Pro Sports Report | Fire burn House, prep to host St. Louis in 3rd round of U.S. Open Cup
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Fire topped the House in the battle of Chicago and have a quick return trip to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. The Fire beat the House, 3-0, April 26 in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Kendall Birks scored a brace and Kacper Przybylko had a…
Area Sports Roundup | Kilbane, SXU heading to golf nationals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Hannah Kilbane helped the Saint Xavier women’s golf team qualify for the NAIA nationals for just the second time in program history. Kilbane, a junior, needed a playoff hole to be crowned the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion, and her red-hot shooting on the second day of the conference tournament…
Area gamers head to Evergreen Park this weekend for state finals
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The best high school gamers from all over the state will battle is out for various state championships in Evergreen Park this weekend. The Illinois High School Association’s second eSports state championships will be held on Saturday, April 29, at Evergreen Park Community High School after it was held at…
Area Sports Roundup | U.S. hockey star Abbey Murphy scores quickest goal in tourney
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer At age 20, Abbey Murphy did something that will be difficult to top. In the United States women’s hockey victory over Switzerland on April 7 in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship, the Mother McAuley graduate scored the quickest goal in an IIHF championship final, finding the net seven…
College Notebook | Freshman Luke Sefcik is a force for Chippewas
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Luke Sefcik, a Marist graduate who is playing baseball at Central Michigan, was named the Mid-American Conference’s Player of the Week for April 10. The redshirt freshman second baseman hit .625 while helping the Chippewas to a 3-1 record for the week. He collected 10 hits in 16 at-bats, drove in…
Baseball | St. Rita goes 4-1 over five-day stretch of games
By Steve Millar Correspondent Ryder Johnson knows his role in St. Rita’s offense. Hitting in the leadoff spot, the senior outfielder looks to wreak havoc and put pressure on the opposing defense. “With my speed, being at the top, it’s my job to get on base and start rallies,” Johnson said. “I scratch and claw…
Baseball | Sandburg hitters are heating up
By Steve Millar Correspondent After relying heavily on its pitching staff for the first half of the season, Sandburg has been picking things up in a big way offensively. The Eagles are confident in their ability to put up big run totals. “The bats have been clicking recently,” senior outfielder Jason Sullivan said. “It’s getting…
Baseball and Softball Wrap | Sandburg trying to find footing as season hits halfway mark
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Sandburg softball team dropped 10 of its first 13 games to open the season, but the Eagles record heading into this week was not indicative of how well they have played at times. Their three wins during that stretch were each by 10 or more runs, beating Lyons, 11-1,…
Pro Sports Report | Dual braces doom Red Stars
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The Chicago Red Stars and the Chicago Fire II teams were on the losing side of scoring braces on April 22. For the Red Stars, it was double trouble against the OL Reign as Bethany Balcer and Jess Fishlock scored braces in a 5-2 Reign victory in a NWSL matchup…
Baseball | St. Laurence bounces back from trouncing with wins downstate
By Steve Millar Correspondent After the type of disastrous inning St. Laurence does not endure often, let alone at home, the Vikings did not go down without a fight. Lincoln-Way Central stunned the Vikings by scoring 10 runs in the top of the first inning of a non-conference showdown on April 12. St. Laurence answered…
Baseball | Sandburg rides hot arms to encouraging first half of season
By Randy Whalen Correspondent Focusing on the game in front of them has contributed to Sandburg’s success this season, which reached a notable point last week when a strong stretch of play enabled them to match its win total from 2022. With a 6-4 road win over Joliet West on April 15, the Eagles concluded…
College Notebook | North Central’s Precin finishes an unbeaten champ for 2nd straight season
By Mike Walsh Correspondent As senior seasons go, it’s tough to top the one authored by North Central College wrestler Robert Precin. Precin, an Orland Park resident, won his second consecutive national championship at 133 pounds at the NCAA Division III tournament held on March 10-11 at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia. He finished…
