Lake baseball notes: NSC, NLCC races much too close to call

The race for the North Suburban Conference title looks to be one headed toward an intense finish.

Stevenson, Libertyville and Mundelein were all 9-2 in NSC play after respective Monday wins (Stevenson over Waukegan, Mundelein over Lake Zurich and Libertyville over Zion). Stevenson and Libertyville will square off in a 2-game series to close out league play next week, while Mundelein has a home-and-home scheduled with Lake Forest.

Stevenson has heated up, going 14-2 over its last 16 games to sit at 20-8 overall. Coach Nick Skala said he’s hoping the recent cannonade can translate into a Class 4A No. 1 sectional seed for the Patriots.

“If we can get timely hitting and keep playing great defense, we will be very hard to beat,” Skala said. “We need to limit our strikeouts as well. I think it is going to come down to whoever doesn’t take their eye off what they need to do and not worry about the other teams in the race.”

Stevenson continues to be led on the mound by the trio of Ben Fawcett (5-0, 1.83 ERA, 27 strikeouts against 6 walks), Yuni Hamideh (4-1, 1.54 ERA, 43 strikeouts) and Drew Clark (4-0, 2.76 ERA, 35 strikeouts). Patriots pitchers have amassed an inordinate 68 called third strikes.

At the plate the news has been equally great for the Patriots. Aidan Crawley (.362 batting average, 5 doubles, 14 runs scored), Brandon Schultz (.359, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homer, 11 RBI, 29 runs scored, 1.031 OPS), Frank Costabile (.329, .973 OPS, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 3 homers, 16 RBI, 23 runs scored), Matteo Nolasco (.317, 4 doubles, 1 home run, 14 RBI) and Ryan Harris (4 doubles, 2 homers, 15 RBI, 19 runs scored) lead the way.

Mundelein started the week 17-6 overall after a win against Lake Zurich.

“Great race in the NSC with three good teams at the top of the conference and the area,” Mustangs coach Randy Lerner said. “It is going to come down to the last games. We control our own destiny. If we continue to get good pitching and eliminate some mental mistakes, we like our chances.”

To start the week, Braden Carman was hitting .475 with 29 hits, 20 RBI and 22 runs scored, while Joey Kafka was 6-0 (with league wins against Stevenson, Warren, Libertyville and Lake Zurich) on the mound with 46 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. He’s allowed only 6 earned runs and has a 1.42 ERA. Also of note, Johnny Weiss was 8 for his last 15 heading into this week.

After a Monday win over Zion, Libertyville was 19-7-1 overall.

“We need to win out to be sure of the title,” Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said.

In that Monday 2-0 win over Zion, Josh Holst threw a complete-game shutout with 17 strikeouts, 1 hit allowed and 2 walks. He also had an RBI triple in a starring role for the Cats.

Quinn Schambow is hitting .414 with 8 doubles, a triple, 5 homers, 21 RBI and has been walked 22 times. Holst is now 3-2 with 63 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. He has a 1.69 ERA and has walked 15. Chase Lockwood is 5-1 with 2 saves and a nonexistent 0.41 ERA. He’s fanned 34 in as many innings.

Northern Lake County league race: We’re also headed to the wire in the Northern Lake County Conference where after Monday, Wauconda and Grayslake Central were tied atop the loop with each leading in the least losses, most wins categories (Wauconda 9-3, Central 10-4). Grayslake North was lurking in third at 10-5.

Wauconda’s win streak was at three to start the week (including a 12-11 win over Prairie Ridge). Zac Johnson (.444 batting average), Danny Newman (.434) and Ryan Fostiak (.393) lead the way at the plate for the Bulldogs (17-8 overall). Tyler Tylka is 7-1 on the mound. “Those guys are consistent, intense and leading the team right now,” Wauconda coach Shawn Rudolph said. “They punch the clock and go to work.”

