Baseball and Softball Wrap | Sandburg trying to find footing as season hits halfway mark

By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer

The Sandburg softball team dropped 10 of its first 13 games to open the season, but the Eagles record heading into this week was not indicative of how well they have played at times.

Their three wins during that stretch were each by 10 or more runs, beating Lyons, 11-1, Plainfield Central, 17-5, and Stagg, 11-1.

Six of the 10 losses were each by three or fewer runs, so they had either won or have been within striking distance of winning in nine of the 13 games.

Still, the losses have mounted, and coach Lauren Meister is trying to maintain a positive attitude.

“Our record is what it is and it’s obviously not a record Sandburg is used to,” she said. “I played at Downers Grove South and I’m used to other records.

“But the only record that matters is the record in the playoffs.”

There is a mixture of youth and experience in the lineup.

In a 5-4, eight-inning home loss to Homewood-Flossmoor to kick off the SouthWest Suburban Conference Blue season on April 18, freshmen twins Zoe Trunk (shortstop) and Olivia Trunk (third base) comprised half the Eagles’ infield. Sophomore pitcher Haley Tracy picked up an inning of relief.

Senior Zoe Jeanes had three hits and three RBI, including a two-run homer in the first inning.

Come the postseason, the Eagles will likely not get a desirable seed, but might be a dangerous team to contend with.

“We’re putting up big numbers — we put up eight runs against Lincoln-Way West and we put up six runs against Bradley,” Meister said. “We’re going to continually compete and people cannot underestimate us.”

Look who’s talking
St. Rita junior catcher Sir Jamison Jones was chosen as the keynote speaker for the Chicago White Sox Amateur City Elite program’s gala on April 19 at Navy Pier. The gala, called Beyond the Diamond, also featured a talk from White Sox manager Pedro Grifol.

Crazy way to get to 100
Brother Rice’s 14-13 win over Montini on April 19 was the 100^th career victory for coach Sean McBride.

It wasn’t a typical win.

The game started on April 12 and was suspended in the top of the seventh because of darkness, with Brother Rice leading 14-13 and Montini having the bases loaded and two out. The Crusaders got out of the jam a week later and McBride picked up his milestone victory.

Hall of Famers
Former Nazareth baseball coach John Sime has been named to the school’s athletic hall of fame and will be honored at 10 a.m. on April 30 at Alexine Chapel on the campus. Sime will be joined by former All-State baseball player Ryan Powers, who also played at Miami (Ohio) and pitched in the Chicago White Sox organization.

Wild weekend for Cougars
The Saint Xavier baseball team evened its record to 22-22 with three blowout weekend victories over Trinity International University in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.

The Cougars won 18-6 on April 21 and 11-1 and 21-7 on April 22 to improve to 14-8 in the league.

Joe Rycerz and Darren Zarrillo each drove in three runs in the April 21 contest.

In the opener of the doubleheader, Declan Smyth, Sam Ryan and Darren Zarrillo each drove in a pair of runs. In the nightcap, Daniel Barrios had two homers and drove in seven runs.