Softball Pitcher has Strong Performance Against Fremd

For many seniors, their last regular season home game is always special. But when you play MSL West rival Fremd and second place is potentially on the line, it makes the game all the more important.

“It’s very exciting,” Barrington’s senior Kiley Dolezal said of her shutout on senior night against tough conference rival Fremd.   “I knew we had to win to have a chance at second.”

Dolezal fittingly pitched on senior night and had a strong outing against Fremd (22-5-1, 11-5), last year’s state runner up.  The solid pitching performance against the potent Viking bats, in conjunction with senior worthy performances from Kiersten Tinkoff (over-the-shoulder catch to end the fourth), Colleen Shandley (scoring on wild pitch) and consistent catching from Kristin Kuhn lead Barrington to a 3-0 victory over Fremd.

“(The seniors) have poured their heart and soul into this game they love for four years,” Barrington’s coach Perry Petersen said of the seniors that have racked-up 119 wins in their softball careers .   “I’m ecstatic for them as they walk off winners.”

Barrington’s win over Fremd sets-up Barrington for a game against Schaumburg on May 16 that would give the Fillies a second place finish in the MSL-W.

Barrington (23-10, 11-4) got on the scoreboard early as Shandley scored on a wild pitch in the first inning.  Ashlynne Schwantz’s (10-2 for the season) pitching issues would continue as sophomore Loren Krzysko would also score on a wild pitch moments later to give the Fillies a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

That was all the offensive help that Dolezal (19-7 with a 3.15 earned run average for the season) would need as she managed to begin navigating the Fremd lineup with relatively few issues.

Fremd had their first real chance in the third inning when they threatened with runners on first and second with two outs but Dolezal battled through the situation leaving the Viking still down by two.

“[Dolezal] understands how small adjustments here and there can make a significant impact on the game and tonight she executed,” Petersen said.

The third inning was a valuable scoring opportunity missed by the Lady Vikings, as the next eight batters would be retired before sophomore Amanda Matsumoto would reach via an error, but the rally was again stopped by Dolezal inducing the out.

“We did not have a good day today at the plate,” Fremd’s coach Jim Weaver said of his team that finished 1-5 with runners in scoring position.   “[Dolezal] pitched well but we are only worried about what we can control.”

“We need to be smarter, more aggressive and realize the situation so we can react accordingly,” Weaver went on to say.  “We’re not doing really well right now with this and we are running out of time.”

Barrington would extend their lead to 3-0 in the sixth after Tess Bolger (courtesy runner for Krzysko’s single) scored on a fielder choice off the bat of junior Jordan Wekony.

Fremd would attempt a late rally one more time to start the seventh, starting with Megan Hubbard’s double followed by senior first basemen Megan Horn’s single to center which left Viking runners on first and third with just one out.  But Dolezal buckled down to finish with a strikeout and an innocent groundout to Krzysko at third that would end the game giving Barrington a 3-0 victory.

“As a team we’re starting to really get it together,” Dolezal said following the game.  “Hopefully we continue it into the playoffs.”

Barrington, the number four seed in the Warren Sectional, will be playing in the Zion-Benton Regional and will face the winner of Highland Park and Mount Prospect on Tuesday, May 24.