Girls Soccer: De La Salle tops Bremen for program’s first regional title
By Steve Millar Correspondent De La Salle coach Carlos Nunez has seen his teams come up a bit short in the postseason repeatedly over the years. The Meteors had never won a regional championship in girls soccer. Until this year, that is. “I’ve been in every single one that we’ve lost in,” Nunez said. “We’ve…
Pro soccer report: Pugh tallies twice return in Red Stars’ win over Orlando
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Mallory Pugh gave a sample of what could be a big 2022 season when she scored four goals in the exhibition Challenge Cup series. But the Red Stars scoring threat missed the first two games of the NWSL season with an injury, and the team split decisions against Louisville and…
Area Sports Roundup: Sandburg takes 2nd at Bajenski tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Sandburg baseball team has had more downs than ups this season. But the Eagles finished the regular season on a strong note with a run to second place at the Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament, which wrapped up May 21 at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. To get to the…
Track Postseason Report: Sandburg boys 3200 relay records nation’s third-best time in 2022
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer How good was the competition in the boys track Class 3A Lockport Sectional in the 3200 meter relay? Sandburg’s relay team of Brock Rice, Declan Tunney, Trent Anderson and Sean Marquardt ran a time of 7:42.42, which tied for the third-best time in the nation in 2022. And that was…
Oak Lawn community honors late beloved coach
Varsity baseball park renamed Skip Sullivan Field By Joe Boyle Friends and associates of Skip Sullivan said that he was always a ray of sunshine even on the dreariest of days. The sky was actually overcast over the Oak Lawn Community High School varsity baseball field on Tuesday afternoon. But those who knew Sullivan said…
‘Pope’ proves there is always hope: Donn Pall, who pitched six seasons for the White Sox, has high school number retired
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Donn Pall admits things were low-key when he played baseball at Evergreen Park High School. Expectations were not high. Having fun was more important. “There were no big games and we didn’t have a special team,” Pall said. “It was just fun to play with a bunch of my friends…
Pro Soccer Report: Fire II get first win; Red Stars fall to San Diego
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer When the soccer world woke up on May 15, the Chicago Fire II had not won an MLS NEXT Pro game and the Chicago Red Stars had not lost a regular-season game this season. That all changed late that afternoon. The Fire II won the first game in their short…
Baseball: Oak Lawn seeks to right ship as playoffs loom
By Steve Millar Correspondent Oak Lawn junior Jack McGlynn has been unable to do much of what he loves the most this season. A partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm has prevented him from pitching, but for seven innings early in the year. McGlynn was coming off an impressive sophomore season during…
Area Sports Roundup: Marist knocks off Glenbard West in battle of nationally ranked volleyball teams
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Power on power didn’t work the first time around. Power here and there, mixed in with some savvy soft shots, did the trick the second time. In a battle of two of the top 11 teams in the nation, according to the USA Today/American Volleyball Coaches Association May 11 rankings,…
Postseason Roundup: Lyons water polo teams vault to state via sensational sectionals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Anyone looking for thrills and close matches at the two Lyons water polo sectionals were out of luck. Anyone rooting for the hosts, however, had a ball during that 24-hour stretch May 13 and 14. The Lions boys crushed Riverside-Brookfield, 17-5, in the semifinals and St. Rita, 12-3, in the…
Road rage shooting upsets Oak Lawn officials
Village proclaims Skip Sullivan Day By Joe Boyle Rising crime has Oak Lawn officials concerned, especially after reports of a road rage shooting that took place in the village Tuesday night just before the village board meeting. According to Oak Lawn Police Chief Dan Vittorio, two men began shouting at each other from their vehicles while driving…
Pro Soccer Report: Cup runneth over — Red Stars v. Washington postponed because of exhibition tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer SeatGeek Stadium was empty the night of May 7. The NWSL game between Washington and the Chicago Red Stars that had been scheduled was postponed, and will be played at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8. The reason? It wasn’t weather related. It was a cool but dry night. A decent…
College Report: Illini football names scholarship after former Orland top cop Tim McCarthy
