Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com

Neither Plainfield South and Plainfield Central are not having the seasons they had hoped for up to this point, but the cross-town rivalry flame has not been blown out quite yet.

The Cougars are led by coach Taryn Surbaugh and their seven seniors, six juniors and two sophomores.

At the start of the season, the Cougars got off to a hot start winning their first two games of the season over St. Charles North and Stevenson.

Plainfield Central defeated South in two games on April 25. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)

Followed by the teams two-game winning streak, a three game losing steak made the Cougars lose momentum, and as Surbaugh puts it, it’s been a “roller-coaster ride” ever since.

“When you play the roller coaster game back-and-forth you’re going to come out on top sometimes and sometimes you come out on the bottom,” Surbaugh said. “It’s hard to play that game because you’re up, you’re down and all over the place which doesn’t lead to consistency.”

Two players that are co-captains that have led the Cougars (6-7, 1-3) on and off the court all season long are seniors Trenton Smith and Edward Jakubauskas, who Surbaugh said the seniors set good examples for the younger players coming up.

“They both do a really good job leading physically or bringing that energy with that spirit,” Surbaugh said.

The Wildcats (8-14, 1-4), who defeated the Cougars in two games on April 25, are led by coach BJ Boldog.

Boldog’s team includes five seniors, six juniors and two sophomores.

Getting its fist conference victory against the Cougars is something that Boldog said his team can look to build off of and have a strong finish to the season.

“It was a great first conference win for the guys,” Boldog said. “We have a really competitive conference so any conference match you’re going to have a really tough battle like this one today.”

Unlike the Cougars, the Wildcats got off to a slow start to the 2019 season losing their first two matches to Sandburg and Glenbard East and then putting together a two game winning streak following the losses.

Recently, the Wildcats were coming off of a stretch losing eight consecutive matches, but then followed that up by winning four in a row including against the Cougars.

Two senior co-captains Marc Arsenault and Harinder Khaira both have led the way for the Wildcats this season, and Boldog said their ability to lead offensively and defensively are what has contributed most to the recent success.

“They’re both two way players that have really helped us and been a huge part of our success this year,” Boldog said.

Ryan Ostry
Bugle Reporter
@RyanOstry_BR18
rostry@buglenewspapers.com

Even though Joliet West (13-7, 6-2) moved into the Southwest Prairie Conference and is no longer in the same conference as Lockport (19-5, 10-0), there is no love lost between the two teams and old rivals.

In a battle, and to proclaim bragging rights for the top team in the area, the Tigers took down the Porters in a defensive game.

Joliet West defeated Lockport in a battle of former SWSC foes. (Photo by Ryan Ostry)

“We wanted to get back at them after we faced them in the WJOL Tournament for first place and they beat us 2-0 on three hits,” said Joliet West coach Heather Suca. “The girls were definitely out to get revenge on them and they just really wanted it today.”

The Tigers got off to a pedestrian start to the season going 2-2 in their first four games, but followed that up with winning five out of their next six with the only loss coming to Lincoln-Way West.

Suca’s squad is relatively young for the success they have been having, with just four seniors, five juniors and three sophomores on the roster.

Of the four seniors, Captain and starting catcher Morgan Gersch leads the way for the Tigers as they look to keep building momentum as the season starts coming down to the end.

To go along with Gersch, Ambria May and Taylor Schwall round out the Tigers who have led not just on the field, but off of it as well.

“May has been really steady for us out there at third base and Schwall is one of our best hitters,” Suca said. “To go along with them being great players, they all get it done in the class room as well, so I couldn’t expect anything more from these seniors.” For the No. 13 state ranked Porters, Marissa Chovanec leads the way in hopes to go deep in the postseason.

Still undefeated in conference play, Chovanec said that something that can’t happen again is the large amount of walks that were issued in the Porters loss to the Tigers.

“Both pitchers did a fantastic job today with both teams only have one hit,” Chovanec said. “We gave up five walks however, and when that happens you won’t win very much so that has to be corrected.”

With their longest winning streak of the season being at eight games and not losing more than one game in a row, the Porters have a veteran team with seven seniors and 11 juniors.

Of the veterans, senior pitcher Erin Kleffman and senior catcher Lauren Johnson headline the Porters defensively, as Chovanec said will be the difference of how far they go after the regular season comes down to a close.

“In the games we have won versus the games we have not our defense has been there,” Chovanec said. “The hits will come, the runs will come but the defense has been solid in those games and it needs to continue that way if we want to make a big push here at the end of the season.”

Participant Eligibility
Anyone who is high school age or younger may participate in the Summer Athletic Program. Grade/age level is often designated in the title or description of each camp. Grade level is defined as the grade the student will enter in the fall. For any student in grades 9-12, you must live in Maine South attendance area to attend an athletic summer camp at Maine South High School.
Registration
1. All registrations must be done online. The only exceptions are if you won a raffle or qualify for a fee waiver.

(File Photo)

2. There will be no reduced fees for athletes who cannot attend an entire camp.
3. If you choose to use a credit card, the company will be charging a fee. Otherwise, you can write an electronic check for no additional charge.
4. You will get an email confirmation immediately after registering your child.
5. If you use a credit card, it will be processed immediately.
6. If you won a raffle for a free camp, please call 847-692-8095 to register for the camp.
Registration will be available at the following link: https://mainesouth.8to18.com
Fee Waiver
The fee for students who qualified for Free Meals in the 2018-19 school term will be reduced by 50 percent of the athletic camp fee.
The fee for students who qualified for Reduced Meals in the 2018-19 school term will be reduced by 25 percent of the athletic camp fee, whichever is less.
There will be no other reductions in the participation cost for students.
This waiver only applies for current Maine South students.
This waiver does not apply to incoming freshman or students in our youth camps.
If you qualify for a fee waiver, you have to register by phone, in person or email. Please email sbutera@maine207.org. or call 847-692-8095 or stop in the athletic office (please call to make sure someone is there).
Insurance Requirements
Accident insurance must be provided by each player to cover any and all injuries/accidents that may result from practice, competition, or any activity related to participation as part of this program.
Refunds
Full refund of all fees will occur if a camp is canceled. Full refund minus a processing fee ($25) will be granted if the re fund is requested prior to the start date of the camp.
Information Hotline – 847-692-8095
Please call this number and leave a message for any question regarding registration. Please contact coach to find out if a camp will be canceled due to weather.
Camps will not be made up if they are canceled due to weather.
2019 SUMMER CAMPS

BADMINTON CAMP
Code# – 33120
Grades – 7th-9th
Dates – 6/10-6/20
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 5:00-6:30pm
Fee – $115
Head Coach – J. Kmiecik
Location – Spectator Gym
This camp covers the basics of badminton: serves, racquet techniques, footwork, the different types of hits, and the rules of playing. There will also be playing time. Camp includes t-shirt. Badminton racquet & water bottle not required, but recommended.
Code# – 33220
Grades – 10th-12th
Dates – 6/10-6/20
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 6:30-8:00pm
Fee – $115
Head Coach – J. Kmiecik
Location – Spectator Gym
This camp is for experienced athletes who know the basics of badminton. The camp will cover strategies, drills for improving your game, and will also include tournament playing. Camp includes t-shirt. Badminton racquet & water bottle not required, but recommended.
BASEBALL
Code# – 30011
Grades – 3rd-5th
Dates – 7/8-7/11
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 8:00-10am
Fee – $150
Head Coach – B. Lorenz
Location – Varsity
baseball field

Code# – 30012
Grades – 6th-8th
Dates – 7/8-7/11
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 8:00-10am
Fee – $150
Head Coach – B. Lorenz
Location – Varsity
baseball field
These camps cover fundamentals of hitting, throwing, catching, and base running. Campers will receive a camp T-shirt. Bring gym shoes, baseball spikes, cap, glove, and bat, as well as a water bottle to each session. In case of bad weather, sessions will be held indoors.
Code# – 30013
Grades – 9th
Dates -7/22-7/25
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 11am-1pm
Fee – $150
Head Coach – B. Lorenz
Location – Varsity
baseball field

Code# – 30023
Grades – 10th
Dates -6/3-7/17
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 2-7pm
Fee – $230
Head Coach – B. Lorenz
Location – Varsity/Sophomore
baseball field

Code# – 30024
Grades – 11th-12th
Dates -6/3-7/17
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 2-7pm
Fee – $230
Head Coach – B. Lorenz
Location – Varsity/Sophomore
baseball field
Open to current Maine South baseball members. Games will be played M-Th at various times at MS and other area high schools in conjunction with the IHSBCA summer league. This is a competitive league for high school players.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
The Hawk basketball camp is for boys’ entering 4th thru 12th grade. The camp runs June 3rd thru June 27th. Information and registration can be obtained at www.hawkbasketballcamp.com . For additional questions, contact Coach Tony Lavorato at alavorato@maine207.org or 630-310-0318.
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Code# – 31521
Grades – 7th-12th
Dates -6/11-7/19
Days – T-W-Th-F
Time – 7-9:30am
Fee – $180
Head Coach – G. Nordahl
Location – MS Outdoor Track
Three levels of strength and conditioning are available for the athletes. Gradual progression is emphasized with the goal of preparing for the fall season. Learn about the program by visiting our webpage: https://sites.google.com/a/maine207.org/maine-south-boys-cross-country/

