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Keegan, Walker hit it big in collegiate softball

Former Elk Grove standout Megan Keegan closed out her softball career at North Dakota State by earning All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades this spring.

Keegan finished her senior season by recording a three-game home run streak in the final weekend of play.

She posted career highs in almost every offensive category this season: batting average (. 267), runs (19), hits (31), home runs (8), RBI (26), slugging percentage (. 509), on-base percentage (.396) and total bases (59). Her .509 slugging percentage, eight home runs and 26 RBI were also team highs this season.

Walker recognized

Last year's Daily Herald all-area honorary captain Elaine Walker (Schaumburg) sure caught on at the collegiate level as well.

The Aurora University freshman catcher received a top honor from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She was named a 2016 Louisville Slugger/NFCA first-team all-American.

Walker wrapped up her first season with a team-leading .470 batting average, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs, 39 RBI and 32 runs.

She added a .711 slugging percentage and .497 on-base percentage.

In addition to her all-American selection, Walker was named a NFCA Great Lakes region First-Team All-Region performer, the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Position Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference,

Aurora finished with a 32-14 record and was the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference regular season champion.

Reibel honored

Prospect graduate and former Harper College standout basketball player Bradley Reibel received the highest honor an athlete can obtain at Eckerd College.

He was selected as a James R. Harley Award winner at the second annual ECSPY Awards.

The James R. Harley Award is annually presented to the male and female student-athlete that has demonstrated leadership and excellence in the classroom, on the field of competition and in their community.

Reibel, Prospect's 2012 Athlete of the Year, was a key component off the bench for a Triton basketball team that claimed both the regular season and tournament conference championships.

The senior from Arlington Heights shot 39.1 percent from 3-point range and scored a career-high 15 points against Palm Beach Atlantic on Jan. 23.

Riebel's basketball team was also recognized for it NCAA South Region Tournament berth.

The team also received recognition for claiming the Sunshine State Conference regular season and tournament championships.

Women's track

Marquette freshman Catherine Sherwood (Prospect) was named All Big East after finishing second in the heptathlon at the Big East Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Geneva, Ohio.

The Marquette women won the outdoor Big East track & field championship and the indoor Big East track & field championship in February in Staten Island, N.Y.

• Buffalo Grove graduate Ashley Geddling, a former state qualifier in track and field for the Bison, is now in her fourth season as the head track and field coach at Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, Kent.

This season, she has four state qualifiers in four events including the 100 meter dash, 200 dash, 400 dash and girl's 4x100 relay. Jeffersontown is hoping to place in each of the four events.

Softball

Illinois Wesleyan freshman Julie Josten (Fremd) went 4-for-10 when the Titans won their supersectional against Luther College.

The postseason run ended with a 3-1 loss to Rowan University in the second round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championships at James Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va.

The Titans finished in seventh place in the national championships with a final record of 35-13 while Rowan advanced with a 40-10 record.

Josten had a single in the inning when Wesleyan scored its only run against Rowan.

For the season, Josten led the Titans with 8 homers. She batted .309 with 43 hits, 22 RBI and 23 doubles.

Baseball

Concordia-Chicago University sophomore Joe Silva (Hersey) earned first team All-Midwest Region honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3Baseball.com.

Silva batted .366 in 45 games with 45 runs scored and 31 RBI while leading the team in steals (27) and walks (31).

Seventeen of his 60 hits went for extra bases including 3 home runs as he recorded a .518 slugging percentage.

"Joe is a real driving force and a top table-setter for a lot of what we do on offense," said Concordia head coach Mike Stawski on the school's website. "He is an excellent baseball player in the sense of everything that those two words include, and we're excited to have him for two more years."

• Lewis senior Kurt Becker (Palatine) was the third-leading hitter for the 26-21 Flyers this season with a .362 batting average.

Becker collected 59 hits, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs, 35 runs and 31 RBI.

• Missouri Valley College baseball senior Andrew Skinnerhy, who played at Harper College, was chosen as a first team member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference All-Conference baseball team.

Skinner finished the season with a .335 batting average. He led the team in slugging (.635 percentage), doubles (13), triples (2) and home runs (11).

Skinner also led the conference in RBI (68) and RBI per game (1.33). This was the second all-conference honor for Skinner. He was a second-team selection last spring.

Handball

University of Virginia sophomore Austin Madrzyk, a former all-conference basketball player and team captain at Barrington High School, led the UVA Team Handball club to a fifth-place finish at the National Collegiate championships at the University of North Carolina.

He was also selected to participate in the all star game at that event.

This spring and summer, Madrzyk has been invited to train with the USA National Team at Auburn University.

Boys lacrosse

The Mid-Suburban League all-conference list was recently announced.

First team attack: senior Peter Fritz (Hoffman Estates), senior Anthony Johlie (Palatine), senior Tyler Klima (Schaumburg).

