Articles filed under Fitzpatrick, Jerry

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Just another step toward ultimate goal for Jacobs Jun 1, 2013 12:00 AM
The Jacobs baseball players considered Saturday's 9-0 sectional championship victory the halfway point. For District 300 rival Dundee-Crown, it was the anticlimactic end of a magical postseason run. “Our outcome goals were to win a regional, then a sectional, then a supersectional, then state,” Jacobs senior catcher Greg Sidor said. “We've got two of them knocked off. Now we're trying for the next two. I don't know that I've completely wrapped my mind around that yet, but it seems pretty realistic right now.” Championship aspirations tend to become more realistic once a team draws within three victories of winning a state title as the surging Golden Eagles have. A program that never previously won 20 games or a regional title now has 25 wins and a shiny new sectional plaque to bookend the regional plaque it won last Saturday.
Jacobs vs. Dundee-Crown makes it a special Saturday May 31, 2013 12:00 AM
Nobody saw an all-District 300 sectional title game between rivals Jacobs and Dundee-Crown coming, which is why Saturday morning’s 10 a.m. baseball game at Huntley High School is so intriguing. Jacobs (24-11) was a bona fide threat to reach the Sweet 16 all along. The Golden Eagles jelled late last season as new coach Jamie Murray blended a talented junior class with some key senior contributors. Though they lost 3-2 to Crystal Lake South in an intense regional title game last May, forward momentum had clearly been gained. Jacobs went 25-4 in summer-league play, culminating in a state semifinal appearance at the Phil Lawler Classic. The 2013 spring season couldn’t arrive fast enough. The Golden Eagles lost a talented, veteran shortstop right before the season started for off-the-field reasons, but they persevered and won 20 games for the first time. They subsequently claimed the first regional championship in the program’s 37-year history by scoring 17 runs on 25 hits in wins against CL South and Barrington.
Huntley hoping pitching precedent can repeat itself Mar 21, 2013 12:00 AM
The Huntley baseball team is aiming for a big season with three Division-I hitters in the lineup, but the underlying question is whether the Red Raiders can adequately replace the five pitchers responsible for all 21 victories in 2012. Massive graduation losses to a pitching staff rarely correlate to success the following year. Unless you're Huntley, which bucked conventional wisdom in 2010 by excelling in that very situation.
The good news is, Larkin has much to look forward to Mar 6, 2013 12:00 AM
It was as uncharacteristic as it was unsatisfying for the Larkin Royals. Mistakes, highlighted by 21 turnovers, led to Larkin's downfall in a 71-63 loss to Rockford Jefferson in a Class 4A DeKalb sectional semifinal Wednesday, thereby ending the program's best season since 2006. "The turnovers were extremely disappointing," Larkin coach Deryn Carter said. "We've got too good a group of guards for that ... I just don't think tonight was our night." It wasn't as though the Royals (23-6) were blown away by the J-Hawks (20-12). In fact, Larkin was still within a point of the lead after Quantice Hunter split 2 free throws with 2:46 left in the game. Simply put, Jefferson was better in the post, stronger on the perimeter, and flat-out better down the stretch. Jefferson big men Jared Mayes and Antoine Pittman combined for 43 points. It was a tough pill to swallow for Larkin. Though the Royals hadn't been this far since the days of Dayvon Ellis and Carliss Henderson seven years ago, they weren't quite ready for this ride to end, particularly senior starters Quantice Hunter and Quentin Ruff, team leaders who helped restore basketball pride to Elgin's west side.
ECC team to give odds-beater Erickson a special day Jan 24, 2013 12:00 AM
Matthew Donald Erickson has two siblings already, but he’ll gain 14 new big brothers when he is “adopted” by the Elgin Community College men’s basketball team in what promises to be a heartwarming gathering Saturday at 11 a.m. Such moments of joy are welcome for Huntley parents Ben and Sue Erickson, whose son has spent the first 13 months of his life battling a rare form of brain cancer rarely diagnosed in infants. Ben and Sue learned something wasn’t quite right shortly before Thanksgiving 2011. An ultrasound revealed Matthew would be born with hydrocephalus, an excess of cerebral fluid. The Ericksons’ third child was born on Dec. 11. Four days later he endured a procedure to relieve pressure on the brain caused by the fluid.
