The Chicago Bandits pro softball team that’s based in Rosemont won a league championship this season, but that team’s players weren’t the only local athletes having success in the sport this summer and fall.
Recently, two athletes from the Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County who represent the Waukegan All-Stars had success competing at the Special Olympics Illinois state competition in Decatur.
Athletes competed in four softball skills exercises: throwing, baserunning, hitting and fielding. Each competitor received a score in each event, and then total scores determined the top finishers.
After 10 weeks of practicing and qualifying for the state finals by advancing out of a district tournament in July, Christian Torres and Gary Richards of the All-Stars competed for medals at state.
And both came through.
Richards placed second at state in his division. Torres competed in the top division of the skills tournament and put on a solid performance and received the silver medal in his group.
Richards has been competing in the Special Olympics for 26 years and Torres has been competing for 17. The athletes were coached by Mackenzie Mullis, Becky Ziegler and Katie Kozuch.
The Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County was established in 2001. SRSNLC is made up of four park districts: Lindenhurst, Round Lake, Waukegan and Zion.
Lake County USBC WBA: The Lake County USBC Women’s Bowling Association will be holding a fundraising event at the Culver’s in Grayslake on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m.
The restaurant is located on Route 83, north of Washington Street and south of Rollins Road.
All proceeds will be used to provide two scholarships for youth bowlers.
Radio station WRLR-FM (98.3) will be on hand for the event.
For more information, visit website lcwba.com or see the Lake County USBC Women’s Bowling Association page on Facebook.
Saturday run in Grayslake: The annual Dead Last 5K run/walk on Saturday afternoon will benefit the Oasis, which is the youth center in Grayslake.
There is a one-mile fun run/walk at 2 p.m., and the main race is at 3 p.m. at the College of Lake County.
Here’s how the event is described on the race website:
The object of the race is to win both by speed and by getting to the finish line alive. “Zombies” will be present at specified intervals throughout the race course and runners will sport flag belts with two flags per runner at the start of the race. Zombies will attempt to remove the runners’ flags, thus taking their “life.”
Runners must complete the race and will find strategically located extra “life flags” along the course route. Runners can win by speed alone but the biggest prize goes to the fastest runner finishing with at least one life flag left.
There is race-day registration at CLC starting at noon. Cost for the 5K is $45.
Sunday run in Lake Forest: The Northwestern Medicine Health & Fitness Center’s 5K and one-mile fun run/walk will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday starting and finishing at Middlefork Savanna County Forest Preserve.
More Top Picks Best Affordable Watches Under 200
There is race-day registration for $60 for the 5K race and $35 for the one-mile run.
Proceeds will support the organization’s medical fitness programs.
The entrance to the forest preserve is on Middlefork Drive, which is just off Route 43 south of Route 176.
Twitter: @JeffBonato