Softball: Fremd-Elk Grove title match set

As a forward on Fremd's Class 4A state runner-up girls basketball team this winter, senior Julia Wacker hit her share of long-range shots.

On the softball diamond, the academic standout can also hit long shots.

She belted another homer on Tuesday and collected 3 RBI as the No. 4-seeded Vikings won 8-0 over No. 13 Glenbard North in the semifinals of the Class 4A Larkin regional in Elgin.

Ann Marie O'Sullivan had 2 hits for Fremd while Jessica Mazur (11-1) was the winning pitcher in coach Jim Weaver's 395th career win.

Fremd (25-4) advances to play No. 5 Elk Grove (25-6) for the championship on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Larkin.

Elk Grove 12, Willowbrook 0 (5 inn.): Sarah Pauscher (2-for-4, 2 RBI) belted her 15th homer and Alex Masnica (2-for-3, 4 RBI, double) hit her eighth homer as the No. 5-seeded Grens (25-6) advanced to the championship of the Larkin regional on Friday against Fremd.

The Grens received a combined no-hitter from Kylie Thomsen (15-4) and senior Anna Bonder.

Thomsen struck out six in the first four innings while Bonder had one strikeout out in the fifth.

Thomsen (2-for-2, sacrifice fly, 2 RBI) also had 2 doubles while Haley Itzenthaler (1-for-2, 3 RBI) had one.

Carly Crothers also went 2-for-3 for Elk Grove and coach Ken Grams, who notched career win No. 881.

York 12, Maine West 3: Senior Kayla Pociejewski had 2 hits for the No. 13-seeded Warriors, who fell to No. 3 York in the semifinal of the Class 4A Leyden regional.

Monica Liwag, Jordan Hart, Nora McDonald and Allison Eby had the other hits for West.

No. 6 Leyden won 8-5 over No. 11 Lane Tech in the other semifinal,

Both games were played at the Ballpark at Rosemont, which will host Saturday's 10 a.m. championship between Leyden and York.

Libertyville 8, Prospect 2: Libertyville's Hannah Heraty retired 17 hitters in a row after the second inning, as the top-seeded Wildcats won the Class 4A Lake Forest regional semifinal over Prospect (10-21).

Heraty allowed just 2 hits for the North Suburban Conference champs, striking out five and walking one.

Jessie Lauret led Libertyville offensively, going 3-for-4 with a double, 2 RBI and 3 stolen bases.

Jamie Stevens was 1-for-1 with 2 RBI, Emily Hilldale (1-for-3) doubled and Sarah Hoyer (2-for-3) tripled.

Warren 10, Buffalo Grove 3: No. 3 seed Warren (23-12) advanced to its own Class 4A regional final with the win over No. 14 Buffalo Grove (8-20).

Hannan Nommensen pitched a complete game for Warren.

The Blue Devils will face the winner of today's 4:30 p.m. semifinal between No. 6 Grayslake Central and No. 11 Palatine.