Simply grand: Niedermayer's slams power Stevenson

Stevenson softball coach Larry Friedrichs was talking last week about how Ashley Niedermayer has settled in nicely as the Patriots' No. 9 hitter.

She batted leadoff last year.

This year, Niedermayer might be as dangerous as any ninth-place hitter around.

She not only smacked 2 home runs Tuesday in Stevenson's 22-3 rout of host Mundelein in North Suburban Lake Division action, but both shots were grand slams.

Niedermayer also had a single and finished with 9 RBI.

Stevenson (12-9, 5-2) had 18 hits, led by Rebekah Ozga's four. Ozga scored 3 runs and knocked in three. Besides Niedermayer, the Patriots received 3 hits apiece from Allie Micucci (2 RBI) and Genny Duffy (3 RBI). Amanda Jaegers (3 runs, RBI) and Jordan Willis (3 runs, 2 RBI) both contributed a pair of hits.

Micucci pitched a 5-inning complete game.

Jessi Bjerning homered for Mundelein.

Wauconda 10, Vernon Hills 0: Kayla Stos pitched a 6-inning 3-hitter, and Kate Martino (3-for-4, 3 runs) led a 13-hit attack for the Bulldogs in the North Suburban Prairie game.

Wauconda (12-9, 6-1) also got 2 hits each from Kasey Kruckenberg (3 runs), Kendra Wedl (2 runs), Cara Nance (double) and freshman Alex Kinnamon (3 RBI).

Lake Zurich 10, Lake Forest 0: Megan Mattera allowed 2 hits in a 5-inning complete game, as the Bears stayed perfect in the North Suburban Lake Division.

Paige Goldberg (3-for-3, double, stolen base, 2 runs), Erin Sweeney (2-for-3, triple, RBI, stolen base) and Alli McGinnis (2-for-3, double, 3 RBI) led the way offensively for Lake Zurich (12-9, 5-0). Mattera helped herself with a triple. In the circle, she struck out eight and walked two.

Antioch 8, Lakes 0: Allie Anttila hit a 2-run homer that Sequoits coach Jeff Tylka estimated sailed 245 feet, and Olivia Duehr pitched a 2-hitter with 11 strikeouts, as the Sequoits cruised in the North Suburban Prairie Division game.

Anttila finished 2-for-3 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored. Duehr went 2-for-2 with a double and 2 runs scored, and Lauren Moore was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.

Antioch improved to 13-4 overall and 5-0 in the NSC Prairie.

Grayslake North 11, Woodstock 8: Kristina Gandy struck out nine for the Knights.

Warren 10, Libertyville 1: Alex Booker went 4-for-4 with 4 runs scored, 3 RBI, 2 stolen bases and a triple for the visiting Blue Devils in the North Suburban Lake Division game.

Warren (12-4, 4-1) also got big contributions from Nikki Ponticelli (3-for-4, double, RBI) and Lindsay Horwitz (3-for-5, double, 4 RBI). Amanda Reed and winning pitcher Kayla Hurd both doubled. Abby Anderson's RBI single in the first started the scoring.

Woodstock North 7, Grayslake Central 6: The Rams led 6-3 going into the bottom of the sixth, but surrendered 4 runs.