Palatine's Parrott gets pro-active with Appalachian State choice

She will be a junior on this year's Palatine softball team.

But Emily Parrott already has the burden of choosing her college off her shoulders.

Parrott has made a verbal commitment to play at Appalachian State in Rivers St. Boone, N.C.

"It felt like home," she said. "Once I stepped on the campus, I knew that it was different from every other school I had visited or attended camps at. Coach (Shelly) Hoerner, coach (Alex) Hupp, and coach (Shane) Showalter were so welcoming and made me feel at home."

Hoerner, who won her 500th game as Georgia Tech's coach in 2016, was named the Mountaineers' coach last July. She has a career mark of 538-451 in 19 seasons.

Parrott had an unofficial visit in December and then went back in January for a softball camp.

"My original plan had been to go down south and play where it was warm and I am going south," she sad. "But it's in the mountains and they do get snow."

Parrott plans on an exercise science major and focusing on pre-physical therapy or sports medicine.

Longtime followers of area softball will remember her mother Tammy Hanke, a standout infielder for Arlington High School (which went downstate in 1984) and Prospect High School.

"My mom was the main reason I started playing," Emily said. "She played softball at Lake Forest College and I wanted to be just like her. My mom, dad, and sister have been my biggest supporters and have always encouraged me."

"They have spent many long days in the summer and fall at the softball field watching and supporting me, and traveling all across the country with me and my travel teams. They have been by my side through it all."

Emily has loved playing the game since day one in the first grade.

"I was a little kid and knew that I wanted to continue playing as long as I could and at a high level," she said. "App State is in the Sun Belt, which is a really good conference for softball.

"The softball team and coaches have been amazing," she said.

But she is just as excited for her next two seasons playing for coach Nicole Capalbo and the Pirates.

"Emily is one of the most athletic players that I have coached and her speed and agility is highlighted in her play at shortstop," Capalbo said. "Her hand-eye coordination and ability to adjust to any game situation has allowed her to be the starting shortstop and bat in the top of our line up since her freshman year."

Capalbo calls Parrott a strong leader on and off the field.

"Her hard work during the off-season pays off with her accomplishments during our spring season," the coach said. " Emily is an essential part of our team's success and I'm thrilled to still have two seasons left with her in a Palatine jersey.

"I'm excited for Emily and her family - she will be a great addition to Appalachian State University. I can't wait to see her compete and achieve at the next level."

Parrott is just as excited for her next two seasons under Capalbo.

"I am really excited for our upcoming high school season," she aid. "We have a lot of potential this year. If we work hard and believe in ourselves, there is no telling what we can accomplish."

Goldsberry to Michigan

Hersey senior quarterback Owen Goldsberry has committed to play at Michigan. The MSL East offensive player of the year was 81-for-138 passing for 1,339 yards for 12 touchdowns. He also generated 19 rushing touchdowns and ran for 1,126 yards on 169 carries. "Owen has been a tremendous leader in our program," Hersey coach Joe Pardun said after the season. "He was the definition of consistency with his play. Behind all of his statistics and playmaking ability is a true competitor who understands what it means to prepare."

Niro III to Northwestern

Barrington senior quarterback Ray Niro III is committed to play for Northwestern University. He was 100-of-150 for 1,565 yards and 12 touchdowns passing and ran 190 times for 2,023 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also caught a touchdown pass and had a 36.3 punting average. "Ray is one of the most dynamic players I have been around in 22 years of coaching," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez after the season. "Every time he had the ball, you always held your breath because you might see something that has never been done before."

Baseball

Notre Dame freshman Cole Kmet (St. Viator) made an impressive start to his career. He pitched the final 4 innings to pick up a save in his first appearance as the Irish won 10-5 over ninth-ranked Lousiana State. The 2017 Daily Herald all-area honorary captain did not allow a run and struck out three while surrendering just 1 hit.

Kmet also appeared in all 13 of Notre Dame's football games last year.

Softball

Illinois State junior Shannon Felde (Schaumburg) had the lowest ERA (2.62) on the Redbirds staff after four games. The Redbirds' leadoff batter also belted 2 home runs in the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, AZ.

TEAMMSL basketball

Teammsl basketball is back with two sessions in March and May.

The mission of the organization is to teach players proper fundamentals and improve their athleticism, increasing each players' chances of making their junior high, feeder or high school team. Teammsl focuses on individual player development.

The boys spring league is for grades two to nine and has three divisions based on age and ability. Session I is March 5 to March 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Session II is May 3 to May 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cost $265

The girls spring league is also for grades two to nine with three divisions based on age and ability.

Dates are April 17 and 24 and May 1, 8 and 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Saint Nectarios Gym in Palatine. Cost is $175

The camps, run by local, current or former high school coaches, sold out last year. So you are asked to register soon to guarantee participation. For more information: wwww.Teammsl.com

Women's basketball

Saint Louis University senior point guard Jackie Kemph (Rolling Meadows) is one of 10 NCAA Division I women's basketball student-athletes selected as finalists for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

Kemph is an integral part of the team's extensive community-service outreach progream. She has served as a mentor at Bryan Hill Elementary - the team's "adopted" school - and in the local Girls on the Run program. She has visited patients and families at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and Ronald McDonald House in addition to playing and interacting with children in St. Louis' Special Needs Soccer Association. Kemph also has helped make blankets, written notes for local hospice patients and helped local residents with gardening as part of SLU's Make A Difference Day.

Kemph already has earned a bachelor's degree in accounting, graduating summa cum laude with a 3.90 grade-point average, and is pursuing a master's degree in accounting. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection as a sophomore, an A-10 All-Academic choice as a sophomore and junior, and a member of the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her first seven semesters. Kemph is a member of the national leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa and the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma. She received a John Cook School of Business Excellence Award last spring.

This season, Kemph was named to the Naismith Trophy and Nancy Lieberman Award (best point guard) watch lists for a second consecutive year. She is one of only six players in Division I women's basketball history to hold her school's career records for both points and assists, achieving the points mark Dec. 31 after securing the assists record during her junior season.

• Ashley Shapiro (Palatine) is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds a game for Harper College while Angelina Villasin (Prospect) is at 18 points a game and 2.8 steals per game.

Men's track

Augustana senior Josh Yamamoto (Fremd) was part of the 4x200 relay team that placed second in 1:30.31 at the Spartan Invitational in Dubuque. The Vikings took third behind Wisconsin-Platteville and Dubuque.

Yamamoto also ran on the 4x400 unit which was second in 3:19.63. Classmate Evan Murphy (Buffalo Grove) was sixth in the long jump with a leap of 21-0½.

Women's lacrosse

Augustana junior midfielder Emily Lucnik (Schaumburg) has been named co-captain for this year's team. She has been a major contributor as the Vikings compiled a 29-10 overall record and a 12-0 mark in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin over the past two seasons.

She helped Augustana win league titles in both 2016 and 2017 and a subsequent NCAA bid that goes with it in 2016 when she was a freshman.

Lucnik has played in 28 games in her career, totaling 14 goals with 4 assists, 30 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers. She also has won 11 draw controls. The secondary education major was also an academic all-conference selection in both 2016 and 2017.

• Email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.