Conant comes out swinging

Junior Rachel O’Malley belted a 2-run homer in the first inning and sophomore Hailey Rothstein added a 2-run blast in the fourth as Conant topped host Elk Grove 7-1 in the Mid-Suburban League crossover game Monday.

Freshman pitcher Kali Schumacher (4-3) threw a 7-hitter and also went 3-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs.

“I was very proud of the girls’ performance,” said Conant coach Cathyann Smith, whose team is 8-4 and 4-2 in the MSL West. “Kali had a superb outing against a tough Elk Grove team. Our defense and offense were working well.”

Other multiple hitters for the Cougars’ were Sarah Thompson (3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and Elisa Ambrose (2-for-3).

Shannon Taucher (2-for-4, Melissa Picchi (2-for-3, 1 run, double) and Becca Maher (2-for-4) led Elk Grove (14-7, 4-5), which received 3 strikeouts from junior Megan Eul (7-3)

Fremd 9, Hersey 0: Senior Ashlynne Schwantz fired a no-hitter with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk for Fremd (9-6, 4-1).

Senior Michelle Mazur’s 3-run homer with two outs in the first inning gave Fremd the lead it would never relinquish.

Junior Leigh Farina went 4-for-5 with a triple and 2 doubles for 4 RBI while senior Mandi Matsumoto was 2-for-5. Kayla Kaufman (triple) and Tracy Welninski (double) also had extra base hits for the Vikes against the host Huskies (3-10, 1-6).

Barrington 2, Buffalo Grove 0: Loren Krzysko singled, stole second and came home on an error in the first inning and that proved to be the only run Barrington sophomore ace Keenan Dolezal (15-1) would need while tossing a 1-hitter with 9 strikeouts.

Buffalo Grove’s only hit was a single by Erin Barton in the first inning.

The Fillies (21-1, 9-0) added an insurance run in the sixth when Krista Moore singled, stole second and scored on an error.

Maggie O’Hara doubled and Katie Dehnert singled for Barrington’s other 2 hits off Bison ace Julia Camardo (9-5), who struck out six and walked one.

Schaumburg 8, Wheeling 2: Dana Giannelli (2-for-4), Paige Alt (3-for-4), winning pitcher Roxanne Kakareka (2-for-4, double, RBI) and Jamie Kudjer (2-for-2) were multiple hitters for Schaumburg (13-3, 5-2), which also received hits from Hannah Kerr, Christina Candotti and Kelly Loughman. Shannon Felde had 2 RBI.

Top hitters for Wheeling (5-11, 0-7) were Sarah Kern (2-for-3), Katie Quagliano (2-for-3, double, single). Kaitlyn DeBusk, Lauren Hart (double) and Anne Janulis also had hits for the Wildcats.

Palatine 7, Rolling Meadows 3: Leading 4-3 after four innings, Palatine (10-6, 4-1) sealed the win with a solo home run by senior catcher Lauren Logan in the fifth inning and a 2-run homer by Courtney English in the seventh.

Megan Hedstrom (8-5) struck out three as the winning pitcher while Sara Brunlieb also had 3 strikeouts for Meadows (10-9, 1-6).

Multiple hitters for Palatine were Logan (2-for-2, double, home run), Hedstrom (3-for-4, double), English (2-for-4, double) and Grace Rohrwasser (2-for-3).

Grace Skorin (2-for-3), Lane Winkler (2-for-4) and Sarah Caprio (2-for-3) paced the Mustangs’ offense which received doubles from Sam Anderson and Winkler.

Glenbrook North 8, Maine West 7: Holly Wengerski (3-for-4, 3 runs), Gina Larucci (2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and Abbey Herling (1-for-3, 2 RBI) led the Warriors (9-4, 2-1). Warriors pitcher Ariel Valles (7-3) struck out six in the CSL North contest in Des Plaines.

Fenwick 15, St. Viator 0 (5 inn.): Junior Sam Hogan had 2 doubles for the Lions (3-16) in the East Suburban Conference game.

Christian Liberty drops two: Aldron-Hebron topped the Chargers 10-1 and 8-0 in the twin bill. In Game 1, Beth Cunningham tripled for CLA (4-5, 2-2 in the Northeastern Athletic Conference) while teammates Megan Sullivan and Jess Moriarty had singles.