– Yorkville`s Brett Ward was an interested spectator at Glenbard West. Ward, who was the Class A 800 champion last year, will compete in Class AA this year. ”If I was in Class A-I don`t want to sound cocky-there would be nobody but me,” said Ward, who has run 1:53.7 this spring. ”I wouldn`t say I would run away with it, but to be in Class AA there will be more competition. To be the best you have to run with the best.”
SOFTBALL
– Most teams feel lucky to have one good pitcher. Sometimes, as in the case of Lemont`s Erin Reiter, who is 16-3, one is plenty. Injun coach Pam Murray can throw her lefty out there game in and game out and ride Reiter`s fastball as far as it will take her. The general pattern, though, is to go with two-an ace for the big games and a backup to give her some rest. Then there`s Aurora Central Catholic coach Debi Handell, who is blessed with three starting pitchers-Katie Feltas (5-1), Kelly Lefevre (5-1) and Jenny Lang
(5-0). And Handell sticks with her three-girl rotation no matter what. ”I find it`s an asset,” she says. ”If anybody gets hurt or sick or something, there`s always someone to put in there. Pitching is the least of my worries.” With her Chargers at 19-2, 12-0 in the Private School League after Thursday`s split with Class A power Morris, Handell doesn`t have much to worry about-except Nazareth Academy and Lemont. Nazareth, also 19-2, 12-0 after Saturday`s sweep of Wheaton Christian, will come visiting next Saturday in a showdown that could decide the PSL championship. And when that one`s out of the way, it`ll be just about time to start worrying about a potential showdown with Lemont in the Class A regional. The Injuns have beaten the Chargers seven straight times, including last year`s 7-0 victory in the regional finals and this year`s 2-1 win on April 20. ”I`m very pleased with the way things are going so far,” said Handell. ”We turned four double plays in that second game against Morris (an 8-0 victory Thursday). I`ve never seen a team of mine play that well, especially after we lost the first game 5-4. After that game I`d say we`re at our peak right now.”
BASEBALL
– West Aurora is having problems in the field. The Blackhawks have committed 50 errors in 18 games. ”Pitching and defense are supposed to be the things that make teams win,” said coach Dave Rowell, whose team is 14-4 after Saturday`s split with Streamwood. ”We`re getting some pretty good pitching, and we`re just out-hitting opponents. That (poor defense) can`t continue. Our luck could run out.” Rowell`s key players include catcher Greg Kohl, who`s batting .440, junior pitcher Rich Becker (5-1) and senior Curt Tulley (4-0).
GIRLS SOCCER
– Naperville North remained on top in The Tribune poll with a 2-1 victory over tough Fremd Saturday. The defending state champions, who haven`t lost in 18 games, including the final six last year, are 11-0-1 and seem hard to beat. ”We haven`t done anything different,” said Huskies coach Alan Harris, who has a 119-16-7 record in eight seasons. ”We`re doing well, but I see some weaknesses.”
No one else does.
”They`re good,” said Fremd coach Ralph Cortez. ”That No. 22 (all-stater Jenny Sovacool) is an outstanding player.”
It was Sovacool who scored Naperville`s game-winning goal Saturday with 6 minutes 8 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Teammate Anna Helton scored the first goal on a penalty kick.
– St. Charles (10-0-3) has tied Naperville North, Palatine and Glenbard West. The second-ranked Saints knocked off previously unbeaten Evanston Saturday. ”We`ve played the big games the way we hoped we would,” said Saints coach Tim Dailey. ”So far, we`ve done quite well.”
Amy Forster, a four-year starter at wing, is out with mononucleosis, a blow which could affect the Saints.
– In its second season, Glenbard West has earned high marks among soccer`s elite. The Hilltoppers are 10-1-2. ”I wish I could say it`s my superior coaching,” said Audris Griffith. ”We`re really not a second-year program because most of these girls have played together at the park district level for many years. Give them the credit. They`ve done the job all year.”
The big victory for Glenbard was a 5-0 whitewash of previously unbeaten Downers Grove South. Freshman striker Katie Quathamer has nine goals and sophomore center-halfback Diane Pajak has 14.
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”I don`t think the girls realize that there are no more easy games left,” said Griffith, whose team meets York, Oak Park, Buffalo Grove and Hinsdale South to close out regular-season play.
BADMINTON
– Mid-Suburban League champion Palatine, South Inter-Conference Association South-West champion Andrew, West Suburban Conference champion Hinsdale Central and Central Suburban League champion Evanston will be the teams to watch next Friday and Saturday as the season moves to sectional competition. At the Hinsdale Central sectional, the host Red Devils, who slipped past favored Downers Grove North to win the WSC title, rate the edge. Downers North, with the state`s top singles player in Sue Connor, will be favored at the Naperville North sectional.
GYMNASTICS
– Addison Trail`s Rick Kennedy surprised coach Fred Dennis by bouncing back quickly from a badly sprained ankle. Kennedy posted an 8.25 average to take second place behind teammate Woody Chhay in the all-around competition at the West Suburban Conference Gold meet Friday night. Kennedy`s ankle injury pointed out a weakness in Addison`s team-lack of depth. ”When somebody goes down I get worried,” Dennis said. ”We`ve been free of injuries up until about two weeks ago when the injury bug hit. Besides Kennedy`s ankle we`ve got some kids with sore shoulders and things.” The injuries didn`t stop the Blazers from trouncing the competition Friday, scoring 150.2 points, nearly 20 points ahead of Willowbrook.