Boys State Track and Field: Sandburg’s Lemonte Booker ready for the big stage

The memory of being sidelined because of an ankle injury when Sandburg lost in the Class 8A football playoffs hasn’t faded for Lemonte Booker. “That was probably the saddest moment of my sports career,’’ the Sandburg running back said of a first-round loss in the …

Boys State Tennis: Southland entrants eager to make presence felt

When it comes to Southland success in the Boys State Tennis Tournament, its history can probably be written on a sheet of paper. The area produced one doubles champion: Doug Cohen and Dave Goff, of Homewood-Flossmoor, in 1976. A dozen years later, H-F’s John Jaynes …

Girls Soccer: Marian Catholic continues its run with shutout of Tinley Park

It took Marian Catholic just three playoff games to equal the number of wins it had the entire regular season.

After entering the postseason with a 3-12-3 record, the Spartans will be one of the final 16 teams standing in the state in Class 2A …

Girls Soccer: Lemont runs past Joliet Catholic

A surprising group of teams survived to advance to the Class 2A Lincoln-Way West Sectional, with Marian Catholic upsetting the second-seeded hosts and Joliet Catholic taking out No. 4 seed Providence.

On paper, things got a bit easier for Lemont. The Indians know that doesn’t …

Softball: Shepard rolls past Kennedy

If Shepard truly is the Southland’s best-kept secret, it will be apparent to all very soon.

Wednesday’s 15-1 victory over Kennedy in the Class 4A Sandburg Regional semifinals earned the Astros a chance to showcase their talents on Saturday against the host Eagles.

Skylor Hilger, …

Boys Volleyball: Lincoln-Way East overpowers Providence for regional title

Lincoln-Way East coach Kris Fiore knows when things are going well for his team.

One thing leads to another, and away go the Griffins.

Powered by strong a digging, blocking defense and balance on offense, Lincoln-Way East cruised to a 25-20, 25-22 win over Providence …

Boys Volleyball: Lincoln-Way North tops Lincoln-Way West for regional title

From crutches to seven kills in the regional final.

Such was the 24-hour span for Lincoln-Way North’s Brad McFarland.

McFarland, who with Jake Walenga forms one of the premier outside hitting tandems in the Southland, sprained his ankle Monday during practice. He missed the semifinals …

High School Sports Roundup for May 22, 2013

Baseball

Class 4A Fenwick Regional

No. 1 St. Laurence 6, Washington 0: Mike Kornacker (7-1) threw a one-hitter (8 strikeouts) and also belted a solo homer to guide host St. Laurence (26-9) in the semifinal. Brad Wood tacked on a two-run double for the Vikings …

Baseball: Normal CornBelters top ThunderBolts 5-4 in 10 innings

NORMAL, Ill. — The Normal CornBelters came from behind for the second straight night, sending the Windy City ThunderBolts to a 5-4 10-inning Frontier League loss Wednesday night at The Corn Crib.

Pat McKenna had an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to …

Softball: Homewood-Flossmoor surprises Andrew

The best way Homewood-Flossmoor’s Kaitlyn Shereyk can explain it is that a sort of “spirit” has taken over the Vikings during the past two weeks.

Most people would just call it crazy.

“It IS crazy,” Shereyk said after H-F shocked Andrew 5-1 Tuesday in a …

Softball: Lincoln-Way North holds off Lincoln-Way Central

It wasn’t the hardest-hit ball, but Lincoln-Way North’s Kayla O’Brien certainly could defend her effort.

The senior was just protecting herself facing an 0-and-2 count.

“With that count, whatever pitch comes, take it and go,” O’Brien said.

She got her pitch and went with it, …

Boys Volleyball: Lincoln-Way West turns back Lincoln-Way Central

Lincoln-Way West’s Danny Murphy is a four-year varsity player. Never, though, had the outside hitter booked a trip to a regional final.

That’s not the case any longer for Murphy and the Warriors after Tuesday night’s upset win over No. 5 seed Lincoln-Way Central.

Murphy …

Girls Soccer: Lincoln-Way North outlasts Andrew

The play seemed so harmless the Lincoln-Way North coaching staff wasn’t even watching.

When an Andrew miscue produced a rare scoring chance in a defensive struggle Tuesday night, though, Unique Manns took advantage.

Manns’ goal, after a failed Thunderbolts clearing attempt, made the difference in …

Girls Soccer: Sandburg moves past Stagg 3-0

Rivals Sandburg and Stagg played to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their only regular-season match-up this year, and Tuesday’s playoff clash seemed headed in a similar direction.

With one spectacular play, though, Sandburg’s Meghan Carmody sent the Eagles soaring.

Carmody corralled a pass from Samantha …

High School Sports Roundup for May 21, 2013

Softball

Class 4A Crete-Monee Regional

No. 7 Lincoln-Way East 12, Crete-Monee 2: Nikki Jarrell (2-for-3) had three RBI and Chrisi Mizera (10-0) struck out eight over four innings to spur Lincoln-Way East (19-7). Blake Ruiz (3-for-3) and Jenny Van Geertry (2-for-3) added two RBI apiece …