Softball roundup: Mundelein, Barrington, Fremd among regional champions
After missing last season with a torn labrum, the 2024 North Suburban Conference Pitcher of the Year Shae Johnson is right back where she left off in her sophomore season.
For the second time in the three years, Johnson pitched Mundelein to a Class 4A regional championship under coach Heather Ryan.
Johnson (16-3) fired an 8-hitter with 9 strikeouts Friday to post a 9-6 win over No. 9 seed Niles North (18-9) at Prospect High School in Mt. Prospect.
The top-seeded Mustangs (19-5) will face the winner of Saturday's New Trier regional final (Stevenson vs. New Trier) in Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. semifinal of the Glenbrook North sectional.
"Honestly, I was really nervous today," said Johnson, a Fullerton College (California) recruit. "I felt I had a lot of anxiety going into the game and I feel that showed in my pitching. I didn't throw my best game but luckily I had my team to back me up. I'm so happy our bats came through and my defense was able to make some good plays and get us out of tough innings. Overall, it was a team win."
Mundelein senior Casey Vyverman, a Western Michigan basketball pledge, went 2-for-4 with a towering home run in the bottom of the sixth inning and a double.
Sophomore Sarah Benes was 3-for-3 with a double while senior Kieley Tomas was 2-for-4 and Avi Perez added a double.
"We've been working in practice on getting runners home," Ryan said. "We've done a lot of pressure hitting and that really paid off today. The girls executed so well offensively. It was good to be able to back up our pitcher today."
Barrington 3, McHenry 1: No. 1 seed Barrington (34-0) won its 24th consecutive regional championship and 29th in program history over No. 5 and host McHenry (15-14) in the Class 4A event.
Senior Katie Taraschewsky (30-0) allowed 1 earned run while striking four and hit a towering home run over the left field scoreboard that tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
The Fillies took the lead with 2 runs in fifth inning as Izzy Zwolinski (double) scored on Shaylee Hiser's bunt to make it 2-1.
Ava Glosny then drove in Hiser with a sacrifice fly for the third run.
The Fillies face No. 2 Hononegah at 4:30 p.m. in Tuesday's first semifinal of their own sectional.
Fremd 5, Conant 1: Fremd won its 24th regional in program history as senior ace Molly Kanupke (12-6) tossed a 4-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks.
Vikings junior first baseman Anna Montella went 2-for-2 with 2 runs, an RBI and a walk.
Audrie Corrado, Amanda Poniecki and Emily Usalis each had a hit and RBI while Suzana Grosman and Emilia Sheridan also had hits for coach Josh Teschner's team, which improved to 18-7-1.
It is the fourth regional title for Teschner in the last six seasons.
Conant's 4 hits came from Cailyn Kehoe, Payton Ackman, Brooke Arndt and Jenny Ryan. Freshman pitcher Adler Long struck out eight for the Cougars (15-8).
Lake Zurich 10, Palatine 0 (5 innings): No. 3 Lake Zurich (21-10) had 12 hits, including a double from junior Kendall Hull, to win the Class 4A championship of the Palatine regional over the host and No. 2 seeded Pirates (24-5).
Hull (3-for-3), freshman Brooklyn Barber (3-for-4), senior Claire Kohlman (2-for-3) and freshman Cami Lewandowski (2-for-2) were top hitters for the Bears, who advance to the Barrington sectional Tuesday to face Huntley in a 6:30 p.m. semifinal.
Antioch 5, Resurrection 0: No. 1 seed Antioch (29-3) won its 13th straight regional championship 5-0 over No. 8 Resurrection in its own Class 3A regional.
Pearl Wenzel went all seven innings, striking out 13 and only allowing 3 hits.
She only faced 23 batters as catcher Addison Webb had a pickoff in the fifth inning.
Tegan Schuler scored in the first inning and was 2-3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI. Claire Schuyler also had a double, RBI and stolen base.
Sam Hillner was 2-3 with a run, RBI and 2 stolen bases while Kailyn Bockwoldt was 1-3 with an RBI, run and stolen base.
Warren 14, Carmel 5 : Coach Jenna Charbonneau's No. 3 seeded Blue Devils (21-6) gave the program their 19th regional title.
Winning pitcher Adrianna Burke went seven innings, giving up 8 hits and striking out eight while Key offensive players were junior DH Norah Howell, (3-for-5, 5 RBI, 2 runs), senior OF Rachel Veronie (2-for-4, 2 doubles, 3 runs) and senior first baseman Camryn Guldberg (1-for-2, 2 walks, home run, 2 RBI).
No. 11 Carmel (16-14) was led by Grace King, who had 3 hits including a double while teammate Bella Cameron had 2 hits, a double and home run.
"This team never gave up," said Corsairs coach Nicole Parney. "They battled until the very last out and each one of them went out giving their all. This was a special group and our seniors will be missed. It has been a good season and we are looking forward to what’s to come next year."
Wauconda 6, Amundsen 1: Wauconda won its fifth regional title in six seasons as Georgia Reimers threw a complete game with 6 strikeouts for coach Tim Orisek's No. 5 seeded Bulldogs (18-17) over No. 3 Amundsen (24-10).
Aubrey Fetingis (3-for-3, home run, 4 RBI, 3 runs) and Ainsleigh Buse (3-for-4, home run, double, 3 runs) led the Bulldogs offense.
Vernon Hills 4, Lakes 2: No. 2 Vernon Hills (23-8-1) won its own regional over No. 7 Lakes (13-16) and will face No. 5 Wauconda (18-17) at the Antioch Class 3A sectional in Wednesday's 4:30 p.m. semifinal.
Maine South 7, Whitney Young 6: No. 10 Maine South scored a run in the seventh inning to break a 6-6 tie and win its own regional over No. 4 Whitney Young.
Coach Emmy Pasier's Hawks will face top-seeded Taft in the Whitney Young sectional semifinal.
St. Charles East 3, Schaumburg 1: No. 10 seeded Schaumburg, which placed fourth in the Mid-Suburban League conference championship, ended its season with a 15-8 record after the loss to No. 2 SCE.