Local Sports Notebook

Frankfort’s Bormet Accepts Job Coaching Wrestling at Michigan

Former Providence Catholic standout Sean Bormet led the Celtics to back-to-back state titles in the late '80s. He later went on to become a two-time All-America selection with the Wolverines.

Frankfort native Sean Bormet, who helped Providence Catholic High School win back-to-back dual-team state wrestling titles in 1988 and 1989--the Celtics would add a third straight after he graduated–will join the University of Michigan wrestling program as an assistant coach. Bormet was a two-time Big Ten Champion and NCAA All-American while competing for the Wolverines in the early- to mid-'90s. Lincoln-Way North's Jake Harper impressed a lot of hitters this spring with his dominating efforts on the mound for the Phoenix. He efforts recently were rewarded as he was a Class 4A all-state selection, the lone representative from both Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way East, district rivals that combined to win a pair of regional titles and a …

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L-W North Quick to Put it All Together

Pitching, hitting and fielding: The Phoenix can do it all. And that's the reason they've won 30 games, two straight regional titles.

In just its third year of varsity action, the Lincoln-Way North baseball team has made a name for itself. The Phoenix have won back-to-back regional titles. And they're working on a 30-win season. “It says a whole lot about a team when you can win in different ways,” Lincoln-Way North coach Joe Skarbek said after the Phoenix edged Brother 3-2 on Saturday to win the Homewood-Flossmoor Regional.  “We have won games by scoring 20 runs and by winning 2-0.” The Phoenix regional title win over Brother Rice was one of the close, low-scoring wins. They took advantage of three Crusader errors to score two unearned runs. And that proved to be the difference. “We made way too many mistakes and all of our mistakes cost us,” Crusader coach Dan …

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Baseball: L-W North Clips Brother Rice in Regional Title Game

Lincoln-Way North 3, Brother Rice 2. Three Crusader errors lead to two unearned runs and the Phoenix capitalize to notch their 30th win.

Touching All the Bases: When Lincoln-Way North left-hander Jake Harper takes the mound, the margin for error is slim for opponents. Brother Rice committed too many miscues and it cost the Crusaders in a 3-2 loss on Saturday in the Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional championship game. The Phoenix scored in the bottom of the first thanks to a Crusader error.  After Jack Irace led off  with a single, Stephen Snedden hit a grounder to second that looked routine. But the ball was misplayed. Irace eventually scored on Alex Eaton's groundout. The Phoenix scored their second run in the second inning when Brother Rice shortstop Brian McQuillan misplayed a groundball off the bat of Luke Waldier with two outs and nobody on. Waldier came around to …

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Wetzel Whets Providence Appetite for Postseason Party

Top-ranked Celtics finish regular season with 30 wins. No. 2 L-Way North poised to ride the pitching arm of Jake Harper.

1. Providence (30-3): Thirty wins, 15 good-weather baseball days? Dan Wetzel went 1-for-3 and had four RBIs in the Celtics’ 6-5 victory over Lockport. Next comes postseason play. Providence will face Oswego or Metea Valley at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Benet Regional. Last week: No. 1. 2. Lincoln-Way North (26-3): Phoenix close the regular season with a 14-4 victory over Shepard. Now, they’ll look to ride the pitching arm of Jake Harper in the Class 4A playoffs. North will face Thornwood or Argo at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Homewood-Flossmoor Regional. Last week: No. 2. 3. Sandburg (21-8): Eagles heating up at just the right time. Mike Malfeo went 3-for-4, including a two-run homer, and scored two runs in an 8-5 victory over Hinsdale …

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Providence's Green Machine Producing Runs in Bunches

Top-ranked Celtics score 33 runs in two games; Lincoln-Way North climbs to No. 2 in weekly power rankings thanks to pitching of Jake Harper.

1. Providence (21-3): Green Machine offense fueled by Sam Travis. Who else? Travis had two hits and four RBIs in a 13-3 victory over Mount Carmel. The Celtics scored 33 runs in wins over Plainfield North and the Caravan. Last week: No. 1. 2. Lincoln-Way North (18-3): It’s Harper, but not bizarre. Jake Harper (5-1) is mowing down the opposition. He scattered three hits and struck out seven in the Phoenix’s 15-2 five-inning victory over Andrew. Last week: No. 4. 3. Lincoln-Way East (17-6): You can shop online for a Big Bang Theory Bazinga T-shirt. Or, if you’re a Griffin fan, you can get creative and make a  “Huizinga” replica. Why not? Dan Huizinga went 2-for-3 and blasted a three-run homer in East’s 8-7 victory over Stagg. He drove in four…

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St. Rita Ace Deals Providence Bum Hand

Celtics remain No. 1 in weekly baseball power rankings despite having offense slowed by St. Rita's Eddie DeLaRiva.