Plenty of fun in the forecast for Fox Valley teams Jan 3, 2013 12:00 AM
If the first two months are any barometer, Fox Valley area fans should brace for a thrilling second half of the high school boys basketball season.
Cary-Grove showed its heart right to the very end Nov 24, 2012 12:00 AM
Cary-Grove did not win the Class 6A state title Saturday, but the Trojans fell while demonstrating the same brand of never-quit, tenacious football that landed them in the championship game in the first place, pushing until the very end of a 33-26 loss to Crete-Monee. Admittedly, a bit of wind went out of Cary-Grove's sails once the Warriors recovered an errant pitch at the Trojans' 5-yard line and scored to take a commanding 33-16 lead with 2:51 left in the third quarter. Each Trojan had a choice to make at that point: succumb or resist. Anyone who pays attention to the manner in which this football program has operated for the last decade knows there was really no choice at all.
From ’09 to ’12 — it’s been a long wait for Cary-Grove Nov 17, 2012 12:00 AM
Cary-Grove seniors Kyle Norberg, Ryan Mahoney, Zach Marszal, Patrick O’Malley and Quinn Baker vividly remember what it was like when the Trojans won the Class 6A state title in Champaign three years ago because they were on the sidelines. Wide-eyed freshmen then, those five joined the varsity for the 2009 playoffs, practicing daily alongside their idols like quarterback Tyler Krebs, fullback Eric Chandler, running back Alex Hembrey, safety/receiver Chad McCarron and linebacker Nick Underwood, among others. Norberg actually played a bit on defense in every ‘09 playoff contest except one: the state championship game. That blank in his ever-expanding resume will soon be filled, thanks to Cary-Grove’s 42-21 semifinal victory over host Lake Forest on Saturday.
All grown up now, three stars ready to shine Nov 15, 2012 12:00 AM
Three longtime friends could have a big say in which boys basketball team reigns supreme within the Upstate Eight Conference this season. Not only are talented seniors Lance Whitaker of Bartlett, Kendall Stephens of St. Charles East and Arie Williams of Elgin the dominant players on their respective teams entering the 2012-13 campaign, they rank among the most talented players in the suburbs.
Flexible Cary-Grove defense comes up big Nov 10, 2012 12:00 AM
Cary-Grove's explosive offense has rightfully commanded headlines this season, but the credit for the Trojans' 7-0 victory over Crystal Lake Central in Saturday's Class 6A quarterfinal lies squarely with the defense. A unit that opened the season with a ton of question marks punctuated one of the most important playoff victories in school history by turning the CL Central offense away four times in Cary-Grove territory, including twice in the game's final five minutes.
Cary-Grove’s ‘O’ line gets the job done Nov 8, 2012 12:00 AM
Don't judge Cary-Grove's offensive linemen unless you've blocked 2.13 miles in their shoes. That is the distance senior linemen Kyle Matthiesen (6-foot-3, 212 pounds), Greer Bozeman (5-11, 195) and Gunnar Halverson (6-1, 213) and sophomores Michael Gomez (5-11, 273) and Trevor Ruhland (6-4, 268) have helped Cary-Grove ball carriers cover thus far.
Bartlett’s Krause: It was a miracle Nov 1, 2012 12:00 AM
Bartlett cornerback Zach Nicholson feared he had just watched his best friend and teammate, Kevin Krause, die in a rollover automobile accident. It was late afternoon on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Hawks had polished off Lake Park an hour earlier in the warm Autumn sunshine to win their homecoming game 21-13. It was time to head home and get spiffed up for the ensuing dance. The two were in great moods, happy as high school seniors can be as they left the school parking lot in separate vehicles. As they turned left from Schick Road onto Bartlett Road., Nicholson was directly behind the 2002 Chevy Blazer driven by Krause, a starting middle linebacker.
