Crane elevates Z-B to Lake crown
Sophomore Claire Crane pitched a 2-hit shutout and added 3 hits at the plate, as Zion-Benton’s softball team clinched the North Suburban Conference Lake Division championship with an 8-0 win over host Mundelein on Monday.
Zion-Benton, which avenged an 8-1 loss to the Mustangs earlier this season, finished 9-3 in the NSC Lake. Warren will also finish 9-3 if it defeats Libertyville today, but the Zee-Bees would still represent the division in the conference title game Thursday by virtue of its sweep of Warren.
“They got to celebrate on our field,” Mundelein coach Brett Wilhelm said of the Zee-Bees. “They deserved it. They outplayed us in all facets of the game.”
Maddie Zazas had the only 2 hits, including a double, for Mundelein (22-9, 7-4). Crane struck out six and walked two.
Carmel 11, Fenwick 7 (8 inn.): Sophomore Sarah Koesser broke up a 7-7 tie with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning, and freshman Amanda Elert added insurance with a 3-run blast, as the Corsairs prevailed in East Suburban Catholic Conference action.
Kathleen Felicelli had 2 home runs and 5 RBI for Carmel (19-7, 11-4). Sophomore Sam Melillo was 3-for-5 with a double and 3 runs scored, and freshman Dani Delozier went 2-for-4 and had the game-tying RBI single with two out in the seventh.
Grant 8, Lakes 1: Jamie Reiser went 4-for-4 with a double, as the Bulldogs kept pace with Wauconda in the North Suburban Prairie Division.
Grant (16-8, 9-2) can clinch a share of the division championship with a win at Round Lake today. Kayla Uhwat, winning pitcher Caitlyn Moran and Taylor Rossi each went 2-for-4 for the Bulldogs. Jane Williams had a triple, and McKenzie Sancken added a double. Moran struck out five and walked two.
Lake Zurich 16, Stevenson 2: Maria Schroeder hit a pair of home runs and drove in 5 runs for the Bears in the North Suburban Lake contest.
Lake Zurich (15-9, 7-4) got a 3-for-3 effort from Carlee Parsons (RBI, 2 runs). Schroeder, Kaylee Grant (2 RBI, 4 runs) and Brittney Pettinger (RBI) each had 2 hits, while Caty Grahf had a double. Freshman Katie Malek earned the win.
Antioch 2, Vernon Hills 1: Katie Phillips struck out 11, and the only run she allowed was a home run to Jenn Claussen in the sixth, as the visiting Sequoits held on for the North Suburban Prairie Division win.
Antioch (18-11, 7-3) got a single and a stolen base from Jessica Tyrell.
Vernon Hills (6-13, 6-5) also got a double from Sami Saliba, while Izzy Cirone was 2-for-3.
Libertyville 12, Lake Forest 0: Michaela Mooney allowed only 2 hits and a walk, while striking out six.
Izzy Alesna (3 RBI) and Andi Katz were both 3-for-4 for Libertyville. Tayler Oberman (triple), Haley Hoeksel and Carlie Haraden each had 2 hits for the Wildcats, who improved to 5-6 in the North Suburban Lake.