Softball: Lake Zurich rallies past Warren

With a 3-run lead heading into the bottom of the sixth, things were looking pretty good for Warren’s softball team Monday at Lake Zurich.

But the host Bears exploded for 7 runs on 6 hits in the bottom of the sixth on their way to an 8-4 North Suburban Conference victory over the Blue Devils.

Now there is a logjam of teams at the top of the NSC standings as Warren (17-6, 11-2) is tied for first place with Mundelein (16-4, 11-2). Lake Zurich (18-8, 10-3) is in third place with one game to go.

Winning pitcher Alaina Krzeminski (2 innings pitched) started the rally with a walk before moving to second on a fielder's choice and scoring on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Ellie Homuth to cut the deficit to 4-2 off Warren starter Camryn Guldberg (5 1/3 innings pitched).

Lexie Kahle reached on an error before a triple to right field by freshman Brooklyn Barber (2-for-3) drove in two runs to tie the score at 4-4. An RBI single by Kendall Hull drove in Barber for a 5-4 lead before Claire Kohlman singled.

Warren brought in Adriana Burke to pitch, but Lake Zurich starting pitcher Jules Kekstadt hit an RBI single to boost the lead to 6-4. The Bears got two more insurance runs on a 2-run double by Cami Lewandowski as 11 batters came to the plate during the 7-run rally.

“I'm super proud of us for keeping that fight down 4-1, and we were able to string some things together in that inning and score seven,” said Lake Zurich coach Nicole Pieper. “We were jumping on them early in the count, not falling behind, swinging at good pitches, and taking it to right field.”

Fielder's choice RBI by Warren’s Cassie Gabbianelli and Peyton Nissen drove in Annalise Stich (2-for-3, walk) and Norah Howell for a 2-0 lead after two innings. Warren's Brooklyn Parrish reached on an error and moved up a base on another error on the same play. Parrish scored on a wild pitch before teammate Lauren Jaronik singled with two outs. She scored on an RBI single by Stich for a 4-0 lead.

“Our defense had some critical mistakes and they just took advantage of it, and when you have a team that hits as well as they do you can't give them extra outs,” said Warren coach Jenna Charbonneau, whose team had their nine-game winning streak snapped. “Offensively I thought we had a good approach. We put up four runs and that should be enough, but when you give them extra outs that's what happens.”

Kohlman (1-for-2, walk) had a fielder's choice RBI to drive in Kahle to cut the deficit to 4-1 after five innings. Hull and Lewandowski both went 2-for-4.

“I think when we just bring the energy and we put the pressure on the defense we succeed,” said Kekstadt, who pitched five innings. “We want to place in the top three in the conference and hopefully win a regional.”