Burlington earns BN-E soccer title
For the third consecutive season, Burlington Central's girls soccer team has earned the Big Northern East Conference title.
As fate would have it, the Rockets had to defeat the only team to deliver them a conference loss in three seasons to acquire the 3-peat, and defeat that team they did.
With a 2-0 shutout over Richmond-Burton, the same score Richmond had beaten BC by earlier this year, Burlington Central is now 12-7-1 overall and finished conference play at 7-1 for championship honors.
Ironically, BC coach Michael Gecan had to thank BNE rival Hampshire, which made the title a possibility earlier in the week when it defeated Richmond 1-0.
"Hampshire made this all possible," said Gecan. "Sure they are our rivals, but we have nothing but respect for them. They are great competitors."
Of course, a fair share of the credit should go to Heather Ferstl who scored both goals of the division-clinching win.
Scoring twice in the first half of play, Ferstl was assisted once by Karly Kuranda and later by Erica Heissler.
"Heather has struggled to shoot all season," said Gecan. "Today, she decided to give it a shot and the goals came. She picked a good time to step up. She looked awesome."
It was no easy feat either.
We have all heard of the Berlin Wall. According to Gecan, Richmond's flat four line is what it refers to as 'The Burton Wall.'
"We beat the Burton Wall today," he said. "The girls deserved it. This was the best game they have played all season."
Girls soccer
Lake Park 4, Dundee-Crown 0: Deanna Libricz collected 7 saves in goal for Dundee-Crown (5-13-3) as they dropped this nonconference meeting with Lake Park.
Boys volleyball
South Elgin d. Argo: After dropping the opener 25-17, South Elgin (8-17) battled back to win this nonconference contest by matching scores of 25-20, 25-20. Leading the way for the Storm were Andrew Gleason (8 kills), Jim McMahon (6 kills, 4 digs), Akash Patel (4 kills, 7 digs), Robbie Vasquez (23 assists) and Tony Thomas (6 kills, 4 digs).
St. Edward at Latin School Tournament: St. Edward (8-15) went 2-2 at the Latin School Tournament to finish ninth overall. After losing to St. Francis (25-10, 25-11) and Walter Payton by scores of 15-25, 25-21, 17-16, the Green Wave bounced back to beat Nazareth Academy (25-23, 24-26, 15-10) and Gordon Tech in two games (25-12, 25-13).
Leading the attack for the Green Wave were Tyler Vaughan (12 kills), Lucas Belcher (20 kills), Will Lytle (14 kills), Jim Waclawik (22 kills) and Miguel Martinez (69 assists).
Baseball
Prairie Ridge 8, CL Central 4: Prairie Ridge clinched at least a tie for the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division title with this win over Crystal Lake Central. Mike Heesch (6-1) took the mound for the Wolves, allowing 1 earned run while fanning seven. Nick Martini led doubled for Prairie Ridge (20-8, 11-0).
McHenry 10, Dundee-Crown 0: Unable to generate any offense, Dundee-Crown (11-11, 4-6) dropped this Fox Valley Conference Valley Division game. Brendon Schumacher endured the loss allowing 8 runs on 7 hits while striking out four.
Huntley 3, Grayslake North 0: With a complete-game shutout by Tanner Funke, Huntley (16-12, 5-6) earned this Fox Valley Conference Fox Division win. Funke allowed no runs on 5 hits while fanning nine batters. His performance was backed offensively by his brother, Tyler Funke (2b, run, RBI), and Craig Lipp (2-for-3, 2b, run).
South Elgin drops two: After suffering a 7-2 loss in the opener of this Upstate Eight Conference doubleheader, a 6-run sixth inning by St. Charles East cost South Elgin (11-11, 11-11) Game 2 as the Saints went on to win 8-7. Kyle Fitzpatrick was the bright spot for the Storm in Game 1, going 3-for-3 with a home run and 2 RBI. Andrew Buddle went 2-for-4 while Ryan Kellner suffered the loss.
In Game 2 the Storm took a 6-2 lead into the sixth before losing 8-7. Plate efforts were led by Kellner (2-for-4, RBI), Kyle Daker (3-for-4, run, 2 RBI), Ben Irving (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) and Matt Wright (2-for-3, run, RBI).
Cary-Grove 10, Jacobs 4: Up 5-3 entering the seventh inning, Cary-Grove's Kegan Mascarella delivered the knockout blow with a grand slam that put the Trojans (20-7, 7-3) ahead by 7 runs. Corey Bruns (2-for-4), Matt Nelsen (2-for-3) and Luke Mottashed (2-for-3, 2b, 2 RBI) contributed. Nelsen was on the mound for the win allowing 8 hits in 5½ innings pitched to improve to 7-0 this season. Bruns came in to close out the final two innings.
For Jacobs (11-8, 6-4) Ryan Lesner (3-2) endured the loss.
Hampshire splits with Genoa-Kingston: Kent Larson (4-2) tossed a 2-hit, complete-game shutout for Hampshire (14-12) to open this nonconference doubleheader with a 4-0 win. The Whips lost by the same score (4-0) in Game 2.
In the opener Hampshire pounded out 10 hits behind offensive leaders Matt Kuefner (3-for-4, RBI), Bo Price (2-for-4), Zach Crinigan (2-for-4) and Tyler Bentley (2-for-4).
Erik Chellberg (3-3) was on the hill for the closing loss.
Westminster Christian drops two: Illiana Christian dealt Westminster (21-7, 11-3) a pair of Private School League losses by scores of 7-4 and 11-1, jeopardizing the Warriors' shot at a conference title. Ben Palmer (5-3) pitched just 1 inning and took the loss before exiting with a knot in his shoulder in Game 1. Ryan Donahue finished the game out. Matching Illiana offensively with 8 hits, Cory Hodge (3-run HR), Tyler Beachler (2-for-4), Chad Schroy (2-for-4), Steve Berglund (hit, RBI) and Brandon Siewert (2-for-4) led the Warrior attack.
Schroy (1-2) suffered the back-end loss throwing for 2 innings in a game the Warriors played with out starters Palmer, Donahue and Carter Ward, who injured a hamstring Friday night against Burlington and will likely miss the first week of the upcoming playoffs.