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O’Connor connects for Stevenson

Abby O’Connor powered her way into Stevenson softball history Saturday.

And pitcher Sam Feder had a game to remember too.

Unfortunately for Stevenson, the feats of O’Connor and Feder came in a losing effort, as the Patriots dropped a 12-9 decision to visiting Evanston in Game 1 of a nonconference doubleheader. Stevenson won the second game 9-8 on freshman Trisha Porzycki’s walk-off RBI in the bottom of the eighth.

In the third inning of the opener, O’Connor, a junior and first-year varsity player, hit a solo homer over the fence in right-center field. It was the first over-the-fence home run by a Stevenson player on Stevenson’s field in the program’s history.

“It was a bomb,” said Patriots coach Larry Friedrichs, who estimated O’Connor’s blast traveled 260 feet, well beyond the fence, which is about 240 feet from home to right-center.

Before Saturday, the only players to homer over the fence at Stevenson were Barrington legend Ashley Berggren and Zion-Benton’s Jennifer Lotz, whose dad, Dave, is Stevenson’s first-year pitching coach.

Feder suffered the loss, despite striking out a career-high 17 batters.

Dana Morgan had an inside-the-park home run and 2 RBI for Stevenson.

Stevenson (5-4) pounded out 10 hits in the nightcap. In her first game of the season, Patriots senior Maggie Thon, who had been sidelined since having her tonsils taken out, drilled the first pitch she saw for a triple. Thon had 2 hits, as did Lexi Yonkovic (triple, RBI, run), Jordan Cortesi (2 doubles, 2 RBI) and Porzycki (triple, RBI).

In the eighth, Stevenson loaded the bases thanks to singles by Kat Trotter and Thon and a walk. With Evanston’s outfielders and infielders playing in, Porzycki hit a shot that the third baseman couldn’t handle, scoring Katelyn Noronha with the winning run.

Sophomore Lindsey Micucci went the distance in the circle to earn the victory. She struck out 10 and walked only one.

Evanston’s Caroline Duke homered, tripled and doubled.

Carmel sweeps: Carmel won both games of its doubleheader against Marian Catholic, 2-1 and 2-0. In the first game, sophomore pitcher Mia Dicara logged a complete game while Sarah Koesser drove in 2 runs and hit a double. In the second game, Amanda Elert, Jenny Behan and Kathleen Felicelli each had a double. Elert and Behan finished with 2 hits apiece. Winning pitcher Nicole Bitter went the distance.

Wauconda sweeps: Wauconda got two wins over Waukegan, 9-3 and 10-5. Lexie Redman hit a jaw-dropping 3 home runs in the first game alone, while teammate Paige Motley added 2 home runs of her own. In the second game, Alex Kinnamon blasted a home run and Motley homered again for her third home run of the day. Kayla Wedl was the Bulldogs’ winning pitcher in both games. Wauconda improved to 8-4 on the season.

Grayslake Central sweeps: Grayslake Central got two wins over Highland Park, 18-8 and 11-1. In the first game, the Rams rolled up 8 doubles, including 2 apiece from Brandy Heraty and Caitlin Flary. Katie Strickland had a double and a triple. Brittany Brown was the winning pitcher. She gave up just 1 walk in six innings. In the second game, the Rams (6-7) got 2 hits and 2 RBI from Heraty, who was also the winning pitcher. She gave up 2 walks and no earned runs over five innings.

Antioch wins tournament: Antioch won its own tournament by going 2-0 on the day. The Sequoits defeated Johnsburg 11-0 and got a 13-1 win over Richmond-Burton. Against Johnsburg, pitcher Katie Phillips got the win with 8 strikeouts. Kaytee Keefe and Sage Keyes both went 3-for-3 at the plate and combined for 6 RBI. Taylor Schiltz went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI. Against Richmond-Burton, Keefe was the winning pitcher and Keyes smacked a double.

Grant 5, Addison Trail 4: Grant improved to 6-2 by scoring 2 clutch runs in the sixth inning. The Bulldogs got a triple from both Brooke Buckley and McKenzie Sanchen and doubles from Jamie Reiser, Caitlyn Moran, Deanna Rodriguez and Jane Williams. Moran was the winning pitcher.

Zion-Benton 4, Grayslake North 1: Marli Kram got 2 hits for the Knights, who got out-hit 16-6 by Zion-Benton.

Palatine 10, Vernon Hills 0: The Cougars, who had 3 errors and allowed 11 hits, fell to 1-3 with the loss.

Mundelein gets swept: The Mustangs lost both of their games to Barrington. In a 10-0 loss, the Mustangs managed just 3 hits as pitcher Erin Kennelly suffered the loss. In a 9-2 loss, Chloe Peterson had a double for Mundelein (8-3) as pitcher Molly Ellett took the loss.

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