Bobby Narang's Lake County softball rankings and player of the week for Lake County
As Mundelein and Stevenson rise to the top of the rankings, their North Suburban Conference rivals Libertyville and Warren hold steady behind them.
TOP 10
With records through Tuesday and previous rankings in parentheses.
1. Mundelein 7-1 (2)
Freshman catcher Avi Perez, who is batting .625, has adjusted quickly to the varsity level for the 2024 Class 4A state semifinalist.
2. Stevenson 7-2 (NR)
Sophia Becker has taken a step forward, hitting .652 for the fast-rising Patriots, who beat Libertyville in their North Suburban Conference opener.
3. Libertyville 3-2 (3)
Zoe Kinsella hit two home runs in her first 12 at-bats for the Wildcats.
4. Warren 3-2 (4)
Mia Meno is coming into her own for the Blue Devils this season.
5. Carmel 3-1 (6)
Showing great command in the circle, Kaitlyn Konen strikes out 15 during the Corsairs' win against Palatine on Monday.
6. Antioch 0-6 (1)
Freshman Tanner Ludwig's fast start for the 2024 Class 3A state runner-up includes a .583 average and a team-high two home runs in five games.
7. Grant 7-4 (10)
Bri Lopez's timely hitting and great defense in right field, including four diving catches, helps the Bulldogs win six of seven.
8. Wauconda 2-10 (5)
Coming off an impressive freshman season, Madison May is batting .625 with three doubles, a triple, a home run and six RBIs in her past five games.
9. Grayslake Central 3-2 (7)
Kate Davies has picked up right where she left off, too, hitting .588 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 17 at-bats.
10. Lakes 2-2 (9)
Brookelynn Maxson is fueling the Eagles' offense with her consistent hitting and ability to get on base.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior shortstop Grace Brown, a St. Joseph's recruit who missed last season with a knee injury, is hitting .571 with three home runs and eight RBIs in her past three games.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Coveted 6-Foot-5 Playmaker a 'Top Target' for Ohio State Football
Coveted 6-Foot-5 Playmaker a 'Top Target' for Ohio State Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Ohio State Buckeyes already have their eyes on 2027 recruiting prospects. The program has also begun prioritizing their preferred targets. Advertisement On3's Mick Walker wrote Friday that four-star tight end Brock Williams is on that list for the Buckeyes. "Four-star Libertyville (Ill.) tight end Brock Williams is the undisputed top target for tight coach Keenan Bailey in the 2027 class," Walker wrote. "He is also a top target for the aforementioned [Brady] Edmunds which is a big reason why Williams chose to make the the trip down to Columbus this weekend. The 6-foot-5 210-pound Williams was last on campus for the Buckeyes first spring practice on March 17. "Williams is fresh off a trip to Athens last weekend. Georgia is also making Williams, No. 1 tight end in 2027 On300, a priority." Ohio State Buckeyes and football head coach Ryan Day have started looking into 2027 recruiting prospects.© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Brady Edmunds is a four-star 2027 quarterback already committed to Ohio State. Advertisement Edmunds appears to be one of the reasons the Buckeyes are making Williams a priority. According to the 247 Sports composite rankings, Williams is the No. 2 tight end in the 2027 recruiting class. A Libertyville, Illinois native, Williams is also the top recruit from Illinois and the No. 19 overall prospect in the class. In addition to Edmunds, the Buckeyes have received a commitment from five-star athlete Jamier Brown in the 2027 class. Brown is the No. 5 overall recruit and top Ohio prospect in the class according to the composite rankings. Edmunds is also ranked in the top 10 at his position and in the top 100 nationally. Advertisement Related: Ohio State Lands 'Huge Visit' With Coveted Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Libertyville sophomore Brady Buenik already throws 95 mph. He has ‘moxie.' But he's tested in sectional final.