BOYS’ LACROSSE
Code# – 39900
Grades – 9th-12th
Dates -6/24-7/25
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 9-11:00am
Fee – $170
Head Coach – C. Steffel
Location – MS Athletic Fields
Fundamentals of lacrosse will be practiced. Techniques on footwork, positioning and rules of the game will be the focus of the camp.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Code# – 34021
Grades – 6th-12th
Dates -7/22-7/25
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 3-5:00pm
Fee – $125
Head Coach – D. States
Location – MS Athletic Fields
34021 camp is a goalkeeper camp only

Code# – 34022
Grades – 6th-8th
Dates -6/10-6/13
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 3-5:00pm
Fee – $125
Head Coach – D. States
Location – MS Athletic Fields
34022

Code# – 34023
Grades – 9th-10th
Dates -6/17-7/17
Days – M-W
Time -10-12 / 3-5
Fee – $125
Head Coach – D. States
Location – MS Athletic Fields

Code# – 34024
Grades – 11th-12th
Dates -6/17-7/17
Days – M-W
Time -10-12 / 5-7
Fee – $185
Head Coach – D. States
Location – MS Athletic Fields
Camp Details: All Hawk Boys Soccer Camps are directed and operated by the Maine South Boys Soccer Coaching Staff– led by Head Coach, Dan States, and assisted by Hawk alumni soccer players.
All Hawk Soccer Campers will receive a Hawk Soccer t-shirt.
The Morning Fitness Sessions for both of the high school camps are voluntary sessions for soccer fitness training in order to direct athletes towards peak fitness performance levels.
Bring running shoes and water.
(Note: Summer school students will report to afternoon session only.)
The Afternoon Training Sessions for all Camp Levels are Soccer Skill related & are covered by the fees. – Bring soccer gear, cleats, & water.
BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL
Code# – 31523
Grades – 4th-8th
Dates -7/8-7/18
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 11am-1:00pm
Fee – $135
Head Coach – G. Granell
Location – Spec Gym
General Skills Camp. Fundamentals will be stressed for all aspects of the game. Repetition and various lead up games will be used to develop mastery.
CHEERLEADING
Code# -36777
Grades – K-8th
Dates -6/24-6/26
Days – M-T-W
Time – 1:30-3:30pm
Fee – $100
Head Coach – B. Pater
Location – Fieldhouse

Code# -36779
Grades – K-8th
Dates – 9-11:00am
Days – M-T-W
Time – 1:30-3:30pm
Fee – $100
Head Coach – B. Pater
Location – Fieldhouse

Code# -36780
Grades – 9th-12th
Dates – 6/10-7/18
Days – M-T-W-TH
Time – 1-3:30pm
Fee – $220
Head Coach – B. Pater
Location – Fieldhouse
Camp 36780 is only open to cheerleaders who made the 2019-20 high school team. NO High School Camp from 7/1 through 7/9.
FOOTBALL
Code# -32020
Grades – 3-5th
Dates – 7/8-7/12
Days – M-T-W-Th-F
Time – 12-1:30pm
Fee – $100
Head Coach – D. Inserra
Location – Practice Fields

Code# -32021
Grades – 6th-8th
Dates – 7/8-7/12
Days – M-T-W-Th-F
Time – 1:30-3:00pm
Fee – $100
Head Coach – D. Inserra
Location – Practice Fields
Fundamental drills and skills taught by Maine South coaches and players. No experience or equipment necessary.
7 on 7 dates not included for Sophomore & Varsity levels. See your coach for complete summer schedules.

Code# -32022
Grades – 9th
Dates – 6/10-7/25
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 8:00-11am
Fee – $240
Head Coach – D. Inserra
Location – Practice Fields

Code# -32023
Grades – 10th
Dates – 6/3-7/16
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 1:30-4:30pm
Fee – $240
Head Coach – D. Inserra
Location – Practice Fields

Code# -32024
Grades – 11th-12th
Dates – 6/10-7/25
Days – M-T-W-Th/F
Time – 4:00-8:00pm/ 8-10:30am
Fee – $265
Head Coach – D. Inserra
Location – Practice Fields
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Code# -31111
Grades – 4-8th
Dates – 6/17-6/27
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 11:30-1pm
Fee – $120
Head Coach – J. Hamann
Location – Spectator Gym

Code# -31112
Grades – 9th
Dates – 6/10-6/27
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 2:00-4:30pm
Fee – $135
Head Coach – J. Hamann
Location – Spectator Gym

Code# -31113
Grades – 10th-12th
Dates – 6/10-6/27
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 2:30-4:30pm
Fee – $185
Head Coach – J. Hamann
Location – Spectator Gym
The 10-12th camp includes an additional fee for a summer league.
GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY
Code# -37777
Grades – 7th-12th
Dates – 6/17-7/25
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 7:30-9:30am
Fee – $150
Head Coach – J. Downing
Location – Outdoor Track
The two basic goals of this camp are to increase the running base and strength development of the long distance runner.
GIRLS’ GOLF
Code# -29105
Grades – 6th-12th
Dates – 6/5-7/17
Days – W
Time – 6-7:00pm
Fee – $100
Head Coach -K. Hansen
Location – Golf Center,
DesPlaines
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Code# -39850
Grades – 6th-9th
Dates – 6/24-6/27
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 8-10am
Fee – $130
Head Coach – P. Comito
Location – Outdoor Fields
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Code# -34121
Grades – 9th-12th
Dates – 6/3-6/14
Days – M-T-W-Th-F
Time -6:15-8:00am
Fee – $165
Head Coach -J. Crawford
Location – Stadium

Code# -34122
Grades – 7th-8th
Dates – 6/3-6/14
Days – M-T-W-Th-F
Time -8:00-10:00a
Fee – $140
Head Coach -J. Crawford
Location – Stadium/Pract.
Girls in summer school courses may leave at 7:25.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL
Code# -38021
Grades – 4th-8th
Dates – 7/8-7/18
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time -8:30-10:30am
Fee – $150
Head Coach -K. Durkin
Location – Spectator Gym/FH

Code# -38023
Grades – 9th-12th
Dates – 7/8-7/18
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time -6-8:00am
Fee – $190
Head Coach -K. Durkin
GIRLS’ GYMNASTICS
Code# -33144
Grades – 6th-12th
Dates – 5/28-7/18
Days – T-Th
Time – 5:30-8:00pm
Fee – $180
Head Coach – T. Robinson
Location – Maine East HS
Camp will be held at Maine East High School. Use south entrance to enter the school for camp.
HAWKETTE CAMP
Code# -33116
Grades – K-8th
Dates – 6/17-6/21
Days – M-T-W-Th-F
Time – 9 -12:00pm
Fee – $130
Head Coach -C. Gibbons
Location – Field house

Code# -33118
Grades – 9th-12th
Dates – 6/4-7/25
Days – T-Th
Time – 3 -6:00pm
Fee – $215
Head Coach -C. Gibbons
Location – Field house
Camp 33118 is only open to Hawkettes who made the 2018-19 high school team. For Hawkettes camp updates and further information please visit: www.mshawkettes.org
SOFTBALL
Code# -35555
Grades -9-12th
Dates – 6/10-6/27
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 1-3:00pm
Fee – $150
Head Coach -E. Pasier
Location – Varsity Softball Field
There is an overlap with girls’ basketball camp. It is ok to sign up for both. Coaches have worked out a schedule.

Code# -35556
Grades – 6-8th
Dates – 6/17-6/28
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 9:30-11am
Fee – $125
Head Coach -E. Pasier
Location – Varsity Softball Field
Players will walk campers to the gym if they will be doing basketball camp at 11:30
WRESTLING
Code# -33130
Grades – 9th-12th
Dates – 6/3-6/27
Days – M-T-W-Th
Time – 5:30-8pm
Fee – $120
Head Coach -K. Hansen
Location – Wrestling room

By Drake Skleba

For the Bugle

We moved one step closer to an all-Voyager Media Publications inaugural East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship Game, scheduled for Saturday, May 11.

Notre Dame’s 6-foot-3 senior RHP Nick Loizzi (5-1), fired a three-hit 1-0 shutout at Benet Academy. Coupled with Joliet Catholic Academy’s thrilling 4-3 nine-inning victory over  Mundelein Carmel, the Dons (12-7, 8-2) opened up a 1 ½ game lead in the ESCC North over Carmel (11-4, 6-3). The Dons and the Corsairs square-off in Mundelein, on Monday and in Niles, on Tuesday.

JCA (20-6, 7-3), with Marist (14-7, 7-2) and Marian Catholic’s (15-9, 6-2) victories on Saturday, stay within a half-game of the Redhawks and Spartans. Chris Knapczyk’s perfect-game against Carmel, (4-for-4 at the plate with the walk-off single in bottom of ninth) saved the Hilltoppers in a must win-situation over Carmel 4-3.

Loizzi and Knapczyc’s Saturday spectaculars, garnered the duo the Pitcher and Player of the Week Awards.

