Herald News

Boys Volleyball: Minooka, Joliet Catholic reach regional final

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:46:30 -0500

The start of each game matters, and from that standpoint, it was not vintage Minooka. But once the Indians got rolling in Tuesday’s Joliet Central Regional semifinal against Southwest Prairie adversary Plainfield South, it was history. Minooka (31-2), the No. 1 seed in the regional and the fourth-place finisher in state a year ago, erased deficits in each game and rolled to a 25-15, 25-14 victory. “We had a very slow start both games,” said Indians coach Janel Grzetich, whose team trailed 6-2 in Set 1 and 11-7 in Set 2. “We can’t have that the rest of the postseason …

Softball: Lincoln-Way North holds off Lincoln-Way Central

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:45:12 -0500

It wasn’t the hardest-hit ball, but Lincoln-Way North’s Kayla O’Brien certainly could defend her effort. The senior was just protecting herself facing an 0-and-2 count. “With that count, whatever pitch comes, take it and go,” O’Brien said. She got her pitch and went with it, O’Brien’s bloop two-run single in the third putting host Lincoln-Way North up for good in a 4-3 win over Lincoln-Way Central in a 4A regional semifinal. O’Brien stepped up to the plate in the third under odd circumstances. In a 2-2 game, the Phoenix (19-9) had already seen two runners gunned down at home in …

High School Sports Roundup for May 21, 2013

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:45:00 -0500

Softball Class 4A Crete-Monee Regional No. 7 Lincoln-Way East 12, Crete-Monee 2: Nikki Jarrell (2-for-3) had three RBI and Chrisi Mizera (10-0) struck out eight over four innings to spur Lincoln-Way East (19-7). Blake Ruiz (3-for-3) and Jenny Van Geertry (2-for-3) added two RBI apiece for the Griffins in the five-inning game. Class 3A Joliet Central Regional Plainfield Central 14, T.F. South 0: Michaela Schlattman went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs to lead Plainfield Central in the semifinal. Tara Cannella was a perfect 3-for-3 for the Wildcats. Class 3A Queen of Peace Regional Lemont 22, Comer 0: Rylie Jay …

Q-and-A with Steve Waldrop, Bolingbrook baseball

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:02:28 -0500

The senior pitcher, who is 2-1 with a 1.01 ERA, will continue his baseball career at Morehead State, a program that’s in a rebuilding stage under first-year coach Mike McGuire. Waldrop said Morehead State was his first choice. What are you most looking forward to playing college baseball and what are you worried about? Definitely the competition. I like good competition. The thing I’m most worried about is also the competition. It’s going to be harder than high school, of course. Did you always see yourself playing college baseball? All my life I wanted to be a baseball player, ever …

Herald-News Baseball Top 10

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:45:51 -0500

Records through May 21 1. Lockport (28-7) Mike Formella has control. 2. Plainfield South (25-8) School record for victories in a season. 3. Joliet West (21-10) Another stellar year in the SouthWest Suburban Blue. 4. Minooka (23-8) Dethroned Plainfield North as Southwest Prairie Conference champ. 5. Morris (26-6) Readies for Coal City in Class 3A playoffs. 6. Lemont (22-6) Jake Latz has some pop in the bat. 7. Lincoln-Way West (21-11) Tyler Kopp drives in runs. 8. Joliet Catholic (18-14) Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament champ. 9. Providence (18-17) Working to get hot at the right time. 10. Plainfield North …

Baseball Player of the Week: Matt Kaminski, of Lemont

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:46:00 -0500

Matt Kaminski, of Lemont, is the Herald-News Baseball Player of the Week. The left-handed-hitting outfielder wrapped up the regular season with a stellar week. Kaminski went 11-for-19 with four doubles, a triple and nine RBI. In the Indians’ regular-season finale Monday, Kaminski had and RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to boost Lemont to an 11-10 victory over Joliet West. Coaches wishing to nominate Player of the Week candidates can do so by contacting Tina Akouris at takouris@suntimes.com by noon Tuesday. …

Baseball: Joliet West set for regional test

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:45:42 -0500

Joliet West is heading into one of the toughest regionals in the state, the Class 4A Joliet Central Regional, in which the Tigers will face Minooka on Thursday in first-round play. The Tigers probably want to savor the regular season for a little longer after they earned a share of the SouthWest Suburban Blue Conference for the second year in a row. Joliet West shared the league title with Lockport, even though the Tigers beat Lockport twice during the regular season. The Tigers clinched a tie with Lockport on May 17, when Joliet West beat Bolingbrook 3-0. Jake Herron, who …

Baseball: Drew DeMumbrum pitches Plainfield East past Boolingbrook

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:33:36 -0500

Freshman Drew DeMumbrum pitched Plainfield East past Bolingbrook 5-3 in the opening game of the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Regional.

