Perfect opener for Kraimer, Barrington

Considering the weather for the past three weeks, Saturday’s mid 50-degree temperatures were perfect for area teams to start their softball seasons.

And it was a perfect start for Barrington senior Cassidy Kraimer.

The right-hander threw the first perfect game for the Fillies since sophomore Kiley Dolezal on April 25, 2009.

Kraimer’s gem on Saturday was a 16-0 five-inning victory over Lane Tech and completed the Fillies sweep in their own quad.

Sophomore Keenan Dolezal, Kiley’s younger sister, got the Fillies off to a winning start in Game 1 with a 4-2 triumph over McHenry by tossing a 3-hitter with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Schaumburg also started its season with two wins at the Fields of Dreams, edging Lane Tech 2-1 and McHenry 7-4.

Barrington third baseman Loren Krzysko belted a home run in each game, including her 25th career shot in the bottom of the sixth which gave the Fillies the 4-2 advantage.

“It was a perfect pitch to hit, a little high and right down the middle,” said the Arkansas- bound senior. “We played real well both games. Everyone contributed one through nine. Everyone did their part.”

Kraimer did her part with 7 strikeouts in her pitching gem.

“We’ve been so excited to play our first game so that makes things easier when everyone is so enthusiastic and pumped up to go,” she said. “It was awesome (the perfect game). The whole day was above all my expectations for how we’d do for our first two games, so it’s really cool.”

Katie Dehnert went 2-for-3 for the Fillies against McHenry (0-3), who went 24-4 a year ago.

The junior first baseman kept her hot bat against Lane Tech (0-2), going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Krzysko’s second homer of the day was a towering blast just right of the scoreboard, giving her 26 for her career, which ranks 16th on the all-time IHSA list.

She went 4-for-5 in the game with 2 doubles and 4 RBI while second baseman Krista Moore (2-for-5, double, RBI) and right fielder Maggie O’Hara (2-for-2, 2 runs) were also multiple hitters.

“Their pitcher (Kraimer) pitched a heck of a game,” said Indians coach George Stavrakas, whose father Dean is the baseball head coach at Lane Tech. “And I give a lot of credit to Perry (Peterson, Barrington coach). Every time you come here, you know Perry has his team prepared. He just knows how to get a lot out of his girls. If it’s late March or early June, you know what you’re getting with Barrington. And we also got a great lunch (catered by Jersey’s Pizza & Grill, with the help of Barrington softball parents).”

Schaumburg senior Hannah Kerr struck out 13 and threw a 1-hitter in the Saxons’ win over Lane Tech. Kerr also went 2-for-3 at the plate.

The Saxons were tied 4-4 with McHenry with one out in the top of then fifth when senior Carly Brossard belted a 2-run homer over the left center field fence for the game winning RBI.

“I knew I needed to finally get a hit,” Brossard said of her second career homer. “It was a perfect pitch right down the middle. I could feel it (going far) right when it hit the bat. This was a good way for our team to start the season. It’s the first time we’ve been outside on a field.”

Sophomore catcher Elaine Walker provided an insurance run in the seventh when she walloped a homer to nearly the same spot.

Walker finished 4-for-4 in the game with a double and the homer.

“She looked good,” said Schaumburg coach Ellen Stoddard. “We brought her up at the end of last season. We’ve been working with her and she was ready to go. I was really impressed by her hitting but she also played a real nice all-around game.” Sophomore pitcher Shannon Felde earned the win and also went 3-for-4 at the plate while Kerr was 2-for-5.

Elk Grove sweeps: Playing for the first time since taking fourth place in the Class 4A state finals last June in East Peoria, Elk Grove stopped visiting Resurrection 4-3 and 14-1 in five innings on its own diamond.

Grens junior Megan Eul struck out five and walked none with a 7-hitter in the opener. Becca Maher, Rylee Romano and Aleece Duffy each had RBI while senior Elisa Payne doubled.