Libertyville's Brady Buenik is in that select company of high school pitchers who can throw a 95 mph fastball. Almost as important for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound sophomore right-hander are the lessons he's learning as he reaches deeper to navigate high-pressure situations, like the one he faced in the Class 4A Stevenson Sectional championship game on Saturday. 'The adrenaline was going pretty quickly, but I think I did a pretty good job of calming down and trying to think that it's any other game,' Buenik said. 'I wasn't 100% me today, but it was a good learning experience.' But Buenik was good enough to earn the win. He pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief in the second-seeded Wildcats' 5-4 victory against eighth-seeded Lake Zurich in Lincolnshire. An effective bridge between junior starter Chase Lockwood and senior closer Zach Seiler, Buenik (5-0) allowed two hits, walked five, hit one and struck out three as Libertyville (33-4) won its first sectional title since 2013 to advance to the Schaumburg Supersectional against Maine South (23-16) at Wintrust Field at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Libertyville senior catcher Quinn Schambow, an Oklahoma State recruit, looks at Buenik's refusal to back down as a key factor in his success. Buenik struck out senior slugger Owen Strahl to end the sixth inning. 'He was throwing balls past guys, and it was pretty cool to see him get fired up on the strikeout,' Schambow said. 'That shows how competitive he is, and that's what you need to be a ballplayer — that confidence and moxie and swagger. If you don't have that, good luck. That's one of the things that makes him special.' Buenik started four games this season, his first at the varsity level. Among those, he pitched five strong innings during the Wildcats' 2-1 win against Valley Christian, a team from Chandler, Arizona, that didn't lose the rest of the season en route to a state title. 'Having that under his belt really built his confidence,' Libertyville coach Matt Thompson said. 'Going into the seventh (against Lake Zurich), he said, 'Coach, I'm finishing this game.' I agreed with him and said, 'Let's start with the first batter and go from there.'' Buenik entered the game against the Bears (26-12) with a 2-1 lead — which Schambow gave the Wildcats with a two-run double in the third inning — after Lockwood pitched the first three frames. A three-run fifth gave the Wildcats insurance runs they needed. Schambow's sacrifice fly made it 3-1, and senior first baseman Joshua Holst, an Air Force commit, followed with a two-run homer. The first batter to face Buenik in the top of the seventh grounded to third. But a four-batter stretch with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, an infield error and another walk ended his day. Lake Zurich sophomore third baseman Alex Toth coaxed a walk from Seiler to make it 5-3. But Seiler struck out sophomore leadoff hitter Carson Hamblin and Strahl with the bases loaded sandwiched around plunking senior outfielder Cash Kaczmarek. 'I've been there before, and I feel comfortable getting the call to be in those situations,' Seiler said. 'I understand it's a big moment for me, but it's a big moment for them, too, and when I follow Brady, it's different for the hitter. It's nice to know that they're already off balance before I throw my first pitch.' Seiler was referring to Buenik's fastball, which has helped him produce a 1.24 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP and 34 strikeouts against 11 walks in 28 1/3 innings. Strikeouts have always loomed large for Buenik, but this is the first season in which his fastball hasn't been able to do all the heavy lifting by itself. 'A little bit earlier in the year, there were signs of guys catching up to it, especially in the later innings because velocity might drop a bit,' he said. 'No one was absolutely crushing it, but I've learned that you've got to mix a lot more. Anyone can catch up to a fastball, but if you execute your pitches, things will go your way.' Not everything went Buenik's way on Saturday, but that will be good for him in the long run, according to Schambow. 'He needed that for himself because not every time you step on the mound are you going to have a perfect outing where you don't walk anyone or give up any hits,' Schambow said. 'He's matured a lot as the season has gone on, and as you can see today, the pressure didn't get to him.'
Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Addison Housh followed Antioch's 2024 run on social media. ‘It's completely different now.' Not for the team.
Antioch sophomore right fielder Addison Housh likes her new vantage point. A year ago, when she played on the junior varsity team, Housh said she watched the Sequoits' run to second place in Class 3A via social media. 'I didn't even go to state, but I paid attention and was really excited for the team,' she said. This season, Housh is one of three Addisons on the varsity team — along with junior catcher Addison Webb and freshman pitcher Addison Osborne – but is making a name for herself and making an impact for the Sequoits. Housh delivered two key hits late in the Class 3A Grayslake Central championship game on Saturday as top-seeded Antioch outlasted second-seeded Carmel for a 13-9 victory. 'It's completely different now for me,' she said. 'I never would have thought that I would be here, making it this far. It's really exciting, and I'm so happy to be playing for this team. It's been really exciting this year.' Like the past four years, the Sequoits (24-13) are sectional champions and will play Prairie Ridge (27-1-1) in the Kaneland Supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday with a chance to return to the state semifinals for the fourth straight season. Junior first baseman Sam Hillner led Northern Lake County Conference champion Antioch's offense with four hits, including two homers, and four RBIs. Webb added two hits and three RBIs. Senior shortstop Grace Brown, a St. Joseph's recruit, led Carmel (20-10) with a single, a home run and two RBIs. Housh was heavily involved, too, in a game when the Sequoits needed runs to hold off the high-powered Corsairs, who scored three in each of the fourth, six and seventh innings. She hit a rocket line drive over the third baseman's head on the first pitch of her at-bat in the sixth inning to stretch Antioch's lead to 13-6. She also hit a deep double to left field. 'I was excited to contribute,' Housh said. 'I didn't get hits early in the game, so I knew I had to swing at the first pitch because it was going to be a strike and swing as hard as I could. It was really cool and nice. I want to do the best I can for the team.' Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said Housh is one of several first-year players who have helped bridge the gap after graduation losses. 'Housh does a great job and can play third base for us and also help out at second base,' Rocco said. 'She started the year in a bit of a funk but came back strong. She barely strikes out, which is why we like her in the lineup. She has great power with the ability to drive the ball to all fields. She's also a very good base runner and stealer. 'Her hitting today was key. She was very patient and did a great job for us.' Housh, who also played on the JV volleyball team in the fall, said she has adapted to a new position in the outfield. 'I usually play third base,' she said. 'It's fun. I love outfield, always loved it. It's definitely different, but I'm excited to be playing and supporting the team.' Antioch sophomore outfielder Tegan Schuler said Housh hasn't missed a beat in right. 'She has stepped up a lot on our team,' Schuler said. 'She's able to do a lot of positions and is very athletic, and we have good chemistry in the outfield.' Antioch sophomore second baseman Alyna Matarieh played on the JV team with Housh last season, and they have helped the Sequoits overcome an 0-6 start. 'It's so cool to see Addison succeed in our batting order and help our team out today,' Matarieh said.
