Softball: Clausen helps Elk Grove stay alive in MSL East race
Elk Grove's Lauren Clausen said it was hard to get used to being on the varsity when she began the season.
"It was definitely hard," said the sophomore right-hander. "I was pitching against girls who have been on the varsity for a while, especially the older girls. But I knew I had to step up."
Clausen stepped to the mound for her second start against Mid-Suburban East co-leader Prospect and once again she had the secret formula to success.
After winning 11-4 at Prospect three weeks ago, Clausen fired a 4-hitter on Tuesday with a 11 strikeouts to keep the Grenadiers' hopes alive for a MSL East tri-championship.
With the 5-1 victory, Elk Grove (14-12) raised its record to 10-5, 1 game behind Hersey (20-5, 11-4) and Prospect (18-7, 10-5).
The Knights host Hersey at 4:45 p.m. today in a game that will help decide the East crown.
If Hersey wins, the Huskies claim the East outright and represent the division in Thursday's league title game at Barrington's Fields of Dreams at 5 p.m.
If Prospect wins, the Knights share the title with Hersey and Elk Grove (but only if Elk Grove also wins at Buffalo Grove on Wednesday). Tiebreaker rules will then be reviewed to determine Barrington's opponent on Thursday.
"We're hoping to share the conference title so we knew we had to play hard and beat these top teams in the conference," Clausen said. "They (Prospect) were just good hitters. I knew I had to hit my spots and make sure they couldn't make good contact."
That proved to work out well as senior Lauren Caldrone's sharp single to right in the first inning was probably the best contact of the game for the Knights, who also had an infield single from Alyssa Cacini and 2 bunts hits by Cassie Cunniff.
"You've got to credit her (Clausen)," said Prospect coach Krystina Mackowiak, a former standout EG pitcher herself. "She shut us down again."
The only run Prospect produced came without an out in the first inning.
Cunniff led off the game with a bunt single and got to second on a passed ball before scoring on Caldrone's sharp single to right.
After escaping without any further damage, Clausen went on to retire the side in order three times during the win which raised her record to 9-5.
The Knights will regroup for Hersey today.
"We still have a lot to play for," said Mackowiak, whose club is trying make the MSL title game for the first time since 2007. "We really didn't hit the ball - we've got to get the bats going again (today) and support our pitcher."
Knights sophomore pitcher Claire Doherty (10-5) gave up only 6 hits, including a 2-for-2 day (1 walk) from Grens catcher Katia Pendowski.
Doherty struck out the side in the first inning and racked up 7 strikeouts through the first five innings.
The Grens quickly answered Prospect's run in the bottom of the first, getting an RBI double to right by Pendowski and a RBI single by Jamie Klicka.
The other 3 runs all came in the bottom of the fourth when Grace Engwall led off with a single to left.
She went to second on Paige Langston's sacrifice bunt. Alexa Fontanetta then reached on an error and both runners scored on A. J. Trausch's 2 run double down the left field line.
Morgan Leach also singled in the Grens' big inning.
"After we got those two runs in the bottom for the first, we had a lot of momentum going," Clausen added. "I knew we had to keep our energy up and keep playing hard the whole game."
"I thought Lauren was very good," said EG coach Ken Grams. "She was in control and very confident. There were times she'd go to 3-1 in the count and then come back and get the batter. We got big hits at key times."