Pitching is still king, er, queen, as four of the Tribune’s top-ranked softball teams will attest.
Suzanne Kopulos, Adrienne Salerno, Erica Hanrahan and Christy Ward combined to allow three runs on 12 hits Thursday afternoon as their respective squads–whose victories are detailed below–improved to a combined 46-4 and showed why they are so highly regarded.
Homewood-Flossmoor 4, Kankakee 1: Top-ranked H-F (14-1) won behind Kopulos’ two-hitter with seven strikeouts and Kristine Mize’s double with two runs batted in. Kopulos ran her season record to 7-0.
Glenbard West 8, Hinsdale Central 0: Salerno tossed a two-hitter and Jenny Davis added two RBIs as No. 2 Glenbard West (10-1, 2-1) won in the West Suburban Silver.
Fenwick 4, Benet 1: Hanrahan threw a three-hitter with six strikeouts and Kelly Clow scored two runs as No. 5 Fenwick (10-1, 3-0) remained perfect in the East Suburban Catholic.
Evanston 2, Waukegan 1: Vicky Lowe (1-2) scattered four hits and Juliet Barnes had a double with two RBIs in the first inning.
Immaculate Conception 18, Montini 6: IC (7-4, 6-0) remained perfect in the Suburban Catholic as Charlotte Westhoff (2 for 4, two RBIs) and Katie Callaghan (2 for 5, four RBIs) each hit a homer.
Lemont 2, Riverside-Brookfield 1: Lori Chmielewski threw a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts and Brandy Kuczkowski hit the game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh for Lemont (5-8, 1-1) in the Suburban Prarie White.
New Trier 13, Glenbrook South 3: New Trier (8-3, 2-0) remained perfect in the Central Suburban South behind Amanda Munoz’s three-run homer and six RBIs.
Oak Park 1, York 0: Beth Kolbusz (4-1), who threw her second no-hitter of the season, got a strikeout and a popup in the seventh inning that allowed Oak Park (8-2, 2-0 West Suburban Silver) to escape from a second-and-third, one-out jam..
Oswego 13, Batavia 5: Winning pitcher Alison Camp (2 for 3) helped herself by driving in five in the Suburban Prairie Red.
Reed-Custer 10, Lisle 0: Nikki Flowers tossed a one-hitter with nine strikeouts and Janine Keca added a triple with two RBIs for Reed-Custer (14-3, 5-0) in the Interstate Eight.
Resurrection 13, Madonna 1: Samantha Morreale pitched a two-hitter and struck out nine and Adria Lyall added four RBIs for Resurrection (10-6) in the GCAC.
Rosary 9, Wheaton St. Francis 3: Rosary (7-4, 4-2) triumphed as Andrea Quintanilla went 3 for 4 with two RBIs.
St. Gregory 17, Josephinum 6: Winning pitcher Sheri Smith (2 for 2, five RBIs) also slugged two homers for St. Gregory (1-4, 1-2) in the Chicago Prep.
Warren 4, Stevenson 2: Tracy Fiedler and Lisa Aaron each drove in a pair of runs for Warren (6-2, 1-1) in the North Suburban contest.
Waubonsie Valley 18, Plainfield 0: Bonnie Keltsch (two RBIs) and Jenny Taylor (RBI, three runs) each posted 3-for-3 efforts at the plate for Waubonsie Valley (8-5, 6-1). Bridget Schade hurled a two-hitter.
West Chicago 11, Streamwood 0: Katie Leitherer launched a solo home run and Ellyn Gernand drove in three as West Chicago improved to 9-4 behind Tracy Morris’ three-hitter.
Wheaton Academy 9, Luther North 5: Wheaton Academy (4-5, 3-3) got home runs from winning pitcher Valerie Tarnowski (2 for 4, two RBIs) and Jena Thomas to even its record in the Private School League.