1. Providence (17-2): Good or charmed? Eddie DeLaRiva slowed the Celtics’ offense in St. Rita’s 10-3 victory. The matchup was one between two Catholic League Blue powers and a couple of  “A-level” arms. DeLaRiva was touched for 11 hits, but struck out five and ran his record to 9-0. Last week: No. 1. 2. Rich Central (13-1-1): Nick Collins blasted three doubles in the Olympians’ 19-8 victory over rival Bloom. Tyler House went 2-for-3, including a pair of doubles of his own, and drove in three runs. Last week: No. 2. 3. Lincoln-Way East (14-4): Bryan Contley went 2-for-3 and had two RBIs in the Griffins’ 5-3 victory over Joliet West. Contley’s performance served as the capper to a perfect 3-0 week for East. Last week: No. 3. 4. Lincoln-Way …

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Local Sports Notebook

L-W North's Balcerzak Shuts Out L-W Central, Bloom

Phoenix gird for a big girls soccer match against Andrew on Tuesday.

The Lincoln-Way North girls soccer team edged Lincoln-Way Central 1-0, thanks to a Rita Craven goal on Tuesday. Then, on the Thursday, the Phoenix cruised to a 6-0 win over 6-0 Bloom. Goalkeeper Michelle Balcerzak earned shutouts in both victories as the Phoenix improved to 11-4-1. The Lincoln-Way lacrosse team is playing its first varsity season this spring. The teams is made up of players from all four of the Lincoln-Way high schools. The team has had a bit of a rude awakening at the varsity level with a 2-6 record through April 28, but the team has been competitive in most of its contests. Victories for Lincoln-Way include a 16-4 decision against Minooka and a 12-10 victory over Lane Tech. The team has lost several close games, falling …

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Local Sports Notebook

Lincoln-Way East Softball Pulls Off Escape Act to Stay Perfect

Griffins edge Bolingbrook in Thursday thriller to improve to 10-0.

The Lincoln-Way East softball team survived a wild 6-5 contest against Bolingbrook on Thursday to keep its undefeated record intact. The Griffins, who had to rally from a 4-1 deficit in the fifth, improved to 10-0 overall and 1-0 in the SouthWest Suburban Blue. For details on the game, click here. The Lincoln-Way North softball team came up on the short end of a 4-2 loss to Sandburg on Monday. For more, click here. Lincoln-Way East will participate—weather permitting—in Sunday’s inaugural Stevie Challenge at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood. The Griffins will face St. Laurence at 1 p.m. The event is in honor of Stevie Bajenski, a former Mount Carmel student-athlete who died in 2009 as a result of complications from a heart procedure. To …

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Sports Photo Gallery: Battle of Frankfort a North Side Story

Jake Harper of Lincoln-Way North kept the Griffins' bats quite in a recent 9-3 win over Lincoln-Way East.

As crosstown rivalries go, this one is starting to reach the level of Cubs-Sox. Lincoln-Way North exploded for five runs in the second inning of a recent 9-3 baseball victory over Lincoln-Way East. The game matched Frankfort's two district rivals. Jake Harper pitched five innings of one-run ball to spark the Phoenix. Alec Ornelas had two hits and drove in one run to pace the Griffins. Check out the action.

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Providence Braces for a Visit from Old Joe

Ex-Celtic coach Joe Rodeghero and Lemont will take on the top-rated Celtics in a baseball battle on Wednesday in New Lenox.

1. Providence Catholic (0-0): Yep, it must be time to play ball. Providence opens with games against Plainfield East and Joliet Central on Monday and Tuesday. Then, ex-Celtic coach Joe Rodeghero and Lemont come calling on Wednesday. Last week: No. 1. 2. Andrew (0-0): Busy first week. T-Bolts open with games against Kankakee and Minooka on Tuesday and Wednesday, then head to the Lenz Field Invite in Jacksonville on Friday and Saturday. Last week: No. 2. 3. Oak Forest (0-0): Let the countdown begin. Bengals and slugger Tim Barry open with a game at Joliet West on Tuesday—where the wind is known to blow during the springtime. But Barry doesn’t need any help to hit out one out of the ballpark. He needs eight homers to tie an IHSA career mark. …

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