Pirates pull out 18-13 win
One thing first-year Palatine softball coach Nicole Pauly likes about her hitters this season is their ability to put the ball in play.
Perhaps they never showed better consistency than Thursday when the Pirates scored a season-high total for runs in an 18-13 triumph over visiting Hersey.
Sophomore Brooke Bauer (3-for-3, 4 RBI, 2 walks) and senior Ellie Kozlowski (3-for-5, 3 RBI) led the way while shortstop Victoria Parrott, Erin Davis and Kenzie Craver each had 2 hits for the Pirates (7-12, 3-5) in the Mid-Suburban League crossover.
First base coach Kristen Proffitt (Maine West), a former Daily Herald all-area softball selection like Pauly (Palatine), was kept busy waving runners past first base as the Pirates had 4 extra base hits.
Two of them belonged to Kozlowski (3-for-5), who tripled and doubled in her first two at-bats and missed the cycle by a home run.
"Ellie has made a lot of good adjustments," Pauly said of the senior who started the game on the mound and finished in right field. "It was nice to see her hit like hit like this."
She also made nice outfield play when the Huskies were trying to tie the game in the top of the sixth.
They were to within 15-13 when Kozlowski chased down Katie Wingerter's fly ball and then doubled up the runner at second base with a perfect strike to Parrott.
"That was a nice play by Ellie," Parrott said.
And Parrott made a nice leaping grab of a sharp liner by Cassie Zouras for the third out of the inning, halting the Huskies' rally at 3 runs.
"That was a nice play by Victoria to possibly prevent 2 runs which would have tied the game," Pauly said.
The Pirates led 5-0 after one inning but fell behind 7-5 when Hersey (7-13, 1-8) scored 7 runs in the third on 5 hits.
The Pirates answered with 3 in the bottom of the inning for a 10-7 lead and never trailed again.
"Back-and-forth game with all the runs," Kozlowski said. "But it was nice to bounce back and get the win after our loss on Wednesday (5-2 to Hoffman Estates)."
Palatine capitalized on 4 errors when it scored 5 runs on 3 hits in the fifth to grab a 15-10 lead.
"Making as many errors as we did is uncharacteristic of is," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "But we hung in there and were fighting to the end. These kids do not give up on the any of the things we ask them to do."
The Huskies had 2 hits from all nine batters, outhitting the Pirates 18-14.
Leading the way were Katie Wingerter (2-for-4, 2 doubles), Hannah Graff (2-for-4), Payton Anderskow (2-for-5), Zouras (2-for-5, double), Kaitlyn Denten (2-for-5), Remy Gerew (2-for-4), Jessica Schmiederer (2-for-4, double) and Anna Johnson (2-for-4).
Wingerter had 2 doubles for the second straight day.
"Katie is hitting a ton," Freeman said of her sophomore shortstop. "She's a tough kid and her defense has been solid during the season."
Palatine always seemed to have an answer offensively.
Erin Davis, who pitched the final 4⅓ innings to notch the win, also had a triple to lead off the Pirates' 3-run third inning where they took the lead for good.
"Erin has been seeing the ball really well," Pauly said. "She is peaking at the right time.
"It was a hitting marathon and we fortunately came on the winning end. When we make a mistake in the field, we've got to make the next play. That's what we've got to work on."