Softball: Warren plays longball in sweep of Grayslake North
Up to this point in the season, the Warren softball team's identity has revolved around its hitting in the middle of the lineup.
After Saturday, the Blue Devils might want to come up with a new moniker - Everybody Hits.
Warren banged out 20 hits, including 7 home runs, to cruise past host Grayslake North 16-1 in the first game of a nonconference doubleheader.
The Blue Devils then completed the sweep with 4 more homers in a 15-4 Game 2 win. Carissa Topolinski hit a pair and knocked in six runs.
"That was our best offensive game this season," said coach Jenna Charbonneau of Game 1. "All of our hitters can really get after it, and we've been doing a great job of getting people on base."
Scoreless after the first two innings, Warren jumped on Knights freshman starter Gianna Certa in the top of the third. After a leadoff double by Warren starting pitcher Caitlyn Britton, Erika Jimenez sent a 2-run bomb over the left-center-field fence for a quick 2-0 lead.
"It was an amazing day for all of us," said Britton, who finished 4-for-5 with 2 home runs, a double and 4 runs scored. "We were all just seeing it well at the plate."
In the next inning, Brooke Mangler roped a two-out double to left and promptly came home on Britton's tater to make it 4-0 after the fourth.
Grayslake North plated a run in the bottom of the fourth. Alyssa Carr, who led off with a single, came home on a groundout by Certa.
But Warren was just getting started, plating seven more runs in the sixth to break things open at 11-2. The big hit was by Britton, who smacked a 2-run single to plate Kassie Jimenez (single) and Ashlyn Kitter (single). With one out, Topolinski belted a 3-run dinger to plate Britton (single) and Mangler (error).
"Warren's a great hitting team and they hit hard," Grayslake North coach Lea Corcoran said. "We were just a little slow to recover and things somersaulted. We need to be more focused in our at-bats and take a more aggressive approach."
Warren was the aggressor on this day, scoring five more times in the sixth for a 16-1 lead.
The frame was highlighted by the second homers of the day from Kitter, Britton and Erika Jimenez, and one from Kayla Nommensen.
"It's great being a pitcher when you have the hitting and defense that we have," said Britton, who went the distance in the circle, tossing a 5-hitter with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts to raise her mark to 7-1.
Certa (4-2) also went the distance, striking out 10 with 2 walks in the losing effort.
"It was a good game to take what we can learn from and move on," Corcoran said.
In Game 2, Topolinski had 3 hits for the Devils (14-2). Britton added 2 more hits including another homer, while Kitter had 2 hits including a home run, and 2 RBI. Mangler (2 hits, 2B), Trenise Powe (2 hits) and Nommensen (2B) also contributed to Warren's hit parade.
Kassie Jimenez earned the win in the circle, allowing 6 hits with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks.
Nicole Hughes (2 hits, HR, 2 RBI) and Shannon Hill (HR, 2 RBI) led Grayslake North (12-9).