Softball: Elk Grove wins 14th MSL East crown in 17 years

Elk Grove junior pitcher Kylie Thomsen pitched her first no-hitter and the Grenadiers clinched their 14th Mid-Suburban East softball title in 17 years with Friday's 10-0 five-inning victory over visiting Wheeling.

Thomsen (12-3) struck out nine and allowed only two baserunners as the Grenadiers won their 21st division title under Hall of Fame coach Ken Grams, who began in 1980 with co-coach Doug Millstone.

The Grens (21-4, 11-4) have a 2-game lead over Hersey (9-6) with one to play.

Senior Sarah Pauscher (2-for-2, walk, 4 RBI) belted her 12th homer of the season, a 3-run blast in the second inning. She also had an RBI double in the first.

Keeley Cronin went 3-for-3 for the Grens while teammate Carly Crothers doubled.

Christie Ambrose and Abby Greenspan drew walks for Wheeling (0-17, 0-13).

Hersey 1, Rolling Meadows 0: Down to its final out of a scoreless game in the top of the seventh, Hersey's Jackie Bednar and Sofia Cano were double trouble for Rolling Meadows.

Bednar and Cano's back-to-back doubles provided the winning run in Hersey's 1-0 triumph on senior day at Rolling Meadows.

With two outs, Bednar doubled to left center and her pinch runner Maddie Flynn raced home on Cano's ensuing double.

Freshman Sarah Bailitz then pitched her seventh scoreless inning of the game as Hersey improved to 15-11 and 9-6, winning for the seventh time in its last eight games.

Bailitz (10-7) threw a 4-hitter with 6 strikeouts while Meadows ace Lydia Schultz (12-9) gave up 5 hits with 4 strikeouts in a snappy game that took less than an hour and a half.

Freshman Sara Benner (2-for-3) led the offense for Meadows (15-13, 6-8), which also received hits from Amanda Elkins and Megan McCafferty.

In addition to the big seventh-inning doubles, Hersey also received base hits from Makayla Tsagalis, Kim Labahn and Kaitlyn Denten.

Barrington 4, Hoffman Estates 1: Senior day was a success for Barrington, which improved to 23-6 and 11-4 in the MSL West behind a 3-hitter from sophomore Catherine McMahon (18-5.

Seniors Rachel Macdonald (double), Jenna Fingerman (double), Brittany Glowacki, Kelly Katis and Liz Sweeney each had hit for the Fillies. Senior Jamie Brown drew a pair of walks and senior Annie Leiding made a nifty backhanded grab of a deep fly ball to center field to end the game.

Giselle Velasquez, Jordyn Fera and Brynn Connelly had the hits for Hoffman (3-23) and 1-14.

Fremd 17, Palatine 0: It was senior day for Fremd (20-4, 11-2) and all six seniors (Alyssa Garcia, Abby Iuorio, Julia Wacker, Kylie Hess, Holly Straup and Madison Mellin) reached base and scored in the first inning.

Wacker had a home run and 3 RBI while sophomore Jessica Mazur (6-1) fired a 2-hitter for the shutout over the Pirates (9-15, 6-9).

Buffalo Grove 8, Prospect 5: Junior Alyssa DePhillips was the winning pitcher for host Buffalo Grove (8-16, 5-10) which gained a split in MSL East play with Prospect (5-18, 3-11).

Jasmine Avalos (3 RBI) belted 3 doubles for the Bison while Grace Gran (2 RBI) and Bailey Williams each had one. Jacqueline Bickhaus (2 RBI) and Olivia Morini each had 2 hits for BG.

Colleen Palczynski (2 RBI) homered for Prospect and Lauren Caldrone (2 hits) doubled.

The Bison play at Evanston on Saturday, weather permitting.

Maine West 11, Lane Tech 1 (5 inn.): Allison Eby earned the nonconference win for the host Warriors (7-13).

Nicole Byerly had 3 hits, including 2 doubles while teammates Grace Feldkamp and Nora McDonald (double) each had 2 hits.

Kayla Pociejewski (double), Monica Liwag (double) and Allison Pearson had 1 hit for the winners, who visit Schaumburg on Saturday for a twin bill.