disabato
Pat Disabato biography
Pat Disabato, a lifelong resident of the (Blue) Island, has been a sports writer for more than 20 years, beginning his career in 1990 …
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Disabato: Jameson Lamb forges on despite fireworks accident
Moments after finishing a summer league game on July 3, 2012, Homewood-Flossmoor coach Todd Sippel gathered his team, as he does after every game, to discuss the players’ performance. However, before allowing his team to depart, Sippel had an additional message for his players on …Read More
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Disabato: Lincoln-Way North’s Kevin Smith ready to face former St. Laurence teammates
As if the prospect of the Nos. 1 and 2 baseball teams playing Thursday isn’t enough to make the heart flutter with excitement, the added turbulence of a player facing his old teammates for the first time certainly should. Not just any player, mind you, …Read More
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Disabato: Trinity Christian College making history on baseball diamond
When Rick Tilquist was a freshman in 2009 at Trinity Christian College, there were 15 players in the baseball program. That’s not enough players to have a scrimmage game against one another. “Most of them, basically, were all freshman,” Tilquist said. In other words, the …Read More
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Disabato: Andrew to name baseball field after Frank Ganser
When you think of Andrew’s baseball program, what comes to mind first is Frank Ganser. That’s how it should be — and always will. Ganser was the face of the program, and with his shiny silver hair and bright blue eyes, Andrew could have fared …
Disabato: Lincoln-Way North pitcher Mike Miller in dominant form
The velocity of Mike Miller’s fastball won’t cause scouts, pro or otherwise, to scurry for their radar gun. Generally, heaters that hover in the low to mid-80s (mph), like his does, rarely do. What Miller, the ace of a loaded Lincoln-Way North pitching staff, does …
Disabato: Chicago Christian baseball on record-setting pace
Eric Brauer readily acknowledges he didn’t see this type of season coming from his club. And why would he? Chicago Christian graduated from its 2012 team its top two pitchers and starters at shortstop, center field, right field and catcher. This is a school of …
Disabato: Southland youth baseball players inspired by ‘42’
I wonder if Jackie Robinson ever imagined some 66 years after he broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball that his courageous story would continue to inspire people. That because of the way he handled bigotry and ignorance — with dignity and grace — …
Disabato: Krob brothers enjoying unique experience at Argo
When Brendan Krob was in seventh grade, he remembers a conversation he had with his oldest brother, Ryan, then a sophomore at Argo. “My (other) brother Dustin (a freshman at the time) was just moved up to the varsity,” Krob said. “Me and Ryan were …
Disabato: IHSA comes down hard on Seton boys basketball program
Remember the old Road Runner cartoons when an anvil would fall from a mountain top onto the head of an unsuspecting Wile E. Coyote? I assume that’s how Seton felt Wednesday when the IHSA announced the sanctions imposed on the Sting’s boys basketball program. Coach …
Disabato: St. Rita’s Mike Costanzo overpowering hitters
Growing up, Mike Costanzo looked up to Mark Buehrle. So much, in fact, that Costanzo wears No. 56, just like Buehrle, on the back of his St. Rita baseball jersey. The two share a few common traits, beyond being left-handed pitchers. The most obvious is …
Disabato: St. Laurence pitching staff firing goose eggs
Dominate: to rule over; govern; control. Yep, that about sums up the performance of St. Laurence’s pitching staff through eight games. Sit down, my devoted reader, or the power of said staff’s statistics I’m about to reveal might just knock you on your keister. Ready? …
Disabato: Rich Central baseball no longer flying under the radar
Corey Stallings prefers his team fly under the radar, away from the distractions the spotlight produces. At least that’s what he told me. After landing in the SouthtownStar’s Preseason Baseball Top 10 in 2011 and ’12, Rich Central found itself on the outside looking in …
Disabato: Stagg grad Justin Ringo enjoying baseball success as Stanford senior
He hit .163 as a freshman, .125 as a sophomore and .182 as a junior — seasons that would cause many players to contemplate waving the white flag, either by transferring to another college or, possibly, giving up baseball. Quitting, however, isn’t in Justin Ringo’s …
Disabato: St. Rita grad Mark Payton a big hit at Texas
Mark Payton has heard all the wisecracks about his height — or lack thereof. It’s been a constant throughout life for the 5-foot-8 Orland Park resident. For the most part, Payton, a junior outfielder at the University of Texas, has been able to remain focused …
Disabato: Morgan Park season one to remember
PEORIA — Billy Garrett Jr. is a kid who rarely shows emotion on the court. He’s a tough kid, a four-year varsity player who fearlessly attacks the basket often. But even Garrett couldn’t hold back the tears Saturday. Tears of joy, that is. As Morgan …
Disabato: For Morgan Park, Kyle Davis provides words that motivate Josh Cunningham
Morgan Park guard Kyle Davis could see that teammate Josh Cunningham was frustrated at halftime of Friday’s Class 3A state semifinal against Limestone. And a frustrated Cunningham isn’t a productive Cunningham. Even though Morgan Park was enjoying a 10-point lead, Davis realized if the Mustangs …
Disabato: Supersectional loss could benefit Marian Catholic in long run
There are two kinds of losses in basketball that consequently produce two different reactions. There’s the loss where if a single possession or two were executed in a close game, the outcome would have been different and, thus, causes most coaches and players to agonize …
Disabato: Seton’s reaction indefensible
I can’t defend Seton’s actions Saturday after its Class 2A boys basketball state championship loss to Harrisburg. Seton failed to stick around for the presentation of the second-place trophy, and coach Brandon Thomas not only refused to talk with the media, he tossed his second-place …
Disabato: Local high school baseball players choose Mount Carmel over travel team
I made it a point to call Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry as I was beginning to gather information for the coming high school baseball season. The 13-year veteran, who has sent 59 players to various levels of college ball, including 20 to Division I …
Disabato: Stagg vs. Andrew is reason for excitement
If Stagg coach John Daniels had his way, his Chargers would be competing against someone other than Andrew on Thursday night in a Class 4A Sandburg Regional semifinal. “We’re in the same conference and we’ve played each other twice already,” Daniels said. “Playing someone that …
