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Hersey advances to regional semifinal

Fourteenth-seeded Hersey had 11 hits in a 13-2 five-inning victory over No. 19 Waukegan on Monday in the Libertyville Class 4A regional softball play-in game in Arlington Heights.

Hersey sophomore shortstop Katie Wingerter, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, double and 3 RBI, was more pleased with some areas of team performance beyond offense.

"The bats were great but our pitching came through and we played good defense," said Wingerter, who belted her ninth homer of the season.

Hersey coach Molly Freeman used pitchers Kaitlyn Denten (2 innings), junior Kim Labahn (2 innings) and Isabella McGinnis (1 innings), and the Huskies did not make an error.

The winner, and starter, Denten struck out three while Labahn had four.

Hersey (11-18) advanced to Tuesday's 4:30 p.m. semifinal against No. 3 seeded Libertyville, which has had back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 1988.

"Tough defense will be the key," Wingerter said. "Defense and pitching."

"I thought we did great (Monday)," Freeman said. "It was really fun to be able to get everyone in and let the kids play positions they like to play. It's exciting to see the kids play hard and have fun."

Other offensive leaders for the Huskies were Hannah Graff (2-for-2, double), Cassie Zouras (2-for-3, triple), Remy Gerew (1-for-3, double, 3 RBI) and Denten (1-for-1, triple).

The Huskies scored all the runs in the first two innings, getting nine in the second.

Palatine Class 4A regional: No. 16 Wheeling's home play-in game against No. 17 Lake Forest was suspended in the bottom of the third inning due to rain.

The Wildcats (4-20) got off to a great start when Nikki Mikosz led off the bottom of the first with an inside-the-park home run down the right field line for a 1-0 lead.

But the Scouts (3-20) rallied with 3 runs in the top of the second and added 6 in the third to go ahead 9-3.

The game will be resumed at 4:30 p.m. today at Wheeling.

The Wildcats are batting with one out and runners on first (Lauren Hart who walked) and second (Megan Olsen who had a RBI single to score Christina Ambrose who had singled to left and stole second). Alexa Orlando is due up.

The Wildcats closed to within 3-2 in the bottom of the second when Orlando led off with a single to right, went to second on Abby Greenspan's sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on an error.

The Giants' big hit in the third inning was a 2-run ground rule double (rolled under fence) to right center by Jonnah Williams (2-for-2, 2 doubles, walk, 3 RBI).

One defensive highlight for Wheeling was when catcher Olsen picked off a runner at third base with Orlando making the tag for the first out of the third inning.

Conant Class 4A regional: No. 20 Rolling Meadows' play-in game at No. 13 Addison Trail was postponed and rescheduled for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Addison Trail.

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