Sports

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent

The Elmhurst Cougars 12U baseball team recently won the Game Day Turf War tournament title in downstate Rantoul. The Cougars defeated the Sluggers from Hamilton, Ohio, 6-3 in the championship game. Pictured, front row, from left: Coach Zak Devermann, Jack Nahumyk, Mason Hopkins, Donovan O’Connor, Gio Rangel, Coach Daryl O’Connor. Second row, from left: Coach Tim White, James White, Nick Mandra, Elliott Bastedo, Charlie Schwarz, Josh Landry, Coach Andy Hopkins. Not pictured: Joseph Lubbe, Grant Hickman, Dom Tomala, Coach Clint Hickman. Elmhurst Cougars 12U baseball team wins Turf War title

Team effort lifts squad to crown in Rantoul

By Mike Miazga

CORRESPONDENT

The Elmhurst Cougars 12U baseball team hit the road to central Illinois and ended up hitting the jackpot.

The Cougars won the Game Day Turf War tournament at the new Rantoul Sports Complex. Elmhurst defeated teams from Chicago, Danville and Cincinnati on its way to the title.

The Cougars downed the Sluggers from Hamilton, Ohio 6-3 in the championship game.

In the quarterfinals, Elmhurst defeated the Edgebrook Thunder 141. Nick Mandra had a double, triple, home run and five RBI to lead the way.

The Cougars then recorded a 9-0 victory in the semifinals over No. 1 seed Post 210 Junior Speakers from Danville. Mason Hopkins and Josh Landry each pitched two scoreless innings. Hopkins was 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored, while Landry drove in three runs. Elliott Bastedo had two hits, including an RBI double.

In the final against Hamilton from the Cincinnati area, Cougars’ leadoff man Gio Rangel had three hits and three RBI. Chuck Schwarz had a huge RBI double off the wall in the second, which turned out to be the game-winning hit when Elmhurst never relinquished the lead.

Jack Nahumyk reached base twice in the championship. He also recorded the save, pitching the final game of pool play. Nahumyk also turned in “some great at-bats and solid base hits,” Cougars coach Daryl O’Connor noted. Nahumyk had two hits in the semifinal game.

Donovan O’Connor reached base three times in the title game. James White scored a key insurance run in the final inning against Hamilton. Daryl O’Connor also was impressed with White’s pitching and hitting efforts in Rantoul. “James threw strikes and worked the counts when hitting like he always does,” he said.

Overall, Nick Mandra struck out 19 hitters in the tournament, including 11 against Hamilton, while allowing zero earned runs over seven tournament innings. More specifically, Mandra fanned 19 of the 27 batters he faced in Rantoul. “Nick again looked like the most skilled/ talented player and MVP of the tournament,” O’Connor said.

The Cougars played five games in a little over 24 hours with only nine players. Daryl O’Connor also directed praise to Bastedo and Nahumyk, who did the lion’s share of the catching. “That’s not easy with multiple games,” he said. “They did a fine job and both came up with big hits when we needed them.”

In addition to Mandra, Hopkins and Landry provided strong performances on the hill, O’Connor noted, while Donovan O’Connor was able to get on base when needed and played solid defense, the coach added. Landry had seven total RBI on the final day of the tournament.

Additionally, Rangel had six hits on the final day of the tournament. O’Connor pointed out that the Cougars’ fourth through ninth hitters each scored a run in the title game. Elmhurst flashed its pitching depth on the Saturday of the tournament with all nine players toeing the rubber.

In addition to the nine players in Rantoul, the team also features Joseph Lubbe, Grant Hickman and Don Tomala. The coaching staff includes O’Connor, Zak Devermann, Tim White, Andy Hopkins and Clint Hickman.

By Mike Miazga

May 13, 2021 • 20 York softball team off to tremendous start

Derkowski racks up high strikeout totals in pitching circle

CORRESPONDENT

Simply put, the York softball team is on fire.

The Dukes were 9-1 in their first 10 games of the season, which included a 6-1 mark in West Suburban Conference Silver Division action.

