Softball roundup: St. Charles North rallies for regional title; Glenbard East upsets Lake Park

Trailing South Elgin 2-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, St. Charles North’s softball team needed an offensive spark.

Moments later, that spark occurred like more of a lightning bolt, as Abby Zawadski (team-high 12th of the season) and Jordyn McBride each belted solo home runs for the North Stars (23-2), who drew even with the Storm at 2-2.

After Zawadski (12-0) kept South Elgin (21-6) off the board in the top half of the seventh, the North Stars received another long ball at the most opportune time, as junior third baseman Julianna Kouba smacked a 2-run, walk-off home run during the team’s 4-2 victory in Friday’s Class 4A regional championship at Rolling Meadows.

The game-winning hit was nothing new for Kouba, who delivered a key 2-run single during the North Stars’ 3-1 DuKane Conference victory over St. Charles East on May 6.

Junior Ella Heimbuch led off the seventh with a single, and eventually advanced to third before Kouba helped the top-seeded North Stars secure their sixth consecutive regional title with her seventh home run of the season.

Upstate Eight champion South Elgin grabbed a 2-0 lead in its half of the sixth.

Freshman catcher Charlotte Rzenno singled before freshman shortstop Ava Lazare hit a 2-run home run – her fifth of the season – to put the 9th-seeded Storm on top.

Zawadski, who allowed 5 hits while striking out 4, and South Elgin’s Kaidence Rumachik battled through a scoreless deadlock after 5 innings.

St. Charles North, which avenged last year’s 5-0 sectional semifinal loss to South Elgin, advances to Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. Bartlett sectional semifinals against 4th-seeded Fremd (18-7-1), which downed Conant, 5-1, in Hoffman Estates on Friday.

St. Edward 12, Aurora Christian 2 (6 innings): Senior Francesca Buono went 3 for 3 with a triple and 5 RBI to lift top-seeded St. Edward (17-11) to a 12-2, 6-inning victory over No. 4 seed Aurora Christian during Friday’s Class 1A regional championship in Elgin.

With the win, the Green Wave (17-11) advance to Wednesday’s 7 p.m. Indian Creek sectional semifinals against Gardner-South Wilmington (24-11).

Senior Grace Kendall (2 for 3) gave the Eagles (10-16) a 2-0 lead in the top of the third with a 2-run double.

St. Edward answered with 5 runs in its half of the frame, then put the game out of reach with a 6-run fifth.

Offensively, Buono was supported by seniors Alaina Nolan (2 for 4, double, RBI, 3 runs scored), Kendall Pemberton (3 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored), sophomore Sophia Velazco (3 for 4, double, RBI), and juniors Layne Dawson (2 for 3, 2 runs scored, RBI), and Taylor Dawson (2 for 3, RBI, run scored).

Nolan pitched all 6 innings for the Green Wave, allowing a pair of runs on 4 hits with 3 walks and 9 strikeouts.

Freshman Ella Owen, who had a pair of hits, pitched 4 1/3 innings for Aurora Christian.

Kaneland 6, Belvidere North 1: Ellie Peck struck out 8 and allowed an unearned run in 7 innings during Kaneland’s 6-1 Class 3A regional championship win over top-seeded Belvidere North Saturday in Maple Park.

With the win, the No. 3 seeded Knights advance to Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. Belvidere North sectional semifinals against No. 2 seed Woodstock North.

Lillyana Crawford led the offense, going 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI, supported by Addison Coulter (RBI double), Riley Cooper (3 hits), Madison Kossakowski (2 hits), and Makayla Jonutz (2 hits).

Geneva 4, Belvidere 3: Junior Madison Gates allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with 5 strikeouts and went 2 for 4 at the plate to lift 4th-seeded Geneva (11-19) to a 4-3 victory over No. 2 seed Belvidere in 8 innings during Friday’s Class 3A regional championship in Belvidere.

