Libertyville rallies past Carmel

Ryan Jackson's walk-off single scored Jimmy Govern in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Libertyville's baseball team rallied to edge visiting Carmel Catholic 8-7 in a nonconference thriller Thursday.

Govern finished 3-for-5 and scored 3 runs. Libertyville (14-2) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, before Carmel scored 4 runs in the second and three more in the fourth to take a 7-3 lead. Evan Skoug's 2-run double in the bottom of the fourth pulled the Wildcats within two, and they pulled even with 2 more runs in the fifth.

Noah Greenberg (2-for-3) also doubled for Libertyville, which got other RBI from Conor Simpson (1-for-3, 2 walks), Hunter Van Wagner, Govern and Mitch Townsend (1-for-2, 2 walks). Skoug (1-for-2) drew 3 walks.

Carmel got extra-base hits from Ian Kristan (triple) and Matt Skarzynski (double). Joe Santoro (1-for-3) drove in 3 runs, while Skarzynski and Quinten Sefcik also had RBI.

Andrew Plunkett earned the win in relief, pitching 4 innings and allowing only 1 run.

Grayslake Central 4, Johnsburg 3: Senior Russ Lundius scattered 7 hits over 7 innings, and the host Rams pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh to snap a five-game losing streak.

Freddie Landers was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh, scoring Justin Dooley with the winning run. Landers had 2 doubles in the Fox Valley Conference game. Dooley got on base in the seventh with a double.

"Great win and much needed," Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. "These kids have been pressing and working hard for two weeks. Very happy for them and Russ, who competed the whole game."

Matt Loeffl added an RBI triple for the Rams. Dooley had a single, as well.

Grayslake North 2, Hampshire 1: The Knights scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to erase a 1-0 deficit in the Fox Valley game.

Merrick Gentile and Austyn Ruback each went 2-for-3 for Grayslake North (8-10, 3-4). The Knights' only RBI came from Ryan Gross.

Dom DiProva picked up the win, allowing 1 unearned run in 6 innings with 3 strikeouts, 2 walks and 4 hits allowed. Jason Pertrillo struck out two in the seventh and earned the save.

Vernon Hills 8, Lake Forest 5: The Cougars scored 3 runs in the top of the seventh to win the North Suburban crossover.

Through the first 5 1/2 innings, it appeared Vernon Hills had the game on cruise control. The Cougars scored first in second, as Connor McNamara (2-for-4) doubled, was sacrificed to third by John Goehrke (2 RBI, 3 stolen bases) and scored on an errant pickoff attempt.

The Cougars added two more in the third. Jordan Freibrun (walk, stole base) singled and scored one out later on a double by Jack Boyer (2 stolen bases). Boyer eventually scored on a groundout off the bat of McNamara.

Vernon Hills added another run in the following inning, as Jacob Feece (1-for-3, RBI) drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Pat Crowley (1-for-5, 3 RBI).

The Cougars extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth. Boyer was hit by a pitch and stole second. McNamara singled, moving Boyer to third. John Goehrke sacrificed Boyer home.

As good as things were going offensively for Vernon Hills, starter Nick Newman was equally efficient. Just when it looked like Newman and the Cougars were going to cruise to another victory, the Lake Forest bats came alive. The Scouts scored five times in the sixth to pull even.

But in the Vernon Hills seventh, Boyer once again got it going for the Cougars. He walked and stole second. After a groundout moved Boyer to third, Goehrke reached on a fielder's choice and Boyer slid in safely at home. Goehrke stole second and moved to third on an infield error of the bat of Joey Marras. After Andrew Willey lined out, Feece singled up to middle to extend the lead to two. With runners on first and third, Crowley hit a line shot into the gap, scoring Feece for the third and final run of the inning.

Mundelein 7, Lakes 3: The Mustangs rebounded from their first loss of the season a day earlier to capture the North Suburban crossover.

Sam Osisek triple, while Logan Reckert and Reese Dolan doubled for Mundelein (18-1).

Dillon O'Donoghue earned the win.

Lakes fell to 6-7.

Lake Forest 6, Mundelein 0: On Wednesday, J.R. Reimer allowed 4 hits, striking out two and walking three, as the host Scouts avenged Tuesday's five-inning perfect-game loss and handed the Mustangs their first defeat in North Suburban Lake action.

Reimer helped his own cause by going 2-for-3 with a double. George Karkazis was 3-for-4 with a triple for Lake Forest (9-8, 2-4).

Mike Metz took the loss for Mundelein (17-1, 3-1).

Libertyville 13, Lake Zurich 4: On Wednesday, the Wildcats made it two wins in as many days against the Bears, as Jimmy Govern (2 runs, RBI) and Noah Greenberg (3 RBI) each had 2 hits in the North Suburban Lake game.

Jake Vogt was 1-for-1 with 2 RBI for Libertyville, which improved to 6-0 in the division. Hunter Van Wagner (2 RBI) and Ben Manski doubled.

Lake Zurich (8-7, 3-3) got 2 doubles from Steven Elrod. Joey Holtz was 2-for-2, and Steven Vanstedum went 1-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI.

Winning pitcher Mitch Townsend pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 runs, only 1 of which was earned.