Softball: Productive trip to Tennessee for Lake Zurich
The results weren't what Lake Zurich's softball team wanted, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a productive trip to Tennessee for the Bears.
Lake Zurich returned home Tuesday after salvaging its last of five games in the Murphysboro tournament, in which the Bears played two games against teams from Tennessee, two against squads from Alabama and one vs. an Indiana opponent.
The Bears beat Fort Payne (Alabama) 6-3 on Tuesday morning, then hopped on a bus to come home.
"Not the greatest (results)," first-year Lake Zurich coach Kelly Hardbarger said. "But we were up against some tough competition, and those teams have been playing since February."
Lake Zurich (2-5 overall) played a top team from Tennessee on its first day and was competitive in dropping a 3-1 decision. Marian University commit Stephanie Keefe homered on the trip, while Hardbarger said Nina Kolb did a good job catching flyballs in left field and Elizabeth Chialdikas provided some big RBI hits.
"We're competitors," Hardbarger said. "We're hitting the ball. We're pretty solid on defense. Our errors were relatively limited. I think our biggest downfall was the fact that we didn't have a ton of experience (playing outside). That (first day) was essentially our third time on a softball field."
Grayslake Central 14, Middleton (Wis.) 4: In Florida, Grace Bradley homered twice, going 3-for-5 with 4 RBI for the Rams, and Avery Nims also hit a home run.
Corinne Heidloff went 4-for-5 with 3 runs scored and an RBI. Grayslake Central also got offensive contributions from Elisa Koshy (2-for-5, 3 RBI), Madeline Peterson (2-for-3, double) and Kennedy Stoffel (1-for-4, double, 3 RBI). Bradley pitched all 7 innings, allowing 3 earned runs, striking out five and walking none.
Johnsburg 7, Round Lake 2: Sydney Verastegui homered for the host Panthers in their nonconference loss.
Emily Etherington added a pair of hits for Round Lake (1-4) and knocked in a run.
Grayslake North 6, Dublin Jerome (Ohio) 5: The Knights hung on for their third win in Florida.
Grace Brown hit a go-ahead, 3-run, towering blast into 30 mph winds for her third homer of the year. Brown (2-for-4, 4 RBI), Faith Standerski (2-for-4, 2 doubles), Ashton Moore (2-for-4, RBI), Meghan Delahunty (1-for-3, walk), Nicole Hughes (1-for-3, RBI), Shannon Hill (1-for-4) and Caitlin Barenbaum (1-for-3) all had hits for the Knights.
Emily Mack got the win, allowing 3 earned runs over 6 innings, while freshman Gianna Certa picked up the three-out save.
Grayslake North (4-3) plays its final game in Florida on Thursday morning vs. Marshall (Wis.).
Stevenson 6, Dundee-Crown 5: At The Dome at The Ballpark in Rosemont, Haley Barnes led the way at the plate and in the circle for the Patriots.
Barnes went 3-for-4 with a double and also pitched 4 shutout innings, allowing just 1 hit. Stevenson also got 2-for-3 efforts from Emily Freedman, Ellie Ruchim and Mara Lippman, each of whom had an RBI as well. Maggie Trotter added a double, and Allie Wade tripled and knocked in a run.
Mundelein 11, Schaumburg 1: Elise Bernett hit a 2-run homer, Kendall Klatt added a solo shot, and the host Mustangs won the nonconference game in six innings.
Winning pitcher Kira Buckner struck out seven, walked two and allowed 3 hits in 5 innings.
Lawrence County 5, Vernon Hills 2: In Alabama, the Cougars lost in five innings.
Elisa Handler was 2-for-3 with a double for Vernon Hills.