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 …

Q-and-A with Austin Cangelosi, Sandburg baseball

Cangelosi, a senior, is hitting .404 with six homers, 37 runs and 20 stolen bases. He’ll attend Indiana in the fall. He comes from good bloodlines. His father, John, played in the major leagues for 10 years. State title game. You’re in it. Which team …

SouthtownStar Baseball Top 10

Records through May 20

1. St. Laurence (25-9)

Knocked Lincoln-Way North from top spot.

2. Lincoln-Way North (31-2)

Put-up or shut-up time for Phoenix.

3. Lockport (28-7)

Riding high into the postseason.

4. Mount Carmel (27-8)

Offense needs to find consistency.

5. St. Rita (28-7) …

Baseball Player of the Week: Mike Kornacker, of St. Laurence

Mike Kornacker, of St. Laurence, is this week’s Beggars Pizza/SouthtownStar Baseball Player of the Week.

Kornacker, a junior, led the Vikings to a 14-0 thumping of previous No. 1 Lincoln-Way North. The right-hander allowed just four hits and struck out six, and also contributed at …

Baseball: Marian Catholic endures streaky season

It’s been a season of streaks for Marian Catholic, the defending Class 3A state champion. The Spartans stumbled early, going just 3-6, only turn around and win 16 of their next 18 games. Much of the success during that span can be attributed to an …

Baseball: ThunderBolts fall 7-6 to Normal CornBelters

NORMAL, Ill. — Romulo Ruiz hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Normal CornBelters to a 7-6 Frontier League win Tuesday night over the Windy City ThunderBolts at The Corn Crib.

Normal scored two runs in the …

Baseball: Oak Forest pounds out 15 hits, drubs Tinley Park 12-2

It’s been a trying season for an Oak Forest squad beset by injuries.

Projected staff ace Kyle Czeszewski hasn’t thrown a pitch all season, and No. 2 Dan Hlad has been out six weeks. Each has an arm injury.

An assortment of position players also …

Boys Volleyball: Oak Lawn dumps T.F. United

It was like a searing trigonometry question T.F. United couldn’t answer. The jump-serve of Oak Lawn’s Marc Hansen was too tough.

Hansen bombed three aces and served out the final seven points of a first-set victory Monday. He added two more in the second game …

Baseball: Simeon tops Morgan Park for Public League championship

Simeon leadoff hitter Ronell Coleman is used to setting the table for the Wolverines. Even he had no idea what he started when he tripled to lead off Monday’s Public League championship game against Morgan Park.

Coleman’s hit ignited an eight-run inning that saw the …

High School Sports Roundup for May 20, 2013

Baseball

Class 3A Manteno Regional

Rich South 6, Kankakee 4: RBI triples by Malcolm Jones and Kyle Stancil in the top of the fifth ignited a five-run rally for Rich South (9-18) in the quarterfinal. John Kriha struck out four in pitching a complete game …

Q-and-A with Jill Galich, Lincoln-Way North softball

Galich, 18, of Tinley Park, is in her fourth season as a catcher/first baseman for the Phoenix. She will attend George Washington University. As a catcher, you touch the ball a lot. Do you like that responsibility? I do. I feel like I have much …