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Many area residents know Tim McCarthy as the former longtime police chief of Orland Park. Those who know history know McCarthy was a U.S. Secret Service agent who took a bullet for President Ronald Reagan during John Hinckley Jr.’s assassination attempt in 1981. Not as well known is that McCarthy…
Area Sports Roundup: Lyons eyes back-to-back state gymnastics titles
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Time will tell if the Lyons boys gymnastics team can win its second straight IHSA state championship. But the Lions have taken a good first step in achieving that goal. Lyons won its own sectional May 5 with 149.3, nearly 10 points better than runner-up Naperville North. Senior Randy Yonan…
Girls Soccer: O’Conner, Alsheikh lead Sandburg in conference-clinching win over Lockport
By Steve Millar Correspondent As a four-year starter at defender, Erin O’Connor has been a rock on the back line for Sandburg her entire high school career. “She’s just so reliable,” Sandburg coach Tom Kubowicz said. “She’s a great leader back there, she’s dependable and she’s just so solid. We know what we’re going to…
Baseball: Brother Rice closing in on Catholic League Blue crown
By Steve Millar Correspondent Hitting in the seventh spot in the Brother Rice lineup, senior outfielder Nick Daugherty knows he will usually have a shot to drive in a run or two when he steps to the plate. “It’s great,” Daugherty said “I think every time I come up to bat there’s a runner at…
Argo girls track team wins Morton Invite
By Carol McGowan Argo High School’s girls varsity track team recently came in first place at the Girls Morton High School Varsity Indoor Track and Field Invite 2022. Argo head coach Eva Manzke said, “It was our last indoor meet and we won at the varsity level. We competed against some higher-level teams such as…
Area Sports Roundup: Brother Rice learning from lull
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer No one thought Brother Rice’s juggernaut, nationally ranked baseball team was going to go undefeated, even though they looked unbeatable through the first 17 games this season. High school baseball in Illinois relies on deep pitching depth, and with the IHSA instituting pitch counts in recent years an attempt to…
Boys Volleyball: Sandburg seeks to make gains from adversity
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Sandburg routinely practices with players at positions other than what they typically play during a game. The exposure to different roles and places on the floor is part of coach David Vales’ development of his players. “That’s always a focus,” Vales said. “We do a lot of practicing with guys all…
Pro Soccer Report: Red Stars catch lightning in season-opening win over Louisville
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars had not won a season-opener since 2015, and the prospects for beginning the 2022 campaign with a ‘W’ were not at their most promising. The Stars had never beaten their Game 1 opponent, Racing Louisville, a franchise that was an expansion team in 2021. Tierna Davidson,…
College Report: Moraine Valley celebrates 45 years of athletics in Finn fashion
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Moraine Valley Community College celebrated its 45th year of offering athletics on April 30. Bill Finn has seen nearly all of them. Finn, the Cyclones’ athletic director, has spent 41 years at the college as a coach and administrator. The school opened up the Health, Fitness and Recreation Center for…
Girls Soccer: Leah Rizzo steps up to lead Shepard during ‘building’ year
By Steve Millar Correspondent Shepard senior Leah Rizzo has been a two-sport standout since her freshman year, and is a four-year varsity player in both volleyball and soccer. “Both sports are really different,” Rizzo said. “I get to be more aggressive on the soccer field, go at girls shoulder-to-shoulder and be physical. Volleyball is more…
Argo’s Coach McCarthy scores 300th win
By Carol McGowan Argo High School head girls varsity basketball coach, Dan McCarthy, has done something not many others can claim. During this last season, he had his 300th win as a coach. If you’ve ever been to a game at Argo, where McCarthy was coaching, you would notice his calm demeanor on the floor. …
College Report: Area grads earn All-American honors, then win national title
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer National champions and All-Americans. Chicago Christian grad Zach Bulthuis, Marist alum Gene McNulty and former Lyons’ star Matt Slivinski were last week named All-American first-teamers by the National Volleyball Association/American Volleyball Coaches Association. Then they proved they were deserving of the honor, helping Carthage College win an NCAA Division III…
Boys Volleyball: Chicago Christian runs win streak to 11
