Local Sports News
Lockport locked out
Eagles never lose lead while downing Porters Finally, no comeback was required. In each of its first two outings of 2013, Sandburg had been unable to hang on to a halftime edge. After seeing that failure ultimately doom them in Week 1, the Eagles fought back to overtake Andrew and score a SouthWest Suburban Conference…
Sports wrap
When Sandburg’s boys’ cross country team competed in last Saturday’s Reavis Invitational, it did so with an entirely different group than had run for the Eagles in the previous week’s meet. That suited head coach John O’Malley just fine because he was putting a coaching philosophy into practice. And the results turned out to be…
Moraine athletics wrap
No denying Cyclones tennis team its success Neither Mother Nature nor Waubonsee College was any match for Moraine Valley College last Wednesday. The former threatened to wash out a scheduled Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference tennis encounter between the Cyclones and Chiefs by unleashing torrential rains and lightning upon the Sugar Grove area. The inclement conditions did…
Community sports news
Oak Lawn’s Baxa to play for Moraine Valley Former Oak Lawn High School baseball player Lee Baxa, a 6-foot-5 pitcher, will continue his athletic career at Moraine Valley College in the spring as a member of the Cyclones’ diamond squad. Baxa received a scholarship from Moraine after helping the Spartans win the South Suburban Conference Red title…
SXU sports summary
Women golfers’ debut shortened by rain From start to premature finish. That described St. Xavier University’s ushering in of its inaugural women’s golf season. After taking the course for the first time ever on Saturday at the Benedictine University Invitational, the Cougars saw their scheduled two-day stint at St. Andrew’s Golf Course and Country Club cut…
RedHawks trap Roadrunners
Marist outlasts Nazareth in offensive showdown Like that famous Warner Brothers cartoon character, Marist’s prey Friday night was a roadrunner. Actually, it was a whole lot of them, representing Nazareth Academy, and for a while they proved every bit as elusive as the single one that continually made life miserable for Wile E. Coyote. Case in…
Bartosh
Fostering the right ideas Looking to athletes for parenting advice is akin to asking Bernie Madoff to become your financial advisor. Jocks tend to have little trouble making babies; many are so good at it, in fact, that they ask several different women to join in on the fun along the way. But after they sire,…
Moraine athletics wrap: Rain reigns in cross country opener
It was delay of season for Moraine Valley College runners. At least that was so for the Cyclones men, who weren’t able to complete their initial race of the campaign because of rain on Aug. 30. The inclement weather washed out a portion of Elmhurst College’s Early Bird Invitational. The women’s race was run in…
SXU sports summary: Cougars volleyball team earns academic honor
While the new school year is now in full swing, St. Xavier University’s volleyball team recently earned one last honor associated with the year that ended in May. And this one didn’t have anything to do with on-court exploits. Rather, the 2012-13 Cougars were feted for their classroom work by being chosen as a recipient…
Sports Wrap
By winning its first three dual matches of the season and then finishing as runner-up at Saturday’s Ottawa Invitational, Sandburg’s girls’ tennis team has thrilled coach Brian Ostrander. The strong start was not completely unexpected, seeing as how the Lady Eagles field a deep and talented team. However, that didn’t diminish the impressive nature of…
Trinity sports report: Trolls at home in Kentucky
The old Stephen Foster tune wasn’t played before the volleyball matches Trinity Christian College participated in last weekend in Kentucky. “My Old Kentucky Home” is reserved for the Kentucky Derby, but the Trolls were no less than thoroughbreds in winning three of four matches at Georgetown College’s Rumpke Invitational. Trinity certainly wasn’t horsing around. That…
Community Sports News
Robertson, Hampton recognized as Sandburg’s top athletes 2013 graduates Ricky Robertson and Dakota Hampton were recently chosen as Sandburg’s Athletes of the Year for the 2012-13 school year. Robertson, who now attends the University of Wisconsin, completed a two-year varsity wrestling career with the Eagles with a 99-1 record. He went 50-0 as a senior en…
