Baseball: Bicknase's big start helps Wauconda advance

Jacob Bicknase dominated on the mound, and Wauconda shut out host Ridgewood 2-0 in Class 3A regional semifinal baseball action Thursday.

Bicknase fired a complete-game 2-hitter, striking out six and walking one, as the ninth-seeded Bulldogs beat the No. 8 seed on its home field. Wauconda advances to Saturday's noon regional final against top-seeded Lakes.

John Herbst went 3-for-3 with a double and run scored to pace Wauconda offensively. Dan Sperling was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and run scored, and Jake Harmon's drove in the game's other run. Wauconda scored solo runs in the first and second innings.

Grant 5, Cary-Grove 4: At Cary-Grove, the sixth-seeded Bulldogs scored twice in the seventh, after No. 4 C-G plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-3 lead in the Class 4A regional semifinal.

Logan Lewis was 2-for-3 with a double and 2 RBI for Grant (19-13), which advances to Saturday's 2 p.m. regional final against top-seeded Crystal Lake South.

Nolan Unger went 1-for-3 with a double, run scored and an RBI for Grant. Ben Kusiak (3-0) threw 2 innings in relief to get the win after Nick Malmberg pitched the first 5, allowing 2 runs and striking out four.

Woodstock 10, Vernon Hills 6: At St. Viator, the seventh-seeded Cougars saw their season end at the hands of the 10th-seeded Blue Streaks in the Class 3A regional semifinal.

Woodstock advances to Saturday's 10 a.m. regional final against No. 2 St. Viator. Vernon Hills finished 18-14-1.

Vernon Hills' Kyle Fasbinder homered, singled and drove in 2 runs. Brennan Reback stole two bases to hike his school-record total to 35, Joe Rangel was 2-for-3, and Sam Brandt hit a double.

Grayslake Central 3, Lake View 2: At Grayslake Central, Ben Fitzgerald's sacrifice fly capped a 2-run bottom of the seventh, lifting the fifth-seeded Rams to a walk-off win over the No. 12 seed in a Class 3A regional semifinal.

Grayslake Central advances to Saturday's 11 a.m. regional final against No. 4 Antioch.

Fitzgerald, Nic Presutti, Kyle Allen, Clay Stoffel and Marcus Maristella had the only hits for the Rams. Coby Moe earned the win, pitching 2 innings in relief and allowing only 1 hit while striking out three. Justin Shepley tossed the first 5 innings, giving up 2 runs, striking out six and walking three.

Highland Park 4, Lake Zurich 0: At Highland Park, the host school/No. 10 seed knocked off the seventh-seeded Bears in a Class 4A regional semifinal.

Highland Park advances to Saturday's 11 a.m. regional final against No. 2 Libertyville.