As of late last week, York was on an eight-game winning streak and had outscored its 10 opponents 9419.

A big part of the York success thus far has been University of Michigan signee Lauren Derkowski, who has been nearly un-hittable in the pitching circle.

The senior standout already has struck out 18 batters in one game and fanned 17 in two other contests, plus she threw a no-hitter. Thus far, she’s 9-0 with 126 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched and has given up only one earned run and walked five batters. Derkowski has a 0.12 ERA and has allowed only 16 hits.

Derkowski also was hitting .697 at the plate with five doubles, six home runs and 22 RBI —leading York in every major offensive statistical category.

Senior Molly Loch was hitting .455 with three doubles, one homer and nine RBI through the first 10 games. Coach Brendan Holba pointed out Loch’s steal of home against Lyons Township in an early May contest provided York the needed cushion “in a tremendously pitched game on both sides,” he said. “Molly is one of our three captains, and while she is off to a hot start on the diamond, she is also one of the stronger leaders on the team.”

Junior Emily Fujiwara was hitting .417 with five doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI. In the Lyons Township game Fujiwara homered in the second inning. “Her home run proved to be enough in that game,” Holba said. “Emily is another athlete who had some varsity experience as a freshman and has really risen to the occasion this year as a junior. She has cemented herself as a rock in the middle of our lineup.”

Junior Lindsey Bingham was second on the team in total hits with 17 through 10 games and was hitting .436 with three doubles and 14 runs scored. “Lindsey would have been a starter on last year’s team as a sophomore, but the shutdown did not slow her progress as a softball

