Prospect dumps Glenbrook South

There were two softball head coaches beginning their final seasons before retirement.

Along with two opposing assistant coaches who were teammates in high school.

And frigid temperatures in Glenview that were heading to below 40 degrees by game's end.

That was the scenario on Friday when Prospect opened its season with an 18-5 five-inning nonconference victory over host Glenbrook South.

“We haven't played Prospect for a number of years,” said Titans 30-year veteran coach Kay Sopocy, beginning her final season. “But some of our younger kids know theirs, so I put them on our schedule this year (Sopocy is also an assistant athletic director).”

Retiring Knights coach Jim Adair sent one of those ‘“younger” players to the pitcher's mound and sophomore Alyssa Cacini responded with a 3-hitter and 3 strikeouts.

She also was the game's first hitter, and led off with a walk.

That sparked a 6-run first inning that included hits from junior Cate Meersman, sophomore Jackie Orel, senior Lindsey Lecomte and Cacini in her second at-bat of the inning.

“Getting that early lead absolutely helps,” Cacini said. “Anytime you can get some runs behind you, it's less stress.”

The Knights provided their fans a pretty stress-free game, adding four more runs in the second and third innings.

“We're a young team and I think we can have a good season,” Cacini said. “It's exciting.”

“It's really a great group of kids,” Adair said of his final team. “They love softball and like being out here. They're fun to coach.”

They were fun to watch Friday, clubbing 14 hits, led by Meersman (2-for-4, walk, RBI), Lecomte (3-for-3, double, 2 RBI, hit by pitch), sophomore Lauren Caldrone (2-for-4, 2 RBI), sophomore Colleen Palczynski (2-for-4, double, walk) Orel (2-for-4, walk).

Junior Eileen Donohue and sophomore Alex Kanter (1-for-1, 4 walks, RBI) also had hits.

“We're thinking we can hit this year,” Adair added. “And we have some kids who are aggressive.”

Adair's first base coach Krystina Leazer watched 31 batters reach first base.

While playing for Elk Grove hall of fame coach Ken Grams, Leazer was teammates with Titans assistant coach Stephanie Dolce.

In her first collegiate at-bat for Aurora University, Dolce faced Leazer, who was pitching for Carthage College.

There were two college recruits on the diamond Friday — Prospect's Caldrone (Northwestern) and Glenbrook South junior center fielder Carolyn Kuhn (Indiana).

Kuhn had the first hit off Cacini with a 2-run single that just barely made it past shortstop Meersman in the second inning.

Glenbrook South added two more infield hits in the fifth when it scored its final 3 runs.

“We didn't give up,” said Sopocy, whose freshman pitcher Sophia Stark made her varsity debut. “But they (Prospect) were on their game. We'll get better.”