Signing Day: Eight is Great Recruiting Haul for L-W North

Eight Lincoln-Way North student-athletes announced their college plans during a signing-day ceremony Wednesday at school.

The number eight was great for Lincoln-Way North. That's because eight Lincoln-Way North student-athletes announced their college plans during a signing-day ceremony Wednesday at school. 1. Jillian Galich (softball), George Washington University. 2. Ashley Weringa (basketball), Ashford University. 3. Jake Pearson (swimming), Oakland University (Mich.). 4. Jackie Billie (volleyball), St. Edwards Universty (Texas). 5. Mike Miller (baseball), Southern Illinois University. 6. Kevin Smith (baseball), Creighton University. 7. Josh Handzik (baseball), St. Joseph's College (Ind.) 8. Alyssa Lombardi (equestrian team), Kansas State University. Get News Alerts and Facebook Updates From These Patch Sites:

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

UPDATE: Oak Forest's Skirha Gets the Biggest Roar from the Crowd

Oak Forest softball standout Jourdan Skirha came up big n the Bengals' drive to win the South Suburban Blue championship. She also came up big in Patch's MVP ballot, outpolling 10 others to become eligible for May Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

•  14 Comments
• Photos (12)

The Sports Report

L-W North Pitching Standout Miller Throws the Book at Baseball Opponents

Lincoln-Way North junior right-hander Mike Miller used a slider, curve and changeup to keep Andrew's hitters from digging in at the plate in the 6-3 victory Wednesday in Frankfort. He pushed his record to 7-0.

Mike Miller has been sharper. Rarely has he been more effective. Miller, a junior right-hander, scattered six hits over seven innings in Lincoln-Way North’s 6-3 baseball victory over Andrew on Wednesday afternoon in Frankfort. He struck out nine as the Phoenix (25-5, 11-0) moved a full game ahead of the Thunderbolts in the chase for the Southwest Suburban Red Conference championship. He used a slider, curve and changeup to keep the Thunderbolts from digging in at the plate. And he pitched out of a couple of tense situations with the game on the line. Andrew (20-8, 10-1) took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. The T-Bolts pushed across a pair of runs on an RBI double by Steve Carrabotta and a run-scoring single by Pat Elget. Elget’s hit …

• Photos (3)

L-W North Baseball's Neufeld Cut from a Fine Mold

Lincoln-Way North junior right fielder Alex Neufeld is following in the footsteps of his older brother and helping the Phoenix make some more noise on the baseball diamond this spring.

He wears the No. 2 on the back of his jersey. He batted in the No. 2 slot in the lineup for the first time in Lincoln-Way North’s 10-0 five-inning baseball victory over Stagg on Thursday in Frankfort. And he emerged as the No. 1 pest for the Chargers. Lincoln-Way North junior right fielder Alex Neufeld connected for three hits and drove in three runs as the Phoenix offense continued to light up the scoreboard. He also walked, scored three runs and was part of a successful delayed double-steal play that ended with teammate Corey Krupske sliding in under the tag at home plate. Neufeld is listed at 5-6 and 130 on the Lincoln-Way North roster. He is just now beginning to put on a little muscle and grow into his body. He has some speed and some…

• Photos (2)

Baseball: McCabe, Lincoln-Way North Blank Stagg

Lincoln-Way North 10, Stagg 0 (5 innings): Phoenix junior right-hander Jake McCabe tossed a two-hit shutout. Alex Neufeld added three hits and three RBIs.

Touching All the Bases: Jake McCabe’s new teammates were singing his praises long before he threw a two-hit shutout in Lincoln-Way North’s 10-0 five-inning baseball victory over Stagg Thursday in Frankfort. Phoenix coach Joe Skarbek first caught wind of the chatter during the off-season after McCabe’s family moved from Matteson and he enrolled at Lincoln-Way North. Skarbek’s reaction? “We’ll see.” Skarbek has become a more and more of a believer each time McCabe takes the mound. McCabe threw strikes and limited the Chargers to two singles—one by Mike Farnan and the other by Brian Valcarcel—on a day when the wind shifted just before the opening pitch and the temperature tumbled. In between, he retired 11 batters in a row. The Phoenix backed…

• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)

Gimme 5: L-W North Baseball Hero Lives Up to His Name

Reed Hero was named MVP of the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA) Phil Lawler Summer Classic tournament.

Lincoln-Way North baseball coach Joe Skarbek knew junior Reed Hero was something special. He knew it this spring but elected to have Hero play with his longtime friends on the sophomore team. He also had a quiet leader to play in senior Brandon Collins at first base. Skarbek also knew about Hero well before this spring. "We've watched him since he was in fifth grade because we have camps, and we've loved him at the camps because he's a great guy that loves to have fun and joke around," Skarbek said. "What a great swing he has and a great feel for the game. Just watch him run the bases. He's so intuitive. I was really happy that he won that individual award." The IHSBCA championship wasn't anything really new for Hero, who helped his Summit…

•  1 Comment
• Videos (1)

Local Sports Notebook

Lincoln-Way North’s Juniors Reacquainted With Baseball Championship

Deja vu all over again: Phoenix juniors also won state baseball title as eighth-graders at Summit Hill.

When the Lincoln-Way North baseball team posted a 30-4 record last spring, the sophomores also were busy playing a full season at their own level, preparing for what would lie ahead at the varsity level the following year. Those sophomores became juniors over the summer season, playing for the Phoenix during the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Phil Lawler Summer Classic. With the majority of the starters from the 30-4 team lost to graduation, plenty of newcomers were given an opportunity to play every day. They certainly made the most of the opportunity, helping lead the Phoenix to a championship. While playing on the summer’s biggest high school stage could’ve been nerve-wracking for most, the Phoenix played like they …

• Photos (1)

Patch Weekly Sportscast: L-W North Baseball, Oak Forest's Sox Connection, Richards Football Line Coach & More

A look at some of the sports stories that made headlines during the past week in our South Chicago region.

Lincoln-Way North's ride to the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association summer state championship was a wild one. The title game was delayed by lightning. Then, the Phoenix brought some thunder from their bats in an 8-5 victory over Prairie Ridge. Oak Forest native Jason Frasor was dealt to the White Sox in a three-team trade that puts him in the thick of the Central Division race, not to mention in a spot that he calls home. Tony Pape played high school ball at Hinsdale South and went on to earn all-Big Ten football honors at Michigan. Later, he played professionally in Europe. Now, he's coaching the offensive line at Richards and working to pass on his old trade. Some of the future stars at the British Soccer Camp in Frankfort were of the …

• Videos (1)

L-W North, Providence Learning a Lot About Their Rosters in Summer Ball

The two powerful baseball programs appear ready to fill the void caused by graduation with plenty of talented juniors and seniors.

There were a lot of people who were hoping for a matchup between Providence Catholic and Lincoln-Way North during this past spring’s IHSA Class 4A finals weekend. Both teams had outstanding spring seasons, with Providence finishing as the state runner-up and Lincoln-Way North winning a regional title and posting a remarkable 30-4 record before getting upended by Lincoln-Way East in a Sandburg Sectional semifinal contest. The teams met Monday night in Frankfort for a second-round game in the 2011 IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic. While the rosters certainly have changed—Providence no longer can pencil Sam Travis in the middle of the lineup and hand the ball to Brandon Magallones or Matt Trowbridge, and Lincoln-Way North no longer can throw…

• Photos (3)
• Videos (1)