Forgettable Momence: Redskins too much for Knights to handle
A sewage plant situated close to Momence High School unexpectedly provided the ideal backdrop for Friday night’s contest between the host Redskins and Chicago Christian. “It stunk,” Knights coach Jim Bolhuis said, “and the teams stunk. [At] the beginning of the game, both teams were awful. “From our point, it was mostly missed blocks and…
AYSO soccer season in full swing
The Palos AYSO soccer season is in full swing, and a number of matches were contested last week. Following is a recap of those reported encounters UNDER-14 Team #2 4, Avalanche 4 Seven different players found the back of the net as the Avalanche and Team # 2 battled to a draw. Scoring for Team…
Comeback classic: Improbable rally lifts Cougars past Marian in OT
Photo by Jeff Vorva. St. Xavier University running back Nick Pesek gets his helmet spun around during a game-tying drive against Marian University Saturday night. The Cougars beat the defending NAIA national champs 31-24 in overtime. The next time Mike Feminis is seen walking along the St. Xavier University sideline, his attire might have already…
Unwelcome visitors : Big third quarter keys Bulldogs’ win at Batavia
A raucous crowd dressed mostly in white greeted Richards when it arrived at Batavia High School Friday night. The fans’ so-called “whiteout” ultimately proved a washout, however, at least as far as rattling the visitors was concerned. “I think our kids enjoyed it and thrived on it,” Bulldogs coach Tony Sheehan said. “It’s what high…
Jack comes up aces: Donegan shines as RedHawks maul Rice
Photo by Jeff Vorva. Marist receiver Nic Wischar’s helmet flies off, but he hangs onto the ball after scoring his second of three touchdowns Friday night versus Brother Rice. The RedHawks rolled to a 55-14 win over their neighborhood rival. Ian who? While Marist fans aren’t likely to soon forget graduated quarterback Ian Woodworth and…
Bartosh: There’s something about Johnny
That “Johnny Football” nickname no longer seems to fit. How about “Johnny Footloose” instead? Or maybe “Johnny Screw Loose?” Of course, if he refuses to rein in his conduct and keeps acting the knucklehead, he’ll likely start being identified by most individuals as “Johnny Needs A Foot Up His ***.” Texas A&M University quarterback Johnny…
Refusing to be shorted: Chargers take care of business at homecoming
Photo by Jeff Vorva. Oak Lawn quarterback Konrad Lach is brought down by Stagg’s David Griffith during Friday night’s matchup in Palos Hills. A shortened week of preparation didn’t shortchange Stagg. While the Chargers were glad to win their season-opener, regardless of when it finally took place, there was no denying that a weather-induced reshuffling…
Volleyball roundup: Lady RedHawks earning new coach’s admiration
Even though Marist competed in just two varsity matches during the first two weeks of the 2013 season, Julie Popp-Hopkins hasn’t been idle. The Lady RedHawks’ first-year coach has been taking in the entire new experience and loves everything she is seeing within the program, especially from her own players. And that love was particularly…
Ram tough — again: Vikings’ strong second half does in Gordon Tech
An American automaker describes one of its models as “Ram tough,” but it may want to reconsider that slogan. Better yet, perhaps the company should think about introducing a Vikings brand. That’s because, for two weeks running, a group bearing that name has been tougher than sets of Rams. One week after scoring an emotional…
On target on the field: Mustangs sneak past Phillips in ‘opener’
From the easy chair into the fire — that pretty much described Evergreen Park’s entrance into the 2013 football season. The Mustangs didn’t just lounge around prior to Friday night’s meeting with Phillips, of course, but they also didn’t have any previous on-field experiences off which to build. Evergreen’s scheduled season-opener against Little Village the…
Growing pains: Youthful Astros absorb another hit
Growing pains are called that for a reason. Simply put, there’s nothing enjoyable about them, as Shepard players found out again Friday night. The Astros were hoping their season-opening trouncing at the hands of visiting Brother Rice had merely been an anomaly. Instead, it was an indicator of things to come, at least for another…
Déjà vu denied: Eagles dodge another slip, edge T’bolts
