Softball: Warren works past Lake Zurich
The Warren softball sectional's top seed turned back a challenge from the No. 9 seed as Warren topped Lake Zurich 5-2 in Class 4A regional title play at Mundelein.
The game was tied at 2 through four innings before Warren edged ahead with 1 run in the fifth on an RBI single from Claire Swedberg. And Carissa Topolinski provided some insurance with a 2-run homer to right in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Caitlyn Britton worked the first 4 innings for Warren, and Lydia Gratz tossed the last 3 innings to earn the win.
Lake Zurich had 5 hits, including a double from Julia Zaucha.
The Blue Devils (27-2) advance to a 4 p.m. Tuesday semifinal against Libertyville in the sectional they will host.
Palatine 2, Grayslake North 0: The Knights came up short against Class 4A regional host Palatine and ace Sarah Grossman, with freshman Jessica Pozezinski getting Grayslake North's only hit, a fifth-inning single.
Grossman finished with 13 strikeouts and no walks. Palatine, the No. 2 sectional seed, got both its runs in the first inning as Emily Mack (4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks) took the loss.
Seventh-seeded Grayslake North (19-9) wraps up a season with plenty of achievement. The Knights finished second in the Northern Lake County Conference and had a 12-game winning streak. Under coach Lea Corcoran, Grayslake North made its first regional final appearance since 2012.
Carmel 7, Loyola 2: The third-seeded Corsairs ousted the sixth-seeded regional hosts to earn a spot against Palatine in Wednesday's 4 p.m. game in the Class 4A Warren sectional semifinals.
Hailey Swiatkowski had a 2 run home run and pitcher Sydney Schuda got the win.
Vernon Hills 4, Ridgewood 1: Madison Johnson struck out 10 and limited Class 3A regional host Ridgewood to 5 hits in pitching the Cougars into the sectional round of the postseason.
Tatiana Guletsky homered and Nicole Pieper doubled. Both drove in 2 runs to help the Cougars (16-18) make good use of their 5 hits.
Quin Yuter, Elisa Handler and Johnson also had hits for No. 5 seed Vernon Hills, which advances to a 4:30 p.m. Tuesday matchup with Antioch in the Grayslake Central sectional semifinals.
Prairie Ridge 11, Grayslake Central 3: The second-seeded Rams saw their season come to an end with a Class 3A regional final loss to the Wolves.
Seventh-seeded Prairie Ridge advances to a 4:30 p.m. Wednesday semifinal against Richmond-Burton in the Grayslake Central sectional.
Richmond-Burton 4, Lakes 1: The third-seeded Eagles bowed out with a loss to No. 6 seed and Class 3A regional host Richmond-Burton.