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: Who will be Southland’s baseball preseason No. 1 in 2014?
Mere moments after the final out of the Class 4A baseball state championship had been recorded, I was making my way down to interview players at Silver Cross Field when an excited spectator said, “Who’s going to be the preseason No. 1 team next spring.” …Read More
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Disabato: Joey Filomeno, Kyle Funkhouser headed to Omaha
During the summer after his freshman year at St. Rita, Joey Filomeno road-tripped to Omaha, Neb., with his travel team for a tournament. On one of those days he went to watch Miami and Georgia play in the NCAA College World Series. Filomeno recalls it …Read More
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Disabato: In victory, heavy hearts for Mount Carmel
How appropriate the final out of Mount Carmel’s Class 4A state championship Saturday was a pop-up that reached toward the clear-blue heavens before landing softly in first baseman Malik Carpenter’s glove. Somewhere up above, beyond downtown Joliet’s aging skyline, Tony Morsovillo, Stevie Bajenski and Kevin …Read More
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Disabato: Sam Travis, Chris Sujka enjoying historic ride with Indiana baseball
As a kid, Sam Travis would watch the NCAA College World Series on television and dream of one day playing in it. He’s two wins away from realizing that dream. Travis and his Indiana University teammates are one of 16 teams to have advanced to …
Disabato: Local baseball sectional match-ups akin to hitting lottery
When the IHSA released the state baseball playoff pairings a few weeks back, some fans and coaches complained about the difficulty of local regional match-ups. I could sympathize. First-round regional games between 20-game winners Lincoln-Way West and Lemont, Catholic League Blue foes Providence and Brother …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
