Lake County softball notes: Vernon Hills continues dominance of CSNC; Antioch takes No. 1 sectional seed into postseason
Add another Central Suburban North crown to the Vernon Hills softball trophy case.
The Cougars (20-8-1) won the Central Suburban North title with a perfect 8-0 mark and earned a No. 2 seed in the Class 3A Antioch sectional behind the host Sequoits.
Since joining the CSL North in 2017 after being in the North Suburban Conference, Vernon Hills has won the league title in 6 of the last 8 years (no title in 2020 due to COVID). The Cougars won it from 2017-2023 (minus 2020), Maine West won it in 2024 and 2025 before Vernon Hills won it again this year.
Key contributors for coach Jan Pauly’s squad include freshman pitcher Brooke Gossett — 460 batters faced, 94 hits, 169 strikeouts to go against only 17 walks.
Ashley Fayard (.442 batting, 38 hits, 11 doubles, 23 RBI, 28 runs, 13 steals), Maiya Andersen (.413 batting, 31 hits, 16 doubles, 16 RBI, 23 runs, 13 steals), Carolynn Bernard (.403 batting, .667 slugging, 4 doubles, 6 triples, 1 homer, 33 runs scored, 15 steals) and Annie Zbylut (.388, .894 slugging, 15 singles, 4 doubles, 3 triples, 11 homers, 36 RBI, 30 runs, 8 steals) have been offensive stalwarts.
“We have had solid defense and pitching all season,” Pauly said. “Our hard work and positive attitude is paying off. We have a group of young athletes that are focusing on each other’s successes, taking advantage of opportunities to learn and having fun.”
Antioch update: The Sequoits (26-3 overall), Northern Lake County Conference champions, are the No. 1 seed in their own Class 3A Antioch sectional.
Samantha Hillner leads the way offensively, hitting .442 with 9 homers, 36 runs scored and 16 walks. She’s also tied for the team lead with Rylee Dunlavy in steals with 16. Brooke White is tops in doubles with 10, while Claire Schuyler has a team-high 3 triples. Addison Webb leads the team in RBI with 31.
In the circle, Pearl Wenzel leads Antioch in most categories, going 12-0 with a save while fanning 138 in 82 1/3 innings with a 1.70 ERA (opponents are hitting .183). Addison Osborne is 11-1 and 6 for 6 in save opportunities.
Coach Anthony Rocco pointed out Hillner and Tegan Schuler have been stalwarts offensively with Schuler leading off and Hillner hitting third. “Both of them have come up clutch in big games and downstate previously,” he said.
Rocco also has been impressed with the pitching of Wenzel, a freshman, and Osborne, a sophomore. “Pearl and Addison have been huge for us,” he said. “They are 23-1 combined and within 12 innings pitched difference between them. Pearl is your typical ace and Addison can give us starts or come in and provide a different look after a team has seen your starter 2-3 times already.”
Osborne started the week 16-for-16 in career save opportunities. “It’s nice knowing you have options in the circle, especially for the next 2 seasons,” Rocco said.
Antioch’s 2 left-handed hitters, Kailyn Bockwoldt and Kylie Pfleeger, have given the team a huge spark from the 7 and 8 spots, Rocco pointed out. Bockwoldt hit .500 and Pfleeger .429 last week. Bockwoldt is no stranger to pressure situations. She hit .550 in the 2024 playoffs when Antioch finished second in 3A, including a 3-for-3 effort in the supersectional and a 2-for-3 showing in the state final.
Also of note, Rocco recently hit the 400-career-win barrier. To start the week he had 365 wins at Antioch and 35 at Ridgewood, who Antioch might face for a regional title next week.
Lake Zurich update: The Bears (19-9, 11-4) remained in the thick of the North Suburban Conference race with Warren Township and Mundelein throughout the latter part of the season. The Bears, the No. 3 seed in the Barrington sectional, open Class 4A regional action Wednesday against Grant at Palatine.
“I am very proud of the fight in this team,” Lake Zurich coach Nicole Pieper said. “We had some close games last week with Mundelein, Lakes and Cary-Grove and were able to come back and win against Lakes and Cary-Grove.”
Pieper said shortstop Brooklyn Barber (.464 batting with 9 doubles and 8 homers) and third baseman Claire Kohlman have been consistent on both sides of the ball. “Brooklyn and Claire have played such solid defense for us on the left side, making incredible plays, and have been crushing it at the plate against high-level pitchers,” she said.
Alaina Krzeminski also has been a force at the plate, hitting .460 with 8 home runs and 39 RBI.
Lakes update: Coach Bill Hamill said Emily Byrne “is owning center field” with no errors and 44 putouts for the Eagles, the No. 7 seed in the upcoming Class 3A Antioch sectional.
“Nothing gets by her,” he added.