TEAM OF THE WEEK NOTRE DAME

PLAYER OF THE WEEK CHRISTIAN KNAPCZYK JOLIET CATHOLIC

PITCHER OF THE WEEK NICK LOIZZI NOTRE DAME

TERRIFIC TEN BASEBALL RANKINGS

1 JOLIET CATHOLIC         20-6  Knapczyk leads Hilltopper past Carmel
2 PLAINFIELD SOUTH     20-5  McGuigan leads Cougars back into SPC tie

3 PLAINFIELD NORTH    12-7  Nine consecutive wins for defending 4A state champs

4 NOTRE DAME              12-7  Loizzi leads Dons one step closer, to ESCC North title

5 PLAINFIELD EAST        16-7  “Dancing in the Street” on Plainfield’s East Side

6 PLAINFIELD CENTRAL 17-8 Don’t count ‘Cats out just yet, SPC
7 LOCKPORT                    19-7 Jake Kampf two-hit shutout of H-F

8 MAINE SOUTH             16-9  Hawks drop out of CSL South race

9 DG SOUTH                    11-10 Willowbrook sweeps away Mustang WSC Gold dreams

10 JOLIET WEST              13-12 Tigers cling to last Terrific Ten spot

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

MAINE EAST (1-13, 1-8)

15-0 CSL North loss to Glenbrook North– The Blue Demons were no-hit by the CSL North leaders from Glenbrook North
11-0 CSL North loss to New Trier

CENTRAL SUBURBAN SOUTH

MAINE SOUTH (16-9, 6-3)

4-3 CSL SOUTH loss to Evanston- Hawks took a 3-1 lead into the top of the seventh, only to see the Wildcats rally for three runs and steal the victory from the Hawks. Timmy O’Brien continued his hot-hitting with two more hits and an RBI for the Hawks. 
8-3 CSL loss to Deerfield Timmy O’Brien drove home a pair of Hawk runs in the CSL crossover loss.

NILES WEST (12-11, 2-7)

7-2 CSL loss to New Trier-Jack Lochner and Brandon Som each had a pair of hits for the Wolves.

10-4 CSL South loss to Highland Park

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC NORTH
NOTRE DAME

5-4 ESCC win over Nazareth- The Dons held off the Roadrunners in La Grange Park, to take over first-place in the ESCC North. The red-hot Nick Giamarusti had two more hits and two more RBI to lead the Dons. Bryan Broecker also drove home a pair of Don runs. Joe Buiekma won again on the mound allowing just one run, with seven strikeouts in his six solid innings on the mound.
1-0 ESCC win over Benet Academy Voyager Media Publications Week 7 Pitcher of the Week fired a three-hit shutout for the ESCC North leaders on Saturday. Loizzi struck out nine Redwing hitters. Nick Giamarusti drove home the lone run of the game.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC SOUTH
JOLIET CATHOLIC

7-3 loss to Marist  (See Game Story)

4-3 win over Carmel (9 innings) (See Game Story)

BENET ACADEMY

7-1 ESCC South loss to Nazareth Dylan Glasgow led the Redwings with two hits and drove home the lone Redwing run.

1-0 ESCC loss to Notre Dame Dylan Glasgow, Nick Hoeppel and Mike Wymer had the three Redwing hits.

INTERSTATE 8 NORTH
LISLE  (14-10, 4-5)

5-4 I-8 loss to Herscher– Damian Guerrero led the Lions with two hits and an RBI.

WESTMONT (18-9, 4-5)
4-1 Win over IC- Joey Dobrovolny improved to 6-0 on the mound allowing just one run and four hits in his game-winning six inning performance. Dobrovolny struck out six Knight hitter’s. Shawn Kwasny nailed down the save. Alex Marotta went 2-for-2 with a double and drove home three Sentinel runs. Troy Schlicher added an RBI single.

10-0 I-8 loss to Wilmington Matt O’Leary had one hit for the Sentinels.

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
PLAINFIELD SOUTH (20-5, 9-3)
9-1 SPC win over Joliet Central (See Game Story)

6-2 SPC loss to Oswego East- Dylan Miller and Zach Pawlak drove home the two Cougar runs.
6-1 SPC win over Joliet Central- Justin McGuigan improved to  6-1 on the mound this season for the Cougars, allowing one run in his solid five innings of work. Jimmy Fitzmaurice fired two scoreless innings of relief to close out the SPC win. Tylor Phommachanhom had two hits and drove home two Cougar runs, while Griffin Lapp and Connor Blake each had two hits.

PLAINFIELD CENTRAL (17-8, 4-5)

10-0 SPC win over Joliet Central- Anthony Noble improved to 3-2 on the mound with a one-hit shutout, with six strikeouts against the Steelmen. Danny Guiliano led the Wildcat attack with two hits and three RBI. Red-hot Charlie Bischoff and Ryan Daly each had two hits and two RBI for the Wildcats.
6-1 win over Richards– Dan Guiliano drove home two runs while Justin Divelbiss added a pair of hits for the ‘Cats. Sam Pileggi and Ryan Daly combined to throw a one-hitter at the Bulldogs.

PLAINFIELD NORTH (12-7, 8-2)

3-2 SPC win over Minooka  Aidan Campbell’s third walk of the game, this time with the bases loaded, gave the Tigers the walk-off win over the Indians. Greg Budig had two hits, including a double and an RBI. Cam Kissel drove home a Tiger run while Ryan Tribe had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate.
3-2 win over Lockport- Greg Budig singled, doubled and had an RBI for the Tigers. Josh Fleming improves to 3-0 on the mound and Cam Kissel nails down save.

PLAINFIELD EAST (16-7, 5-4)

5-4 SPC win over Oswego The Bengals (15-7, 6-4) rallied from a 4-2 deficit, with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. In the bottom of the seventh, Riley Morris’ walk-off hit sent Bengal fans dancing onto Plainfield-Naperville Road, with the 5-4 Bengal victory. It was Morris’ second hit and second RBI of the game. Sean Rivera continued his hot-hitting, driving home two more Bengal runs.

10-9 win over Waubonsie Valley- For the second day in a row, Bengal fans were dancing in the street after another Bengal walk-off win. This time, Ty Watson’s sac-fly walked-off the Bengals past the Warriors. Sean Rivera went 3-for-3 at the plate and Nick Pratscher drove home three more Bengal runs.

MINOOKA (6-13, 2-8)

3-2 SPC loss to Plainfield North- Andrew Mysliwiec led the Indians with two hits, while Kyle Czarnecki drove home an Indian run.

JOLIET WEST (13-12, 4-6)
8-4 SPC loss to Romeoville  Mason Kasprisin drove home a pair of Tiger runs while Mark Garcia, Jr added a pair of Tiger hits.

JOLIET CENTRAL (9-15, 2-10)

9-1 SPC loss to Plainfield South- (See Game Story)

10-0 SPC loss to Plainfield Central– Alex Gregurich picked up one of the two Steelmen hits.

6-1 SPC loss to Plainfield South– Ethan Darley drove home the lone Steelmen run. Jared King struck out eight Cougar batters in his five innings the mound.

ROMEOVILLE (6-16, 3-7)

8-4 SPC win over Joliet West- The Spartans rallied past the Tigers behind the big bats of Julian Jiminez and Mike Bunch, who each drove home two Spartan runs. Luis Delgado and Joe Shelbyl  sparked the 10-hit Spartan attack, with three hits each.

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
LOCKPORT (19-7, 3-3)

4-0 SWSC Blue win over H-F- The Porters ended their three-game skid behind a two-hit, 11 strikeout shutout, by junior right-hander, Jake Kampf. Kampf, outdueled H-F’s hard-throwing MLB prospect, Tyler Schlaffer (4-1) and handed the Viking ace, his first loss of the season.

Junior Jack Mladic singled home the first Porter run, in the top of the fourth. Sophomore leadoffman Ryan Moerman’s booming two-run double gave the Porters a 3-0 lead.

Collin Woulfe chipped in with two hits and Kampf shutdown the Vikings attack.

5-1 loss to Reed-Custer– Joe Fiorello had two hits to lead the Porters.
3-2 loss to Plainfield North Alex Martinez had three singles in the Porters’ loss.

BOLINGBROOK (8-16, 1-5)
7-6 SWSC Blue loss (9 innings) to Stagg- Dave Underdonk doubled home three Raider runs while Hunter Hrycyk and Jake Zito also had RBI for “The Brook”

WEST  SUBURBAN GOLD
DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH (11-10, 8-3)

2-1 WSC Gold loss (8 innings) to Willowbrook (See Game Stories)

4-1 WSC Gold loss to Willowbrook (See Game Stories)

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

DOWNERS GROVE NORTH  (5-18, 4-10)

7-1 and 5-0 WSC Silver losses to Lyons Township. Dave Marshall leads the Trojan attack with three hits and an RBI in the twin-bill.

By Drake Skleba

For the Bugle

For Joliet Catholic’s Louisville-bound second baseman, Christian Knapczyk, Saturday’s crucial East Suburban Catholic crossover game with Carmel, was a showcase of the future Cardinals’ talents.

With the game tied at three in the Hilltopper’s bottom of the ninth, Knapczyk stepped into the batters’ box. On third base, with the winning run, stood courtesy runner Nate Bebar. On first base, senior centerfielder Greg Ziegler, with one out.

The home plate umpire became confused and sent Knapczyk to first base, apparently being intentionally walked. Chaos ensued as Carmel head coach Billy Taylor protested the intentional walk call and the baffled umpire returned Knapczyk into the batter’s box.

“It was crazy. I thought they had put me on  base with the intentional walk,” Knapczyk said. “Next thing I know, I’m being called back to hit.”

Knapczyk ripped his fourth hit of the day, as Bebar danced home with the Hilltoppers’ game-winner, for the 4-3 crucial ESCC victory.

“I knew Paquette would challenge me with the game on the line, with a fastball,” Knapczyk said. “I just slapped it out there for the game-winner.”

The large Saturday morning crowd that gathered at Gillespie Field, witnessed an exciting but strange, ESCC battle.

Carmel (11-4, 6-3 North) scored on a double-play ball off the bat of Corsair centerfielder Sean Lynch, for a 1-0 lead. With two out in the Hilltopper (20-6, 7-3 South) first, Knapczyk doubled and then scorec from second base, on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.

In the third inning, both teams outfields were charitable, giving each team two unearned runs for a 3-3 tie after three innings of play. In the Hilltopper third, senior first baseman, Max Cullen’s, clutch two-out two run double tied the game at 3-3.

