Softball / Northwest roundup

Defending Mid-Suburban East softball champion Buffalo Grove found itself back in first place on Wednesday after a 5-4 victory over Schaumburg, the second-place team in the MSL West.

The host Bison (14-8) won the game in the bottom of the seventh on sophomore Emily Carnes' walk-off double.

Carnes ended up 3-for-4 in the game with 2 doubles.

Also getting doubles for BG were Caitlin Catino (2-for-3, 2 doubles, 3 runs), Julia Camardo (1-for-2, 2 RBI) and Jasmine Avalos.

Right-hander Carmardo (10-4) escaped a few jams to earn the win with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks.

"They had baserunners on and we kept getting out of innings with some good defense," said Bison coach Jamie Paul, whose team (8-3) owns a one-game lead in the East over Elk Grove (20-5, 7-4). "We just played defense. They are a good-hitting team."

The Saxons (15-6, 7-2) were led on offense by Christina Candotti (2-for-3), Shannon Felde (2-for-4), Roxanne Kakareka (double) and pitcher Paige Alt (2-for-2, sacrifice, walk), who belted a home run.

Alt (6-2) struck out 10 and walked four.

Conant 12, Hersey 1 (5 inn.): Junior Hailey Rothstein (2-for-3, double) and senior Rachel O'Malley each belted a home run for Conant (15-1, 9-1) as sophomore Sara Neuman got the win, striking out two and walking none in three innings.

Kim Zaucha and Kali Schumacher each threw one inning for the visiting Cougars who visit Schaumburg at 5 p.m. today.

Other top hitters for Conant were Dream Aaron (3-for-4), double), Elisa Ambrose (2-for-4), Telly Hunter (2-for-3) and Neuman (2-for-3). Alissa Wachal also doubled for Conant.

Angela Schmiederer was 2-for-3 for Hersey (8-13-1, 2-8).

Hoffman Estates 6, Rolling Meadows 0: Sophomore Tracy Osimowicz (9-2) went 6 innings, striking out two, to earn the win.

Junior Caitlin Farina belted a home run and sophomore Jordyn Fera went 4-for-4 with a double to spark the Hawks' offense.

Kaileen Hendle also went 2-for-4 for visiting Hoffman which improved to 13-10 and 5-6 in the MSL West.

Maddie Morgan, Chloe Prodanovic and pitcher Lauren Hattory had the hits for Meadows (4-18, 1-9).

Palatine 8, Prospect 5: Palatine (8-18, 3-7) opened the scoring in the second inning when Courtney English (2-for-3) doubled to left center.

With two out, Emily Griffin singled to center to score English.

Prospect (5-17, 3-7) answered with a run in the bottom of the third when Emily Saenz was hit by a pitch and later singled home by Meghan Doyle with two outs.

Prospect went ahead 3-1 in the fourth when Emma Riordan walked (1-for-2) and Maggie Pancini (2-for-4) singled to score Riordan. One out later, Pancini scored on a single by Ally Schuldt.

Palatine tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth.

Erin Davis led off with a double and scored when Grace Rohrwasser reached on an error. Rohrwasser was then singled home by Kenzie Crazer (2 hits, 1 double, 2 RBI).

The Pirates took a 4-3 lead in the sixth when Rohrwasser singled to right to score Jules Udoni who had reached on an infield error.

Prospect came back with 2 runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, an infield error resulted in 2 runs for the Knights.

Palatine won the game with 4 runs in the top of the seventh for the 8-5 margin.

Palatine started with four straight hits - a double by Jamie Haze (double), a single by English, a double by Kenzie Craver (2-for-4) and a single by Katie Angelaccio.

The big hit was Udoni's 2-run single to right center to score Craver and Angelaccio as Erin Davis notched her third win of the season.

Haze, English, Crazer, Griffin, Davis all doubled for Palatine.

Barrington 17, Wheeling 1 (5 inn.): Senior Erin Ward went 5-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBI to lead visiting Barrington (19-8, 9-2).

Katie Dehnert (2-for-5, 4 RBI) also homered for the Fillies while other top hitters were Kat Panos (3-for-5, 2 RBI), Carly Kordich (2-for-4, RBI), Jennifer Inamoto (2-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI) and Kelly Katis (2-for-4, triple).

Karlie Orlando and Katie Quagliano (RBI double) had the hits for Wheeling (3-19, 2-9).

Keenan Dolezal (18-7) threw the first three innings (no hits, 3 strikeouts) for Barrington while Jen Inamoto (2 hits, 2 strikeouts) went the final two.