Romano, a senior, took the mound in Game 2 and threw the first four innings, striking out two and walking none while giving up only 1 hit. Senior Brianna DeSilvia worked the final inning, getting 1 strikeout as coach Ken Grams got to look at all three of his pitchers.

Brianna Leach went 2-for-3 with 2 runs and an RBI in the game. Duffy and Leach doubled while Payne belted a home run.

Hersey sweeps: Host Hersey earned a sweep in its first action of the season, winning 5-3 and 11-10.

Hersey senior Sarah Platt threw a 4-hitter and got her only strikeout for the final out in the opener. Sammie Carrillo (3-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 doubles), Michelle Helminski (2-for-3) and Angela Schmiederer (double) were top hitters for the Huskies.

In Game 2, the Huskies dramatically pulled it out with 3 runs in bottom of the seventh.

Gina Fasolo reached on an error, allowing Nicole Cecala to score the tying run. Another error on the play brought home Becca Derka for the game-winning run.

Junior Alysia Zaucha went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and a triple as the Huskies rallied from a 10-4 deficit.

“The girls were great,” said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. “It took a lot of heart to come back from the 10-4 deficit.” Kelsey Panfil, Helminski, Derka and winning pitcher Michele Bolker also doubled for Hersey.

Bolker, a senior, started the game and came back for the final two innings to pick up the win. Hersey senior Rachel Fang saw 2 innings of action.

Maine West sweeps Leyden: Playing its first game since its Elite Eight appearance last season, Maine West won a doubleheader at Leyden 6-5 in 8 innings and 11-7.

Senior Ariel Valles struck out 11 to get the win in her season debut and also went 2-for-4 at the plate. Other top hitters for the Warriors (2-0) were Hanna Udischas (2-for-3, 2 runs), Renee Pond (3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI) and Gina Larucci (2-for-4, 1 RBI).

Denise Moran tripled and MacKenzie LeDuc doubled for the Eagles while Sammie Caputo took the loss.

Winning pitcher Tara Nykiel went all seven innings in Game 2 as the Warriors offense was led by Holly Wengerski (2-for-5, RBI), Erin Ross (1-for-4, 2 runs), Sadie Argus (2-for-3, 2 runs), Erin Feldkamp (2-for-4,2 runs), Gina Larucci (2-for-4, 2 runs, 4 RBI, home run) and Anna Wilieko (2-for-4, 1 run).

LeDuc belted a homer in Game 2 for Leyden while its freshman pitcher Kendall Duwall tripled.

“Both games were a great team effort,” said Maine West coach Amy Gonzales. “We had strong offense and great pitching by both Ariel and Tara.”

Jacobs Quad: Hoffman Estates (0-2) dropped a 7-3 decision to host Jacobs and fell 12-3 in five innings to Lincoln Way Central.

Hawks freshman pitcher Tracy Osimowicz struck out one and walked one while working 6 innings against Jacobs. She allowed 4 earned runs while teammate Sam Acosta was 2-for-2 with a walk.

Jordyn Fera and Acosta each doubled.

Against LWC, Osimowicz (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Kaileen Hendle (2-for-4, RBI) were top hitters for the Hawks.

Mundelein sweeps Prospect: Mundelein (2-0) won 6-3 and 5-2 in the twin bill at Melas Park in Mt. Prospect.

Rachel Trebswether (2-for-4, walk) and Casey Lenski (3-for-4, triple, walk) led the Knights’ offense.

Ally Schuldt had an RBI single to give Prospect (0-3) a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

“We knew going into the game that Mundelein was returning almost their entire team from last year and that this would be a battle,” said Prospect coach Jim Adair. “My young team learned a lot. We’ll be fine once we figure this game out a little bit more but this definitely not the start to the season that we were hoping for.”

In Game 2, Trebswether went 3-for-4 while Michele Molini was 2-for-4.

Angela Roman had an RBI triple to right to score freshman pitcher Delilah Malczewski in the bottom of the fourth.

On the day, Trebswether went 6-for-8 with 3 runs.