Knapczyc followed with a single for his second hit of the game.

“We knew Carmel was going to come in here and fight,” Cullen said. “We were struggling at the plate, swinging at bad pitches and I had to find my pitch. I was able to get one and drive it into right-center, for the big two-run double.”

“Last year Benet got us one game. We can’t overlook them or the Marist game, will not mean anything, on Thursday.”

Kudos goes out to Hilltopper relief specialist, Josh Ragusa. Ragus replaced Hillltopper starting pitcher Zach Hise with the bases loaded and two outs with the game tied in the Corsair third. Ragusa, put out the fire with a huge strikeout.

Ragusa struck out the side in the fourth and then Knapczyc and senior shortstop, Jared Cushing, came to Josh’s assistance in the fifth.

Wegman (1-for-2, 3BB) walked to leadoff the inning, stole second and went to third on a passed ball with no outs.

Lynch, hit a grounder to Knapczyk at second who fired a strike to catcher Nate Gerhke who put the tag on Wegman. Eventual Corsair losing pitcher, Dylan Paquette, hit a laser, that appeared ticked for left field.

Cushing snared the laser and fired to Knapczyk for the force at second. Ragusa concluded his afternoon, with his fifth strikeout of the game.

In the Hilltopper fifth, Knapczyk singled for his third hit of the day.

Mike Gurka replaced Ragusa in the sixth. With the lead run at second with two out, Gurka struck out Carmel’s Jake Adams, to preserve the tie at 3-3.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Gurka lost it walking three consecutive Corsair hitters. Enter Hilltopper ace, Alex Vera (5-2), who induced a line shot to Ziegler in center who fired a strike on the line to Gerhke, preventing the Corsair runner on third from attempting to score. Vera punched-out the final Corsair hitter.

“Big win after Monday’s poor-performance against Marist,” Vera said. “We kept fighting  the whole game and Christian was able to get the big hit for us, to win the game.”

“Before the game, Coach Voss, had told the starters, that there was a good chance that we will pitching, in relief today. That helped me to be focused on pitching in relief and pitch as well as I did.”

Vera pitched out of a jam in the Carmel eighth. In the Carmel ninth, a  Cushing to Knapczyk to Cullen twin-killing ended the Corsair ninth. In the bottom of the eighth, Knapczyk walked.

4-for-4 at the plate with a double and a pair of stolen bases. Gunning down the potential lead run in the fifth at the plate and turning a pair of 6-4-3 double-plays, including the huge one to end the Corsair ninth.

“It was one of my best games of my career, here at JCA,” Knapczyc added. “Our dugout was electric and gave me the energy to perform as I did. This was a huge win for us and we have to get Marist, on Thursday and win the ESCC South and then the ESCC Championship Game on Saturday.”

Kudos must go out to Carmel’s emergency junior starting pitcher, Mike Machamer. Not even listed as a pitcher on the Carmel roster, Machamer, shutdown everyone, but Knapczyk in his seven plus one batter in the eighth inning, performance.

Note: Gave our website address to Carmel fans asking for our story. Chance to pick up some readers in Mundelein.

For the Hilltoppers, the final week of ESCC South action. JCA is at Benet on Monday. Back home against the Redwings, on Tuesday, before traveling to Mount Greenwood and Marist (14-7, 7-2 South),on Thursday, for what could be the ESCC South Championship Game, at 4:30.

“Prom Weekend! We  are happy to get a win anyway we can,” Joliet Catholic head coach Jared Voss said. “Christian had a great day at the plate and made a huge play for us in  the fifth. I’m surprised they didn’t walk him in the ninth. Why let a  hot-hitter who was 3-for-3 beat you.”

“We just have to grind away in conference this week and hope we play well  and come-out on top.”

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC SOUTH
through games of May 4
Marist                       15-7       7-2

Marian Catholic      15-9       6-2

Joliet Catholic          20-6       7-3
Nazareth                   18-4       4-4

Benet                         9-15       2-7

By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle

On Friday, for the want of a clutch hit, led to a heart-breaking 2-1 in eight innings loss to the West Suburban Gold leading Willowbrook Warriors (19-3, 14-0). In the first game of a crucial three game-series between the top two teams in the WSC Gold Downers Grove South (11-10, 8-3), fell a little-short in Villa Park.

On Saturday afternoon at DGS, Willowbrook took advantage of three-unearned runs, to slip past the Mustangs 4-1. The Mustangs could only muster two hits and an unearned run against,Willowbrook’s starting and winning pitcher, Ryan Mintz.

The Warriors picked up an unearned run to jump out to a 1-0 lead against Mustang starting and hard-luck losing pitcher, Chris Gory (5.1 IP, 3R, 6H, 1ER).

In the third inning, Willowbrook’s Anthony Yamatti singled home a Warrior run, for a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.

In the top of the fifth, Yamatti singled home his second run of the game, for a 3-0 lead, driving home Mintz, who had reached on an error.

Mustang sophomore Joe Cosenta, broke up Mintz’ no-hit bid, leading off the Mustangs’ fifth inning.

The Warriors picked up an other unearned run in the top of the seventh. With one out, in the Mustang seventh, Blair Thibault singled and ended up scoring on a two-out Warrior error. The Mustangs brought up the tying run to the plate, before falling, 4-1.

Willowbrook 2, Downers Grove South 1 (8 innings)

Wasted opportunities.

In Downers Grove South’s (11-9, 8-2) opening game, of their crucial West Suburban Gold three-game series with Willowbrook (18-3, 13-0) in Villa Park on Friday, opportunity knocked, but the Mustangs did not answer.

In the first inning, a booming two-out triple after two outs, by Dave Blazevich (2-for-4, 2B) and a walk to Blair Thibault, were wasted. In the second inning, the Mustangs had four hits off of Willowbrook starting and winning pitcher, Josh Guthrie (CG, 1R, 6H, 0ER, K, BB), but did not score.

Chris Gory, led-off the inning with a single and was forced out at second, on a ball off the bat of Mike Hoes. Hoes, attempting to steal second base, was gunned down by Warrior catcher Marshall McDonnell. Successive singles from Cole Wareheim, Anthony Stellato and Kyle Vogt, loaded the bases. Guthrie wiggled out of trouble again.

Meanwhile, on the mound, Mustang junior right-hander Gino Cozzi was dealing. Cozzi allowed just one hit through the first four innings, with six strikeouts.

In the fifth inning, the Mustangs picked up their lone run of the game on a Vogt ground ball booted by the Willowbrook third baseman scoring Jake Pileggi for a 1-0 Mustang lead. The Mustangs loaded the bases again with two outs, but Guthrie picked up a huge strikeout to get out of the inning.

Eight base runners left on base in four innings.

Willowbrook tied the game at one, on an a two-out RBI single, from senior Scott Tumilty, scoring Warrior cleanup man Trevor Jaloszynski, who singled.

With Guthrie and Cozzi “lights out” on the mound, the game went to extra-innings, with the score deadlocked at 1-1.

Willowbrook’s Josh Roucka replaced Guthrie, to start the Mustang eighth inning. The Mustangs were retired 1-2-3.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Tumilty led off the Warrior eighth with a booming double. McDonnell’s fly to right was misplayed and the Warriors had runners on first and third, with no outs.

Willowbrooks’ Danny Holliway flied to deep center, as Tumilty danced home with the Warrior winner. A truly devastating loss for the Mustangs.

Cozzi, suffered the loss for DGS, allowing just one earned run and five hits, with 11 punch-outs.

“I just went out there today and did the best I could,” Cozzi said. “It didn’t work out for us but we have to bounce back and beat them tomorrow.”

The two clubs will play Game Two of the huge WSC Gold series, in Downers Grove, on Saturday, at 1:30.

“We wasted one of the best pitching performances,(Cozzi), we have ever had here at DGS,” Downers Grove South head coach, Darren Orel said. “What did we leave, eight men on base in the first four innings? The only run we scored, they gave us. We must play better on Saturday.”

By Matt Le Cren
For the Bugle

Benet has won two state championships in boys soccer but the closest the girls soccer program has come are a pair of state quarterfinal appearances in 2003 and 2005 under the old two-class playoff system and two supersectional losses in the three-class system.

Yet the Redwings may never have a better chance of winning it all than this year.

Benet will be one of the favorites when the Class 2A tournament begins May 14. The Redwings have nearly everyone back from a team that won a program-record 20 games last spring and that roster has continued those winning ways, taking a 15-2-1 record into the final week of the regular season.

“(We have) the depth, the speed, the skill,” Benet coach Gerard Oconer said. “If we could ever put it all together because I don’t think we’ve peaked yet at all. We want to peak at the right time.”

That could be happening. The Redwings’ only losses were 2-1 decisions to Joliet Catholic and St. Charles North, a Class 3A title contender which hasn’t lost a regular season game since 2016.

Benet responded to the latter setback by tying another 3A powerhouse, Naperville North, 1-1 before winning three straight against East Suburban Catholic Conference foes.

“(Our strength) is our team chemistry,” Benet senior forward Mae Tully said. “Everywhere on the field, we can work with anyone.”

The Redwings, who are the No. 1 seed at the Nazareth Sectional, have a dynamic and experienced offense led by senior Abby Casmere, a Miami of Ohio signee who leads the team with 13 goals.

Sophomore forward Jaimee Cibulka has eight goals and five assists, while Mia Ullmer, Cami Picha and Mia Tommasone all have five goals.

Benet’s defense, led by Mary Kate Hansen, Mary Kate Wilhelm and Washington (Mo.) recruit Kate Flynn, has conceded only 13 goals while posting 11 shutouts.

