Softball: Runs aplenty in the rain for Fremd, Barrington
In two games last year, traditional Mid-Suburban West softball powers Barrington and Fremd combined for 13 runs.
On Saturday morning at the Fields of Dreams in Barrington, the winningest coaches in the West watched their squads combine to score 14 runs in just 3 innings.
Suffice it to say, the cold and rainy weather conditions did not help the two winningest sophomore pitchers in the area - Nikki Kehoe of Fremd (11-2) and Catherine McMahon of Barrington (13-3).
The game was suspended after three innings with Fremd leading 8-6.
"The weather was definitely affecting what was happening on both sides," said Fremd coach Jim Weaver who has 385 wins in 15 seasons. "And it didn't look like it was getting any better."
"The conditions were tough," said Barrington coach Perry Peterson, a winner of 732 games in 25 seasons. "But I thought both teams battled their way through the elements the best they could.
"We look forward to the opportunity of meeting them next time."
That will be Tuesday at 5 p.m., with Fremd shortstop Reagan Schneider due to bat in the top of the fourth inning.
The Vikings (15-3, 6-1) must also finish a suspended game with Palatine on Thursday.
Fremd took advantage of 2 walks and base hits by Alyssa Garcia, AnnMarie O'Sullivan (RBI) and Becca Uhrich (RBI) for a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Fillies freshman third baseman Kendall Peterson saved a third run from scoring when she made a terrific stop on Hess' hard hit bases-loaded grounder and then threw strike to catcher Abbey Jacobsen for the force out.
Barrington (18-4, 6-2) answered in the bottom half of the inning, scoring 3 runs on 2 hits, 3 walks and a hit by pitch (Kelly Katis).
The hits were by Liz Sweeney (RBI) and Carly Kordich, who led off the inning with a double to left.
Fremd went back ahead in the top of the second with 6 runs on 5 hits.
The inning started with a homer by catcher Lexi D'Ambrosio, one day after the sophomore hit her first grand slam at Elk Grove.
Abby Iuorio followed with an infield hut and Garcia bunted safely.
A walk to Julias Wacker loaded the bases.
O'Sullivan and Jessica Mazur followed with RBI single to make it 5-3.
Hess and Uhrich drew bases loaded walks and the final run came home on an error to make it 8-3.
Barrington got 2 runs back in the bottom of the second on Rachel Macdonald's 2-run, two-out homer over the left field fence. It was the senior's seventh homer of the season.
Her classmate Jenna Fingerman connected for her fourth homer, a one-out solo shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the third to make it 8-6.