The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, May 13, 2021 • 21 The Elmhurst Independent - Thursday, July 16, 2020 • 19sports IC Catholic Prep graduate York girls water polo team wins West Suburban Conference title Believed to be first league title in program history; Dukes preparing for sectional Will play volleyball for Division II school By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT Recent IC Catholic Prep graduate Bella Leslie wanted to head east for college. Her landing spot ended up being at NCAA Division II Le Moyne College where the former Knights volleyball and soccer standout will continue her volleyball career at the Syracuse, New York school as a libero. “All of the schools I was looking at were on the East Coast,” Leslie told the Independent last week. “I visited Le Moyne and really liked it. It reminded me of high school because it was a small school, and in a smaller school you will know a I feel like I would be so bored without it because it has been such a big part of my life.” Leslie said she has plenty of memories from IC Catholic Prep’s coach Nancy Kerrigan’s program. “I loved playing there,” she said. “I probably enjoyed school volleyball more than club because I love my team and the coaching staff was very supportive on and off the court. It made it a really good environment to be in. Coach (Kerrigan) was great. I have known her for a while. When I was little, I did all the little kids camps, and her daughter was in my brother’s grade at IC.” Leslie said she will miss plenty about IC Catholic Prep. “I will miss how close knit of a community it was,” she said. “I knew everybody at the school. It will be weird been cancelled due to the pandemLeslie headed to Le Moyne “ I’m really excited to be able to play volleyball in college. It gives me something to do. I feel like I would be so bored without it because it has been such a big part of my life.” – Bella Leslie By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT The York girls water polo team made some history recently. The Dukes won the West Suburban Conference title for what is believed to be the first time in program history and definitely the first time in coach Mark Giuliani’s nine years as head coach. York’s 17-16 nail-biting win over Lyons Township secured the WSC title. The two teams had split their previous two meetings and a third was scheduled to determine the league champion in lieu of a conference tournament due to the pandemic. York played each conference school this season in a home-and-home series. The win pushed York to 11-2 overall. York defeated Lyons on April 2 at home and then lost on the road April 20, but the Dukes were missing a key player. Giuliani noted York’s JV team also followed the same path, title. York’s only other loss this season was to a very strong Naperville North team. In the Lyons rubber game, York senior captain Emma Stec played a key role with six goals and an elite performance on defense. Stec is headed to Division I Wagner College on Staten Island, New York to continue her water polo career. “Emma is phenomenal,” Giuliani said. “She works both sides of the pool on offense and defense. She plays center. She can drive and shoot outside. She had six goals against LT, but most importantly she locked down their best player on defense. Offensively, she is huge, but defensively she doesn’t always have as many stats. The impact she has on defense is huge. She took out LT’s best player.” Sophomore Rose Jensen had seven goals against Lyons. “Rose is unbelievable,” Giuliani said. “It was unfortunate that last season was shoot from anywhere. She’s very fast and impressive as a 16-yearold girl. She has a bright future, for sure.” Giuliani also had high praise for goalie Grace Walker and center defender Grace Callen. “Grace (Callen) has shown strong leadership and has a strong arm. She’s a great kid,” Giuliani said. Giuliani said his team wasted no time getting after it once restrictions from the pandemic abated. “A big key has been the way they jumped right from COVID and quarantine and remote learning right back into playing a competitive team sport,” he said. “They have done a really nice job of working together as a team. We have two standouts with Emma and Rose, but the whole team has done a nice job. Everybody has their part on the team. It is important when you have a couple of standout girls that the rest of the team is aware they are leading the charge, but there are still five other and productive. They are happy to be able to play with last year getting taken away.” Giuliani added this year’s team has some added motivation. “Last season was definitely the best team I have had here and it hurts to think what could have been,” he said. “We had very good players. I am biased, but I think we could have competed for a state title and made a deep run. Rose as a freshman had “ We had a great opportunity and won the conference title and now we are getting ready for sectionals.” – Mark Giuliani York water polo coach and was already amazing and we had a couple big-time seniors. It would have been special. What is worth noting is everybody knows that. This is Emma’s last year and we know last year was taken from us. These girls have put in the work to make some noise and to make up for last year’s what-if.” York has a No. 2 sectional seed behind Maine West in the upcoming state playoffs. This year, there are no host sites. The higher-seeded team will host all games leading up to the state finals, which have moved to Fenwick High School in Oak Park to comply with the IDPH 30-mile traveling rule coming out of the pandemic. “We are excited,” the coach said. “We’re excited how the Lyons Township game went. We had a great opportunity and won the conference title and now we are getting ready for sectionals. That’s what matters and we’re excited to have the opportunity