Softball: Record effort from Elert, Carmel

Carmel Catholic's softball team tied a state record with 3 grand slams in a game, and Amanda Elert hit her state-record-tying fifth grand slam, as the Corsairs crushed Johnsburg 25-1 in nonconference action Wednesday.

Emma Bartz and Taylor Ganan also homered with the bases loaded for Carmel (9-3). The Corsairs also hit 3 grand slams in a game against Waukegan last year.

According to the IHSA record book, Elert's 5 career grand slams tie her with former Carmel player Jenny Behan for the all-time mark.

Lakes 7, Vernon Hills 6: Kelsey Ulrich's two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Cougars to the North Suburban Prairie Division win.

Rachel Becker and Jen Reed homered in the first inning for Lakes (3-1 NSC Prairie). Ulrich finished 4-for-4 with 3 RBI. Ashley Horner doubled for the Eagles, while winning-pitcher Ally Perdue did not yield an earned run in a complete-game performance.

Vernon Hills (2-2 NSC Prairie) got a 4-for-4 effort from Sara Lenzi (2 runs, RBI). Danielle Comitor was 3-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBI.

Libertyville 11, Evanston 0: Hannah Heraty's big day at the plate and in the circle lifted the Wildcats in the nonconference game.

Heraty hit 2 homers and drove in 5 runs. She also allowed just 1 hit in a five-inning complete game, striking out two and walking none.

Jessie Lauret was 3-for-4 for Libertyville (9-1). Jamie Stevens was 2-for-3 with a homer, double and 2 RBI, and Lyndsey Lyon went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI.

Grayslake North 9, Crystal Lake Central 8 (10 inn.): Becca Sosa hit her second homer of the game, a solo shot, on a 3-1 count in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Knights in the Fox Valley Conference game.

"It was a no-doubter as soon as it left her bat," Grayslake North coach Lea Corcoran said.

Sosa's other home run was also a solo shot. Grace Brown finished 2-for-3 with a double and 4 RBI for the Knights. Caitlin Barenbaum was 3-for-4 with a double, and Katie Moats also contributed an RBI.

Antioch 3, Ridgewood 2: The visiting Sequoits ran their winning streak to 12 games with the nonconference win, as Katie Sorenson's sacrifice fly in the fifth snapped a 2-2 tie.

Jill Foote had doubled and stolen third base, before scoring on Sorenson's flyball to left field. Foote finished 2-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Hanna Cook pitched 6⅔ innings for the win, allowing 2 hits and striking out two in relief of Stephanie Bonaguidi, who walked three and retired only one batter.

After missing four games due to an out-of-state wedding, Annie Wagner went 2-for-3 for Antioch (12-1).

Stevenson 15, Lake Forest 4 (5 inn.): On Tuesday, Alana Labaschin drove in five runs and stole home, and Vera Pflugradt smacked a grand slam, as the host Patriots (5-3, 3-0 North Suburban Lake) won their fifth straight game.

Labaschin hit a bases-clearing double in a six-run first inning. Mic Faunce had a two-run double, and Gina Shanley added an RBI single in the frame. After the Scouts scored four times in the third to narrow the lead to 6-4, Labaschin knocked in two runs with a double, and then stole home as the Pats tallied 3 runs.

Stevenson, which has scored 46 runs in its last three outings, put the game out of reach by tacking on six more runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Pflugradt's grand slam. Riley Housinger was the winning pitcher, surrendering 5 hits and striking out three in 5 innings.