Baseball: Vernon Hills hands Carmel first loss

Vernon Hills' baseball team saw its 2018 season end on its home field by Carmel Catholic, and Cougars coach Jay Czarnecki called it a "long off-season."

Vernon Hills got some redemption Wednesday, beating the visiting Corsairs 7-4 in nonconference action. Czarnecki added the game was an opportunity for his team to see how it measured up to the 2019 Carmel squad, and he had to be happy with the result.

Vernon Hills improved to 6-3, while handing Carmel (4-1) its first loss.

Danny Wizceb allowed 3 runs (1 earned) in 6 innings in improving to 3-1. He struck out five and walked two.

"(He) brought his 'A' game," Czarnecki said.

Josh Liu pitched one inning of relief, allowing 1 run but striking out the side. Caleb Thomson (2-for-4, run, 2 RBI) and Brendan Holloway (2-for-4, 2 runs) led the way offensively for Vernon Hills. Derek Jarrell had a key 2-run single.

Carmel got a home run from Sean Lynch Jr.

Grant 12, Wauconda 0: Austin Vass pitched 4 innings of shutout ball for his first win of the season, striking out four, and Kevin Gosciniak was 3-for-3 with an RBI for Grant in the Northern Lake County Conference game.

Grant (7-2, 2-0) also got a triple, sacrifice bunt and 2 RBI from Joey Califf.

Wauconda (2-6, 0-2) got singles from Camden Janik and Sam Kuch.

Warren 3, Glenbrook North 1: Nate Rentas homered for the second day in a row, and the Blue Devils won again.

Rentas, who also doubled and drove in 2 runs, and Thomas Kenney were both 2-for-3. Casey Cobe went 2-for-4 with a double for Warren (9-2), and Dru Jasnoch pitched 6⅔ innings for the win, allowing 6 hits and 2 walks and striking out six.

Round Lake @ Antioch

Antioch 6, Round Lake 2: The host Sequoits beat the Panthers for the second day in a row in Northern Lake County Conference play.

Angel Cueves and Charlie Burton each had a hit and ab RBI for Round Lake.

Lakes 10, Niles North 6: The Eagles picked up the nonconference win, receiving multiple hits from Logan Mueller (2-for-4, double, 2 RBI), Joe Glassey (2-for-3, 2 doubles, 2 RBI), Reece Goodrich (2-for-2, RBI) and Ethan Clark (2-for-2, double).

Jason Volpe tripled and drove in 3 runs, and Andrew Huissen contributed a double.