to play.” lot more faces than if I would have beating Lyons at home, losing at going on campus and not knowing lost due to COVID, but Rose will ic. “I will probably leave Aug. girls in the water with them and four goals in our only game against York has not advanced to the gone to a bigger school. The camLyons and then defeating the Lions all the faces. I’ll miss those close be a Division I player herself. She 10-11 because it’s a far drive,” other girls on the bench supporting Morton. That was our first varsity state finals since 2003 under then pus there is really pretty. It sits on in overtime to also win the WSC JV connections with the coaches and is unbelievably talented. She can she said. “We had Zoom call with them. Our practices have been fun year. Emma was a junior last year coach David Rafferty-Flatter. a big hill and the scenery around it teachers. It will be weird for the the team recently and they said is great. Everything is pretty close together. They have very nice facilities. The volleyball program has good workout facilities and a nice first year or so.” Leslie said pandemic life hasn’t been overly exciting, though her club volleyball team has started they should have an answer about our season in the next 7-10 days. They talked about three scenarios and what could happen like if we Timothy Christian girls track team wins tri meet locker room. I liked how modern it was.” Leslie plans on studying nursing practicing again. “We have been practicing two or three times a week,” she said. “We are going to start the season and someone gets sick and we have to stop and go. That’s one of the reasons why they Carter leading strong Trojans girls soccer team in scoring at Le Moyne. “They have a good nursing program,” she said. “As far as what kind of a nurse I want to be, I’m not quite sure yet.” Leslie played volleyball and girls soccer at IC Catholic Prep all four years. She was a center-midfielder on the Knights soccer team. Leslie’s volleyball journey started in the fifth grade, the first year she could play the sport at IC Grade School. She’s been playing club volleyball since seventh grade, most recently with the Chicago Elite group that practices out of Scores in Willow Springs and Montini High School in Lombard. “I’m really excited to be able to play volleyball in college,” she said. “It gives me something to do. By Mike Miazga CORRESPONDENT The Timothy Christian girls track team recently won a tri meet with Westmont and IC Catholic Prep. The Trojans edged Westmont 59-58 and IC Catholic Prep had 49 points. “We are off to a great start this year,” Timothy coach Kevin Hackert said. “We are a fairly young team that is still getting in shape and learning to race, but we see great things in the near future for these girls.” Katelyn Leonard won the 800 with a time of 2:34.5. Hannah Schuringa won the triple jump with a 9.15-meter mark. Emily Slovey won the shot put (9.19) and discus (20.10) events. Hackert also gave high marks be starting tournaments again. Before that I haven’t been doing anything because senior soccer season and the club volleyball season were cancelled. We were supposed to go to a few club volleyball qualifiers in Grand Rapids and Louisville. This summer, we have some tournaments planned over the next few weekends. They are little tournaments with all of the local clubs. Nothing large and really local. Other than that, I have been trying to work out a lot and stay in shape. I’ve been running a lot, so I got into that. I try and run every day.” Leslie said she is scheduled to report to Le Moyne in the Aug. 1215 timeframe, but noted preseason volleyball activities already have but dropped four seconds off their time from the previous week.” Timothy Christian boys track The Timothy Christian boys track team won its last two Metro Suburban Conference triangular meets against Westmont and Chicago Christian and against Aurora Christian and St. Francis. Freshman Caleb Hoekstra has run 11.7 in the 100, 23.7 in the 200 and 54.4 in the 400. Senior Jerard Starr has gone 42.2 in the 300 hurdles, while junior Ethan Lemkuil has run 2:16 in the 800. Freshman Tyce Plaisier has clocked a 5:21.9 in the 1,600 and gone under 12 minutes in the 3,200 run at 11:59.4. Junior Grayson Haywood has a high mark are looking at moving the season to the spring. Right now the plan is to have a season, but we won’t know until the next 7-10 days.” But if all systems are a go, Leslie can’t wait to take her skills as a libero to the next level with the Dolphins. “I feel like being a libero you have to be really quick and that is typically what I am good at. I have really good reaction time,” she said. “I like diving on the floor and saving balls. It’s a really good feeling when you make a save. The position fits my personality, too. You have to be the loudest one on the court. I have a loud personality. You have to be pretty loud if you want to be a libero. I think I match that description.” Timothy Christian girls soccer The Trojans girls soccer team was 6-1 overall and 4-1 in Metro Suburban Conference play through late last week. Senior Emma Carter was leading the team with nine goals and seven assists. Sophomore Maddie Drye had seven goals and two assists, while sophomore Angie Tornabene had five goals and two assists. Sophomore Miliana Martens had five goals and one assist. Freshman Hope Huizenga had four goals and three assists. Angel Burke was 5-1 in goal with four shutouts, a 0.59 goals-against average and a .869 save percentage. Timothy Christian baseball Community Bank Player of the week sponsored by CHRIS FOX PHOTO Elmhurst Independent Anthony Bucolo fires a pitch during a recent U12 baseball game. U12 baseball action homer and 11 RBI. Senior outfielder CJ James had a 1.111 OPS with four doubles and two homers. Freshman infielder-pitcher Casey Folkerts had a 1.005 OPS with five doubles, a