Warren rises to the occasion, clinches NSC Lake
The blue and white balloons released into the blue sky before Warren's home softball game Saturday and those decorating the outfield fence and dugouts might have looked familiar to Sabrina Trevino.
That's because softballs have seemingly looked as big as balloons to Warren's senior third baseman when she has stepped to the plate this season.
Trevino cracked her 15th home run of the season and 22nd of her two-year varsity career (both school records), as the Blue Devils clinched the North Suburban Lake Division championship with a 6-0 win over Lake Forest in Gurnee.
"I think everyone was thinking about it," Trevino said of the Blue Devils' second division championship in four years. "But it wasn't something we were all talking about. We're just trying to play our game."
Trevino played her game, again. She also had a bloop RBI double.
"She's disciplined at the plate," coach Jenna Anderson said after her Blue Devils improved to 26-2 and 10-1 in the NSC Lake. "She waits for something she can drive. I know if she's got two strikes, she'll be all right. She'll make good contact on something."
"It's just, 'Hit the ball hard, hard contact,' " Trevino said of her approach. "If it goes over (the fence), it goes over."
The second annual Sherry Wagner game drew a large crowd, which was treated to Trevino's long drive over the center-field fence with Julienne Egofske and Shannon McKeon aboard. The 3-run shot in the opening inning was all Warren pitcher Sage Staranowicz needed. The junior right-hander scattered 3 singles and struck out 10.
Warren wore light-purple T-shirts in honoring the late mother of former all-area pitcher Jana Wagner, with raffle proceeds going to the Warren Special Recreation Association. Jana Wagner, who pitched for Palm Beach Atlantic College this spring, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Warren will host Antioch or Wauconda in the NSC title game Thursday.
"We definitely want to win that game, but we're looking beyond that," said Anderson, whose defending Class 4A state champs wrap up division play Monday against Libertyville. "Not that (the conference championship) isn't important."
Lake Forest (2-16, 0-10) played creditably, allowing only single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings after spotting Warren its 3-0 lead in the first. Sophomore pitcher Ashley Dueringer allowed 4 earned runs.
"This was, by far, our best defensive game of the year," Scouts coach Susie Brugioni said. "When you play defense, your pitcher isn't throwing to as many batters."
Scouts freshman center fielder Jon'nah Williams robbed Rachele Belletini of a 3-run homer in the fifth by making a leaping catch in front of the fence.
"She's getting really good," Brugioni said. "She's really learning angles and getting to the right place. With her athleticism, she's going to be making spectacular catches."
Belletini, Trevino and Brooke Sowa each finished 2-for-3 for the Blue Devils. Jensen Plata went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, while Julienne Egofske (1-for-4) and Nicole Somppi also had RBI.