Wrap: Westminster wins opener
The Westminster Christian baseball team scored an easy 10-0 win over Kirkland Hiawatha Wednesday in the opening round of the Class 1A Ashton-Franklin Center regional.
The Westminster offense came out strong as the Warriors (23-9-1) collected 11 hits.
Ryan Donahue (2 RBI), Tyler Beachler (2 RBI) and Casey Schuring (3-for-3) all doubled for the winners. Sophomore Joe McGannon, filling in for injured starter Carter Ward, went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI. Chad Schroy added a triple while Brandon Siewert hit a home run. Siewert pitched all 5 innings, fanning 6 batters with no walks to earn the win.
Westminster will play Saturday for the regional title.
Baseball
Lake Park 5, Elgin 2: In the Upstate Eight the Maroons (5-20, 5-19) fell to visiting Lake Park. Elgin's Ben Hamblen notched 2 hits and a double, Ben Stone collected a pair of hits and Carlos Espinoza contributed a 2-run single. Tom Roth (3-5) was on the mound for Elgin. The junior allowed 4 hits with 6 walks and 1 strikeout in 5 innings of work.
CL South 5, Dundee-Crown 1: Ryan Kelley led the Gators to victory by going 2-for-3 with a run batted in and 4 steals against Dundee-Crown in the Fox Valley (Valley). Tony Pauls (2-for-3) also doubled for the Gators (12-12, 6-7). Tim Ambrose (4-2) limited the Chargers (12-13, 5-8), to 4 hits with 4 strikeouts in 6½ innings pitched. Easton Kowalski earned the save with 1 strikeout.
Woodstock 8, Jacobs 3: Jacobs battled but fell short against Woodstock in this Fox Valley (Valley) matchup. Leading the Golden Eagles was Matt Igara going 3-for-4 with his 26th RBI of the season. John Amann also contributed at the plate going 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored. Jacobs starting pitcher Ricky Ames absorbed the loss, tossing 5 innings with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Neuqua Valley 9, Bartlett 4: In Upstate Eight Conference play in Bartlett, the Hawks fell for a second straight day to the defending state champs. Senior left-hander Mike Derby took the loss for Bartlett (15-9, 14-8). pitching 3 innings with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts. Tucker Erickson led the Hawks at the dish, going 1-for-3 with a double.
Prairie Ridge 8, Huntley 3: The Red Raiders were unable to derail the Prairie Ridge express in this Fox Valley (Fox) matchup. Area strikeout leader Tanner Funke (7-3) was denied what would have been an area-best 8th win of the season. He pitched 3 innings, allowing 9 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts. Zach Liebman (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Nathan Sopena (2-for-4) both contributed at the plate for Huntley (17-13, 6-7). Prairie Ridge senior Nick Martini (Kansas State) earned the win on the mound by pitching 6½ innings with 5 strikeouts. He allowed 6 hits and 5 walks. Bobby Martin hit 2 doubles for the Wolves while teammate Will Mack went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI. Prairie Ridge (22-7, 13-0).
Larkin splits with Waubonsie Valley: Larkin (12-14, 11-12) defeated Waubonsie Valley 8-5 in a game that was suspended on Tuesday. Larkin's Justin Kalusa doubled and tripled, Tyler Shore doubled and Cam Kinley went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored for the Royals. Shore was the winning pitcher. In the regularly scheduled Upstate Eight matchup, Waubonsie prevailed 3-2. Jake Kane led the way offensively for Larkin with a 2-run home run and Kinley added a double. Shore took the loss for the Royals, going 6 innings, with 3 strikeouts to earn a win and a loss on the mound on the same day.
Cary-Grove 10, McHenry 5: Eric Aguilera led Cary-Grove to victory over McHenry with a home run and 3 RBI. Sophomore Chris Waylock and Nick Hammonds each added doubles. Sean Kaveney earned the win for the Trojans (21-8, 9-4).
South Elgin and St. Charles North Split: South Elgin defeated St. Charles North 3-1 behind pitcher Ryan Kellner, who finished with 7 strikeouts. South Elgin then lost 3-2 in the continuation of a game suspended on Tuesday. Chris Ciccone doubled for the Storm. Josh Myers took the loss despite holding the North Stars to 2 hits in 4 innings.
Correction:ŒAn item in Wednesday's Daily Herald incorrectly stated that Prairie Ridge will play a doubleheader on Monday at Lippold Park in Crystal Lake. Jacobs will, in fact, will be playing that doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. against Crystal Lake Central, followed immediately by Jacobs vs. Marian Central.
Softball
Cary-Grove 1, Crystal Lake South 0: Julie Clemment (6-6) tossed a 3-hit shutout to lead the Trojans (16-13, 8-6) past Crystal Lake South (15-11, 7-7) in the Fox Valley (Valley). At the plate Lindsay Fritz (2-for-4) led the Trojans while Maggie O'Brien (2-for-3) hit in the only run of the game. For the Gators Emily Mahoney (7-1) suffered the loss.
Bartlett 4, Streamwood 0: Bartlett's Lauren Wydra threw another no-hitter against Streamwood in its final Upstate Eight game of the season Nicole Beck led the Hawks (26-5, 20-0) offensively going 2-for-3 with 4 RBI. Wydra had 8 strikeouts for Bartlett. Barb Posinger took the loss for Streamwood (8-20, 6-11).
Jacobs 4, McHenry 3: Senior Julie Escareno led the Golden Eagles (26-3, 15-0) to this Fox Valley (Valley) victory going 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 RBI. Kara Arceneaux (12-1) was in the circle pitching all 7 innings striking out 5 with 2 walks to snag the win.
Prairie Ridge 10, Grayslake Central 0: In 5 innings the Wolves (18-10, 10-4) were able to pound out 10 hits with 10 runs to defeat GLC for a Fox Valley (Fox) victory. Erica Trojan (8-5) threw a shutout allowing only 2 hits in 5 innings with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. At the plate Katie Schillinger (2-for-2, 2B) and Kelsey Brennan (2B) led PR and Kari Rankin was 2-for-4.
South Elgin 10, East Aurora 0: The Storm's Kimberly Pierce (2-1) tossed a 2 hit shutout fanning 9 batters with just 1 walk in this Upstate Eight win. Katelyn Stonecipher (2-for-2) and Lauren Vitiello led the Storm (19-9, 10-8) each going 3-for-4. Pierce also had 2 RBI.
Neuqua Valley 4, Larkin 3: Neuqua Valley pulled past Larkin in the top of the 7th inning to take the win. Sophie Sterricker doubled for the Royals. Heather Graff was the losing pitcher.