Baseball: Beach Bums rally past Slammers

A six-run lead, bright sunshine across Silver Cross Field and a large crowd of enthusiastic youngsters enjoying the ballgame Wednesday on “School Day.’’ It had all the makings of a Joliet Slammers victory that would end a losing streak and start one in the other …

Slammers unable to ring up victory

A celebratory ring ceremony for the 2011 Frontier League champion Joliet Slammers preceded the home opener Tuesday night, but the most enjoyable part of the evening after three losses in the first four games would have been a victory. The Slammers fell behind 4-0 in …

Slammers celebrate, turn page to 2012

Let’s hope we have another one just like it next season. The Joliet Slammers celebrated their home opener at Silver Cross Field on a picture perfect Tuesday night in the best way possible, with a pregame ring ceremony commemorating their 2011 Frontier League championship. Thirteen …

Girls Soccer Sectional: Providence tops Lincoln-Way West in 4 OTs

Coming off a stunning 2-0 win over Lemont, Providence wasn’t satisfied with just a regional title.

Maggie Corso scored with 2:19 left in the fourth overtime and the seventh-seeded Celtics pulled another surprise with a 2-1 win over Lincoln-Way West in a Class 2A Lincoln-Way …

Baranek on Auto Racing: Long trek for short-tracker Cooling

Joliet native Chris Cooling has spent the past 12 years establishing a reputation as a top race car driver at Grundy County Speedway.

These days, he’s going to great lengths to maintain it — literally.

Cooling makes a weekly trek of nearly three hours (135 …

Boys Volleyball: Providence ousts Lincoln-Way West

A good team will show you what it is made of when its back is against the wall. Third-seeded Providence rallied from a 17-11 deficit in the opening game to earn a hard-fought 29-27, 25-23 victory over second-seeded Lincoln-Way West in the semifinals of the …

Softball: Romeoville knocked out by Naperville Central

The first inning proved to be the difference in Naperville Central’s 5-1 Class 4A Romeoville Regional semifinal win over Romeoville. The Redhawks (26-9) entered play as the No. 2 seed in the East Aurora Sectional. Romeoville (15-13-1) was the 14th-seeded team. Naperville Central’s win sets …

High School Sports Roundup for May 23, 2012

Girls Soccer Class 3A Normal Community Sectional Normal Community 3, Lincoln-Way Central 2: Sara Petrone had a goal for Lincoln-Way Central (16-9) in the semifinal. Boys Volleyball Lincoln-Way Central Regional Lincoln-Way East 25-25, Homewood-Flossmoor 16-18: Austin Royer had 22 assists and his brother, Nate, added …

Herald-News Baseball Top 10

Records through May 22

1. Providence (26-7): Defending state champion Celtics are No. 1 seed in Class 4A Andrew Sectional.

2. Joliet Catholic (27-7-1): Hilltoppers earned No. 2 seed in Class 3A Lincoln-Way West Sectional.

3. Plainfield North (31-4): Three straight 30-win seasons for the …

Q-and-A with Joe Sparacio, Plainfield Central baseball

Sparacio, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound Lewis University recruit, has helped the Wildcats to their best season since 1999. What’s been your most glorious athletic moment? This year, when I broke the school’s records for most RBI in a career and most doubles in a single season …

Boys Volleyball: Joliet Catholic tops Lockport

Joliet Catholic’s Louis Dow was able to give credit when it was due.

Looking to continue a Hillmen comeback during Monday’s Lockport Regional quarterfinal against the host Porters, Dow came out of a Lockport timeout and promptly served into the net for game point.

“It …

Naperville reservist wins online search for golf star’s prom date

There were fewer cameras the first time Marine Lance Cpl. Mark Scott went to prom. It could have been because that time, his date wasn’t a nationally known sports phenom. The 2009 Neuqua Valley High School graduate had a second prom night last Friday, accompanying …

Baseball: Kerzich, DeYoung lift Plainfield Central past Joliet Central

Blake Kerzich singled home the go-ahead run and winning pitcher Mark De-Young doubled home two more in a three-run fifth inning that lifted Plainfield Central past Joliet Central 5-2 Monday in the opening game of the Class 4A Minooka Regional.

The fourth-seeded Wildcats (23-12-1) advance …

High School/Local College Sports Roundup for May 22, 2012

Boys Volleyball Lockport Regional Providence 25-25, Joliet West 23-16: Marty Ross totaled nine kills and five blocks for Providence in the quarterfinal. Lincoln-Way West 25-25, Joliet Central 16-13: Lincoln-Way West (25-10) garnered a berth in the semifinal. Plainfield East Regional Lemont 16-25-25, Plainfield Central 25-23-23: …

Herald-News Softball Top 10

1. Lincoln-Way East (25-5): The Griffins win share of SWSC Blue in dramatic fashion in 7-6 win over Joliet West on Saturday.

2. Minooka (24-6): Southwest Prairie Conference champions for the second straight season.

3. Plainfield Central (23-8): Defeats Lockport 6-4 Wednesday, but then blanked …