Lake County softball notes: Five teams battling in tight North Suburban race; Connelly breaks Mundelein’s RBI record

To start the week, the race for the North Suburban Conference softball title was a tight one.

Through Tuesday, Stevenson and Warren sat atop the circuit at 6-1, while Mundelein was a game back at 5-2 and Libertyville and Lake Zurich still were in striking distance at 4-3.

Stevenson (14-3 overall) started the week on a 7-game winning streak, vanquishing 3 recent opponents by a combined 36-5 count. Aubrey Jepson (.517 hitting) and Sophia Becker (.511) have been constant terrors at the plate. Jepson hit .700 with 3 homers and 10 RBI during a recent 3-game run, while Becker had 2 homers and 7 RBI in the same span and was lauded by coach Vera Pflugradt for her work behind the plate. Pitcher Ava Potempa struck out 12 and walked 1 during that same 3-game span.

Antioch update: The Sequoits (10-11 overall) started the week unbeaten in Northern Lake County action at 5-0. Tegan Schuler (.441 hitting, 22 runs), Addison Webb (7 doubles, 25 RBI), Tanner Ludwig (6 homers, 22 RBI), Lillie Glenn (8 wins pitching) and Addison Osborne (49 K in circle, 3 saves) have been key contributors, while Addison Housh hit .875 during a recent 4-game sample, including a 3-hit, 3-RBI, 3-steal performance against Grayslake North.

Coach Anthony Rocco also cited strong defensive play from Sam Hillner, who has started games at first, second and behind the plate after starting 32 games on last year’s Class 3A state runner-up team. Rocco also praised Osborne’s work in the circle, noting her save total and throwing 9 or more innings over multiple games on several weekends.

Rocco said despite a competitive schedule and injuries at the top of the order, his team has been competitive in 19 of its 21 games.

“We are getting contributions from everyone,” he said. “Our pitching has improved compared to the beginning of the season. Once we are fully healthy, that should be a huge boost to our defense and offense, and take some pressure off the pitching staff.”

Carmel Catholic update: The Corsairs (11-6, 6-3 East Suburban Catholic) have a pair of .500 hitters in Grace Brown (.585, 31 hits, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 9 home runs, 33 RBI, 3 strikeouts at the plate) and Grace King (.554, 31 hits, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 8 home runs, 33 RBI, 3 strikeouts at the plate).

Coach Nicole Parney noted Kate Buckingham is holding down the outfield, “covering a lot of ground and making clutch catches,” she said, while Kaitlyn Konen is showing great range at second base. “Kaitlyn is keeping many balls from reaching the outfield and keeping runners from advancing,” Parney added.

Lakes update: Liv Tautges is hitting .425 for the Eagles (7-8, 2-3 Northern Lake County), while coach Bill Hamill said Aubrey Murray’s pitching and hitting has come alive, while senior captain McKenzie Matzl has been a leader to all the younger outfielders.

Lake Zurich update: The Bears dispatched Mundelein and Grayslake North by a combined 28-14 count to move to 8-10-1 overall at week’s start. Kendall Hull (.514 hitting, 1.000 fielding in the middle infield) and Izzy Vodicka (.452 hitting, .944 fielding) have helped the Bears, as have Tessa Campobasso (1.000 hitting during a recent 3-game run) and Kelly Selzer (.600 hitting in those 3 games). Alaina Krzekinski had a triple and a 3-run homer against Grayslake North.

Libertyville update: The Wildcats (12-4 overall) started the week riding a 6-game winning streak. Taylor Higham (.438 hitting), Maddy Kleeman (.404 hitting) and Zoe Kinsella have been leading the way. During those recent 6 wins, Emily Psyhogios (.500 hitting), Kleeman (.500) and McKenna Weaver (.444) have had the hot hand, while Higham and Weaver have been excellent in the circle, interim coach Dar Townsend noted.

Mundelein update: Claire Connelly recently broke the Mundelein career RBI record with 189, surpassing the former mark of 186 held by Susan Musselwhite.

Sophomore Taylor Pyke belted 2 homers (4 RBI) in a win over Grayslake Central, while Connelly had a homer and 3 RBI. Junior Kieley Tomas went 3-for-3 with a homer, a triple and 5 RBI against Lake Forest.

Coach Heather Ryan lauded the work of freshman Bella Vega, a pitcher on the Mundelein JV-1 team, who has been carrying the varsity pitching load the last 2 weeks with Sophia Zepeda out due to injury. Vega held off a Grayslake Central comeback with a fly out to center with the bases loaded in the seventh. The Mustangs were 13-4 overall to start the week.

Vernon Hills update: The Cougars (6-16, 2-2 Central Suburban North) were 4-1 over a recent 5-game run with victories against Wauconda, Maine East, Evanston and Niles West.

Cate Pangilinan (.379 hitting, 10 steals), Gia Gossett (.370 hitting) and Izzy Loiben (.342 hitting) have been strong at the plate. Annie Zbylut hit .417 with 3 homers in a recent 8-game span, while Ryley Bautista hit .412 during that same period. “Both are seeing the ball better of late and making solid, consistent contact,” Cougars assistant coach David Doerhoefer said.

Improved play has turned a 2-15 record quickly into a 6-16 mark. “The team is starting to come together after a slow start,” Doerhoefer said.

Warren Township update: The Blue Devils recently logged wins against Lake Zurich, Kenosha Bradford, Grant and Libertyville to move to 12-5 overall. Camryn Guldberg, Annalise Stich and Morgan Lyons are Warren’s statistical leaders. Coach Jenna Charbonneau noted Mia Meno has been coming up big in pressure situations at the plate, while Cassie Gabbianelli has been excellent defensively at shortstop.