Softball: Palatine powers past Elk Grove

The longest winning streak by a Mid-Suburban League softball team continued on Friday when Palatine made it nine in a row with a 9-6 triumph at Elk Grove.

The Pirates improved to 9-1 and 3-0 in the MSL West by winning the crossover match against the Grenadiers (8-2, 2-1).

Junior southpaw Rhiann Dick (7-1) earned the win over EG junior right-hander Lauren Clausen (6-1).

Palatine belted 4 home runs, putting their overall total at 17 for the season.

Kaitlyn Reed (3-for-5, 4 RBI), Grace Huff (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Emily Brinckerhoff (1-for-2) and Amanda Stanczuk each hit homers for coach Nicole Capalbo's Pirates.

Other multiple hitters for the winners were Dick (3-for-4) and Mandy Logan (3-for-4).

Reed hit the first pitch of the game over the center field fence and two batters later, Stanczuk's solo blast made it 2-0.

"I was just up there trying to make solid contact and start the game up strong," Reed said. "It was an exciting way to start the game and the whole team kept up the energy for seven innings. I'm so proud of how we all came together for today's win."

Elk Grove answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the first when junior Katia Pendowski belted a 3-run homer.

The Pirates took the lead for good in the fourth inning when Mandy Logan singled and Anna Selleck walked. Grace Huff then singled them home for a 4-3 lead.

Brinckerhoff hit her first varsity home run over the center field fence in the fifth inning, becoming the seventh Pirate to homer this year

"I went up with a plan," Brinckerhoff said. "I was seeing the ball well and had the support of my teammates behind me. Today was a great team win and was a great team effort."

"It was great to see our hitters come out swinging hard today," said Pirates assistant coach Kristen Proffitt. "When you play in weather (windy and cold) like this, you want to make sure to give your pitcher lots of run support.

"Our team did a great job seeing their pitches and hitting them hard. Kaitlyn really set the tone for us today when she hit that home run to start the game. Later, Emily started up the offense again and showed us that we still needed to score more. It's great to see so many members of our team stepping up."

Pendowski finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and 3 runs while teammate AJ Trausch was 3-for-4. Olivia Masnica, Morgan Leach, Jaimie Klicka, Brooke Baldassarre and Alexis Fontanetta each a hit for EG.

Fremd 5, Buffalo Grove 3: Senior Hailey Hazlett (2-1) fired a 4-hitter with 7 strikeouts as the visiting Vikings improved to 4-2 and 2-0 in the MSL West.

Leading the Fremd offense was Reagan Goluch (2-for-4) and Cali DiVito (2-for-3) while Sophia Crescio and McKenna Schneider each had 1 hit. Junior Sydney Kruto added a clutch RBI.

Megan Fontanetta, Angelina Craig, Sam Hansen and Hannah Young each had a hit for BG (3-4, 0-2).

Rolling Meadows 13, Conant 3 (5 inn.): Sam Allen belted 2 homers and went 2-for-2 with 4 RBI as host Rolling Meadows improved to 6-4 and 1-1 with the MSL crossover win.

Other key hitters for the Mustangs were Kendra Herring (3-for-3, double), Caroline Slowik (2-for-3, 3 RBI, double) and Emily Schmidt (1-for-3 3 RBI),

Winning pitcher Elise Kowalski (3-3) threw 4 strikeouts.

Sophomore Emma Wokurka belted a 2-run homer for Conant (0-8, 0-2).

Prospect 16, Schaumburg 4 (6 inn.): Madeline Borkowski belted a home run and 2 doubles while going 4-for-5 with 6 RBI to lead host Prospect's 15-hit attack.

Other top hitters for the Knights (3-4, 1-0) were Cassie Cunniff (4-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBI, double), Mary Ganskog (2-for-4, 2 runs), Amanda Pinter (2-for-4, 3 runs, double) and Emma Muehlenbeck (2-for-4, 2 RBI, double).

Claire Doherty earned the win, tossing a 4-hitter with 8 strikeouts.

Sage Morton went 2-for-3 for Schaumburg (4-8, 1-2) while teammates Sophie Rainey and Jordan Karson also had hits.

Hoffman Estates 13, Wheeling 5: Brianna Venegas (3-for-4, 4 RBI, triple, 3 runs), Ayanna Ward (3-for-5, 2 runs) and Gracie Velazquez (2-for-3, RBI, 2 runs) led the offense for the visiting Hawks (1-6, 0-1) in the MSL crossover.

Teammates Ryan Cloherty had 3 RBI and Emily Nieves added two.

Emily Grossi picked up the win, striking out 11 batters.

Emmie LaCaeyse went 3-for-4 for Wheeling (2-5, 0-2) with a triple, double and 2 RBI and also struck out six. Teammate Peyton LaCaeyse added a double.