Homewood-Flossmoor without Gretchen Barnes is the Bulls without Michael Jordan or Thursday nights without “Seinfeld.”
Or, to put it another way:
Suffering from mononucleosis last week, Barnes hit three home runs and threw a one-hit shutout in a double-header sweep of Bolingbrook.
Saturday, the Northwestern-bound All-Stater was at home recuperating while the Vikings split a double-header with Andrew, winning the opener 4-2 before losing 6-4 in eight innings in Game 2.
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H-F’s Jennifer Merwald keyed the decisive three-run sixth in the opener with a two-run single.
“It didn’t bother me that they intentionally walked Laurie Niego right before me,” Merwald said. “I really hadn’t been doing much.
“I’ve got a message for Gretchen: `We miss you so much–hurry up and get well.’ “
Actually, H-F (21-6) has gone 4-1 in Barnes’ absence behind freshman pitcher Katie Rice, freshman right-fielder Therese Harper, sophomore shortstop Theresa Pusateri and seniors Niego and Tami Barrowes.
Andrew (10-9) trailed 2-1 after five innings in Game 2 but scored three times in the sixth, courtesy of Melody Key’s two-run single and Mandy Hughes’ RBI groundout.
That’s when Andrew coach Carrie Cox brought on ace Jenni Hornok in relief. It didn’t matter to the Vikings, as Pusateri’s two-run single sent the game into extra innings.
Key singled with two outs in the eighth and Elizabeth Munn reached on an error. Megan Pietrucha and Katie Hughes each had an RBI single.
Bob Sakamoto.
Glenbard North 2-9, Oak Park 0-0: No. 6 Glenbard North (18-3) won the opener behind Emily Gora (11-1), who gave up two hits. Chrissie Vena (7-2) allowed three hits and Emily Hallmen had three hits in the nightcap for the Panthers.
Illiana Christian 14-15, Walther Lutheran 0-2: In Game 1, Kim DeYoung (8-4) fired a five-inning no-hitter for No. 7 Illiana. In Game 2, Trisha Balkema went 3 for 5 with three RBIs as the Vikings (16-4-1, 11-1) clinched the Private School League title.
Richards 1-1, Marian Catholic 0-0: Carole Gorecki (14-7) threw a no-hitter, striking out 14, to guide No. 9 Richards (15-9) in Game 1. Gorecki faced just 21 batters: She hit a batter in the fourth but immediately picked her off. Then, she gave up three hits in winning Game 2.
Lockport 2, Sandburg 1: Amy Ligmanowski had two hits and drove in the winning run in the seventh to give No. 10 Lockport (16-9, 2-2) the SICA West victory.
Barrington 4-7, New Trier 0-4: Robin Martin pitched her seventh shutout, scattering five singles and striking out eight for Barrington (13-10) in Game 1. Christine Lindberg hit a solo homer for the Fillies in the opener and added two hits in Game 2.
Chicago Christian 8-7, Luther North 1-2: Julie Drenth threw a two-hitter with eight strikeouts in Game 1, and Taylor Brandu had two hits in Game 2 to help Chicago Christian (12-5, 11-1) complete the Private School League sweep.
Downers Grove South 3-7, West Chicago 0-4: Amy Krahula gave up three hits in her fifth consecutive shutout for Downers South (19-5), which has won 12 straight. In Game 2, Tess Kochan went 3 for 4 with two RBIs for the Mustangs.
Evergreen Park 4-15, Elmwood Park 0-4: Sarah Reusnow fired a one-hitter to win Game 1 and won Game 2 in relief for Evergreen Park (16-6, 10-2) in the Suburban Prairie White.
Glenbard East 1-11, York 0-3: Rhea Hall scored the only run in the opener on a passed ball. Stacey Kveton and Nikki Pappanduros each had three hits in Game 2 for Glenbard East (9-8).
Glenbard South 6-2, Lemont 2-4: Glenbard South (14-7, 9-3) won Game 1 of the Suburban Prairie White twin bill behind Lauren Cuthbertson (11-3), who gave up three hits, and Sarah Lisson, who had three hits and two RBIs. Lemont (20-8, 7-4) won the nightcap behind Heidi Radcliffe, who fired a two-hitter and struck out nine. Christen Goeing had three hits for Lemont.
Glenbrook South 10-6, Lane Tech 1-1: Katie Collina had four RBIs for Glenbrook South (9-9).
Fenton 8-0, Westmont 4-5: In Game 2, Jenny Messmer fired a no-hitter and struck out 10 as Westmont (15-3, 9-2) earned the split in the Suburban Prairie White.
Hinsdale Central 2-3, Naperville North 0-0: Hinsdale (14-10) used three hits by Chrissy Heyne to win Game 1, and Kim Weiss had two hits and scored two runs in Game 2.
Immaculate Heart of Mary 8-14, Good Counsel 2-2: Anna Wilk had four hits and five RBIs for IHM (21-6).
Lake Park 12, Rolling Meadows 2: Cheri Slywka went 3 for 3 for Lake Park (10-7).
Lake Zurich 3, Prairie Ridge 2: In the Fox Valley, Katie Berwanger’s two doubles led Lake Zurich (11-4, 10-3).
Lincoln-Way 11, Rich Central 0: Autumn Wendler gave up two hits in five innings and Jeannine Gibbons had two hits, two RBIs and scored twice for Lincoln-Way (9-9).
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Lyons Township 8, Maine West 1: Megan Kunz (13-4) gave up three hits, one walk and struck out nine, and Lyndsay Richards had three hits and three RBIs for Lyons (16-6), which also beat Hersey 3-1 Saturday with three more hits by Richards.
Mother McAuley 5-1, Oak Forest 0-2: Jenny Benedict gave up three hits in Game 2 and Kristy Mannix had two hits for Oak Forest (11-4).
Tinley Park 17, Hillcrest 11: Tinley Park (8-11, 5-3) won the SICA Central slugfest as Amy Ferry tripled twice and drove in six runs.
West Aurora 2-1, Thornwood 1-2: Cindy Schubbe struck out eight to lead West Aurora in the opener, but Thornwood (18-6) salvaged a split with Kris Kale’s sixth-inning run in Game 2.
Thornwood 5, Bloom 0: Thornwood improved to 5-0 in the SICA East with Janell Klomp’s two-hitter. She struck out 10 and walked none.