Bugle area teams are not favored to contend for the 3A state title but that doesn’t mean it will be without drama. Downers Grove South and Downers Grove North are seeded fourth and fifth, respectively, at the Glenbard East Sectional and could meet May 17 in the Oak Park Regional final.

Both teams have struggled with inconsistency but have shown signs of promise. Downers North (7-10-1) played top-seeded Lyons tough in a 1-0 loss last Thursday despite a lineup filled with mostly first-year starters and varsity newcomers.

“They’re young and we’re in a process right now,” said Downers North coach Brian Papa, who starts two freshmen and a sophomore on defense. “We changed the system and I like what I see.

“The seniors have done a good job of pushing and keeping everybody involved and we’re playing well. We held one of the better teams in the area (Lyons) to one goal.”

The Trojans, who graduated nearly all of the stars who led them to fourth place in the state two years ago and the supersectional last year, are led by senior midfielders Mia Marconi and Julia Kramper and junior striker Alexis Parker.

Papa also has been pleased with the play of seniors Quinn Stephens, Julia Bauer and Maggie Urbanski, all of whom have seen their roles increase since the Trojans lost to Downers South 3-2 on March 30.

While North first has to beat 12^th-seeded host Oak Park in the regional opener May 15, a rematch with Downers South would add some high-stakes excitement to the rivalry.

“It would be a good game,” Papa said. “We are a different team and they are probably a different team, too. The freshmen and sophomores who were up with us at the beginning of the year have now logged a lot of minutes so they’re going to be better.”

On paper, the Mustangs (8-6-1) are the better team, largely because they have two Division I-bound juniors in midfielder Jordan Rose (Indiana State) and forward Maddie Raftery (Ohio).

Rose, who has 16 goals and five assists, and Raftery, who has 10 goals and eight assists, combined to score all three goals in the win over the Trojans. The Mustangs now have senior forward Nicole Fajardo back from injury. She has six goals and nine assists despite missing a third of the season.

South, which opens against 13^th seed Proviso East, has struggled offensively against elite competition and have yet to post a win against a quality with a winning record. But the Mustangs have played the top teams tough and hammered weak teams, outscoring their last three West Suburban Gold opponents – Proviso East, Addison Trail and Willowbrook – by a combined 22-1.

“We’re playing well,” Downers South coach Chris Hernandez said. “Every loss we’ve had were to teams that were ranked at some point.”

The Mustangs have yet to play Lyons, which beat them in the sectional semifinals last season. Hernandez would love to get another crack at the Lions but his team would need a win over the Trojans to get there.

“Those (crosstown) games are what competition is all about,” Hernandez said. “We tell the girls, team parties are fun but those moments when you get to play a rival are what really stick with you and you want those experiences to be positive.

“I’m sure (North’s coaches) are telling their team the same thing. It adds a different layer to it. A lot of those girls played club together or grew up together or are still friends. It’s fun.”

The Bugle, Enterprise and Sentinel newspapers took home numerous awards during the annual Illinois Press Association convention and awards ceremony, held May 2 and 3 in Springfield.
The Alabama Press Association judged the more than 2,400 editorial entries.
The Illinois Press Association represents approximately 440 daily and weekly newspapers.
Overall the Voyager Media staff brought home 23 awards from the annual convention.
The editorial department took home nine awards, while advertising earned 14 awards, including eight firsts from designer Shelley Holmgren and one from the staff.
“Our formula for success is no secret. We believe in continuously improving our newspapers and placing the right people in the right places,” said Voyager Media Publications General Manager Andrew Samaan. “We are always looking to improve our product year to year and are always looking for ways to make working for the Bugle the best experience possible — and it’s working.”
Holmgren won in Division H for Real Estate Ad, Motor Vehicle Ad, Health Care Ad, Food Ad, Service/Institutional Ad, Home furnishings and Appliances Ad and Events/Entertainment Ad, while winning in Class I for Best Ad Series. The design staff won for Best Ad Series in Division H.
She also earned seconds in Apparel, Jewelry and Accessories Ad and Garden, Yard and Farm Ad, both in Division H. She rounded out the ad design awards with a third place in Food Ad Division H and a fourth in Division H Holiday ad.
Overall, for Division H, Holmgren earned second place for best ad designer.
On the editorial side, Editorial Director Mark Gregory earned a pair of firsts for Best Sports Section in Division B for the Plainfield Enterprise and Division C Sports Feature for a story on Downers Grove’s Tony Granato being tabbed as head coach of the United States men’s Olympic hockey team.
Gregory placed second in Class B Sports Feature for his story on Romeoville resident and Plainfield East graduate Tyler Lancaster signing professionally with the Green Bay Packers.
He also placed second for Division B Sports Column for his tribute to former Plainfield Central football coach John Jackson.
For that one, the judge commented it was a “very compelling and personal column.”
While still sports editor, Gregory covered the aftermath of the murder at Izzy’s bar in Crest Hill, where he spoke with the two men credited with stopping more deaths.
He placed second in Division B for News Reporting — Single Story, where the judge commented, “Glad you tracked these people down and featured them. Glad to see a sports guy stepping up for a news story also.”
Gregory also placed third for Localizing a National Story for his story on Granato and fourth for Sports Photo for a shot from the Downers Grove North girls volleyball state championship game — both in in Division C.
Freelance sports reporter Matt Le Cren placed second in Division D for sports News Story for his story on Downers Grove South’s Abby Carlson earning a state medal after coming back from an ACL injury.
The judge commented: “Good feature story on a player bouncing back from an injury.”
Staff reporter Ryan Ostry placed fourth for Division C News Reporting — Single Story for his story about rapper Drake visiting Sophia Sanchez in the hospital as she awaited a heart transplant.
The judge wrote: “You did a nice job laying out the history of this girl’s medical problems and the lead about two birthday wishes was impressive…You covered the news of a celebrity visit and the announcement the girl would receive a new heart with the dignity it deserved. Nice job incorporating the girl’s quotes into the story as well.”
“It’s an honor managing such a talented group of people,” Samaan said. “Their dedication and effort to provide the best local news coverage goes unmatched.”

Troy School District 30-C Superintendent Dr. Todd Koehl this month showed a scaled-down working model of the district’s recently-installed solar panels to Illinois Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and Representative Natalie Manley.

Koehl explained how the panels were installed on the rooftops of six of the district’s seven schools last spring, and Troy School Board President Mark Griglione said the energy generated from them has already resulted in tremendous cost savings, in addition to being a green and sustainable way to power the schools.

The panels are expected to provide 48 percent of the district’s electricity, with cost savings of an estimated $3.8 million over the next 20-30 years.

Each of the Troy elementary schools: Troy Craughwell, Troy Cronin, Troy Heritage Trail and Troy Hofer, and William B. Orenic Intermediate and Troy Middle Schools – has approximately 1,000 solar panels.

Troy Middle School SciCap Exploratory teacher and Science Club sponsor Dr. Barbara Will-Henn, with two of her Science Club students Trenton Marski and Tori Tverdek, told the legislators how electricity is generated from the panels and how the smaller panel will be used to teach Troy students about the subject. Will-Henn said she plans on incorporating the topic into her classrooms next school year.

Troy schools are located in Joliet, Shorewood and Plainfield.

By Igor Studenkov

For the Bugle

The budget for the upcoming fiscal year aims to expand the Village of Niles’ outreach, get more grants and donations, do more development and provide more assistance for residents struggling with addiction and mental health issues.

As with many other area governments, Niles’ fiscal years actually end in April and begin in May – so the Fiscal Year 2020 has technically started on May 1. The village has been working on the budget for the past few months, with the Niles Finance Committee discussing every aspect in detail. The Village of Niles Board of Trustees is expected to give a final approval during its May 28 meeting.

According to the budget document, the FY2020 budget has three major priorities – to reduce the village’s pension obligations, improve village communications and outreach and improve the way the village does planning and community development. It also notes that the total expenses will be up by 6.79 percent, while revenues would be down 21.03 percent – though the later number doesn’t include transfers between funds, which can help make up for some of the revenue declines.

The budget notes that the property tax revenue has increasingly been used to cover pension obligations – which makes sales tax and state funding more important as sources of revenue. The sales tax revenue is currently Niles’ biggest revenue generator – which, as the budget document notes, does make the village more vulnerable to “swings in the economy.” For the upcoming fiscal year, the village will fund the police and fire pension obligations with $1,367,292 in sales tax revenue, $160,000 it gets from the rent the Niles post office pays on its space, $3,6777,532 from the property tax revenue and $3,264,936 from miscellaneous “other sources.”

The village does expect to have significant savings as the long-running project to switch Niles’ and Morton Grove’s water supplier from Chicago to Evanston is expected to be fully functional this summer. The budget estimates that it would save Niles $2,414,762 in the upcoming fiscal year.

As part of the budget document, various departments outlined their goals for the next fiscal year. While some have to do with internal organizational matters in procedures, others will have more obvious impact on Niles residents.

For the General Department, which is responsible for NIles’ administrative functions, set reducing expenses as a major priority – something it aims to achieve through combination of securing more grants, community event sponsorships, more intergovernmental collaboration and generally cutting expenses. The department will also be working on several major community projects, including the expansions of Golf MIll Park and Niles community rain garden, as well as adding more public murals and otherwise implementing recommendations of the Niles Arts Master Plan. Other major priorities include encouraging more community volinteerism and continuing to improve the village’s brand to attract businesses and young families.