The Vikings, who claimed their first regional title since 2019, advance to Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. Belvidere North sectional semifinals against No. 1 seed Prairie Ridge.

Geneva’s offense was led by sophomores Jillian Bultmann (2 for 5, run scored), Avery Edison (2 RBI), and Jazmine Reddick (2 for 4, RBI).

Huntley 3, Harlem 0: Junior pitcher Layla Olson tossed a 3-hit complete game to lift top-seeded Huntley (25-8) to a 3-0 victory over 4th-seeded Harlem in Friday’s 4A DeKalb regional championship.

Olson, who walked 1, fanned 10, and faced just 26 batters as the Red Raiders earned their 11th straight 4A regional crown.

Huntley grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first before adding a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Offensively, the Red Raiders were led by seniors Katelyn Bayness (2 for 3, RBI), Aubrina Adamik (2 for 2, run scored), Alyssa Weniger (1 for 2, run scored), and sophomore Grace Benson (1 for 1, RBI).

With the win, the Red Raiders advance to Tuesday’s 6:30 p.m. Barrington sectional semifinals against No. 3 seed Lake Zurich (21-10).

Glenbard East 6, Lake Park 5: Juniors Lilly Carver, Alexis Amrhein, Althea Fitzgerald, and pitcher Claire Bolda guided the 6th-seeded Rams (21-4) to a 6-5 upset of No. 3 seed Lake Park in Friday’s Class 4A regional championship held at Elk Grove.

While capturing its fifth straight victory, Glenbard East earned its first regional title since 2003.

The Rams will face No. 2 seed St. Charles East in Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. Bartlett sectional semifinals.

Lake Park, which graduates 10 seniors, finished its season at 23-9.

IC Catholic Prep 4, Trinity 0: Senior Maddy Dinino provided superb double duty, pitching a complete-game shutout while hitting a home run and double with a pair of RBI, as top-seeded IC Catholic Prep defeated No. 4 seed Trinity 4-0 in Saturday’s Class 2A Trinity regional championship.

Dinino, a St. Norbert’s commit, walked 2 and fanned 4 on the mound, while helping her own cause at the plate.

She received plenty of support from her teammates, including freshman Sophia Deoudis (2 for 3, double, walk), sophomore Ema McMillen (2 for 3), and seniors Sofia Bucaro (2 for 4, RBI), and Lexi Hoffman (RBI).

IC Catholic Prep pushed across a run in the first before sealing the decision with a 3-run sixth.

The Knights (27-5), who extended their winning streak to 12, also captured their 12th consecutive regional title. They will host face No. 4 seed Hope Academy (13-13) in Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. sectional semifinals.

Montini 11, Elmwood Park 0 (5 innings): Sophomore pitcher Cameron Fox recorded 13 strikeouts in 5 shutout innings during No. 3 seed Montini’s 11-0 Class 3A regional championship victory over host Elmwood Park Saturday.

Fox, the GCAC Athlete of the Year, also helped her own cause with a pair of home runs and 5 RBI, as the Broncos (20-7) captured their second straight regional crown.

Sophomore Natalie Glosky went 3 for 3 with a double and 5 RBI, while freshman Brooke Wills (2 for 4, double, RBI), and junior Aubry Raffen (double, 2 RBI) supported the cause.

Montini, which extended its winning streak to 14, advances to Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. Glenbard South sectional semifinals against No. 2 seed St. Francis (22-8), which defeated Steinmetz, 16-1, during Friday’s regional title clash in Wheaton.

Glenbard South 13, Fenton 5: Raiders coach Julie Fonda recorded her 18th Class 3A regional title as the 4th-seeded Raiders knocked off No. 5 Fenton, 13-5, Saturday in Glen Ellyn.

With the win, the Raiders (17-10-1) advance to Tuesday’s 4:30 p.m. Glenbard South sectional semifinals against top-seeded Fenwick (20-11).