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Crowley in command for Vernon Hills

Pat Crowley provided Vernon Hills' baseball team with its second complete-game performance in as many days.

A day after Nick Newman dominated on the mound, Crowley led the way as the visiting Cougars blanked Antioch 8-0 in North Suburban Prairie Division action Thursday. Crowley (2-2) allowed 3 hits, struck out four and walked three.

"It was, by far, his best outing," Vernon Hills coach Jay Czarnecki said after Crowley didn't allow a Sequoit beyond third base.

Crowley received excellent defensive support, as the Cougars turned in an errorless game behind him.

Crowley also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a triple, 2 runs scored and an RBI.

He scored the only run he needed in the first. He singled, moved to second on an infield error, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Joey Marras' groundout.

Vernon Hills (3-1 NSC Prairie) used 13 hits to score in each of the next five innings. Jake Boyer (2-for-4, run), John Goehrke (2-for-4, triple, 2 runs, RBI) and Tommy Earhart (2-for-5, run) each had multiple hits. Andrew Willey came through with a key two-out double.

Sam Smithson went 2-for-3 for Antioch (2-2 NSC Prairie).

Lake Zurich 7, Zion-Benton 0: Steven Elrod went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, and Jeff Kudron pitched 5 1/3 innings of 1-hit ball, as the Bears won the North Suburban Lake game.

Lake Zurich (8-4, 3-1) got 2 hits from Trevor Staley, while Joey Holtz had an RBI double.

Wauconda 7, Round Lake 0: Sophomore Kevin Malisheski pitched a 1-hitter, striking out 13 and walking one, as the visiting Bulldogs captured the North Suburban Prairie contest.

Wauconda (3-7, 2-0) got doubles from Joey Lovelle, Ben Peterson (2-for-4) and Tyler Meyer (2-for-3).

Mundelein 4, Warren 3: The Mustangs remained undefeated, scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth to prevail in a North Suburban Lake thriller.

Winning pitcher Carter Naughton threw the eighth and ninth innings, striking out two in the ninth. Mustangs starter Michael Metz went 7 innings, striking out 11.

Warren (2-2 NSC Lake) scored 2 runs in the second on a double by Chris Mathieu and single by Brian Alavert.

Mundelein scored three times in the sixth, as Nick Brune delivered a pinch-hit RBI and Metz hit a 2-run double.

In the ninth for Mundelein (15-0, 2-0), Logan Reckert singled. Luke Adams moved courtesy runner Sam Osisek to third on a single, and Osisek sped home on a wild pitch.

Lakes 9, Fenton 2: The Eagles picked up their third straight victory, building a 6-0 lead.

Lakes (3-5) used three pitchers en route to the nonconference victory. Junior Chase Slota (2-0) started and went 3 innings, junior Jeremy Mackey went the next two and senior Vince Rotunno finished the last two innings.

Lakes was led offensively by Bryan Gross (2-for-3, double, RBI, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases) and Joe Dahlke (2-for-2, 2 runs, RBI).

McHenry 1, Grayslake Central 0: Justin Guryn suffered the tough-luck loss, allowing only 4 hits, as the host Rams dropped their third game in a row.

Grayslake Central (8-6) had just 3 hits in being shut out for the second time this week.

"We are challenged offensively to begin with, but a lot of the credit goes to the pitching we've seen," Rams coach Troy Whalen said. "A big part of hitting is attitude and confidence, and we are struggling with both right now.

"Justin kept us in the game, as he was stellar again," Whalen added. "It's too bad we couldn't push across a couple of runs for him."

Grant 22, North Chicago 3: Matt Malmberg (2-0) pitched 3 innings, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out four, as the visiting Bulldogs improved to 12-1 and 4-0 in the North Suburban Prairie.

Libertyville 10, Lake Forest 0: Mitchell Townsend pitched a six-inning complete-game shutout, allowing 2 hits, striking out three and walking one in the North Suburban Lake contest.

Libertyville (10-2, 4-0) received 2-hit games from Jimmy Govern (2 runs, 2 RBI) and Conor Simpson (4 runs, double). Evan Skoug tripled and knocked in 2 runs, while Townsend and Matt Reed (1-for-3) also had 2 RBI apiece. Hunter VanWagner doubled for the Wildcats.

JR Reimer had a double for Lake Forest (1-3 NSC Lake).

Jacobs 9, Grayslake North 0: Patrick Webster had the lone hit for the Knights in the Fox Valley Conference game.

Andrew Mikusa walked twice and had 2 stolen bases for Grayslake North (7-7, 2-3).

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