triple, 12 RBI and 18 runs scored. Senior shortstop-pitcher Ben Jones had a .907 OPS with four doubles, two triples and 16 runs scored, while sophomore catcher-pitcher-infielder Donald Tober had a .913 OPS and a .417 batting average. On the mound, Tober had a 2.14 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings, while Jones had Tober’s identical stats with 16 1/3 innings pitched, 22 strikeouts and a 2.14 ERA. Jacob Friend had a 3.28 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings pitched. • Stopka (Continued from page 18) to the Timothy 1,600 relay team of Cailey Schuurmann, Jenny Lemkes, Paige Hoving and Leonard, who of 18-7 in the long jump. “We have had success in all our relays using various combinations The Timothy Christian baseball team was 7-6 overall through its first 13 games. Junior infielder/catcher Member FDIC LENDER They lost to West Chicago on I think an own goal in the last five minutes. That was against the state finished first at 4:33.5. “I was very proud of our 4-by-400 team,” he said. “They not only won the event, huge rah-rah person. I’m a little bit more of an individual players’ coach. I will pull kids to the side at practice involving more than 20 different athletes,” Trojans coach John Vander Kamp pointed out. ble and transparent and communicate with everybody.” As far as the future, Stopka wants Fletcher Roemmich had a 1.125 onbase plus slugging percentage (1.125) to go with five doubles, a triple, one www.communityelmhurst.com of Elmhurst champs in the sectional finals. That’s a hell of a season if you ask me.” Stopka will teach Spanish at York. and games and teach them.” Stopka noted York has been doing conditioning drills and said the plan •Softball (Continued from page 20) York competing at a high level on a consistent basis. “The short-term goal is to restock and build up the (630)782-1234 100380 He taught Spanish and one math class player,” Holba pointed out. as of earlier last week was to start they get two strikes. We certainly team,” he said. “A large portion of out. “We have four sophomores at St. Pat’s. “My philosophy is I am more of a players’ coach,” he said. Sophomore Mariann Blass, who also played on the varsity basketball summer camp pending District 205 approval. “I have probably been able have things to clean up as hitters, but we are off to a hot start.” last year’s team was seniors, especially the starting 11. We have to who are starting their high school softball experience on the varsity proudly presents proudly presents “I have been a big Liverpool soccer supporter ever since 2015 when Jurgen Klopp came over and he’s known as a players’ coach. He’s kind of my team this year, is York’s starting shortstop and was hitting .583 with two doubles, two homers and nine RBI. “Mariann brought that same to meet 60 to 70 percent of the players so far,” he said. “If it does get approved that would be the start of our contact days with four days a week And Holba has seen plenty he has liked thus far defensively. “This group constantly works to make the next play,” he said. “They focus on make sure the now juniors are up to the speed of the varsity level and are ready to contribute. We want to keep that pipeline going with the younger level, and many juniors who missed the development that the JV level provides due to last season’s shutdown. However, everyone has YORK HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK YORK GIRLS WATER POLO TEAM YORK HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER OF THE WEEK GIGI BARR coaching idol. I want to related to the players and form bonds with them. I am more light-hearted and smiling. I like to have fun and joke with energy and intensity on the basketball court to the diamond,” Holba said. Holba said a key to the Dukes’ offensive success has been its for three weeks straight. And even though the IHSA waived the blackout dates before the school year, we won’t take advantage of that. I’m doing the little things every game to be the best at their position every night.” A good mix of veterans and groups of players. We want to make sure we are not only competitive, but that we are competing for regionals, sectionals and supersectionals. worked very hard to make the needed adjustments to compete and put us in a position to win. In practice, we always end with a competition YORK GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Barr was the recipient of the 2019-2020 York Val Cothern The York girls water polo team defeated Lyons Township 17-16 at home to win the West Suburban the kids. The goal is understanding where each player can be successful and the provide the best way possible approach at the plate. “Our approach has been fantastic to start,” he said. “The hitters have bought into our pretty sure families have plans to do things before school starts. I’m the new guy and I’m not going to say younger players has proven to be a recipe for success thus far for York. “We have some great senior It starts for me with this junior class that is coming in. We want them ready to go and setting the standard of some sort, and this has helped develop a competitive edge that may not have been there at the start due to junior female athlete of the year award. Barr went over the 1,000-career kill threshold last fall for the Dukes girls volleyConference title for what is believed to be the first time in program history.to convey the knowledge they need philosophy of being aggressive early you can’t go with your family. Go leadership, but at the start we were for these other classes that come in our lack of varsity experience at the ball team and still has a season to add to that total. at the position they play. I am not big in the count and then battling when do it and enjoy it. This is a crazy and very inexperienced,” Holba pointed so they can also contribute right off beginning of the year.”