High School Sports Roundup for May 20, 2013

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:30:39 -0500

Baseball Class 4A Plainfield Central Regional Plainfield Central 7, Oswego 1: Austin Blazevic went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs for host Plainfield Central in the win. Matt Ryan doubled and drove in two RBI for the Wildcats. Non-Tournament Lockport 8, Herscher 3: Jeff Pattison hit a two-run single and Doug Matthews chipped in two RBI for host Lockport (28-7). Ted Snidanko and Avery Lochow added two runs apiece in supporting Mike Formella (7 strikeouts), who allowed one unearned run through five innings. Lemont 11, Joliet West 10: Matt Kaminski’s RBI double in the bottom of the …

Q-and-A with Kaleigh Nagle, Plainfield Central softball

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:10:52 -0500

Nagle, a senior pitcher/shortstop, is hitting .471 with seven homers, 30 RBI and 37 runs, and has a 22-3 record in the circle with a 1.49 ERA and 114 strikeouts. She has committed to play for UIC. What was it like winning the Southwest Prairie title? It’s senior year, and we hadn’t won it in a few years. The conference was stacked this year, so anyone could have won it. It’s definitely big for the team. What appealed to you about UIC? I really liked that it is in the city. I wanted an environment like that, and also it’s …

Herald-News Softball Top 10

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:31:35 -0500

Records through May 19 1. Lincoln-Way West (28-4) Can Warriors, who are hosting a 3A regional, make big postseason run? 2. Plainfield Central (25-5) Wildcats claim Southwest Prairie title; potential match-up with Plainfield South in regional. 3. Providence (23-8) Greenwood injury looms large. Celtics must step up to replace her. 4. Peotone (29-3) Blue Devils winners of seven in a row heading into 3A playoffs. 5. Lockport (22-12) Chovanec wins 300th game, Porters win conference. How about playoffs? 6. Lincoln-Way East (17-7) Struggling Griffins need to right ship heading into Class 4A regional. 7. Lemont (22-5) Indians earn the No. …

Softball Player of the Week: Jorgi Calombaris, of Lincoln-Way East

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:31:45 -0500

Jorgi Calombaris, of Lincoln-Way East, is the Herald-News Softball Player of the Week. Calombaris, a senior shortstop, was 6-for-11 over four games with two home runs, a triple and nine RBI. Entering the week Calombaris is hitting .463 with two homers, 19 RBI and 23 runs. Coaches wishing to nominate Player of the Week candidates can do so by contacting Tim O’Brien at tobrien10@gmail.com by noon Monday. …

Softball: Providence dealing with injury bug

Tue, 21 May 2013 02:31:24 -0500

Pairing hot hitting with consistent pitching, Providence has been as hot as any team in the Joliet area over the last three weeks. However, on the eve of the Class 4A playoffs, the Celtics took a hit when star sophomore Morgan Greenwood left a game with a serious ankle injury. Coach Jay Biesterfeld said in an email the injury is serious, but there was no break in Greenwood’s left ankle. “All I can really say right now is it is an ankle injury, but she is going to be OK,” Biesterfeld said. “There is no timetable (for her return) at …

Q-and-A with Aaliyah Brown, Lincoln-Way East track and field

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:45:41 -0500

The multiple state champion will attend Texas A&M in the fall on a track scholarship. She credits her father and coach, Angelo, for much of her success on the track. Favorite sports team? The Bulls. I was watching the playoffs. I’ve been so busy with track so I can’t really watch TV. Favorite music? R&B and rap. Usually R&B, because I like the messages that R&B has. Rap is just like beats. Favorite thing to eat in the school cafeteria? Right now it’s the chicken fajita wraps with some ranch (dressing) on it. It’s so good. It used to be …

Akouris: Miller recovers as Plainfield N. moves on

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:45:58 -0500

Brendan Miller couldn’t do anything about it. His elbow just snapped — and so did his season before it even got a chance to start. But two months after Plainfield North’s top pitcher suffered a torn ligament in his right elbow, the senior is looking ahead to a college career at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and taking on a bit of a new role as a cheerleader for the Tigers. “I’m there all the time and I give them as much advice and support as possible,” Miller said. “We’ve played six games, two weeks in a row now — and with the …

High School Sports Spotlight

Mon, 20 May 2013 02:26:59 -0500

This week we shine the spotlight on: Nick Urban, Lemont tennis; Ashton McCullough, Joliet West track and field; Mike Krueger, Lemont volleyball; and Jessica Bicek, Lincoln-Way East soccer.