baranek
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Baranek: Brittany Gardner’s achievements just keep growing
When it comes to playing “Can you top this” with an athletic career, few Southland females can run with Brittany Gardner. The Orland Park native went from being a brilliant high school pitcher who led Sandburg to a Class 4A state title in 2010, to …Read More
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Baranek: Kelly takes time to stop and smell the roses
Pat Kelly sure is enjoying this temporary retirement thing. “I feel great. I have a lot less stress, and a good girlfriend. That sure helps a lot,” the four-time late-model champion said, laughing. The 44-year-old Coal City native isn’t defending his 2012 title at Grundy …Read More
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Baranek: Like mother, like daughter? Well, almost
Sandburg senior Carly Katalinic has followed in her mother Cheryl’s footsteps in being a tremendous high school multi-sport athlete. She hasn’t, however, followed in her cleats. Cheryl, then named O’Dekirk, played volleyball, basketball and softball at Oak Forest from 1980-84. She played softball so well …Read More
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Auto Racing: Double-duty Danta eyeing twice the success
With sponsorship money to run a full season in his No. 51 car at Illiana Speedway and another being built for him to drive at Grundy County Speedway, the full late-model potential of Anthony Danta finally may be realized in 2013. The 26-year-old Orland Park …
Baranek: Stanton has made her mark at Marian
Being a record-setter often brings star recognition. Marian Catholic’s all-time home run leader Becca Stanton found that out during the first days of practice before the 2013 softball season. “When the freshmen came in they were like, ‘Oh, my gosh. You’re Becca Stanton!’ ” she …
Auto Racing: Female drivers making inroads at Grundy County, Illiana speedways
It may be a while, if ever, when Danica Patrick wins a NASCAR race. But it’s a sure bet female drivers are going to be carrying checkered flags at our local asphalt ovals in 2013. One, in fact, already has, with Melissa Wilson capturing the …
Baranek: Rich Bickle to drive in late-model class at Grundy County Speedway
Get your motor runnin’, because it’s time to head out on the highway for the start of the 2013 campaign at both of our area asphalt short tracks. Friday night (first race 8 p.m.), the three-eighths-mile Grundy County Speedway will conduct its 43rd season opener, …
Baranek: Beecher softball player Savannah Soppet a hidden gem
Beecher senior Savannah Soppet just loves to surprise people with her multiple softball abilities as a pitcher, shortstop, third baseman and hitter. “Beecher is a really small school compared to Sandburg, where they expect that out of their players,” she said. “They don’t expect it …
Baranek: Baseball umpire John Tumpane remembers his roots
He isn’t there very often from February through October, but to Evergreen Park native, 2001 St. Laurence graduate and current minor and major league umpire John Tumpane there still is no place like home. He still dates the Queen of Peace girl (Jennifer Cerny) he …
Baranek: No quit in Kaitlyn Ray
For Kaitlyn Ray, it almost was like a regularly scheduled fire drill. Injure her knee, go see the doctor, get the surgery and dive into rehab. Only this time, the fourth painful time, the drill was a little different. This time there was an option …
Baranek: Lincoln-Way East’s Jenny VanGeertry rides fast track to success
If Jenny VanGeertry turns into the power-hitting team leader Lincoln-Way East softball coach Elizabeth Pawlicki predicts she will, there will be plenty of great tales to tell about the Griffins sophomore over this spring and the two to follow. But I’ve got one about her …
Baranek: Replacing Emily Naegele and Brianna LeBeau a double dilemma
It’s a pretty good bet that no two Southland softball players over the past four years made those watching say “Wow!” more often than Brianna LeBeau and Emily Naegele. LeBeau, the last of three sisters who helped define Richards softball for almost a decade, had …
Baranek: In compliance with Title IX, Homewood-Flossmoor upgrading softball facility
Homewood-Flossmoor softball is moving into the 21st century. Some might question why it’s going to be 14 years late in coming. But there are a lot more positives to dwell on as we update a story that first broke in the SouthtownStar in July. Jodi …
Baranek: Chris Karamesines dragging into ‘golden’ age
Every year, as the drag racing season turns to winter, Chris Karamesines and his wife, Sandy, sit down on the couch in their Hometown home, and she pops the question. It’s always the same question. A short one. “Well ... what do you think?” Chris …
Baranek: For Jasper Williams, everything’s in Bloom
Bloom coach Jasper Williams might be retiring, but he certainly isn’t tiring. Williams was Leonard Bernstein at his best conducting the Blazing Trojans during their 52-41 victory over Stagg in Thursday’s Class 4A Thornton Sectional semifinal. On his feet, always. Arms and hands always doing …
Baranek: Megan Walsh sparkles as Marian Catholic’s ‘bigger sister’
As the bus pulled away from Marian Catholic on Thursday morning, one of the most gratified people on board for the trip to this weekend’s Class 4A finals at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena had to be Spartans senior Megan Walsh. It just doesn’t get …
Baranek: Girls hoops season offers surprises
Taking time for a look back before we move ahead with the last teams standing on the final week of the girls basketball season: Let’s start with the surprises. The early season upsets that seem to be a yearly event began with Rich South dethroning …
Baranek: Nick Horne helping Rich East tune up for playoffs
Jan. 1 didn’t just ring in a new year for Rich East boys basketball, it rang in a new Nick Horne. The one who averaged 5 points and 1.5 assists per game, he was left behind in 2012. In 2013, this Nick Horne is averaging …
Baranek: Katie Eberling pushing closer to Olympic bobsledding dream
The man in the rooster tail USA hat stood out in the crowd. But it was a whistle that brought the moment home for Palos Hills native and Stagg graduate Katie Eberling as she stood in the winner’s area after receiving a silver medal Jan. 26 at the 2013 Bobsledding World Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Baranek: Kersten Magrum benched, not beaten, by concussions
There is a room in the Northwest Tower in the football stadium at the University of Illinois where they hold daily physicians clinics. It’s also a room where doctors and trainers treat and consult with the school’s athletes about their injuries or other physical issues. …
