Conant has the answer in win against Elk Grove

When Becca Maher raced across home plate on Brianna Leach's double to give Elk Grove a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning, Conant's players weren't too happy.

"We got really motivated when they scored first," said Cougars junior shortstop DeeDee Durr. "It's our home field and we normally score first."

The Cougars didn't wait long to take out their frustration.

They answered with 5 runs in the bottom of the third and went on to post a 9-4 victory over the visiting Grenadiers (13-3, 2-2) in the Mid-Suburban League softball game.

Durr (2-for-4) gave the Cougars the lead for good when she belted a 2-run homer over the center field fence with two outs for the 2-1 advantage.

The Cougars (7-0, 4-0) went on to score three more runs in the inning, sparked by junior Hailey Rothstein's 2-run bases-loaded single.

It was Durr's fourth homer of the season and she also put down a bunt in the Cougars' 2-run fourth inning.

"DeeDee is really stepping up," said Conant coach CathyAnn Smith. "She has grown and really come into her own this season. She's fun to watch."

The Cougars have been having fun on offense this season. They had scored 11, 9, 12, 14, 23 and 26 runs in their previous six wins.

"Everyone is just leading by example," said Durr of the Cougars' offensive outburst. "No one wants to make the last out of any inning."

"We're really stringing hits together," Rothstein said. "Everyone worked hard in the off-season. And the most important part is solid defense. If everyone keeps pushing and working hard, we'll keep winning."

The Cougars got the bases loaded for Rothstein when Rachel O'Malley (2-for-4) walked, Telly Hunter reached on an error and Alissa Wachal drew another walk.

Rothstein, who hit 2 homers a day earlier against Palatine, then drove a single up the middle past diving second baseman Aleece Duffy for the 4-1 cushion.

"I've been working on inside pitches and that's really helped me recently," Rothstein said. "And DeeDee has been hitting like crazy. She definitely has her bat going and I'm very proud of her."

"That bunt by DeeDee, after her home run, was really great," Smith said. "She is really versatile at the plate."

O'Malley's RBI double to right center and Wachal's RBI single to left gave the Cougars two more runs in the fourth.

They got their final two in the fifth, taking advantage of an error while trying to steal a base.

Conant also took advantage of 2 errors and 4 walks in their 5-run third inning.

"You can't do that against the good teams," said Elk Grove coach Ken Grams of his team's miscues. "Earned runs happen but you you've got to stop the freebies and that cost us today."

Trailing 9-1, the Grens fought back with 3 runs in the top of the seventh.

Grens catcher Gina Cirricione and third baseman Alex Masnica each singled with one out and Abbey Sloan (2 for-2, 2 doubles) drew a walk to load the bases.

A sacrifice fly to right by Maher (1-for-3) brought home courtesy runner Allie Peters.

Leach (3-for-4, 2 doubles) followed with an RBI single (an error on the play allowed 2 runs to score).

Conant reliever Sara Neumann got the final out on a line out to Durr.

"I have no trouble with us at the plate," Grams said. "We do a good job there.

"We didn't strike out a lot and we put the ball in play. Marjorie Sloan hit a ball in the first inning (nice catch by left fielder Kim Zaucha with Leach on second base) that got knocked down by the wind and that might have changed the complexion of the game.

"Aleece Duffy hit a sharp liner that their shortstop (Durr) caught and that could have been another baserunner. But that's softball. We hit the ball well. We had some loud outs."

Sophomore Kali Schumacher (2-0) went the first five innings to notch the win for Conant while Grams went with Megan Eul (3 1/3 innings) and Mary Hirschauer (2⅔ innings).

Elisa Ambrose (2-for-3) was the busiest Cougar crossing the plate as she scored 3 runs.

"Kali (Schumacher) and Sara (Neumann) combined on the mound (throwing to catcher Dream Aaron) for us and it was a very good team win," Smith said.

"The girls are very disciplined and believe in teamwork. They are staying composed even when they make errors. I'm very proud of them. They are very solid kids."