Grayslake North maintains winning momentum

Grayslake North’s baseball team continues to build off last season’s success.

The Knights improved to 3-0 by holding off visiting Waukegan 5-3 in a nonconference game Thursday.

Grayslake North, which won a school-record 19 games last year, got a strong pitching performance from junior Andrew Mikusa, who threw no-hit ball with 7 strikeouts over 4 innings. Jason Petrillo earned the save, despite allowing a run in the seventh.

Carl Russell led the Knights offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, 2 runs scored and an RBI. Mikusa helped himself with a double and an RBI. Adam Gomski and Austyn Ruback also had an RBI for Grayslake North.

Libertyville 11, Maine South 1: Jimmy Govern’s 3 hits and 3 RBI led the host Wildcats, who won the nonconference game in six innings.

Evan Skoug and Kevin Calamari also had 3 RBI for Libertyville. Calamari and Matt Vogt each had 2 hits, while Jeff Barton earned the complete-game win.

Cary-Grove 9, Grayslake Central 3: The host Rams led 3-2 heading into the top of the sixth inning, but 3 errors led to 5 C-G runs, as the Trojans won the Fox Valley Conference opener for both teams.

“Our defense has not been sharp and crisp at all this season, especially tonight,” Rams coach Troy Whalen said. “Cary-Grove is too good of a hitting team to give them extra outs at the plate.”

Offensively, Grayslake Central stranded 9 runners and hit into 2 double plays.

“We just could not get the big hit,” Whalen said. “Sometimes kids try too hard, and that’s what we are seeing.”

Freddie Landers and Kyle Clark both had a pair of hits for the Rams (4-4), who dropped their third straight.

Carmel 13, Palatine 1: Duncan Amrein had 3 hits, including a double, and 4 RBI for the Corsairs in the nonconference game.

Carmel also got doubles from Tyler Murphy and Matt Ryan, each of whom drove in a pair of runs. Quentin Sefcik had 3 hits as well for the Corsairs. Ryan notched the win.

Grant 18, Westosha Central 1: Missouri-bound Jake Ring (triple, double, 3 RBI, 2 stolen bases) and Ryan Noda (double, 3 RBI) each went 3-for-3 for the Bulldogs in the nonconference game.

Jordan Villarreal was 2-for-3 with a triple, double and 2 RBI for Grant (4-1). Jacob Trumpis (2-0) allowed 1 run and struck out six in a five-inning complete game.

Fremd 14, Stevenson 6: The host Patriots trailed 9-0 before scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the second. Sean Wilson had a double for Stevenson (2-2).