CHRIS FOX PHOTOS Elmhurst Independent York boys volleyball beats Willowbrook

On Tuesday, May 4, the York boys volleyball team played a match at Willowbrook (the Warriors) in Villa Park. York defeated Willowbrook 25-14, 25-12. The win gave York a season record of 3-4. York improved to 4-4 with a 25-12, 25-10 win at Proviso West on May 6. Pictured above is senior Jacob Wodarczyk. Senior David Tith Junior Jake Reishus

•College news (Continued from page 16) dents: Michael De Jager is studying Aviation Maintenance; Holly Doherty is studying Early Childhood Special Education; Angela Gagliano is studying History; Eric Grunst is studying Accounting; Kevin Haller is studying Aviation Flight Technology; Madeline Levins is studying Business Administration; Gillian O’Hara is studying Nursing; and, Alexandra Schmitz is studying Elementary Education. • Birgitte Kammerdiener of Elmhurst has been named to Dean’s List at Youngstown State University for Fall Semester 2020. Kammerdiener is majoring in Nursing at YSU. • More than 1,000 students have been named to the Carthage College dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester. Among them are the following Elmhurst residents: Morgan Taylor, Jordan Cimmarusti, John Goehl and Troy Siranovic. • Nearly 6,800 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students have been named to the Deans’ List for the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year. They include the following Elmhurst students:

Megan Elizabeth Boyle, senior, Dean’s List, College of Business, finance and management; Nicole Alexandra Geib, sophomore, Dean’s List, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, graphic design; Noelle Frances Pedote, sophomore, Dean’s List, College of Arts and Sciences, sociology and communication studies; Brennan Sanders, senior, Dean’s List, College of Engineering, mechanical engineering; and, Mia Venessa Spedale, junior, Dean’s List, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, advertising and public relations. • Michael Sullivan and Sara Krissinger, both Elmhurst residents, have been named to the President’s list recognizing academic excellence at Miami University. Only students who are ranked in the top three percent of undergraduate students within each division are eligible for the President’s list. • The following students from Elmhurst were named to the Dean’s list at Miami University: Alex Danciutiu, Cristina Gamboa, Dan Pierotti, Eileen O’Donnell, Maddie Welz, Maggie Jacobson, Mary Brynn Rosenstein, Quinn Hughes, Ruby Schwan, Siena Pinkerton and Sydney Bonthron. • Isabella Leslie, a First-Year Nursing major from Elmhurst, has been named to the Le Moyne College Fall 2020 Dean’s List. Le Moyne is located in Syracuse, NY. • Elmhurst resident Emma Kern is one of more than 1,100 Canisius College students named to the fall 2020 Dean’s List or Merit List. Kern is a member of the Canisius Class of 2024 and pursuing a degree in Animal Behavior Ecology Conservation, which is housed in the College of Arts & Sciences. Canisius College is located in Buffalo, NY. • Stanley Xavier has been named to the Fall 2020 Dean’s List at University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Xavier, of Elmhurst, is studying to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

• Illinois Wesleyan University’s Dean’s List for the fall semester of the 2020-21 academic year consisted of 771 students including the following from Elmhurst: Aidan Frank, a freshman majoring in Acting; Riley Haug, a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education; May Mann, a junior majoring in Mathematics; and, Andrea Zulawski, a sophomore majoring in Elementary Education. • Augustana College announced more than 1,100 students were named to the Dean’s List for the 2020-21 fall semester. Among them were the following residents of Elmhurst: Brianna Bryant, who is majoring in Psychology; Adrianna DeCicco, whose major is undecided; Jenna Dvorak, Graphic Design; Hannah Johnson, whose major is undecided; Laura Keenan, Communication Studies; Alyssa Luczynski, Psychology; William Sikich, Creative Writing; Stephanie Stramel, Sociology; Mackenzie Sullivan, Communication Studies; Anna Triska, Elementary Education; and Brianna Zientara, Biochemistry.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Elmhurst Independent First Communion time