THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
West Perfect 10-0 In Conference
By DWIGHT ESAU
Journal Sports
It was "perfection" time in Maine West softball last Thursday, so the Warriors trotted out their pitching depth and balanced hitting.
Pitching star Emily Ott was a designated hitter while teammate Caryn McGinley took the mound against Highland Park in West's quest for a perfect 10-0 record in Central Suburban-North conference competition.
It led to an easy 11-2 victory on West's field. The 10-0 mark goes nicely with the actual conference title wrapped up two days earlier with a 5-0 win over Deerfield.
The Warrior log for 2008 is now 21-3, with three games remaining in the regular season this week against Fenton, Schaumburg, and Maine South.
Then, next week, it's on to the post-season, where West probably has the best chance to better its best previous finish, a sectional final loss to New Trier five years ago.
McGinley tossed a 4-hitter at the Giants, striking out 2 and walking 3. She weakened only in the fifth, when she gave up a long home run that gave the Giants their two runs. Otherwise, she was in command.
Meanwhile, the Warriors pecked away with a single run in the first on Ott's triple and Nicole Eisenberg's single. Katie Lowe's sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in the second, and Kelsey Hargesheimer's bases-loaded walk and a failed fielder's choice off a ground ball by Jill Ellwood made it 4-0 in the third.
In the fifth, the Warriors broke it wide open with five runs on hits by Danielle Johnson, Lowe, Kim Morales, Jacki Janecek, Eisenberg, McGinley, and Margo Ehorn.
West is seeded second in the Glenbrook South sectional that begins next week. The Warriors are heavily favored to win the Glenbrook North regional and probably face top-seeded Loyola in the sectional final.
Elsewhere in the Journal area this past weekend, Leyden went 1-1 with an 11-1 victory over Proviso East in 5 innings, and a 10-0 loss to Hoffman Estates.
Amanda Moran was the winning pitcher for the Eagles against Proviso, and had 2 hits. Dana Thomas pitched for Leyden against Hoffman.
St.Viator continued its late-season surge with a doubleheader sweep of St. Joseph. Emily Catanese won game one with 5 strikeouts and Julie Sweeney picked up the save in a 5-2 victory. In a 12-1 game-two win, Melanie Slawny struck out 5 and had 3 hits. Catanese and Sweeney homered.
Danielle Sipiora slammed a home run in game one.
Here is a schedule of first round games in the Class AA state tournament regionals in the area next week. Games listed are those involving Journal-area teams only.
At Loyola Academy - Leyden vs. Resurrection, Wed. May. 21, 5 p.m.
At Glenbrook North - Maine East vs. Chi. Von Steuben, Mon. May 19, 4:30 p.m. - Maine West vs. Maine East-Von Steuben winner, 4:30 p.m. Tues. May 20
At Evanston - Glenbrook South vs. Evanston, Wed. May 21, 4:45 p.m.
At Willowbrook - Elk Grove vs. Willowbrook or Glenbard East, Tues. May 20, 4:30 p.m.
At Rolling Meadows - Meadows vs. Addison Trail, Mon. May 19, 4:30 p.m. - Lake Park vs. Meadows-Addison winner, Tues. May 20, 5 p.m. - Prospect vs. Schaumburg, Wed. May 21, 5 p.m.
At Geneva - Conant vs. Geneva, Mon. May 20, 4:30 p.m.
At Zion-Benton - Wheeling vs. Waukegan, Mon. May 19, 4:30 p.m.
At Fremd - St. Viator at Hersey, Mon. May 19, 4:30 p.m.
At Niles West - Maine South vs. Niles West, Wed. May 21, 4:30 p.m.