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Chicago Christian continues to impress. Riverside-Brookfield is seeking consistency. That scenario played out April 19 when the Knights rallied for a big 18-25, 25-19, 25-18 comeback victory over the Bulldogs in a key Metro Suburban Conference matchup in Palos Heights. By week’s end, Chicago Christian (16-2, 3-0 in Metro Suburban) had extended…
Orland Park to add 7 names during Memorial Day ceremony
The Orland Park community is invited to join the village this Memorial Day in remembrance of those who have given their lives for our country. The ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the village’s memorial, Ara Pace – Place of Peace, located outside of Village Hall at 14700 S.…
New ward map OKed
Reflects Madigan’s power By Tim Hadac The City Council this week approved a new ward map that, among other things, will see all of Clearing and most of Garfield Ridge shifted to the 13th Ward. Midway International Airport also would shift from the 23rd Ward to the 13th. Monday’s 43-7 vote means the issue will…
Pop’s to celebrate National Italian Beef Day with week of specials
Palos Heights-based Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage is beefing up May this year with a week-long celebration of National Italian Beef Day at each of their locations. As part of the celebrations, Pop’s is hosting an interactive contest on their Facebook page during the week of National Italian Beef Day from Monday, May 23, through…
‘Small Island, Big Song’ workshops enrich classroom learning at MVCC
From staff reports Coming from some of the smallest islands in the world, performers from “Small Island, Big Song” talked about climate change, indigenous cultures and island history from their homelands to students in select sociology and geography classes at Moraine Valley Community College last month. The group performed their musical and spoken word endeavor…
Pathlights names new executive director
From staff reports Elaine Grande has been appointed Executive Director by Pathlights’ Board of Directors effective May 30. Grande brings more than 30 years of successful leadership experience and becomes only the third Executive Director in the Palos Heights nonprofit’s 46-year history. She currently leads all Pathlights program and services as Director of Program Development…
‘You knew this would happen’
Neighbors angry, but not surprised by shooting By Tim Hadac What a number of Southwest Siders living along the Pulaski corridor have been warning about appears to have occurred. A 22-year-old man was shot in the abdomen and buttocks as he stood with a group of people in a parking lot at 7050…
Cubs come through for Gage Park
Leaders of the Gage Park Baseball & Softball Association, along with Chicago Park District officials, are all smiles as they celebrate the coming renovation of their diamonds, courtesy of a grant from Cubs Charities. Details in today’s Gage Park column. –Supplied photo
Health care expansion planned for Brighton Park
Esperanza secures $4.2 million for 47th/California From staff reports Esperanza Health Centers is one of 26 finalists to receive more than $33.5 million in grant funding from the city’s Recovery Plan Community Development grant program. The award of $4.2 million will enable Esperanza to break ground on a long-awaited expansion of its current Brighton Park…
Forgive Ukraine’s debts, Chuy says
Bill passes House, issue heads to Senate From staff reports Legislation designed to bring debt relief to Ukraine—a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th)—was passed last week by the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure instructs U.S. representatives at international financial institutions to use their voice and vote to pursue comprehensive relief…
Midway bouncing back
UBAM hears update from airport chief By Dermot Connolly Midway International Airport is bouncing back from the pandemic, and the $333 million Midway Modernization program is nearing completion, Chicago Department of Aviation officials told local business leaders last week. Elizabeth Granados-Perez, managing deputy commissioner of Midway, and Alex Leon, deputy commissioner in charge of design…
Orland Park police arrest 2 men for commercial burglaries
By Bob Bong Orland Park police have arrested two men suspected of committing multiple commercial burglaries throughout the Chicago area and northwest Indiana. Police have been hunting the men since they were believed to be responsible for a March 13 break-in at Binny’s Beverage Depot at 103 Orland Park Place. Police said they responded…
Grand reopening Friday for Bedford Park Walmart
Bedford Park residents can get a first look at the newly remodeled Walmart Supercenter at 7050 S. Cicero Ave., on Friday, May 20. The store will celebrate its ReGrand Opening with activities for the community beginning at 9 a.m. Along with a disc jockey who will play hit tunes, community residents are invited to enjoy complimentary beverages and snacks…
