Softball: Elk Grove knocks off defending MSL East champ Hersey

Over his 44 seasons as the Elk Grove softball coach, Ken Grams said he recalls very few catchers he's sent out behind the plate who called their own pitches.

"Maybe one or two in all the years and it's been a long time since we've had one," he said.

Maria Smith owns the rare role for Grams this spring.

The Grenadiers senior, a three-year starter behind the plate, is calling the pitches for the first time.

You can call it a success thus far.

Her ace pitcher Brianna Magner ran her record to 5-1 on Monday as visiting Elk Grove took a 9-5 decision from Hersey. The sophomore right-hander tossed an 8-hitter with 4 strikeouts in the Mid-Suburban East test in Arlington Heights.

"She was spot on," Smith said. "Her curve ball was definitely her best pitch today. It was perfectly placed so it would spin at the last second. It was really good."

And the Grens (5-2, 2-1) got themselves a really good road win in the East.

"We told the girls that they're (Hersey) the defending East champ," said the hall of famer Grams who is the winningest coach in IHSA softball history with 1,048 wins. “We said 'Let's see if we can let them know we are around somehow, too.'"

"It was definitely a good win," added Smith, who is committed to play next year for the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. "It gives us lots to build off for the rest of our conference games this week."

The Grens collected 15 hits, including 3-for-4 performances from their first three batters in the order: Aliya Garcia (2 RBI, 1 double), Hannah Kugelberg (RBI) and Bella Andrade, who reached base five times and had 2 RBI.

The visitors scored 2 runs in the first, including a bases-loaded walk to Aubrey McHorney, who had a hit in the sixth inning and made back-to-back key catches in right field with two runners on base to prevent Hersey from scoring.

Elk Grove went ahead 5-0 in the fourth with three consecutive RBI singles from Garcia, Kugelberg and Andrade.

"We dug that big hole," said Hersey coach Molly Freeman. "And they (Elk Grove) made a lot of contact and we made some mistakes."

"We just kept the lead the whole time and I think that was most important for keeping the morale up," said Smith, who also went 2-for-4 with her first double of the season leading off the Grens' 3-run seventh which made it 9-3.

Hersey relief pitcher Gabby Felman belted a two-out 2-run homer in the bottom of the seventh over the right-center field fence with Reese Izenstark on base for the final margin.

Felman also pitched the final 3 2/3 innings. After Elk Grove got its first two runners on base in the fifth, Felman recorded two strikeouts and a flyout to right on a superb backpedaling catch by Izenstark to rob Garcia of a fourth hit in the game.

"Gabby came in tough," Freeman said. "She throws the ball hard and she was very effective, especially considering it was a cold day. That home run was huge. At least we were showing some fight and some heart in that seventh inning. Those things matter. We've just got to keep chucking away."

Payton Kee had a big day at the plate for Hersey (7-4, 2-2) going 3-for-4 with a 2-run homer in the fourth, a double in the second and a single in the sixth. Shortstop Grace Grabowy was 2-for-4.

After Hersey got to within 9-5, Magner got the final out on a flyout to McHorney.

"Bri pitched well," Grams said.

"She is going to be great for the next few years," Smith added.

"Maria has been catching for three years so we thought she could call the pitchers,“ Grams said. "She understands the game really well."