Softball: Kirkwood, Leyden sweep Taft

While the Tattoo Show was being held a mile away at the Rosemont Convention Center, Leyden put its stamp of approval on the softball Saturday at the Ballpark at Rosemont.

Coach Kurt Schuett's Eagles pounded out 22 hits in a doubleheader sweep of visiting Taft 11-4 and 13-3 (five innings).

Taft was second in the Chicago Public League last spring and came into Saturday's twin bill with 1-0 record after a 7-1 win over Evanston.

"Taft is very good team and well coached," Schuett said. "We just had a day where we had their number."

Producing the biggest numbers offensively was Leyden's Kailey Kirkwood, who went 6-for-10.

The Triton College-bound senior belted an inside-the-park grand slam in the sixth inning of Game 1. She also had 2 triples and a double for the day.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first in Game 1, Leyden came back with 5 runs in the bottom of the inning and never looked back.

Senior Emma Bertsche (2-0), who went 2-for-3 at the plate, earned the win with 7 strikeouts.

Game 2 was tied at 3-3 after one inning but Leyden put across 3 runs in the third and 6 in the fourth to pull away.

Kirkwood went 3-for-4 again with 2 triples. Other multiple hitters for Leyden were senior Tara Mackey (2-for-3, double), junior Elle Engelke (2-for-4), junior Anixa Cisneros (2-for-3) and senior Ryan Fontanetta (2-for-3).

Sophomore Yaritza Frias, an all-area basketball guard, had a double for Leyden.

Sophomore pitcher Bre Deutscher threw a 4-hitter with 1 strikeout for the win.

Leyden is 3-0, including a 12-4 win over Elmwood Park on Thursday.

Maine West sweeps: The Warriors (4-1) picked up two more wins in Wilmette with 12-1 and 12-2 six-inning 10-run rule nonconference wins over Regina.

Junior Jessica Steingard fired the second no-hitter of her career in Game 1, striking out six and walking none.

Leading the West offense were senior Olivia Feldkamp (3-for-4, double), junior Brianna Torres (3-for-4, 3 runs, 2 doubles), junior Amanda Byrne (2-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double), senior Maraya Adams (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and sophomore Emily Divelbus (2-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI).

Byrne missed the cycle by a single in Game 2. She belted a homer, triple and double while going 3-for-4 with 5 RBI and 3 runs.

Other multiple hitters for the Warriors were senior Gabbi Demma (2-for-4, double, 2 runs) and Katelyn Weber (2-for-3, 2 runs).

Winning pitcher Abby Gawlinski (7 strikeouts, 2 walks) threw a 6-hitter and also had an RBI single for 1 of the Warriors' 12 hits.

Also hitting safely were Liliana Sanchez, Yessania Vilches, Angelisa Beiza and Makenna Delafield.

Regina's only extra base hit was a triple, the result of second baseman Demma's perfect relay throw to catcher Byrne who made the tag preventing an inside-the-park homer.