Over in an instant

Cary-Grove's Alexis Haley lies on the ground after being thrown out trying to steal third base during the third inning of Wednesday's Supersectional game against Elk Grove at Judson University in Elgin. Elk Grove won, 2-0. (Travis Haughton - thaughton@nwherald.com)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

ELGIN – Elk Grove Village had been living on the long ball all season, but Cary-Grove’s softball team wouldn’t let the Grenadiers get away with it Wednesday.

Elk Grove found a different way to win.

The Grens loaded the bases against C-G pitcher Lindsay Efflandt in the top of the sixth inning and pushed through two unearned runs via C-G errors. The miscues proved to be all it would take for Elk Grove, which beat C-G, 2-0, in the IHSA Class 4A Judson University Supersectional.

The Grens will make their first appearance in the state semifinals since 1982, while C-G celebrates its best-ever season and walked away proud despite the loss.

“I have nothing but great things to say about this season and the effort these girls put forth,” C-G coach Tammy Olson said. “We went 14-18 last season, so to make the jump from being a less than .500 team to being where we were this year was incredible.”

The Trojans (32-7) played the Grens (36-4) tight the entire way, but couldn’t stop the threat in the sixth.

Elk Grove’s Devin Parkison and Megan Keegan reached on one-out fielding errors, putting runners at first and second.

Krista Soesbe singled to load the bases, and Efflandt (28-4) struck out Kristen Cetkovic, but threw a wild pitch to Amanda Gattone that brought home Parkison to put the Grens on the board, 1-0.

Keegan came home on another fielding error that allowed Gattone to reach, making it a 2-0 ballgame.

Up to that point the Trojans’ defense had held the game in place. Left fielder Taylor Dunne made two incredible grabs in the fourth and fifth innings, second baseman Amy Palminteri had nabbed four putouts and shortstop Emma Gaulke had turned three plays.

Efflandt kept her nerves in check and tossed a five-hit gem, walking just two and fanning three in the loss.

“She did a wonderful job,” Olson said. “She kept hitters off balance the whole way. Our defense really did a nice job for us ... we just had a couple mistakes later on.”

C-G’s bats were uncharacteristically calm. Grens starter Stephanie Maday gave up two hits in 51/3 innings, and Dani Goranson gave up just one in relief.

The Trojans had runners in scoring position three times – in the first, third and sixth – but couldn’t bring them home.

“They were a very good team, and I thought we hit the ball very well,” Grens coach Ken Grams said. “We just hit it to them quite a few times and they made some great plays. The way we scored, that was just [weird]. It’s a crazy sport.”

C-G will return all put four players next season, so expectations will be high for next season.

“We’re going to miss our seniors,” said Olson of Abbe Wienckowski, Colette Roth, Amy Palminteri and Taylor Levicki, “but we’re got a lot returning and we’re excited for that.”