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Richards' softball team enjoys an ice cream celebration during the postseason. Photo courtesy of Richards High School Athletics

Baseball and Softball Wrap | Benet tops Richards in extras to punch ticket to state

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Richards came close to setting up an all-South Suburban Conference matchup in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinals. But the Bulldogs could not take advantage of an early two-run lead and dropped a 5-2 decision in eight innings to Benet at the Benedictine Supersectional, played June 5 in Lisle. Had…

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Baseball | Nazareth rides no-hitter to state with chance for back-to-back titles

By Steve Millar Correspondent When Cooper Malamazian induced a pop-out to end the Class 3A Crestwood Supersectional, the junior hurler knew he had just sent Nazareth back to state with a chance to win back-to-back titles. What he wasn’t aware of was the fact he had just finished off a combined no-hitter for the Roadrunners.…

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Baseball | Randall Nauden walk-off lifts Brother Rice over Lincoln-Way East

By Steve Millar Correspondent With a trip to state hanging in the balance, Lincoln-Way East chose to intentionally walk Brother Rice’s Amir Gray and take their chances with junior catcher Randall Nauden. Nauden responded by ripping a walk-off single down the right-field line with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to send…

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Baseball | St. Laurence gets 30th win, but falls to Nazareth in sectional final

By Steve Millar Correspondent St. Laurence got a big boost early from a reliable source in its sectional semifinal against Oak Forest. Senior outfielder Luke Stulga ripped his eighth home run of the season, a two-run shot that sailed over the left-field wall in the first inning. The Vikings never looked back from there, cruising…

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Softball | Marist returns to state with 3-0 win over Lockport

By Randy Whalen Correspondent Isabel Cunnea has ties to Lockport. Her mom, Jeanine Ondrus Cunnea, is a 1988 Porters graduate. After homering against her mom’s alma mater in the IHSA Class 4A Marist Sepersectional, Cunnea also has ties to the RedHawks record book. Cunnea creamed her 22nd home run of the season, one of a…

Lyons fans show their appreciation after the Lions beat Brother Rice on June 2. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Area Sports Roundup | Lyons boys volleyball takes second; D230 United finishes fourth in girls lacrosse

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer There is no argument which conference is Illinois’ most dominant when it comes to boys volleyball. The West Suburban Conference took the top three spots in the IHSA state tournament in Hoffman Estates, with Lyons smack dab in the middle with a second-place finish. Glenbard West won it all with…

Chicago Red Stars rookie Jenna Bike executes a header against Racing Louisville on May 31. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | Louisville blanks Red Stars

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer It worked once. But not a second time. The tightrope can only stretch so far. The offensively struggling Chicago Red Stars may have been able to buck the odds when they were severely outshot in an NWSL game win over Orlando on May 27, but that approach was not fruitful…

Kelly Walinski, a Marist graduate from Worth, concluded her college career with a spot on the Mid-American Conference First Team. Photo courtesy of Northern Illinois University Athletics

College Notebook | Worth’s Walinski finishes strong for Huskies

By Mike Walsh Correspondent Kelly Walinski concluded her college years in perfect fashion. On the softball diamond, the Northern Illinois senior shortstop was named to the 2023 All-Mid-American Conference First Team. In the classroom, she was chosen to the Academic All-MAC Team for the third time in her stint in DeKalb. The Worth resident and…

Brother Rice’s Nathan Kramer gets ready to pound a serve against St. Rita on May 27. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Area Sports Roundup | State volleyball and lacrosse tournaments will have local flavor

By Jeff Vorva Staff writer When it comes to the postseason, there are rarely guarantees. There are, however, two guarantees this season when it comes to having teams in the IHSA state finals this weekend. Boys volleyball and girls lacrosse will each have an area representative at their respective state tournaments. In volleyball, Marist and…

Marist's softball team passed Barrington for most home runs in a season on May 23. Marist photo

Baseball and Softball Wrap | Brother Rice and Lyons win thrillers; Marist softball sets state HR record