First team defense: junior Matthew Eaker (Schaumburg), senior William Pankratz (Fremd), senior Tim Saubert (Hoffman Estates) 2016.

First team goalie: senior William Murphy (Schaumburg).

First team LS midfield: sophomore Kristopher Casey (Barrington)

First team midfield: junior Michael Anzelmo (Schaumburg), senior Riley Mahon (Fremd), senior Mitchell Stathakis (Barrington).

Second team attack: senior Mark Danelz (Barrington), senior Michael Regan (Barrington), junior Michael Rizzo (Conant).

Second team defense: junior Kevin Kubinski (Schaumburg), senior Trevor Razo (Fremd), senior Sean Yates (Schaumburg).

Second team goalie: senior Garrison Rose (Conant).

Second team LS midfield: junior Nick French (Barrington).

Second team midfield: junior Austin Anzelmo (Schaumburg), senior Nick Divizio (Fremd), senior Keegan Pierce (Hoffman Estates) 2016.

• St. Viator entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the IHSLA Class A bracket behind Loyola and New Trier.

The Lions won their first game 12-4 over the Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley co-op team.

In the second round, the Lins defeated Glenbard West 11-6

Making a sixth consecutive appearance in the quarterfinals, St. Viator edged Libertville 9-8.

The No. 3 seeded Lions will make an appearance in the semifinals for the second year in a row and fourth time since 2011 when they play No. 2 New Trier on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

The other semifinal features top-seeded Loyola Academy vs. No. 5 Grayslake North.

Thus far in playoff action, Matt Atchison has 14 points followed by Jake Stepuszek (10), Charlie Hildestad (8), Mike Carens (6), Andrew Johnson (5), Pat Murphy (4) and James Caruso (4).

The Lions' regular season included a thrilling 9-8 win over a Grayslake North, as well as wins against New Trier, Lake Forest and Libertyville. The Lions also defeated Barrington 14-4.

St. Viator went undefeated in the East Suburban Catholic Conference with seven all-conference selections.

LSM Kevin Murphy was the repeat winner of the ESCC Player of the Year.

The Lions had two first-team all state players: (Patrick Murphy who is a Denison recruit) and Peter Schmidt (goalie and 2x captain).

Murphy a second team all-state selection for the second consecutive year.

Assistant coach Sam Story was voted by peers as the IHSLA Assistant Coach of the Year.

The Lions went 3-2 in competition with out-of-state teams from Oregon, Denver, Indianapolis, Virginia and Missouri.

The Lions set a regular-season record for wins.

The senior class (10 players) is the first group of players produced by the 'junior lions' feeder team.

"That organization has since grown exponentially so we anticipate our program to grow from 59 players to close to 90 within two years," said Lion coach Bill Sanford. "These seniors are the heart and soul of our team."

That senior group includes Jake Stepuszek (basketball team co-MVP), Kevin Murphy (NCAA power Salisbury recruit), Pete Schmidt, James Caruso, Joe Hynes, Nick Stodola, Pat Murphy, Mike Carens, Leo Sopikiotis and Mike Truppa.

Fremd camps

Fremd High School is proud to present its sixth annual youth multisports camp.

In unison with Inverness Park District, Fremd coaches Jim Weaver, Dave Yates, Steve Keller and Jason Jetel give instruction in their respective sports over eight days to boys and girls entering first through fourth grades. The goal is to give a strong basis in fundamental skills in a fun training environment. All ability levels are welcome.

The camp runs Monday through Thursday during June 13-16 and June 20-23.

Campers may choose all three camps: basketball, baseball/softball, and soccer or sign up for individual camps. For more information please email Dave Yates dyates@d211.org.

• Fremd girls basketball will be running two basketball camps this summer.

The girls basketball camp for grades fifth through eighths will take place June 13-23 (Monday-Thursday) at Fremd High School.

Join coach Dave Yates, Fremd girls basketball coach, seven-time Mid-Suburban League West 'Coach of the Year' and former Arizona boys high school basketball 'Coach of the Year' to improve your basketball skills.

The camp will develop fundamentals through instruction, drills and scrimmages.

Camps are open to all students regardless of ability level.

Please contact Dave Yates for more information: dyates@d211.org

• Fremd basketball coaches Bob Widlowski and Dave Yates will be hosting the 10th annual shooting camp for Grades fourth through eighth at Fremd High School.

The camp will take place July 11-21 (Monday-Thursday). It is open to any player who wants to become a better shooter.

The following topics will be taught: proper footwork, proper form, developing a quick release, developing better accuracy, shooting off the pass, shooting off the dribble while learning different shooting workouts and drills.

The skills will be taught in both group and individual instructional settings. Campers will be broken into two groups: advanced and beginners. Please contact Dave Yates for more information: dyates@d211.org

• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com

  St. Charles North's Abby Howlett meets Schaumburg catcher Elaine Walker at home plate last spring. Walker excelled as a freshman this season at Aurora University. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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