Count it as a Stevenson win over Elk Grove

Saturday's game between Elk Grove and Stevenson could have been coined the 'countdown' game of the Barrington softball quad.

Grenadiers coach Ken Grams went into the contest needing just 1 win to reach 800 for his career while Patriots skipper Larry Friedrichs stood just 4 away from 500.

Throw in Barrington Hall of Fame coach Perry Peterson, who was coaching on the opposite diamond against Mundelein, and you had three Hall of Fame coaches with a combined 1,954 wins.

The successful trio of coaches watched their teams battle the cold weather conditions to provide nearly five hours of entertaining softball at the Fields of Dreams.

Just before darkness had settled in, the Pats gave Friedrichs, an Elk Grove grad, his first win of his 26th season with a 11-7 victory over his alma mater.

Sophomore Myra Peterson, who threw on the junior varsity as a freshman, earned her first career win for the Pats (1-3), who were able to connect for 15 hits.

"I thought it was great for our team to finally pull out its first win, especially after our loss to Barrington in the first game," said Pats freshman shortstop Vera Pflugradt, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles against Elk Grove. "It was especially nice to get the win for Myra who has been working so hard. I'm glad we pulled through for her."

Senior Dana Morgan pulled a single off the left center field wall in the first inning to drive in a run and tie the game at 2-2 .

That came after senior Becca Maher and junior Shannon Taucher each clubbed homers over the fence to give Elk Grove a 2-0 lead in the top half of the inning.

RBI singles by Taucher (4-for-5) and Marjorie Sloan put the Grens back in front 4-2 in the second inning.

Stevenson tied the game at 4-4 in the third, getting RBI singles from freshman Emma Oriatti and junior Molly Thon.

The Grens went ahead for good with a 4-run fourth inning, highlighted by a RBI double by Abby O'Connor and RBI single by Oriatti (3-for-4, 3 RBI).

Other multiple hitters for Stevenson were Lexi Yonkovic (2-for-4) and Trisha Porzycki (2-for-3).

"It's great to get the first win of the season," Friedrichs said. "Myra came through and pitched well."

Maher's home run to left-center to lead off the game was the first of her career. The shortstop, who is headed to Northwest Missouri State University, also doubled in the second inning.

"We were hoping to get Mr. Grams his 800th win," Maher said. "We are just trying to mesh as a team. If we put everything together for one game and get him that win, it would be great."

The Grens (1-1) are scheduled to play Glenbrook South on Wednesday and travel to Fenton on Thursday.

"We had a lot of inexperience on the mound (freshmen Taylor Leach and Kylie Thomsen)," said Grams, who in his 34th season had plenty of well wishers and alumni in the crowd in case the milestone triumph occurred. "They did well. We extended some innings defensively, and that's something that will get better.

"I thought we'd be a team that put the ball in play, and I think that showed today. We didn't have that many strikeouts."

Barrington wins twice: Junior Keenan Dolezal (3-0) got both wins for the Fillies (3-0) in their own quad as they defeated Stevenson 11-1 and Mundelein 11-0. Both games went six innings due to the 10-run rule.

Against Stevenson, Barrington was nursing a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth when it exploded for 9 runs on 7 hits to put the game away.

Sophomore pinch hitter Liz Sweeney went 2-2 with a walk-off double and 3 RBI in the big inning as 13 Fillies came to the plate. Junior pinch hitter Christina Conroy also had an RBI single in the inning.

For the game, the Fillies were led by Erin Ward (2-for-4, double), Katie Dehnert (2-for-4, RBI), Mikala Cecola (2-for-4, double, RBI) and freshman Carly Kordich (2-for-3).

Dolezal struck out 12 while tossing a 4-hitter.

Yonkovic and Plufgradt (2-for-3) started the first inning with infield hits for Stevenson while sophomore teammate Trisha Porzycki belted a solo homer over the right-center field fence with one out in the top of the sixth.

Dolezal notched the win against Mundelein by throwing the first 3 innings, striking out five and allowing 1 hit. Senior teammate Jennifer Inamoto threw the final 3 innings, striking out three and allowing 2 hits.

Top hitters for the Fillies were Kordich (2-for-3, RBI), Dehnert (2-for-3, RBI), Rachel Krzysko (2-for-3, triple, RBI), Dolezal (double) and Kelly Katis (double).

"I really liked the way our kids battled all the way to the end in both games, playing their first games outside in the cold," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, who now has 658 career wins in his 23rd season.