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Exciting to the last pitch. Two area baseball regional championships were determined in nail biting fashion on May 27. At the Class 4A Whitney Young Regional, Brother Rice, which finished third the state in Class 4A in 2022, got a bases-loaded to squeak by Mount Carmel, 6-5, and continue its…

Alyssa Naeher had a clean sheet against Orlando on May 27 and was honored for a milestone after the game. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | Orlando outshoots Chicago 19-2, loses 1-0

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Orlando outshot the Chicago Red Stars 19-2, including a 6-2 disadvantage with shots on goal, during a May 27 visit to SeatGeek Stadium. That would normally be a recipe for disaster for the home team. But the Stars defense and goalie Alyssa Naeher withstood the barrage, and the team took…

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Girls Soccer | McAuley starts playoffs with rout, but falls to LW East in regional title game

By Steve Millar Correspondent Hosting a playoff game on its new turf field for the first time, Mother McAuley made it a memorable occasion. Four players scored two goals each and the eighth-seeded Mighty Macs rolled to an 8-1 win over 10th-seeded T.F. United in a Class 4A Mother McAuley Regional semifinal on May 17.…

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Baseball | Evergreen Park tops Shepard, clinches first conference crown since 1986

By Steve Millar Correspondent Evergreen Park’s players believed they had a special team this season. That was validated when they accomplished something the program had not done in 37 years. With their 4-2 win over Shepard on May 16, the Mustangs sealed the outright South Suburban Red championship for their first conference title since 1986.…

Trinity Christian College's softball team placed second in the NCCAA tournament in Kansas City. Photo courtesy of Trinity Christian College

Baseball and Softball Wrap | Trinity softball finishes national runner-up

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Trinity Christian softball team finished second in the nation in the National Christian College Athletic Association World Series. The Trolls lost to Concordia (Michigan), 8-1, in the title game May 18 at the Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City. They finished 25-20 and won the second most games in…

Mother McAuley's water polo team placed second in the state. Mother McAuley photo

Postseason Roundup | McAuley water polo takes second in state

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Mother McAuley water polo team won a squeaker and a blowout at the IHSA state tournament before falling in the championship game. It was McAuley’s (21-6-1) highest finish at state since a second-place showing in 2008. The Mighty Macs nipped Naperville North, 7-6, on May 18 in the quarterfinals…

It was thumbs-up for senior Luke Dwyer and Brother Rice on May 15 as the Crusaders knocked off nationally ranked Marist. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Area Sports Roundup | Brother Rice and Lyons boys volleyball top Illinois’ top-ranked teams

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The boys volleyball postseason opened this week, but what happened during the last week of the regular season was perhaps as unexpected as any playoff upset. It started May 15, when host Brother Rice knocked off Marist, 27-25, 16-25, 25-20. The RedHawks entered the match ranked sixth in the nation…

Lyons second baseman Troy Stukenberg was named the Lions’ recipient of the Do It Stevie’s Way Awarrd at the annual Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Do It Stevie’s Way | Lyons falls to Providence in champ game; Troy Stukenberg earns tourney award

By Steve Millar Correspondent Lyons’ quest for a Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament championship came up just short, but it was still a memorable day for senior Troy Stukenberg. Stukenberg was chosen the Lions’ Do It Stevie’s Way Award winner at the tournament, which honors former Mount Carmel baseball player Steven Bajenski, who died at…

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College Notebook | Augustana’s Ranieri named CCIW Pitcher of Year

By Mike Walsh Correspondent This has been quite the spring for Augustana College’s Nadia Ranieri. The Riverside-Brookfield graduate has been chosen Pitcher of the Year in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. The junior lefty finished 15-4 with a 1.53 ERA in 23 appearances (21 starts) while helping the Vikings to an overall record of…

The Lyons boys gymnastics team took second in the state on May 14. Photo courtesy of Lyons Township Athletics

Postseason Roundup | Lyons boys gymnasts add to state trophy collection

By Jeff Vorva Staff writer Another year, another trophy. The Lyons boys gymnastics team finished second at the IHSA state meet, held May 13 at Palatine High School. This is the Lions seventh state trophy in program history. They placed first in 2021, took second in 2017, and finished third in 2002, 2014, 2018 and…