Elite wrestler Austin O’Connor aspires to be UFC champ
By Mike Walsh Correspondent There are 38 North Carolina wrestlers who stepped on the mat at least once for the Tar Heels this season. Nine competed in at least one match at 149 pounds. Seven battled at 165. At 157, however, there is but one name listed: Austin O’Connor. Competing as a graduate student this…
Orland Park native David Gust nets goal on first NHL shot
By Alison Moran Correspondent Orland Park native David Gust is living the dream. It was a year ago the 2012 Marist graduate helped the Chicago Wolves win the 2022 Calder Cup, tallying five goals and seven assists in 18 postseason games. Shortly after, Gust and his wife Lexi, found out they were going to be…
Area Sports Roundup | Strus gets loose, helps Heat bury Bulls
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer Max Strus had a money game on April 14. Chicago Bulls fans, however, may not have been too happy with the Hickory Hills native’s performance in a 102-91 win to knock the Bulls out of the NBA postseason. Strus, a former Stagg star who played briefly with the Bulls, scored…
Pro Sports Report | Fire and House ready to battle in Bridgeview
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer The official name of the tournament is the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. But the way things have been shaping up in 2023, there wouldn’t be much of an argument if it was changed to the Peter Wilt U.S. Open Cup. Three soccer teams that Wilt had a hand in…
Baseball | Sandburg drops two of three after hot start to season
By Steve Millar Correspondent Colin Kissane has played a big role in Sandburg’s fast start, producing some big hits out of the middle of the order. Kissane, who was injured for much of last season, is making up for lost time. He came through with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly as the host…
Special needs hoops team from Chicago wins Unified Sports state title
By Mike Walsh Correspondent If Tom White had his choice, getting doused with cold water on a 35-degree morning in mid-March in Champaign would likely not be high on his list of things to do. Considering the context of the soaking, however, White was more than happy with everything that took place. Coaching a team…
Pro Sports Report | Knee injury could keep Swanson out of women’s World Cup
By Jeff Vorva Staff Writer This was supposed to be a huge year for Mallory Swanson. The Chicago Red Stars and U.S. Women’s National team forward opened 2023 with six goals for the national team in friendlies ahead of this summer’s World Cup. She also figured to be a key player for the Red Stars…
College Notebook | Illinois State’s Salata named Pitcher of Week
By Mike Walsh Correspondent Illinois State baseball player Derek Salata was chosen a National Pitcher of the Week by Collegiate Baseball News for the period ending March 27. In a 2-0 loss to Missouri Valley Conference foe Belmont on the road March 24, the fifth-year senior worked six innings, striking out 11 Bruins while walking…
Baseball | Stagg seeks more success in clutch
By Steve Millar Correspondent Facing a late five-run deficit, Stagg did not go quietly. The Chargers rallied for two seventh-inning runs and loaded the bases, putting the tying run at first. The comeback came up short, however, in a 5-2 loss to Lemont on April 8. “Fighting at the end against a good team is…
Area Sports Roundup | Marist runners get season underway after coach’s death
By Jeff Vorva Staff writer After one of the worst possible offseasons, Marist’s boys track team is trying to get down to business. In December, boys track and cross country coach Jon Gordon died, leaving the team in shock and sadness. The RedHawks were scheduled to open the outdoor season on April 1 at home…
EPCHS Senior Earns Chick Evans Scholarship for Golf Caddies
Leo Cassidy, a senior at Evergreen Park Community High School, has been named a Chick Evans scholar. Cassidy is the second EPCHS Mustang to win the prestigious scholarship award for golf caddies this year and the fourth in the last three school years. “I’m so grateful,” said Cassidy, who will be headed to the University…
Baseball | Justin Lang’s heroics lift Marist over H-F
By Steve Millar Correspondent Marist had let a late lead slip away and was down to its final three outs, but senior shortstop Justin Lang was not too worried. “I feel like we just didn’t lose our energy,” Lang said. “That was a big part of it. In the middle of the game, we started…
Baseball | St. Laurence looks strong in early going