For the Niles Communications department, the major priority is to put village meeting videos online the same day as they are broadcast. While residents can currently watch the meetings live, either online or on TV, putting the videos in the archive takes a few more days. The department is also looking to do more marking, especially online.

For Niles Teen Center, the major priorities will be working to increase membership by marketing to Niles East High School and Gemini Middle School and doing more outreach via Instagram and Snapchat, as well as earning extra money by setting up an online store that would sell Niles Teen Center-branded merchandise.

Meanwhile, the Niles Senior Center will be working to improve health services, establishing a Medicare Resource Center in its space and expanding its collaboration with Advocate Lutheran General hospital. It will also be looking to increase its programming, establishing the Musical Memories Choir and collaborating with other area senior centers.

For the Department of Family Services, much of their priorities focus on strengthening their existing services and working to get more money by encouraging donations and “strenghen[ing] revenue through fee collections for counseling services.” And it will be working with the Niles Police Department develop a program to support households affected by addiction and create a Crisis Intervention Team – a team of officers specifically trained to deal with individuals who are experiencing mental health crises

For Department of Community Development, the major priorities is to develop plans for the four new Tax Increment Financing districts approved last year, work to redevelop the recently purchased Grainger Industrial Supplies site, and work with property owners to reduce vacancies

For Niles Fire Department, the major priority will be working toward long-discussed consolidation with its Morton Grove counterpart. It is also looking to buy and replace communications and safety equipment, as well as doing more community programming to teach safety skills such as CPR training and training on best ways to stop the bleeding

For Niles Police Department, aside from the aforementioned collaborations with Family Services, the major priorities are to improve training for both lower-ranking officers and the leadership team.

The Department of Public Works will primarily focus on less high-profile, but important projects such as sidewalk and road repairs, streetlight replacement at Waukegan Road and Milwaukee Avenue, and continuing to work to replace older street signs with newer, Niles-branded ones. But it also has two larger project on its plate – the construction of the new village fueling site and redevelopment of the previous fueling site at 7104 Touhy Avenue, which fell in limbo after the village board voted down to use it as part of the affordable senior housing development.

Few things have caused more concern and contention in NIles than flooding and the amount of money the village pays for water. Many of the Water Department priorities involve maintenance and replacement of the village reservoirs and Howard Street water main. And, to address concerns about water Niles loses to leaks, it would conduct leak surveys two times a year.

Frank J. Morvay, age 86, of Niles, US Army Veteran Korean War , beloved
husband and dear friend for 66 years to Gloria nee Nied; Frank passed away
peacefully on April 23rd with his wife and family by his side.  Frank will
be dearly missed and forever loved by his family and friends. Loving father
of Tim Morvay (Violet Niziolek); cherished proud grandfather of Jamie
(Elliot) Standridge, Michael Morvay, Nicole (Phil) Bolos, Christopher (Dawn)
Niziolek and Heather Niziolek; dear great grandfather of Kennedy and Turner
Standridge, Elise and Annamarie Standridge, Ashlynn and Jackson Bolos; and
also Franks faithful and loving dog companion Ferrari; He was the loving son
of the late Frank and Stella Morvay; dear brother of Cecelia (The late
Stanley) Janik, the late Sr. Magdalita, the late Raymond Morvay and the late
Geraldine (Jim) Sellars; proud uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Frank was a home builder for many years under the name Mor-wood Industries.
Frank went into the Kitchen and Bath remodeling business under Jamik Inc. he
sold the business and retired in 2002. After retirement at 65 he worked at
Tam Golf Course for 10 years. Frank was an ardent Chicago Cubs and Bears
fan. Frank was a longtime member of the North American Martyrs K of C
Council #4338, the St. John Brebeuf Holy Name Society, the V.F.W. and a
member of the Wit and Wisdom Whistling Society. Frank and his wife received
the Christi Fidelis award in 2014.  A memorial gathering was held Saturday
April 27, 2019 at 11:30 am with the Memorial Mass 12:00 noon at St John
Brebeuf Church. 8307 N. Harlem Ave. Niles.  In lieu of flowers donations to
the American Cancer Society or to Alzheimer’s Research Appreciated.  For
Inf. 847-966-7302 or www.skajafuneralhomes.com

By Jen Shea

For the Bugle

The Niles board of trustees has approved a village-wide community survey that will cost tens of thousands of dollars.

At their April 23 board meeting, trustees unanimously approved a contract with National Citizen Survey to conduct the survey. The total cost would be $15,690.

When the village wanted a community survey done in 2016, it got the survey conducted at no cost by working with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s master’s program for public administration. Since then, the village has struggled to come up with money for a survey.

“The Village of Niles administrative staff has had its eye on conducting a community-wide satisfaction survey for several years,” trustee John Jekot said. “Staff was unable to hold on to funding for a citizen survey through the budget process.”

The survey will measure the quality of life in Niles, and citizens’ level of satisfaction with local government.

Jekot said they chose a company that’s familiar to neighboring communities so there would be consistency with which to compare the results.

“Skokie and Schaumburg have used [the same company] and their survey questions could be similar to what Niles uses,” he said.

The National Citizen Survey is conducted by National Research Center, Inc., a Boulder-based survey research and evaluation company. The company also offers surveys of businesses and employees.

“Communities across the world perform citizen surveys as a means to be able to serve their residents to the best of their ability, and gauge what is and is not going well from the perception of their residents,” Jekot said. “It sets baselines against which an organization can measure their progress over time or against peers.”

Jekot said surveys provide a more accurate gauge of citizen sentiment than public hearings or websites.

The survey will be conducted over the summer of 2019.

It will be available in paper form as well as online.

Aux Sable Middle School seventh grader Isabella Oliver turned two of her short stories into a full-length book that was recently published on Amazon.

‘Believe It” is about a 14-year-old girl who auditions for a play in Chicago but rather than getting the lead role she’s cast as the understudy.

“It’s about her trying to perform when she’s already too shy to perform,” Oliver said. “She has to believe in herself to accomplish her dream of going to New York and perform.”

Oliver’s book began with two stories titled “Dream It” and “Believe It.”

She wrote the stories as part of school’s Creative Writing Club, which publishes a book each year with student contributions.

Karen Bedore, writing club sponsor and Aux Sable music teacher, read her stories and suggested Oliver turn them into a book.

This is the first book produced by a Creative Writing Club student in its three-year history, Bedore said.

“It is just so cool to see a student be able to produce something on a professional level,” she said.

Oliver wrote “Dream It’ in sixth grade when she joined the club.

It took two years to get the book ready for publication including lots of editing, Oliver said.

Oliver’s book also taught her to believe in herself just like her book’s character Angelina LeStronge.

“The story shows how she can go places, so it makes me believe that I can go places,” Oliver said.

“I’m super proud of her, it’s impressive,” Bedore said.

Oliver’s book is available on Amazon.com.

By Brian Stanley

Bugle Reporter

There’s a new Hot Box in town.

The Village of Plainfield recently replaced the Streeet Department’s asphalt heating trailer, commonly known as a “Hot Box,” after the old one wore out after almost two decades of patching streets.

The “19-year-old asphalt heating pavement patcher has deteriorated to the point that it cannot be repaired,” Superintendent of Streets Patrick Miller wrote. “This trailer-mounted asphalt hot box patcher was utilized to complete not only pothole patching, but also larger pavement patching after other village utility (such as water main breaks) repair work has occurred.”

(Photo Submitted)

“We have potholes in Illinois, that’s the nature of it,” Public Works Director Allen Persons said. “It takes four tons of asphalt and keeps it warm for good quality patches, but it’s outlived it’s life.”

Earlier this year, maintenance workers attempted to replace a broken component underneath the trailer.

“Due to the deterioration, the new part couldn’t be bolted to the other old part,” Persons said. “It was not repairable.”

Persons said the replacement was a budgeted item. In March the village board approved purchasing a 2019 Falcon 4-ton Hot Box from Midwest Paving Equipment for $34,732.

Information provided by Falcon Asphalt Repair Equipment said the new Hot Box is a “versatile” piece of equipment.

“You can transport cold mix, keeping it warm during the winter months and making it easier to work with, you can transport hot mix and keep it hot all day and you can hold hot mix overnight keeping it warm for up to 48 hours,” Falcon stated.

The Hot Box also reclaims unused hot mix so material isn’t wasted and can recycle large and small pieces of asphalt. Old asphalt can be recycled into new pavement without losing any quality, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Highway Administration.

Plainfield East High School juniors Alexandra “Lexie” Rudolph and Julia Nawa, earned first place in Yearbook Theme Development at the Illinois High School Association state journalism competition.

In all, 21 student journalists from Plainfield East and South high schools and Plainfield High School – Central Campus participated at the state event, held April 26, 2019 at Heartland Community College in Normal, Ill.

These five students from Plainfield High School-Central Campus and PEHS took top 10 honors at the competition:

PEHS: Delaney Drummond, senior, earned fourth place in Photo Storytelling.

PHSCC: Elizabeth Hsieh, senior, second in Editorial Writing; Paige Gieske, junior, and Jude Mendoza, senior, second in Video News; and Iris Wright, senior, fifth in Copy Editing.

District 202’s state participants included:

Central: juniors Hannah Kopek, Stephanie Wallace, Isabel Taylor, Stephanie Wallace, senior Hannah Darbro and sophomore Raven Easterly.

South: sophomores Mia Emerson, Juvenal “Juve” Angulo and seniors James Dralle, Emily Sherrill and Alicja Stec.

East: sophomore Natalie Hua and seniors Jarod Obando and Shania Zavadsky.

