It was supposed to be close. It was supposed to be a nail-biter. It was exactly what one might expect from two ranked softball teams: an extra-inning game.
In the ninth inning Monday, Buffalo Grove’s Tricia Serpe lined a double into left field to drive in the two tie-breaking runs as the fourth-ranked Bison (14-0, 6-0) edged No. 5 Fremd (14-2, 4-1) 4-2 in a nine-inning Mid-Suburban North battle in Palatine.
“She’s a senior,” said Bison coach Laura Stock. “She’s going to come through for us in big situations. We expect that.”
Kim Czapla gave up two runs on five hits and struck out six to improve her record to 11-0. Her counterpart, Courtney Walker (10-2), gave up eight hits and struck out 10.
Fenwick 1, Richards 0: Karrie Fortman’s two-out, bases-loaded single in the top of the sixth scored the only run of the game to lead No. 2 Fenwick (13-1) and Ashley Ballard (8-0, two-hitter) past No. 9 Richards (10-6) and its ace, Carole Gorecki (9-6).
Thornwood 3, Shepard 0: Nadir Saafir threw a one-hitter and struck out 14 as No. 8 Thornwood (10-5, 1-0) won in the SICA East.
Bradley-Bourbonnais 11, Rich East 4: Laura Harms had four hits and two RBIs to lead the Boilermakers (14-3, 1-0) in the SICA South.
Crete-Monee 9, Rich South 0: Jessica Janota pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and went 2 for 4 with two RBIs as the Warriors (12-4, 1-0) rolled in the SICA South.
Baseball
Sandburg 5, Harlan 0: Brendan Aubin pitched a three-hit complete game with seven strikeouts, and Pat Dignan went 2 for 2 with an RBI for No. 1 Sandburg (19-1).
Bremen 13, Hillcrest 3: Sean McManus pitched a four-hitter for Bremen (11-6, 3-0) in the SICA Central.
Brother Rice 12, Hales Franciscan 2: Dan Harrigan fired a two-hitter, striking out 11, to lead the Crusaders (12-4, 6-2) in the Catholic Central.
De La Salle 3, St. Laurence 2: Bob Dilliberto doubled and Mark Mizara drove in the winning run as the Meteors (11-9, 3-5) scored three in the sixth to prevail in the Catholic Central.
Joliet 2, Oak Lawn 1: Dan Jordan went 2 for 3 and Barry Vanderhyden hit an RBI double to spark Joliet (13-5-1).
Marist 3, Marian Catholic 1: Rob Gorzelanny pitched a one-hitter, and Mark Luaces and Conor McGarr each went 2 for 2 to spark Marist (13-2, 6-1) in the East Suburban Catholic.
Mt. Carmel 8, Richards 4: Steve Black hit a two-run double and Tony Driscoll a two-run single as the Caravan (13-4) scored four runs in the sixth inning for the come-from-behind victory.
Notre Dame 10, Joliet Catholic 0: Tom O’Neill allowed just three hits and Joe Achino and Nick Beckman each had 2 RBIs for Notre Dame (13-9, 6-1) in the East Suburban Catholic.
Providence 4, Bishop McNamara 3: Greg Braun (2 for 2) hit a sacrifice fly in the last of the seventh to drive in the winning run, and Mike Godfrey went 2 for 2 with two RBIs for Providence (12-1-1, 9-0) in the Catholic South.
Rich South 12, Crete-Monee 0: Dan Urban smacked a grand slam and pitched a two-hit shutout for Rich South (11-4, 1-0) in the SICA South.
St. Rita 7, Leo 2: Tim Bubacz was 2 for 3 with an RBI, and Sergio Castellanos doubled and drove in two runs for St. Rita (14-4, 7-0) in the Catholic League.
Simeon 6, U-High 5: Christopher Anderson’s two-run double in the seventh was the game-winner for the Wolverines (15-6).
Girls soccer
Sandburg 4, Stagg 0: Katy Bol made four saves for her ninth shutout, and four different girls scored for the No. 6 Eagles (13-1, 4-1) in the SICA West.
Homewood-Flossmoor 9, Shepard 1: Debbie Liang had a hat trick and Gina Napoli added two goals and two assists for the No. 8 Vikings (8-0, 7-0) in the SICA East.
Crete-Monee 3, Tinley Park 0: Heather Brown made six saves as the Warriors (5-4, 2-3) earned the shutout in the SICA South.
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Morgan Park 2, Bowen 0: Geneci Rivera scored twice and Siomara Gonzalez assisted on both for the Mustangs (5-4, 5-3 Public Red South).
Oak Lawn 2, Richards 0: Mary Pascquarella scored both goals and Amy Simenas posted her fifth shutout for the Spartans (6-1-3, 1-1 SICA North).
Queen of Peace 4, Providence 2: Maureen Murphy had a goal and two assists for the Packers (4-4-1).
Rich East 5, Rich Central 0: Jen Keltner’s four goals led the Rockets (7-1, 4-0) in the SICA South.
Rosary 5, Marian Catholic 2: Kelly Mahan scored three goals and added one assist for Rosary (10-1-1).
Boys volleyball
Eisenhower d. St. Ignatius 15-4, 12-15, 15-7: Dustin Ritter had 14 kills to lead the Cardinals (10-6).
Quigley d. St. Benedict 15-10, 15-13: Ben Deang’s seven kills and Johann Baniqued’s nine assists led Quigley (5-6, 2-1) in the Chicago Prep.