Baseball: Grayslake Central plays long ball, finally

Coming into Wednesday's Northern Lake County Conference game against host Antioch, Grayslake Central's baseball team did not have a home run this season.

The Rams changed that in a big way. Nate Twardock, Marcus Maristela and Nic Presutti all homered, as the Rams won 15-11, improving their record to 21-4 and 12-2 in the NLCC.

Twardock and Maristela hit 2-run shots, while Presutti had a solo blast. Twardock and Maristela had 3 hits apiece, while Presutti was joined by Tony Crews with 2 hits. Coby Moe and Kevin O'Brien both added doubles. Eric Sturm picked up his sixth win on the season, allowing 2 earned runs over 4 innings while striking out five.

Lake Zurich 5, Warren 4 (12 innings): In a continuation of last Friday's game that was suspended due to darkness, the host Bears prevailed in extra innings to hand the Blue Devils' their first North Suburban Conference loss.

Warren (24-3, 11-1), which clinched the NSC championship on Tuesday, also had its 21-game winning streak snapped.

Lake Zurich (16-8, 8-4) was led by James Piggott, who pitched 5 scoreless innings in relief with 3 strikeouts while also going 3-for-4 at the plate. Jack Pfeifer and Michael Chialdikas were both 2-for-5 for the Bears.

Grant 5, Lakes 2: The Bulldogs scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to snap a 2-2 tie en route to the win, which keeps them undefeated in Northern Lake County Conference play.

Carlos Martinez was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Grant (19-4, 12-0). Henry Kusiak was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Joe Gorden finished 2-for-3. Mason Sekulich allowed 1 hit and struck out three in 2⅓ innings in relief to earn the win.

Vernon Hills 3, Maine West 2: Ethan Bowers' RBI single with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Cougars to the Central Suburban League North Division win.

Jake Morris was 2-for-3 for Vernon Hills (15-9, 7-5), Danny Wizceb allowed 2 runs in 7 innings, and Alex Yu struck out two in his 1 inning to get the win.

Carmel 12, Marian Central 0: Nolan Taylor earned the win, Lukas Galdoni was 1-for-2 with 4 RBI, and the Corsairs won in East Suburban Catholic Conference action.

Jason Hironimus went 2-for-2 for Carmel (13-5, 8-4).

Wauconda 13, Round Lake 2: Jacob Jensen was 4-for-4, Clark Morgan struck out in earning the win, and the Bulldogs won big in Northern Lake County Conference action.

Drew Coe homered for Wauconda (9-12, 5-7).