Elk Grove rally tops Schaumburg

One day after he won the 700th game in his 30-year career, Elk Grove coach Ken Grams was right back on his same home field looking for No. 701.

He found it with a dramatic comeback in the final two innings.

A pesky Schaumburg team led 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth.

But sophomore Devan Parkison's infield RBI single scored Jessica Balzano to tie the game at 2-2.

Balzano then became the hero in the bottom of the seventh when on the first pitch she saw sent a rocket to the right-center gap with runners on second and third and one out.

Pinch runner Elisa Payne came home from third for the winning run and put the Grens (24-2, 11-0) in a spot to clinch a berth in the Mid-Suburban League title game on Friday.

A victory over visiting Prospect (9-12, 7-4) on Friday would give the Grens at least a share of the East crown and a berth in the 39th title game.

Balzano, hitting .624, went 4-for-4 and has hit safely in 26 consecutive games, the longest active hitting streak in the area.

Balzano broke Jaime Bartoli's single-season school record of 54 hits set in 1994 when she singled in the first inning. Balzano has 58 hits and has hit safely in her last 8 at-bats.

Senior Stephanie Maday (8-1) struck out five and walked none in the final 4 innings to earn the win.Ssophomore Dani Goranson (16-1) struck out two and walked none in the first three innings.

After Balzano scored on an error in the first inning, Schaumburg (14-7, 7-4) jumped ahead 2-0 in the second when Courtney Raschk (2-for-3) produced an RBI double and losing pitcher Alyssa Lancaster (13-7) had an RBI single.

Briana Lingl went 2-for-3 for Schaumburg.

Barrington 10, Prospect 2: The last time Barrington coach Perry Peterson visited his alma mater, he suffered his only loss in 18 seasons to Prospect two years ago.

The Fillies made things a little easier for Peterson this time with 3 home runs.

Kiersten Tinkoff started the barrage with a 2-run blast to left in the first inning.

Alexa Rebecca led off the sixth with a solo shot over the left-center field fence and later in the inning, Liz Owen belted a 3-run blast that sailed over the fence near the left-field foul pole.

"We are just working hard to finish the season well and keep things moving forward." said Tinkoff, who went 2-for-4. "This kind of game gives us confidence to keep doing well."

The Fillies (24-4, 8-3) did quite well up and down the lineup as eight players had at least 1 hit, including 2-for-4 efforts by Kristin Kuhn, Nora Logue, Rebecca and Kelsey Kazmier.

Rebecca has 3 homers (all in the last seven days) for the season while Tinkoff and Owen have two of the team's 12.

"We are working hard to continue to improve," Peterson said. "I credit the dedication of the girls, who are always coming to practice and finding ways to get better."

Fillies junior Kiley Dolezal (2 strikeouts) found a way to her 21st victory in 23 decisions and it wasn't until the sixth where she lost her shutout.

Knights pinch-hitter Jennifer Forssander led off with a double to right. Sophomore pitcher Hanna Lythberg collected a sacrifice fly to left for 1 run and after Nikki Surico singled to center, Allison Malewig (2-for-3) produced an RBI single.

"These kids do a great job of not giving up and persevering at tough times," said Knights coach Brenda Martin. "We gave them too many runs early. We've just have to fine tune some things offensively and defensively. I thought we hit the ball hard (9 hits) and Hanna did a nice job (6 strikeouts).

Fremd 13, Meadows 0 (5 inn.): Visiting Fremd (20-2, 10-1) kept its two-game lead over Barrington in the MSL West as senior Jenny Schneider (2-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI) belted her second (solo blast to center) and third (3-run shot to left) homers of the season.

Lauren Zaworski also homered for Fremd, which had a hit from 10 players, including pinch hitter Hailey Libert's two-out, 2-run double in the third. Fremd has 25 homers for the season.

Ace Lena Brottman (18-2) threw a 2-hitter with 11 strikeouts and 1 walk. Maryclare Loughery (2-for-4) had both hits for Meadows (13-11, 2-9).

BG 12, Hoffman 7: Trailing 1-0 with two runners on base, Andrea DiPrima (3-for-3, double, 6 RBI) tied the single-season school record for home runs when she belted a 3-run shot.She equaled the six hit in 1977 by Sharon Bouchard.

KC Dunne (3-for-4, 4 runs), Danielle Browne (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Sarah Penelle (2-for-3) and Erin Barton (2-for-5) were other key hitters for the Bison (15-13, 2-9). Visiting Hoffman (3-16, 2-9) was led by Linden Fick (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double), Emily Fett (2-for-3) and Amanda Harris (3-for-4).

Conant 9, Wheeling 0: Sophomore Briana Cavin (10-6) threw a 3-hitter and had 2 hits (triple, 2 RBI) for Conant (18-6, 6-5). Amanda VanJacobs also had 2 hits.

Becky Menelle doubled for the Wildcats (4-15, 1-10).

Palatine 7, Hersey 4: Katie Mnichowicz (2-for-4), Alyx Ballenger (2-for-5), Meaghan Deegan (2-for-4) and Katie Scovic led the offense for visiting Palatine (17-10, 7-4). Mnichowicz's RBI single in the fifth put the visitors ahead for good.

Melissa Serio also had an RBI single in that inning.

Chrissy Roto (9-8) went the first five innings for the win while Dani Boisvert threw the final two.

Hersey (6-19, 2-9) was led on offense by Aubrey Fulton (2-for-4), Haley Henriksen (2-for-4), Alyssa Kieffer (2-for-4) and Stacey Schmiederer (3-for-4).