Lake Co. softball preview
Barrington Class 4A sectional
Where: Fields of Dreams
Semifinals: No. 1 Fremd (29-4) vs. No. 5 Zion-Benton (24-11), 4:30 p.m. today; No. 2 Barrington (32-3) vs. No. 3 Lake Zurich (28-7), 4:30 p.m. Thursday
Championship: Semifinal winners meet at 11 a.m. Saturday
Advancement: Champion meets the champion of the Woodstock sectional (Prairie Ridge, South Elgin, Huntley and Rockton Hononegah) in the Barrington supersectional at 7 p.m. Monday
Fremd vs. Zion-Benton: The Vikings come into the semifinal after winning their 14th regional in school history and sixth in eight years under coach Jim Weaver. All-time Fremd strikeout leader (more than 600) Lena Brottman (17-3), a junior, and senior Casey Latal (12-1) have given the Vikes depth on the mound all spring. Fremd's bats have also been some of the most productive in the area. Leading the way are Jenny Schneider (.455), Lauren Zaworski (.404), Kelly Voigt (.393) and Jessica Tackett (.338). There is plenty of power in the lineup with Tackett hitting a single-season school record 10 homers, Schneider 2 and Zaworski 1. Zion-Benton advanced to its sixth sectional in school history with a 10-2 victory over No. 14 St. Viator at the Stevenson regional. The Zee-Bees have never won a sectional. Freshman pitcher Jessica Munda has 13 wins for the Zee Bees, while their top hitters are Veronica Kraly (.442, 21 RBI) and Abby Hanson (.371), who leads the team with 8 homers and 34 RBI.
The quote: "Zion-Benton is playing very well right now," Weaver said. "They have a very solid lineup top to bottom and two pitchers that they have used very effectively. We need to execute our game plan on both sides of the ball to be successful."
Barrington vs. Lake Zurich: The Fillies have won 30 or more games for the ninth straight season and are seeking their seventh sectional crown under coach Perry Peterson. Pitcher Kim Cygan (28-3) is looking for her second straight sectional crown as she pitched the Fillies to the Class 4A runner-up trophy last spring. The Fillies' offense has been led by Colleen Shandley (.447), Lindsey Dulla (.396), Kiersten Tinkoff (.316) and Cygan (. 314). Catcher Kristin Kuhn has thrown out 18 runners trying to steal and came up with game-winning hits against Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg. Tinkoff has 4 home runs and Shandley has hit safely in 30 of the Fillies' 35 games. The Bears advanced to their eighth sectional appearance by defeating Deerfield 4-0 in the Waukegan regional title game. Megan Mattera (19-5) fired a 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks while Amanda Orchard was 2-for-2 with an RBI and sacrifice. Teammate Erin Sweeney also went 2-for-3 with a run while Ella Aslan had a single and 2 RBI.
The quote: "We feel that our team has made tremendous progress throughout the course of the year," said Peterson. "And now is the time to prove it."
- Compiled by John Leusch
Marengo Class 3A sectional
Where: Marengo High School
Semifinals: Vernon Hills (19-8) vs. Marengo (29-6), 4 p.m. today; Antioch (31-2) vs. Grayslake Central (11-24), 4 p.m. Thursday
Championship: Semifinal winners meet at 11 a.m. Saturday
Advancement: Champion meets the champion of the Rochelle sectional (Sycamore, Burlington Central, Sterling and Rosary) in the DeKalb (NIU) supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday
Vernon Hills vs. Zion-Benton: The Cougars won the Wauconda regional by avenging a pair of regular-season losses to the host school. Vernon Hills features some veteran hitters in catcher Adrian Longobardi, third baseman Megan Kubacki, shortstop Anna Christensen and left fielder Charlotte Hoffman. Freshman pitcher Meline Meline shut out Wauconda 4-0 in the regional final. Sophomore pitcher/shortstop Emily Evanson has also proven to be a nice addition this season. Marengo routed Belvidere 11-1 to win its own regional. Junior Danielle Simons (19-2) pitched the Indians to win.
Antioch vs. Grayslake Central: Antioch has been the best team in Lake County all season, winning the North Suburban Conference championship with a 2-0 win over Lake Zurich in 15 innings, and now faces a Grayslake Central team that stunned Lakes to win its own regional. Antioch features a loaded lineup that includes left fielder Samie Seamon, shortstop Allie Anttila, second baseman/pitcher Ashley Mysliwiec, pitcher Olivia Duehr, catcher Hannah Vandevoorde, third baseman Lauren Moore and lefty first baseman Cat Dinlenburg. Duehr has been dominant in the circle all season. Grayslake Central pitcher Monika Wedick might be throwing the best she has all season. She fired back-to-back shutouts in the regional. The Rams boast a legitimate slugger in first baseman Abbie Goetsch, who's hit 10 home runs this season.
- Compiled by Joe Aguilar