Central (18-8 overall) continues to be led offensively by Jordon Dumas (.440 batting average, team-high 28 RBI and team-best 9 doubles). Coach Troy Whalen said the Rams have been getting more offensive production from seniors Javon Johannsen (.322, 4-RBI game against Lakes) and junior Colton Ohm (hitting .400 since returning from injury).

On the mound, Jadon Dumas is 5-1 with 34 strikeouts in 31 innings to go with a 1.30 ERA. Senior Jacob Redker is 3-2 with 3 saves, 33 strikeouts in 28 innings to go with a 2.40 ERA.

“Pitching continues to be a strength,” Whalen said. “Our inexperience continues to show up at the wrong time and our kids have played enough innings this year where we should be minimizing those in-game mental mistakes. Our balance through the order and our pitching and defense continue to keep us in games. We need to pick it up to another level if we are to make a run in the postseason. We have the players to do that.”

Antioch update: The Sequoits started the week 9-14 overall and 4-8 in Northern Lake County action. Antioch defeated Zion recently to snap a 6-game losing streak. Coach Frank Fracek noted the Sequoits lost 3 conference games to Grant, “three very close games,” he said. “We have had an up-and-down season to this point. Our team has played good baseball, but we are learning to close games out and put teams away. I don’t think we have come anywhere close to playing our best baseball yet, which excited me.”

Nate Yeager leads Antioch in hitting with a .410 batting average (.538 slugging). “Nate has been outstanding all season,” Fracek said.

Jack Olson is hitting .359 (.458 slugging). “Jack’s bat has woken back up as of late,” Fracek added.

Dylan Feldkamp is 4-1 on the mound with a 0.82 ERA. “Dylan has been everything this season,” Fracek said. “In this only loss to Grant, he gave up 1 run.”

Grant update: Coach Dave Behm’s squad had won 5 games in a row to start the week to sit at 14-9 overall and 5-7 in NLCC action. Behm said the Bulldogs have been buoyed by starting pitching during the recent hot streak as evidenced by Braden Otahal throwing a shutout against Antioch and Brandon Wolkowitz and Kyle Stigler combining on another shutout against Antioch.

Lakes update: The Eagles started the week 15-7 overall and 7-5 in Northern Lake County play.

Derek Lucier was leading the team in hitting with a .486 batting average to go with a 1.465 OPS and 29 RBI. Spencer Kennamann was hitting .386 with a 1.027 OPS and 20 RBI and Will Hough was at .361 (1.091 OPS) with 28 RBI. “Derek, Spencer and Will have been swinging it well for us,” Lakes coach Chris Hoffmann said.

Jaden Jackson leads Lakes on the mound with a 1.75 ERA to start the week in 36 innings.

Lake Zurich update: A split with Libertyville and a solid nonconference win over Northern Lake County Conference upper-crust Wauconda had the Bears at 12-10 overall and 6-5 in NSC action to start the week.

Ryan Kondrad started the week hitting .468 with a .906 slugging percentage and 6 home runs. During a recent 3-game run, Owen Strahl went 7-for-11 with 2 homers and 7 RBI. Riley O’Donnell is hitting .397, to further aid the Bears’ offense.

Vernon Hills update: While the Cougars were 4-19 overall (2-7 Central Suburban North) to start the week, coach Pasquale Atteo noted his squad has lost “a ton of close games that are by 2 runs or less,” he said.

Carter Brusso leads the Cougars in hitting at .320, while Rudy Mohredick is hitting .299 and Tyler Perritt has 20 stolen bases.

“Carter is tearing it up,” Atteo said. “He reached base 3 times against Glenbrook South and has been playing some outstanding ball. Carter has been staying consistent at the plate by not overswinging or trying to do too much. He makes contact and is a smart ballplayer.”

Connor Brockway leads the Vernon Hills pitching staff with a 3.90 ERA in 35 1/3 innings.

Warren update: The Blue Devils started the week 9-13 overall, but had lost 6 contests by 1 run each. “We’re still losing tight games and need to finish games with the lead. We still have a chance to put a complete game together.”