By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com

If someone were to tell you that Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet was going to host a national 5-on-5 soccer tournament, it would make sense — the track has a huge grass infield area.

It does, but that is not where the games will be held.

The speedway will host the inaugural Ultimate 5v5 Street Soccer tournament August 17-18 using the paved areas on pit road. The playing fields will be 30-by-15-feet.

“The type of soccer called foot sol is soccer played on pavement and basketball-type services,” “It is a very popular game played all around the world. You don’t need much — just a ball and a couple makeshift goals,” said Ultimate 5v5 Soccer tournament director Jordan Arias.

“Street soccer is becoming more popular in urban areas and it challenges the kids from technical standpoint. We were looking to do a street soccer event that was a unique experience where you aren’t just doing it in the parking lot of a shopping center. This is an experience like no other.”

The event will feature 9-to-18-year-old players, capitalizing on the current urban trend known as soccer in the street. The mission of the event is to have families, friends and teams come together for a fun weekend of soccer in a non-traditional setting.

“Hosting the inaugural Ultimate 5v5 Soccer event at Chicagoland Speedway illustrates the broad and diverse nature of our multi-purpose facility,” said Chicagoland Speed way President Scott Paddock. “On June 30, the world’s greatest stock car racers will make pit stops on the home of the Ultimate 5v5 Soccer fields; that’s pretty incredible.”

Each team will be allowed 11 players. Every team will be guaranteed three games with some playing as many as five if they make it to the finals. Every game will consist of three periods, each lasting 11 minutes, with a two-minute break between periods.

“We are working with Chicago Rush Soccer Club as our co-hosts, so we will get a lot of club teams that may split themselves into two teams and come have a fun weekend,” Arias said. “So, while teams may come from organized soccer, they will not be street soccer teams. We will also get teams that are friends playing for different club or different high schools and they come together, make some jerseys and play a great weekend.”

While the soccer will be the main attraction for the weekend, it will not be the only entertainment, as teams have the opportunity to roll right out of bed and play their games as families can camp inside Chicagoland Speedway.

“You will be in the infield, so you can leave your camping spot and walk over and play,” Arias said.

The Ultimate 5v5 Soccer event is just another way to grow the game of soccer in the United States and the tournament has partnered with professional women’s soccer player Kelly Fitzgerald.

“I think it is a really awesome event that can really boom, especially being in the NASCAR facilities. I think that will draw a lot of attention,” Fitzgerald said. “As a kid, I wish I had this growing up. It sounds like a fun event and it will help the technical game with quick touches and skills and will help kids develop that. It is huge for expanding soccer in the U.S. You have it on the grass and in the sand, now in the street and it is huge for boys and girls.”

The tournament will not only be for kids, as there are open adult brackets for the parents as well.

“A lot of times you will get the kids in the tournament and then the parents will enter a co-ed team themselves,” Arias said. “That isn’t uncommon at all.”

The tournament will have youth and adult brackets.

For more information on Ultimate 5v6 soccer, visit https://www.ultimate5v5soccer.com/.

The No. 6 Lewis men’s volleyball team’s 2019 season came to an end on Thursday in four set loss to No. 1 Hawaii (15-25, 17-25, 32-30, 16-25) in the NCAA Semifinals at Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, Calif.

The Flyers end their season with a record of 26-6 while the Rainbow Warriors improve to 28-2 and move on to Saturday’s championship contest against Pepperdine or Long Beach.

Lewis was held to a .221 hitting percentage in the contest and was led by Ryan Coenen (Franklin, WI/Franklin) with 18 kills and nine digs.

Minooka High School graduate Mitch Perinar and Bolingbrook alum Tyler Mitchem added 13 and 12 kills respectively.

Matt Yoshimoto (Ventura, CA/Adolfo Camarillo) had 42 assists.

Hawaii put pressure on the Flyers with its service game recording 10 aces to just one for Lewis.

The Rainbow Warriors took a 6-1 lead to begin the contest but the Flyers fought back to within 8-6 with a 5-2 run.

Hawaii seized control of the set with a 9-3 run to build an eight-point advantage.

Lewis wouldn’t get closer than seven points the rest of the stanza as the Rainbow Warriors won the opener 25-15.

The Flyers held a 15-14 advantage midway through set two but Hawaii closed the set on an 11-2 run to win the frame 25-17 and take the commanding 2-0 lead.

The third stanza featured 13 ties and one lead change. Lewis trailed by as many as four in the set but was able to tie things up at 221 on an ace from Mitchem.

The two sides then proceeded to exchange the next 18 points as the Flyers fought off match point six different times to keep extending the match.

Lewis grabbed a 30-29 lead on a kill from Perinar but the Rainbow Warriors came right back to even the set at 30 on a kill from Stijn van Tilburg.

The Flyers got another kill from Perinar for its second set point and then Mitchem and Perinar teamed up to stuff van Tilburg at the net to give Lewis the 32-30 set win.

Hawaii used a 7-3 run early in set four to extend a one-point lead to five and never allowed the Flyers to get closer than four the rest of the set.

Lewis cut the deficit to 19-13 on a kill from Coenen but the Rainbow Warriors scored six of the last nine points to win the set 25-16.

Hawaii hit .368 for the match and was led by Colton Cowley with 15 kills while van Tilburg and Rado Parapunov had 11 kills each. Joe Worsley dished out 48 assists and had a match-high 10 digs.

BASEBALL
The Lewis University baseball team split a home doubleheader with Truman State Friday (May 3) in Great Lakes Valley Conference play at Brennan Field. The Flyers moved to 26-22 overall, 18-14 in the GLVC, while the Bulldogs are 7-33, 7-25.

“We just didn’t make enough hard contact today to put pressure on Truman’s defense,” Lewis baseball coach Tim McDonough said.

Game 1: Lewis 5
Truman State 2

The Flyers scored five runs in the first four innings and were able to hold on for the win. They scored twice in the first inning when Connor Rutherford (DePere, Wis./DePere) doubled down the right field line to drive in a run.

Ryan Schefske (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) then drove home Rutherford with a single up the middle.

Rutherford added to the lead in the third inning with a RBI single to right field.

Lewis then scored two more times in the fourth inning.

Michael O’Brien (Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic) doubled to left field to score a run and then Anthony Cavalieri (Western Springs, Ill./Fenwick) singled to center to drive home O’Brien as the Flyers took a 5-0 lead.

Truman scored twice in the seventh on a single and a fielding error. The Bulldogs rallied in the top of the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Robert Talarico (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) came in and got the final two outs to close out the game.

Cavalieri, Rutherford and Anthony Rios (Lemont, Ill./St. Laurence) all had two hits to lead the Flyers offensively. Pete Hamot (Downers Grove, Ill./Downers Grove South) (5-2) earned the win, going six innings, allowing three hits, striking out eight batters, walking four. Ryan Ward (Hanover Park, Ill./Hoffman Estates) went 2.1 innings in relief with one earned run, while Talarico picked up his fourth save of the year.

Connor McKenna (0-9) took the loss.
Game 2: Truman State 5 Lewis 3

Truman opened the scoring with runs in the first and second innings. The Flyers came back with a run in the second as Cavalieri drove in a run on a RBI groundout to second.

They evened the score in the fourth when Matt Verdun (Homer Glen, Ill./St. Rita) singed to third base to score a run.

They then took the lead in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly to left field from Rios.

Mason Hatch (1-10) picked up the win, going seven innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs. Caleb Buehrle pitched two shutout innings for his second save of the year. Blake Marks (Gardner, Ill./Gardner-South Wilmington) went 5.2 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run, striking out five to get the no decision.

Talarico (2-3) suffered the loss in one inning of work.
Dalton Crowder (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East) went 2-for-3 at the plate.

MEN’S TENNIS
The Lewis University men’s tennis team is ranked No. 5 in the latest NCAA Division II Midwest Region rankings, announced on Wednesday (May 1).

The Flyers currently have a 10-5 record overall, with an 8-4 mark in the region.

They have faced No. 1 Indianapolis, No. 2 Wayne State, No. 3 Drury, No. 4 Ferris State, No. 6 Northwood, No. 9 Tiffin and No. 10 Illinois Springfield.

The top eight teams in the final regional rankings will advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional on May 11 at the sites of the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. The final pairings will be announced via a selection show on Tuesday (May 7) at 7 p.m. CST.

Lewis is looking to make its fourth regional appearance in the past five years.

The Flyers have two players ranked in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) national rankings.

Alan Braschinsky (Tallinn, Estonia/Milna Harma) is ranked No. 51 in the singles rankings and is No. 8 in the doubles rankings with Oskar Lusti (Tallinn, Estonia/).

Joliet Central High School Girls Badminton team members Daisy Catalan and Lauryn Luangsomkham will compete in the IHSA Badminton State Championship on Friday, May 9, 2019, at Eastern Illinois University. The Joliet Central Girls Badminton team is coached by Lisa Luangsomkham, Shana Sanchez, and Maisa Abu-Mallouh.

Daisy Catalan (left) and Lauryn Luangsomkham advanced to the state badminton tournament. (Photo Submitted)

After competing in the Sectional Competition, Lauryn qualified for state as the Singles Sectional Champ and Daisy qualified after finishing in third place individually. The Joliet Central High School Badminton team tied 2nd overall at the Sectional Competition.

“I am very proud of Daisy and Lauryn. They went into the season eyeing state and they did it,” coach Luangsomkham said. “No matter what happens at state, they are already winners in my eyes, because they are amazing Steelmen on and off the courts.”

By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle

It was Senior Day at Lisle High School’s Field No. 7, along the banks of the beautiful DuPage River on Monday. In town for another edition of  “The Old Plank Road Rivalry”, were theWestmont Sentinels.

