Softball: Britton, Warren outlast Prospect
Caitlyn Britton hit her 18th homer of the season, and Warren's softball team avoided an upset on its home field by pulling out a 7-4 win over No. 14 Prospect in semifinal action of the Class 4A Warren regional Tuesday.
No. 3 Warren (22-4) advances to Saturday's 11 a.m. final against the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 6 Grayslake North and No. 12 Buffalo Grove.
The Blue Devils saw Prospect tie the score at 4-4 in the top of the fifth, but then scored twice in their half of the inning. Britton also doubled and singled, finishing 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. She earned the win in the circle, as well, allowing 3 earned runs in a complete-game effort with 12 strikeouts and 5 walks. Emily Craig hit a solo home run for Warren, Kassie Jimenez was 2-for-4 with a double, and Kayla Nommensen had a triple.
Grayslake Central 12, Wauconda 2: At Vernon Hills, Rachel Smigielski was 3-for-3 with a double and 4 RBI, and the Rams won in five innings in a Class 3A regional semifinal.
No. 3 Grayslake Central (23-7-1) advances to Saturday's 11 a.m. regional final against the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 6 Vernon Hills and No. 11 Prairie Ridge.
Ashlynn Coleman also was 3-for-3 and knocked in a run for the Rams. Avery Nims finished 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, and Grace Bradley (11-6) earned the complete-game win, allowing 6 hits and 1 earned run with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks.
For No. 15 Wauconda (6-19), Sydney Rodgers was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
Antioch 10, Resurrection 0: At Antioch, the top-seeded Sequoits won their Class 3A regional semifinal in five innings, as Jeri Bonaguidi pitched a 1-hitter with 3 strikeouts and no walks.
Piper Foote and Avery Malicki led the way offensively for Antioch (26-5-1), which advances to Friday's 4:30 p.m. final against the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 8 Ridgewood and No. 9 Johnsburg. Foote was 3-for-3 with a double, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases. Malicki went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI. The Sequoits' other contributors included Gabby Debevec (2-for-3, double, RBI), Faith Miller (2-for-3, double) and Ashlyn Sundell (2 walks, 3 stolen bases).
Libertyville 15, Wheeling 0: At Glenbrook South, Sarah Bennett was 3-for-3 with a triple and 2 RBI, and the second-seeded Wildcats won their Class 4A regional semifinal in four innings.
Katie Jahncke went 2-for-2 for Libertyville (22-7), which advances to Friday's 4:30 p.m. final against the winner of Wednesday's game between No. 8 Glenbrook South and No. 10 Glenbrook North.
Julia Zinkewich (2 RBI) and Charlotte Lynch (double, 3 RBI) were both 2-for-3 for Libertyville. Amanda Page pitched all 4 innings, allowing only 2 hits and 1 walk, while striking out eight.
Lake Zurich 11, Crystal Lake Central 3: Playing under the lights at the Fields of Dreams, the Bears beat the No. 4 seed in a semifinal of the Class 4A Barrington regional.
Haley Gajewski was 3-for-4 with a homer and 4 RBI for No. 6 Lake Zurich, which moves on to Saturday's 11 a.m. final against top-seeded Barrington. Megan Croke was 2-for-4 with a stolen base for the Bears, and winning pitcher Maura Ginn went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and an RBI. Ginn allowed 1 earned run in 5 innings, striking out six and not walking a batter.