By Steve Millar Correspondent Luke Stulga is confident St. Laurence has a special team this season, but it’s about more than the talent highlighted by the many Division I recruits on the roster. “I think it’s the chemistry and relationships everyone has combined with the work ethic we have,” said Stulga, a senior outfielder. “Everyone…
LTHS beating victim remains hospitalized as details emerge
By Steve Metsch The Lyons Township High School student who suffered “major head trauma” in a fight outside the north campus three weeks ago remains hospitalized, a source said last week. The youth – whose name, age, town and year in school have not been released – was attacked by at least three other youths…
Klimek promoted to police chief in Countryside
By Steve Metsch That didn’t take long. Just two weeks after he was named acting police chief, Paul Klimek was officially named police chief by a unanimous vote of the Countryside City Council on May 24. Klimek, 42, had been with the department since 2004 and replaces Joe Ford, who retired earlier this month after…
Despite attacks, Pekau says he will run again in 2025
By Jeff Vorva Usually, when mayors get up and give their yearly status reports of their communities, there is a lot of happy-happy-joy-joy talk. Even some of the negatives get glossed over with optimism for change. But when Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau held the 2023 version of the State of the Village address on…
Adopt-A-Pot program brightens up Palos Heights
By Kelly White The Palos Heights Beautification Committee works hard to do just what its name entails, keep the city beautiful. To provide a spark of greenery and a pop of color outside of local businesses, parks and municipal buildings, the committee hosted an Adopt-A-Pot flower planting day on May 20 in the parking lot…
Despite concerns from Orland Hills mayor, Orland Park on board with new Fernway School
By Jeff Vorva Village of Orland Park officials are giving thumbs-up to a plan to build a new school on the property of existing Fernway Park Elementary School. Fernway is located at 16600 S. 88th Avenue and is a part of the Kirby School District 140 group of schools, but is the only one in…
Chicago Ridge cancels RidgeFest over safety concerns
By Dermot Connolly RidgeFest has been canceled this year—and may never be the same again—mainly due to violent disturbances at recent large gatherings in Tinley Park and elsewhere. At the last regular Chicago Ridge Village Board meeting on May 16, trustees were moving full-speed ahead with preparations for RidgeFest 2023, approving contracts for the entertainment…
Worth police hit the roof for Special Olympics Illinois
By Kelly White Worth’s Police Department takes pride in having close ties with the local community. For the 11th year, the department was happy to once again take part in Cop on a Rooftop to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Police officers mingled with residents on Friday morning at Dunkin Donuts, 6707 W. 111th St.,…
Oak Lawn is using technology to fight crime
By Joe Boyle While there has been a recent increase in crime, Oak Lawn officials want to assure residents that these incidents are being addressed. Village Manager Tom Phelan made it clear during an Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday morning that they are working in tandem with the police to solve the recent wave…
Worth Memorial Day event recalls past conflicts, wars
By Joe Boyle Worth Mayor Mary Werner welcomed sunny skies on Sunday morning. However, Werner said she could not take credit for the 70-degree temperatures before the Memorial Day Observance at Veterans Memorial Park at the corner of 111th Street and Harlem Avenue. “We have had plenty of times where we had coats on,” Werner…
Couple, Countryside at odds over land sale
By Steve Metsch Albert and Rosemary Dostal want to sell their empty land in Countryside. But they are finding that a difficult task. The couple, which lives in the 9500 block of 56th Street, owns nine wooded acres south of 57th Street and west of La Grange Road. It’s been in the family for 50…
2 wounded in Bridgeview shooting
By Bob Bong Two men were wounded May 21 after two groups started arguing in the parking lot at Menards in Bridgeview. Police said the incident started at 8:05 p.m. with an argument between two groups in the parking lot at 9140 S. Harlem Ave. Police Chief Ricardo Mancha said police are trying to figure…
Water study finds 12 leaks in McCook system
By Steve Metsch A water study that McCook’s village board approved in March is paying dividends just two months later. Mayor Terrance Carr said that a dozen leaks have been found in the city’s water system, which had been losing 5 million gallons each month. “We found 12. We fixed all 12 of them. We…