There’s plenty at stake for Jacobs, Dundee-Crown Oct 17, 2012 12:00 AM
Unlike recent football games between District 300 rivals Jacobs and Dundee-Crown that have lacked intrigue, Friday's meeting at the D-C Bowl bursts with compelling storylines. Jacobs enters the game with a 4-4 record and 37 playoff points. The Golden Eagles are guaranteed 2 more points and will likely finish with 41 or 42, which should be enough to secure one of the remaining 92 berths in the 256-team playoff field if they win. The playoff-point threshold last season was 40, the highest total in a decade. It was 39 in 2010. So Jacobs' mission objective is clear: win and get into the postseason.
Seaburg has Cary-Grove back in familiar position Oct 10, 2012 12:00 AM
The title picture in the Fox Valley Conference’s Valley Division has taken on a familiar blue tint. Cary-Grove won FVC titles every fall between 2004-09 under hall of famer Bruce Kay, who retired after the 2010 season. After a two-campaign title drought, second-year coach Brad Seaburg and his staff have the Trojans undefeated (7-0, 4-0) and zeroed in on a return to the FVC Valley throne.
Bartlett’s Hrbacek finds a way to battle back Oct 3, 2012 12:00 AM
Bartlett quarterback and kicker Steve Hrbacek refused to miss the remainder of his senior season due to a broken collarbone. A 17-year old Bartlett resident, Hrbacek suffered the injury on Bartlett’s fourth play from scrimmage in the season opener against Wheaton North. A plate was installed to strengthen the healing clavicle, which the Hrbaceks were told by their doctor would take eight weeks to heal fully, Steve said Wednesday.
Dundee-Crown at Huntley has meaning? You bet it does Sep 19, 2012 12:00 AM
If a year ago someone had predicted one of the most important matchups of the 2012 Fox Valley Conference Valley Division season would take place in Week 5 between Dundee-Crown and Huntley, such a person would have been advised not to operate heavy machinery. At this time last year, Dundee-Crown was struggling its way through a second straight 0-9 season with a sophomore-dominated lineup. The Chargers would finish last in the seven-team FVC Valley.
Elgin-Larkin back where it should be — on Friday night Sep 5, 2012 12:00 AM
For the first time in 10 years, the Town Jug rivalry football game between Elgin and Larkin will be played where it belongs: under Friday night lights. The last time the Maroons and Royals met in a night game was Sept. 13, 2002. Due to off-field security concerns that evening, the following year's game was moved to Saturday afternoon. It remained that way through 2011. The schools mutually agreed last spring to return the game to Friday.
Elgin CC baseball coach Angelo gets win No. 500 Apr 14, 2012 12:00 AM
Building a winning tradition where previously there was none is one of the toughest tasks in sports, but Elgin Community College baseball coach Bill Angelo continues to make commonplace what once seemed unlikely. Angelo picked up career victory No. 500 Saturday afternoon when the Spartans drilled Morton 12-1 in six innings. ECC won the second game 4-3 to improve their coachs career record to 501-314, a healthy winning percentage of .614.
BBCOR era will make baseball a different game Mar 22, 2012 12:00 AM
Two weeks into the BBCOR bat era and high school baseball coaches are adjusting to the change. For the casual fan not keeping track of these things, high school baseball players are using a new type of artificial bat this season, one designed to lessen the trampoline effect the "old" bats had on the baseball. I won't get into the scientific details, other than to say BBCOR stands for Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution. Just know the new bats act a lot more like wood than any produced in at least a decade.
A look back at the spills, thrills of another season Mar 13, 2012 12:00 AM
Fox Valley area teams produced plenty of thrills during the boys basketball season, but none produced a sectional championship. Rockford Auburn and point guard Fred Van Vleet saw to that for the second straight year. You have to tip your hat to the Wichita State-bound guard. Hes a special player. Elgin (26-4) defended as well as any team in the very tough Upstate Eight Conference this season, but Van Vleet looked smooth in putting up 32 points in a 67-56 sectional title game win.