Freshman third baseman Meah Christian is hitting .333 and hit over .500 last week. “Meah has been a great freshman addition,” Hamill said.
Round Lake update: Sophomore Piper Berry is hitting .478 (1.324 OPS) and has 146 strikeouts in the circle in 79 innings. Coach Dan Berry also lauded the play of junior Mya Hagi and freshman Maihte Larios. “Mya and Maihte have been playing great the second half of the season,” he said. “They have given us consistency on the corners.”
In the last few weeks, Berry noted, Hagi is hitting .312, while Maihte is hitting .353 for the Panthers (0-17-1). Piper Berry started the week with 275 career strikeouts.
Grayslake Central update: Coach Jim Plaza noted junior outfielder Autumn Aliff is having one of the best offensive seasons in school history, hitting .506 (.610 on-base, .937 slug) with 11 doubles, 4 triples, 5 homers, 19 RBI, 41 runs scored and 22 steals in the team’s first 26 games
Plaza added senior infielders Kate Davies and Kaitlynne Faust have been constant contributors all season with Davies hitting .458 with 4 homers and 23 RBI and Faust hitting .412 with 4 homers and 22 RBI. “Kate and Kaitlynne have provided stability and leadership on the infield and key production in the middle of the order,” Plaza said.
Central is the No. 6 seed in the Class 3A Antioch sectional. “We feel confident heading into regionals,” Plaza said. “Despite our pitching being very young (sophomore Evie Evert and freshmen Hadley Deets and Abbie Cashmore), we have been competitive all season. We believe we can continue to play good softball in the postseason.”
Stevenson update: Jasmine Lucero (.548 batting, team leader in 9 offensive categories) and Ava Potempa (124 strikeouts, 93 1/3 innings, 1.65 ERA) lead the way for the Patriots (18-6 overall). Stevenson, a No. 4 sectional seed, opens Class 4A New Trier regional action Tuesday against Niles West at Duke Childs Field in Winnetka.
“Ava has demonstrated the ability to shut down opponents time and time again,” Stevenson coach Brandon Simmons said. “Jasmine has shown to be one of the best ballplayers in this conference every time she has taken the field. She is an absolute game changer.”
Freshman Sofia Soyugenc is hitting .519 (3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers, 9 RBI and only 2 strikeouts) since being called up from the JV 10 games ago.
Mundelein update: The Mustangs (17-4 overall) shared the North Suburban title with Warren Township. Both teams finished 12-2 in league action. Warren defeated Mundelein twice, but lost to Libertyville and Lake Zurich. Mundelein is the No. 1 seed in the Class 4A Glenbrook North sectional and opens play in the Prospect regional Tuesday, awaiting a play-in game winner.
Senior Kieley Tomas is hitting .441 and had 3 doubles and 4 triples last week alone, while also breaking the school record for career hits. Senior Shae Johnson struck out 10 and hit a ball to the fence that scored the Mustangs’ second run against Lake Zurich in the bottom of the sixth that kept Mundelein in the race for the conference title.
“Shae has kept us in games defensively with her pitching and has had the go-ahead hit in big games against Stevenson and Lake Zurich,” coach Heather Ryan said.
Senior Shea Earman is hitting .409 and also hit a grand slam against Vernon Hills, a No. 2 Class 3A sectional seed.
Carmel Catholic update: Grace King, through mid-week, had not struck out this season, while hitting .557 with 10 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homers and 18 RBI. “Grace has been a constant this season because she has held it down behind the plate with her leadership,” Carmel coach Nicole Parney said. “She has been a huge asset to our pitching staff with her high IQ of the game and keeping runners from advancing bases.”
Parney also tipped her hat to Bella Cameron in the circle. “Bella has been a constant because she has been our workhorse on the mound,” she said. “She has kept her composure through the ups and downs of the season while in the circle and has great mental toughness.”
Katie Buckingham has been another success story for the Corsairs (12-12 overall, 8-4 and third place in the East Suburban Catholic), hitting .550 with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 2 homers and 14 RBI. Carmel, a No. 11 sectional seed, plays Loyola Academy Wednesday in the Warren regional.
Libertyville update: The Wildcats (15-12 overall) have been bolstered by the play of senior Taylor Higham (.434 hitting, 4-2 pitching, 78 strikeouts in 44 innings, 1.90 ERA), sophomore McKenna Weaver (.403 hitting, 7-7 with 1 save pitching, 139 strikeouts in 87 innings, 2.90 ERA) and senior Maddy Kleemann (.374).
“Maddy is calling all the pitches for Taylor and McKenna,” Libertyville coach Dar Townsend explained. “She’s a 4-year starter, a great leader and a great teammate.”
The Wildcats host Hersey Wednesday as part of the Class 4A Libertyville regional. Libertyville is a No. 6 sectional seed.