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Another big win for Schaumburg

For the past few years, Conant has usually been the team being chased in the Mid-Suburban West softball standings.

On Wednesday in Hoffman Estates, the Cougars were playing the team that everyone is chasing this spring.

The Schaumburg Saxons showed why they are the league leaders with a hard-fought 6-4 triumph over the defending MSL champions.

Junior Paige Alt (10-0) became the second pitcher in the MSL West to reach double digits wins by tossing a 2-hitter with 4 strikeouts as the Saxons improved to 17-1 and 8-0. Conant dropped to 12-4 and 5-3.

"We know how it feels like to play where they (Schaumburg) are at, because we've been there," said Conant coach CathyAnn Smith, whose Cougars have won the West two of the last three years. "It's always a fight when we play Schaumburg. The kids are all best friends and you can see that when they get together after the game."

"We all play together on summer teams," said Schaumburg designated player Roxanne Kakareka. "It's nice being able to see them (Conant girls) during the high school softball season."

Fans got to see Kakareka set the tone for the Saxons offense when she ripped a two-out double to left center to score Alt and Christina Candotti, who had reached on errors and were sacrificed to second and third by Natalie Napier's bunt.

"I've been hitting well and I had to be confident and back up Paige because she's been doing so well for us," Kakareka said. "I wanted to give her confidence on the mound."

"Roxanne has been owning that designated player spot," said Schaumburg coach Ellen Abreu. "She's been doing real well in key situations."

The Saxons' inning got even better when No. 9 hitter Kaiden Jackson (1-for-2) followed Kakareka with a towering shot over the right-center field fence for her second homer of the season to make it 4-0.

"I was just trying to get a hit," Jackson said. "I just drove it. This game with Conant is always intense. They're a really a good team and we are close with a lot of their players."

Conant got 1 run back in the bottom of the second on Kim Zaucha's two-out RBI single to right which scored Morgan Bihun.

Saxons first baseman Candotti (2-for-4), the game's only player with 2 hits, singled to left to score Sarah Schwind (1-for-3) in the third inning for a 5-1 lead.

Conant made things interesting in the bottom of the fifth with 3 runs. Lauren Grzelak and Elisa Ambrose reached on errors and Kim Zaucha on a walk. All three scored with the final run coming home on a key two-out single to center by senior first baseman Hailey Rothstein.

"That was huge from a senior who has battled hard against Schaumburg for four years," Smith said. "Hailey showed a lot of grit and determination to do that."

Rothstein's big hit cut the deficit to 5-4 but the Saxons tacked on an insurance run for Alt in the top of the sixth.

Jackson drew a one-out walk and took second on Elaine Walker's single to center. Jackson then alertly stole third base and came home on a sacrifice fly by Schwind (1-for-3).

The 2-run cushion proved enough for Alt who then retired six of the seven batters she faced in the final two innings (Ambrose drew a walk in the seventh).

"Paige is keeping her composure and hitting her spots," Abreu said. "Ths is a friendly rivalry between these kids and everyone played well."

Smith was pleased with her pitchers - sophomore Sam Gadomski (5-1) and junior Sara Neuman.

"They knew our game plan to keep them off balance and that's tough to do against a strong lineup with nine good hitters," Smith said.

"We just told the girls this game is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical. We had a couple of mental mistakes that gave them the lead. It's always a fight with Schaumburg. And then the girls are best friends after the game."

  Schaumburg's Kaiden Jackson smiles as she rounds third base after hitting a 2-run home run during the top of the second inning of Wednesday's game against Conant in Hoffman Estates. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Conant catcher Dream Aaron tags Schaumburg's Shannon Felde out at the plate during the top of the fifth inning of Wednesday's game in Hoffman Estates. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Conant left fielder Alisssa Wachal, left, makes a diving catch as center fielder Elisa Ambrose converges on the play during Wednesday's game against Schaumburg. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Schaumburg's Kaiden Jackson hits a home run to right field during the top of the second inning ofWednesday's game against Conant in Hoffman Estates. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Schaumburg pitcher Paige Alt winds up as she delivers to the plate during Wednesday's game against Conant in Hoffman Estates. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Conant pitcher Sam Gadomski delivers during Wednesday's game against Schaumburg in Hoffman Estates. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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