One of baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra’s supposed malapropisms was the phrase, “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Sandburg coach Dave Wierzal could be excused for not finding any humor in Berra’s famous quote Friday night, mainly because his Eagles were on the verge of reliving a Week 1 nightmare. In that previous…
Playing overseas during lockout
So now Kobe Bryant wants to get his rest on a basketball court in Europe? The above quotes were uttered in May by a battered, beaten Bryant during his exit interview after the Lakers collapsed in an exhausted heap in Dallas. Yet last weekend, less than three {{more}} months later, the Lakers leader told reporters…
Local News
Countryside plans summer concert series, bluegrass festival
By Steve Metsch It might be winter, but it’s never too soon to talk about summertime music. Such was the case Jan. 11 when the Countryside City Council’s Special Events Committee heard from promoter Katie Goggin regarding the city’s annual Summer Concert Series. The committee also heard about the second annual Bluegrass and Brews Festival from Sharon…
Porfirio resigns township post to take Senate seat
By Steve Metsch Mike Porfirio is now a state senator and the Township of Lyons Board of Trustees has a vacancy. Porfirio submitted his resignation as a trustee, which was accepted by the board at its Jan. 10 meeting. Porfirio was elected to the Illinois Senate in November, and was sworn in as a state…
Drone takes McCook crime fighting to new level
By Steve Metsch The McCook Police Department has a new weapon to fight crime. A new drone equipped with an infrared camera and the ability to zoom in 200 times was at the village’s latest board meeting on Jan. 17. The village used part of a $50,000 grant from the Secretary of State’s office to…
Super Hero fun at Our Lady of the Snows
Catholic Schools Week was plenty of fun this year at Our Lady of the Snows School, as students were encouraged to dress as a super hero. Parents interested in checking out the school, 4810 S. Leamington, for 2023-24 are encouraged to call (773) 735-4810. – Supplied photo
Tri-State lane closures start Monday as area ramps prepare to reopen
Overnight lane closures are scheduled next week to shift traffic on Interstate 55 and on the northbound Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) between Willow Springs Road and Plainfield Road and reopen the ramp connecting northbound I-294 to southbound I-55 and Wolf Road. On Monday, February 6, beginning at 9 p.m. and continuing until 5 a.m. on…
Comings & Goings: Orland Area Chamber installs new officers
Ramzi Hassan of Edwards Realty Company was installed last week as president of the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce. The 2023 board of directors was also installed and annual membership awards were handed out during ceremonies last Thursday at the Crystal Tree Country Club. Installation duties were performed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau.…
Oak Lawn studio wants to be haven for artists
By Joe Boyle An acorn may be the symbol that inspires the Oak Lawn community to unleash its artistic talents. The first official session of the Acorn to Oak Studios will be presented from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, in the north wing of the Pilgrim Faith Church campus, 9411 S. 51st Avenue,…
EPCHS names Matthew Dugan next principal
From staff reports Evergreen Park Community High School has hired Matthew Dugan as its next principal. Dugan’s appointment was made official during the January 24 meeting of the Evergreen Park Community High School Board of Education. Dugan will become principal on July 1, upon the retirement of current Principal Bill Sanderson. “I am thrilled and…
Lyons Township school board rejects sale of 70-acre parcel in Willow Springs
By Steve Metsch The sale of 70 acres in Willow Springs to a developer who wants to build an industrial park has been rejected by the Lyons Township High School District 204 board, but the door remains wide open to a sale. The board voted unanimously Jan. 23 to reject bids of $46.5 million from…
Venezuelan asylum seeking families enjoy a night out at Flying High in Countryside
By Carol McGowan Twenty-three adults and 30 children of Venezuelan families seeking asylum enjoyed a fun night out on January 14 courtesy of Flying High in Countryside. The event was a collaboration between St. Cletus Church in LaGrange, and Flying High, at 5400 East Avenue in Countryside. Flying High opened their gym doors over 30…