The Old Plank Road which is presently US 34 Ogden Avenue in the 19^th century, was a plank road for stagecoach and wagon traffic. Westmont and Lisle were stops along the stagecoach line. Thus, The Old Plank Road Rivalry between  the Sentinels and the Lions.

In the 2019 baseball edition of the Old Plank Road Rivalry, a controversial call by the first base umpire and a booming clutch two-out RBI double from Westmont’s Matt O’Leary, gave the Sentinels a thrilling 1-0 victory in 12 innings.

Leading off the top of the 12^th, in the scoreless marathon, Westmont’s Jason Eiermann stepped into the batter’s box.  Eiermann, who had struck out in his two previous at bats, laid down a bunt right back to Lisle relief pitcher Jay McGrath. McGrath fielded the bunt and apparently tagged out Eierman for the first out of the inning.

Eiermann kept running to first base and was called safe by the first base umpire, who claimed McGrath juggled the ball and never tagged Eiermann. A conference between the home plate umpire and the first base umpire resulted in the decision that Eiermann was safe at first .

Lisle head coach Pete Meyer came racing out of his dugout to question the home plate umpire on his call. After a 30-second questioning of the man in blue by Weber, the home plate umpire ejected Weber and the game continued without the Lions’ skipper.

A perfectly executed sacrifice-bunt from Sentinel third baseman Joey Dobrovoln moved Eiermann into scoring position. After the second out of the inning was recorded by McGrath, O’Leary crushed his eventual game-winning double to right, scoring Eiermann for a 1-0 Sentinel lead.

“0-0 through 11 innings,” O”Leary said. “I’ve never been in a game like that. What a dogfight. I just wanted to put the ball in play and was able to hit the ball to right and get the job done. Without the work of Shawn and Caden, I wouldn’t have never been in this position, to get the game-winning hit.”

Sentinel reliever Caden Anderson, slammed the door on the Lions in the bottom of the 12^th, to pick up the win for Westmont (19-9, 5-5). Anderson was magnificent allowing just one hit in his five shutout innings on the mound. Anderson fanned five Lion batters.

“What a dogfight,” Anderson said. “Both teams had opportunities to win and we came out on top. The ball bounced our way in the 12^th and Matt got the big hit. It was awesome for me to get Lisle 1-2-3, for the victory.

The 12-inning marathon, consisted of just one run, 12 hits, 30 strikeouts, four walks, a hit batsman and three errors.

The two starting pitchers, Shawn Kwasny for Westmont and AJ Casmer for Lisle, took advantage of an ever-expanding strike zone that dominated the Lion and Sentinel batters.

Kwasny struck out 13 Lions in his seven scoreless innings of work. Kwasny allowed just three hits and walked one batter.

“Westmont-Lisle is a huge rivalry and it feels so good to beat them,” Kwasny said. “We all gave everything tonight, to get this win. I threw 106 pitches tonight and I can’t feel my back but it is sure is  worth it.”

“Caden was great for us as well. Caden and I combined to shut Lisle out, last year.”

Casmer, went 8 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits with 11 punch-outs. Casmer also walked just one batter. Of the over 300 pitches thrown in the contest, there were very few that were called balls.

“I was very confident throwing all three of my pitches today,” Casmer said. “It’s tough to lose tonight but I’ll take our guys into battle any time. Kudos go out to Westmont, too. They battled us today and we have to go over there tomorrow and beat those guys.”

“I think we are the underdog but I’m very confident, that we can make a deep run, in the upcoming IHSA Class 2A State Tournament, next week .”

O’Leary was the only player in the game who was able to get more than one hit. Matt’s fifth inning single,preceded his game-winning double, in the 12^th.

“I gave Jason the bunt sign on the previous pitch,” Westmont head coach DJ Cocks said. “Being in the third base coaches’ box I couldn’t see the controversial play but Jason has a lot of speed and I knew he could score on Matt’s hit. For Jason (Eiermann), to play so well for us, in our biggest game of the year, is a credit to him.”

“What an unbelievable game. I have been doing this for 16 years and I have never been involved in a game like this. O my gosh! I can’t express how happy I am, with the way Shawn Kwasny and Caden Anderson pitched, today.”

“Matt used his right-field approach, to perfection, in the 12^th

Act two of this year’s Old Plank Road Rivalry, moves to Westmont on Tuesday, at 4:30.

By Drake Skleba
For the Bugle

“ I was really nervous out there on the mound. Down two runs. East had the bases loaded and the heart of their lineup coming up to the plate”- Brady Shelton Plainfield South junior pitcher.

 Just a little mess, the side-winding junior southpaw came into in Wednesday’s crucial,Southwest Prairie Conference game at South. After rallying past South on Monday 4-3, Plainfield East (17-8, 7-5) had a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh.

Shelton, who came in relief of Cougar Jimmy Fitzmaurice, who loaded the bases on a single to East’s Ryan Skiba a double from leadoff man Sean Rivera and plunked the red-hot Nick Pratscher (1-for-2, BB, 2RBI). Enter the Cougar junior side-winder.

“We were really up against it, being down two runs and I brought Brady into the game, because I knew he could get us some ground balls,” Plainfield South head coach Phil Bodine said.

The ever-dangerous Sean Blanchard hit a ground ball to Cougar shortstop Griffin Lapp, who fired a strike to catcher Justin McGuigan for the force at the plate and the first out of the inning. Bengal cleanup-hitter Jack Crowder hit a topper in front of the plate that McGuigan pounced on and tagged home plate for the second out of the inning.

Riley Morris, stole home plate to tie the game in the fourth inning at 2-2, hit a roller to Lapp who tagged second base for the third out of the inning.

“I had to bear down and keep us in the game,” Shelton said. “I did my best and I was able to pitch out of the jam and then we get three runs to get me the win. I was really, really nervous, though”

“Huge win for us and Ryan and Tony, hit big home runs, too.”

Mosher led off the bottom of the seventh, by depositing the Bengal’s  hard-luck losing pitcher Reid Erickson’s fast ball over the left field fence. The solo shot was the third of the season for Mosher and pulled the Cougars within 4-3.

“Brady Shelton. Brady’s performance in the seventh really hyped us,” Mosher said. “And then when I powered one out of here to make it 4-3, we really were lit up”.

Ryan Pawlak, who’s two-run bomb to left-center in the second inning gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead, singled.  Cougar pinch-hitter Alex Lekovish singled and end the day for Erickson. Dylan Sullivan came into the game for the Bengals.

Sullivan struck out the first Cougar he faced. A crucial Bengal error off the bat of McGuigan, allowed “little bro” pinch-runner Jeremy McGuigan to score the tying run. Griffin Lapp was plunked by Sullivan to load the bases with one out.

Connor Blake (1-for-3) hit a slow roller to Bengal second baseman, Morris, who fired a strike to shortstop Rivera for the force at second. Blake beat the relay as Lekovish happily scored the winning run.

“We have had a rough stretch the last third of the season,” Ryan Pawlak said. “It felt good to come out on top, today. Our big junior (Shelton) came up with great pitching in the seventh, to give us a chance. I’ve been struggling at the plate and it felt good but I just hit it and happily it went over the fence.”

“Single to single. Pass the bats,” Lekovish said. “I went up there to get on base. It felt great to come away with the big win.”

“Brady Shelton. Brady’s performance in the seventh really hyped us,” Mosher said. “And then when I powered one out of here to make it 4-3, we really were lit up”.

After two Cougar errors in the fifth, the red-hot Pratscher ripped a two-run single to right that scored Skiba and Rivera, who reached on errors for a 4-2 Bengal lead.

All four Bengal runs against Plainfield South starting pitcher Austin Richardson (5IP, 4R, 2H, 0ER, 5K, 5BB) were unearned.  The Cougars committed an uncharacteristic four errors in the game.

“We have been on the positive side of games like this all season,” Plainfield East coach Adam O’Reel said. “We are now 7-1 in one-run games this year. It will be interesting to see how the kids respond, from losing a one-run game.”

“Reid pitched outstanding for us tonight. We couldn’t add on to our lead in the seventh, which eventually cost us the game.”

For Plainfield South (21-6, 10-4) another edition of “The Plainfield Civil War”, beings tomorrow on the “North Side.” The defending Class 4A Tigers (15-7, 10-2), who have won 12 in a row,  have a 1 ½ game lead over the Cougars heading into Thursday’s showdown. The two clubs will return to the South Side on Monday at 4:30.

“We played like crap!,” Bodine added. “We were lifeless out there today for six innings. Brady’s outstanding pitching in the top of the seventh, woke them up. Tony’s blast got us going and Ryan Pawlak and Alex Lekovish, had great at bats. We can’t continue to play like this or we will win nothing.”

“North has been beating everybody the last two years,” Mosher added. “I think it’s our turn to turn the tables on them this year. This great win today, really will give us the confidence, going into the huge series with North.”

“One game at a time. God-willing we will get where, we want to be.”

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE
Plainfield North        15-7     11-2
Plainfield South        21-6     10-4

Oswego East             15-8       8-5

Plainfield East           17-8      7-5
Oswego                     14-11     8-6
Plainfield Central     19-9       7-6

Romeoville                 8-17      5-8
Joliet West                13-14     4-8

Minooka                    7-14       3-9

Joliet Central            8-18       2-12

THURSDAY
Plainfield South at Plainfield North 4:30
Plainfield Central at Oswego East  4:30
Romeoville at Plainfield East 4:30

FRIDAY

Plainfield East at Joliet West (2) 2 p.m.