Chicago fire midfielder Maren Haile-Selassie reacts after scoring a goal in the third minute of his team's 2-1 victory over St. Louis in the Open Cup on May 9 in Bridgeview. Photo by Jeff Vorva

Pro Sports Report | Another Klopas era begins in Bridgeview

By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The third Frank Klopas era opened with a bang in Bridgeview. Klopas was promoted May 8 after the Chicago Fire axed Ezra Hendrickson and the next night the team beat St. Louis, 2-1, in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in front of an announced…

St. Xavier needed to win five games to take the CCAC title. SXU photo

Baseball and Softball Wrap | Saint Xavier baseball and softball headed to national tourneys

By Jeff Vorva Staff writer The Saint Xavier baseball team began the season in early February by losing its first five games. The Cougars, however, finished the regular season 5-0 and are heading to the national tournament. Saint Xavier roller-coastered through the regular season and dug themselves a hole in the double-elimination Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic…

Ryan Doubek, a Marist graduate, leads Benedictine in runs and stolen bases, and is second on the team in batting average, hits, on-base percentage and doubles. Photo courtesy of Bendictine University Athletics

College Notebook | Benedictine infielder Doubek earns Player of Week

By Mike Walsh Correspondent Ryan Doubek of Benedictine University has been named the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference’s Baseball Position Player of the Week for the week ending April 30. Doubek, a senior infielder, hit .522 (12-of-23) while batting leadoff as Benedictine went 4-1 during the timeframe. The Marist graduate scored six runs, doubled twice, stole…

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Baseball | Evergreen Park runs through Red foes, eyes conference crown

By Steve Millar Correspondent While he’s put up huge numbers throughout this time at Evergreen Park, senior shortstop Alejandro Munoz thinks he’s still a bit underrated and off the radar. Munoz is hoping to change that with a big end to the regular season and an even greater postseason. “I’m just trying to prove myself,…

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Girls Soccer | Oak Lawn building toward success with marked improvement in 2023

By Steve Millar Correspondent After helping Oak Lawn improve from three regular-season wins in 2022 to 10 wins this year, Sinead Conroy is excited to see where things go from here. “I think our team chemistry and our team building really helps,” said Conroy, a sophomore midfielder. “We’re still a young team. We’ve got good…

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Baseball | Nick Bestrick fires one-hitter as Sandburg tops Mount Carmel

By Steve Millar Correspondent Some extra sleep did Nick Bestrick quite well. With Sandburg’s game against Mount Carmel postponed on May 12 because of rain, the Eagles had an unconventional two-site, two-opponent doubleheader — going to Plainfield East for a regularly scheduled game the morning of May 13 before coming home to host the Caravan…

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Jason’s Deli has closed its doors in Oak Lawn.

Comings & Goings: Jason’s Deli closes in Oak Lawn

By Bob Bong Jason’s Deli, which had been open in Oak Lawn for more than 10 years, closed its doors for the last time on May 31. According to employees, the Beaumont, Texas-based restaurant at 6260 W. 95th St. closed because the lease was up and the company decided not to renew. Messages to the…

Dr. Robert J. Nolting, District 230 superintendent, speaks at the June 2 ceremonial groundbreaking for a $15.5 million expansion project at Stagg High School, 8015 W. 111th St., with school board members, teachers and students behind him. (Photo by Dermot Connolly)

Stagg breaks ground on $15M school expansion

By Dermot Connolly Stagg High School administrators, teachers and students all lifted ceremonial shovels at a June 2 groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of a two-year $15.5 million expansion project that will add 11 new classrooms, four science labs and much more at the Palos Hills school. The build-out at the District 230 school at 8015…

Grace Point Place residents at 5701 W. 101st St. in Oak Lawn celebrated the Indy 500 on May 25 with a remote-control car race against students from AERO Special Education Cooperative from School District 806. (Supplied photos)

