Hard-hitting Carmel wins ESCC opener

Emma Bartz and Flynn Johnson homered, Amanda Elert had a double and 3 RBI, and Carmel Catholic's softball team stayed hot with an 8-6 win over host Fenwick in an East Suburban Catholic Conference opener Wednesday.

The game was called after five innings due to rain and field conditions.

Jen Giesey and Taylor Ganan each went 2-for-3, and Elert was 2-for-4, as Carmel improved to 6-1. Starting pitcher Claire Petrus hiked her record to 4-1. Bartz and Johnson (2 RBI) were both 1-for-2.

Antioch 8, Palatine 6: Jill Foote's three-run homer capped a four-run bottom of the sixth, as the Sequoits pulled out the nonconference win.

Foote (2-for-4) also doubled. The home run was her fourth of the season in seven games. Antioch (6-1), which has won six in a row, also got a 3-for-4 effort from freshman Katie Sorenson. Annie Wagner had a pair of RBI. Deighton Butenschoen's run-scoring ouble broke a 4-4 tie in the sixth, which also included bunt singles by Kaylee Schreiner and Jacklyn Geraty.

Fremd 6, Mundelein 2: The visiting Vikings led only 2-1 after four innings, before scoring twice in both the fifth and sixth.

Karlee Busscher (4-for-4) and Amanda Diaz (3-for-4, double) paced Mundelein's 10-hit attack. Nicole Parney went the distance in the circle for Mundelein (2-7), allowing just 2 earned runs while striking out three.