bases from sixth-inning leadoff batter Kazmier.

The next two Fillies - Owen (single to center) and Tinkoff (walk) - got on base but Goranson came up with 2 big strikeouts to get out of the jam.

"We had a couple of runners on second base in the game with one out and didn't score," Peterson said. "So that's a credit to Elk Grove. They were the better team today. If you hit the ball consistently over the fence like they did, that usually wins games."

The No. 6 hitting Soesbe's over-the-fence shot was the second of her young varsity career.

"She is a girl who showed some progress in the summer and I had liked what I saw from her last year," Grams said. "She has shown she belongs on the varsity. She has really been hitting well.

"I just thought she was going to be more of a contact hitter," added Grams, who notched career win No. 687 against 297 losses. "Not the power stuff."

"I wasn't trying to hit a homer," Soesbe said. "I was just trying to get a hit."

She sure was a big hit for the defending MSL champs Wednesday.

Palatine 6, Wheeling 1: Palatine (7-5, 1-1) was led on offense by Lauren Logan, who had a triple, single and 2 RBI. Alyx Ballenger, Heather Zimmmerman and Katie Scovic also had hits for the visiting Pirates.

Junior southpaw Dani Boisvert threw a 4-hitter for the win while Sami Spinabella, Alyson Fallon, Becky Menelle and Amanda Zammatta had hits for the Wildcats (1-7, 0-2).

Fremd 11, Prospect 2: Winning pitcher Lena Brottman (8-1), junior Stacey Hnytka and freshman Ashlynne Schwantz combined for a 7-hitter in Mount Prospect. Fremd (8-1) was led on offense by Kristine Werling (2-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI), Allie Gaeding (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases) and Lauren Zaworski, who belted a 2-run homer in first inning.

Teammates Megan Hubbard, Brittany Ciura and Kelly Voigt doubled.

Senior Amanda Mlikan and freshman Michelle Molini were 2-for-3 for the Knights (2-6, 1-1) while Hanna Lythberg, Mary Styzek and Nikki Surico had the other hits.

Conant 4, Buffalo Grove 3: Conant (11-1, 2-0) scored 3 runs in the top of the sixth to edge the host Bison.

Sophomore Briana Cavin (6-1) earned the win with 5 strikeouts and a 5-hitter.

Vicki McGuire had an RBI single in the sixth and shortly after Miranda Cavin and McGuire scored on an error for the 4-3 lead.

BG (9-3, 0-2) jumped ahead 3-1 in the second when Ali Levato doubled home 2 runs and Danni Shapiro had an RBI groundout to score Danielle Browne.

Bison junior Maria Dax struck out 2 and gave up 6 hits.

Schaumburg 7, Rolling Meadows 4: Shannon Giovannone (3-for-3), Becca Thompson (2-for-4) and Theresa McGreevy (2-for-4, double) led the offense for Schaumburg (6-3, 1-1), which received a 7-hitter from Alyssa Lancaster (9 strikeouts).

Senior Aly Poehlmann added 2 RBI for the Saxons while Nicole Chase and Jessica Cook also had doubles.

Maryclare Loughery, Josie Suchecki and Kelly Keyzer each went 2-for-4 for Meadows (5-4, 0-2). Loughery has hit safely in 26 consecutive games.

Hoffman Estates 9, Hersey 8: Visiting Hoffman Estates (2-2, 2-0) rallied from an 8-2 deficit with 3 runs in the sixth and 5 in the seventh.

Hoffman junior Kelsey Pellus belted a home run and double while going 2-for-3 with a walk. Mary Hacker and Linden Fick were 2-for-4 for the winners. Emily Allan got the win in relief.

Sophomore Haley Henriksen went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles for Hersey (3-9, 0-2) while Stacey Schmiederer was 2-for-4. Alyssa Kieffer doubled for the Huskies and Aubrey Fulton tripled.

Leyden 2, York 0: Hannah Seymore (3-1) threw a 2-hitter with 4 strikeouts for Leyden (9-1).

Dana Sullivan (2-for-3) and Dana Thomas (2-for-3) led the offense while April Markowski and Morgan Maize each had doubles.