Special Ed students, seniors race for friendship

By Kelly White While cars revved their engines at the Indy 500 this past weekend, residents at Grace Point Place in Oak Lawn were able to join in on the excitement. Grace Point Place, an Anthem Memory Care community located at 5701 W. 101st St., celebrated the Indy 500 on May 25 with a remote-control car race against…

Former Orland Park Police Chief Tim McCarthy (right) and Keith Pekau talk before a meeting in 2022. McCarthy will have the police station named in his honor. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Orland Park police station to be named after former chief Tim McCarthy

By Jeff Vorva Sometime in the near future, Tim McCarthy will be driving by or visiting his old home at the Orland Park police station and he will notice something new. His name. The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted to name the station the Tim McCarthy Police Headquarters at its June 5…

Perfect attendance students (front row, from left) Adrian Buenrostro, Ryan Arethas, Saanvi Patel, Matthias Davis; (back row, from left) Jack Bledsoe, Deijon Feliciano, Alan Martinez, Rosebud Summers, Makayla Knight, Nadia Gilmore and LeeSean McCorker. (Supplied photo)

23 EPCHS students achieve perfect attendance

Twenty-three Evergreen Park Community High School students were recognized by Principal Bill Sanderson at a breakfast in the school cafeteria on May 19 for having achieved perfect attendance for the 2022-2023 school year. Perfect attendance is truly an accomplishment, and we commend the following students and their parents for their focus on coming to school…

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Chicago man charged in Palos Heights motor vehicle thefts

From staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with possession of stolen motor vehicles after Oak Lawn police found him allegedly driving a van stolen in Palos Heights. Police said they responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Good Shepherd Church at 7800 McCarthy Road about noon…

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Palos 118 foundation donates $30,000 for new classroom displays

The Palos 118 Educational Foundation recently made a $30,000 donation to Palos School District 118 for classroom equipment upgrades. The donation will be used for the purchase and installation of new 70-inch interactive displays in all of the district’s third-grade elementary classrooms. “Our hope is that the new displays can be delivered and installed over…

Bobalicious at 12250 S. Harlem Ave. offers dozens of teas, smoothies and other drink combinations.

Family-run Bobalicious pops up on Harlem with community focus

By Isabella Schreck Families can bond and kids can have fun at Bobalicious in Palos Heights, according to co-owner Gustavo Godinez. The cafe, which opened in late November at 12250 S. Harlem Ave., offers dozens of teas, smoothie and other drink combinations. It sells boba toppings and features free popcorn, cotton candy, foosball, air hockey…

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Moraine Valley to host summer Movie in the Moonlight series

Moraine Valley Community College is hosting its popular Movie in the Moonlight series this summer. The college will show three movies on a 16-foot inflatable screen at the Gateway, between Buildings F and M, on campus, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills. Admission is free. The first movie is the Oscar-nominated “Puss in Boots” on…

Shepard High School senior Lauren Sinisi announces award winners at the annual U.S. Air Force JROTC program awards ceremony. (Supplied photos)

Shepard JROTC closes year with awards ceremony

The U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Shepard High School concluded its academic year recently with an awards ceremony honoring cadets who distinguished themselves. Many national organizations presented awards to students for scholastic excellence, JROTC leadership and involvement, conduct, and military bearing. Students named the top cadets in their academic class…

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Worth passes parking restrictions for better safety

By Joe Boyle A series of parking regulations have been established in Worth in an effort to provide improved public safety within sections of the village. Trustee Brad Urban, who is the head of the public works committee, mentioned that an ordinance was being considered to eliminate parking on the south side of 116th Street…

Palos Heights Alderman Jack Clifford announced current road construction projects in the city. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Contruction headaches starting, splash pad coming to Palos Heights

By Jeff Vorva Road construction time is in full swing and already residents of Palos Heights are experiencing some headaches. At a brief June 6 city council meeting that had four of eight aldermen absent, Alderman Jack Clifford said that an Oak Park Avenue construction project had started and is inconveniencing residents along that street…

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