Lake softball notes: Antioch trying to get healthy; NSC race tight at the top

Here comes the Antioch softball team.

Coach Anthony Rocco’s squad started the week in first place in the Northern Lake County Conference with an 8-0 mark (15-12 overall). Antioch, winners of 5 of its last 6, had a 3-game lead with 4 games to play.

Key reasons for the recent success include Addison Webb (.420 hitting, 8 doubles, 30 RBI), Tanner Ludwig (6 homers), Samantha Hillner (6 homers), Alyna Matarieh (27 runs, 10 steals), Lillie Glenn (11-5 pitching), Addison Osborne (2 wins, 7 for 7 in save opportunities, leads team in K and ERA) and Stella Dohrman (2 wins).

In the last 2 weeks covering a 6-game span, Hillner and Addison Housh have led the way with Hillner hitting .476 with a double, 2 homers, 7 RBI and 4 runs, while fanning only once at the plate. Housh hit .400 with 2 doubles, a homer and 4 RBI, while Osborne picked up 4 saves in a 5-game stretch, allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run, striking out 15 and walking 3 while posting a 0.47 ERA. Also in that 6-game stretch, Antioch’s pitching staff posted a 1.58 ERA.

“We are dealing with some injuries to the middle of the order and excited for the postseason with how this team has progressed this season,” Rocco said. “Our goal is to be healthy down the stretch and have the offense firing on all cylinders like we did in 2024.”

Carmel Catholic update: Grace Brown and Grace King’s amazing seasons continue. To start the week Brown was hitting .616 with 40 hits, including 12 doubles, 4 triples, 12 homers and 47 RBI, while striking out only 3 times. Grace King is hitting .617 with 39 hits, including 12 doubles, 2 triples, 10 homers and 42 RBI for the Corsairs (15-7, 7-3 East Suburban Catholic).

Coach Nicole Parney praised the work of pitcher Kaitlyn Konen and third baseman Jenae Tompkins.

“Kaitlyn is doing well in the circle,” Parney said. “She is keeping hitters guessing and pounding the strike zone while fielding her positions. Jenae has stepped up playing third and has held down the corner well. She is working hard on the left side with Grace Brown, keeping balls from reaching the outfield.”

Grayslake North update: Brena Dalton (.486, 7 doubles, 5 triples, 1 homer, 9 steals) and Lauren Gaeding (.486 hitting, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 homer) have been key players for the Knights (13-9, 5-4 Northern Lake County). Coach Amanda Rodriguez said Dalton has been equally valuable, stepping up and helping the team in the circle after 2 pitchers got hurt. Alyson Alvarenga is hitting .419 and has been flexible in the field playing different positions due to injuries, Rodriguez added.

Lakes update: Liv Tautges is hitting over .500 for the Eagles (10-10). “When our defense shows up, we win,” coach Bill Hamill said.

Lake Zurich update: Kendall Hull (.516, no errors in the field), Izzy Vodicka (.456 hitting, .953 fielding) and Claire Kohlman (.443 hitting, .968 fielding) have helped the Bears (11-14-1, 6-4 North Suburban), as has Kelly Selzer (.667 in a recent 3-game stretch against Libertyville, Lake Forest and Carmel) and Claire Kohlman (combined 1.000 hitting with 5 hits, 4 singles, a triple and a walk in games against Lake Forest and Carmel). Vodicka hit .600 during that same 3-game sample.

Libertyville update: The Wildcats enjoyed recent North Suburban wins against Lake Zurich and Mundelein in extra innings, plus split a twin bill with Antioch. Junior Taylor Higham (9-3 pitching, .429 batting), senior Zoe Kinsella (.398 batting) and freshman center fielder Juliana Figurelli (.369) are starring for Libertyville (16-8, 6-4 North Suburban). “We are playing well as a team right now,” interim coach Dar Townsend said.

Mundelein update: The Mustangs downed Warren Monday to move to 15-7 and 6-5 in North Suburban play. Sophomore Taylor Pyke is hitting .480 with 9 homers, while Sophia Zepeda has returned to the circle after being injured. From last Monday to this Monday, Zepeda fanned 31 in 4 games. In a recent 2-game stretch, freshman Avi Perez had 3 doubles and a triple. “We are finally healthy again,” Mundelein coach Heather Ryan said.

Round Lake update: The Panthers recently beat Streamwood 15-0 and played a full 7-inning game and lost 7-3 to Elgin. Round Lake started the week 3-13 overall and 1-10 in Northern Lake County play.

Freshman Piper Berry is hitting .538 with 6 homers and 15 steals and has fanned 97 in the circle. Junior Ariana Cabral has been strong behind the plate, coach Marjorie Szumylo said.

Berry leads the team in steals, while Cabral has 9 steals. Berry also is slugging 1.462 and has a .686 on-base percentage.

Stevenson update: The Patriots (21-3 overall) held a slim half-game lead (9-1) in the North Suburban title race ahead of Warren Township to begin the week. Stevenson started play this week on a 14-game winning streak. Senior pitcher-first baseman Aubrey Jepson (.474 batting) and Sophia Becker (.441) lead the way at the plate, while Addie Pak hit .636 with 7 hits, including 2 doubles, 3 RBI and 3 steals during a recent 3-game stretch. Junior Alyssa Shimanski, during that same period, hit .571 with 4 hits, including a double, a homer, 3 RBI and 8 runs scored.

Vernon Hills update: Cate Pangilinan (.414 hitting, 36 hits, 28 runs, 16 steals, solid play at second, coach Jan Pauly noted), Izzy Loiben (.326, .547 slugging, 31 hits, 22 RBI, 22 runs), Gia Gossett (.321 hitting, helping with pitching) and Lindsey Svrusis has made 1 error in 53 chances in center. Of late, Pangilinan is hitting .556, while Svrusis is hitting .438 for the Cougars (9-20, 3-3 Central Suburban North), who downed Niles West (5-3) and Deerfield/Highland Park (5-0).

Warren Township update: It’s Warren and Stevenson for the race for the North Suburban title. The Blue Devils started the week 17-6 overall and 9-2 in NSC action (a half-game back of Stevenson).

Katie Monroe (.448 batting, 1.187 OPS, 3 homers, 21 RBI, 2 K batting, 4 runners thrown out stealing), Camryn Gulberg (.431 hitting, 1.173 OPS, 17 RBI, 16 runs, 94 2/3 innings pitched), Annalise Stich (.437 batting, 1.254 OPS, 5 homers, 23 RBI), Rachel Veronie (bright spot in the outfield and the batter’s box) and Lauren Jaronik (solid middle infield play and making solid contact, coach Jenna Charbonneau pointed out.