Pat Disabato – Page 21

Sandburg's Pat Rafferty connects against Lincoln-Way East during a game on Friday, April 26, 2019.

Guided by his parents, Pat Rafferty becomes a selfless beacon for Sandburg in baseball: ‘I wanted to be an example to the younger guys.’

May 12, 2020 at 12:33 p.m.

No matter how well Sandburg's Pat Rafferty played baseball while growing up, his ego remained in check. His parents made certain of it. "It's always been team first with my...

Disabato: Northwestern football recruit Joe DeHaan will ‘always be grateful’ for the chance to play baseball for his dad at Andrew

May 10, 2020 at 11:22 a.m.

Dave DeHaan played baseball at Andrew. For the last 10 seasons, he has been the head baseball coach for the Thunderbolts. He's experienced many wonderful moments. Conference championships. Playoff success....

St. Laurence's Matt Zahora pitches against Lyons during the Phil Lawler Summer Classic in Naperville on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

A boy on his bike chasing a baseball. Illinois-Chicago recruit Matt Zahora made an early pitch for success at St. Laurence.

May 7, 2020 at 12:02 p.m.

Matt Zahora cemented his legacy last season at St. Laurence. The 6-foot right-hander was dominant as a junior, delivering a 9-0 record with a 1.61 ERA for the Class 3A...

Lincoln-Way East safety Matt Kordas makes an interception in Marist's end zone during a Class 8A semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019.

Lincoln-Way East safety Matt Kordas looking at 12 Division I offers, with more likely to come: ‘I think another wave is coming soon.’

May 6, 2020 at 1:07 p.m.

The potentially daunting shadow of having a father who played football at Arizona State and an uncle who played at Notre Dame could be overwhelming. For Lincoln-Way East's Matt Kordas,...

Andrew’s Anthony Lenza was done. He was going to quit playing baseball. A talk with his father changed everything.

May 5, 2020 at 11:57 a.m.

During the summer before his freshman year, Andrew's Anthony Lenza had reached the end of his baseball career. Or at least, he thought so. Lenza was struggling at the plate...

Brother Rice's Conor Glennon, left, and Colin Campbell celebrate against St. Rita on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019.

Disabato: Brother Rice point guard Conor Glennon bets on himself by accepting preferred walk-on offer from Memphis

May 1, 2020 at 9:26 p.m.

Brother Rice's Conor Glennon could have taken the more comfortable path and committed to an NCAA Division III program. The senior point guard was considering Lake Forest and St. Thomas...

After playing for Porter Moser at Loyola, Byron Burt beats out 84 applicants to be named St. Laurence’s boys basketball coach

April 30, 2020 at 11:51 a.m.

When St. Laurence athletic director Tim Chandler began the process of hiring a new boys basketball coach, Byron Burt was one of 85 applicants. The 25-year-old Burt was a long...

Mount Carmel's Ed Howard connects against St. Rita during a game on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Disabato: Mount Carmel shortstop Ed Howard, ‘the best high school player in the country,’ still on track to be first-round pick in MLB draft

April 29, 2020 at 12:51 p.m.

As a bright-eyed 5-year-old, Ed Howard would stand in the family's South Holland backyard gripping a whiffle ball bat while eagerly awaiting the pitch. His mom Calandra, hoping to inspire...

Homewood-Flossmoor's Will Pauling finds a hole against Lincoln-Way East during a game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019.

H-F’s Will Pauling recalls receiving first offer from Cincinnati: ‘I ran up to my mom in the stands and started crying on her shoulder.’

April 28, 2020 at 12:53 p.m.

Homewood-Flosssmoor's Will Pauling was flattered by all the recruiting attention. The junior receiver counted Syracuse, Kent State, Bowling Green and Air Force among 14 Division I offers. Still, it was...

Arizona State guard Alonzo Verge, a Thornton graduate, looks to pass against Washington State during a game on Saturday, March 7, 2020.

Pat Disabato’s list of the 10 best high school boys basketball players from the Southland from 2010 to 2020

April 24, 2020 at 3:29 p.m.

Most every successful coach will tell you it takes elite players to win championships. Take, for instance, Morgan Park in boys basketball. While there's no denying the impact coach Nick...

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