Driscoll spring sports teams won't call it quits

For Driscoll's baseball and softball programs, the season goes on.

Following Thursday's announcement that the Addison high school will be closing at the end of this academic year, the Highlanders' spring athletic teams were left to deal with the fallout of what's suddenly become, to say the least, a tumultuous season.

"The season has to go on - we're not going to cancel the season," said softball coach Frank Reaber, who has two daughters, Taylor and Kasey, on the team and was planning to have a third daughter enroll at the school in the fall.

"It's going to be tough keeping their focus the next two months on softball," he said. "I think it will be easier once we start playing."

The softball and baseball teams canceled their scheduled Thursday games. Both teams are slated to play again on Saturday, but they'll do so with heavy hearts.

"We've all dedicated ourselves to the school and the baseball program, so this is tough," said baseball coach Sean Bieterman. "It's been my life for seven years. It's just really hard to deal with."

Many questions surrounding Driscoll athletics need to be answered, such as what will become of the girls basketball team that was to return six of its top players, including All-Area honorees Courtney Lindfors and Kasey Reaber, from its Class 2A state title team?

What about the returning players from the legendary football program that boasts eight state titles and 10 straight playoff appearances?

For now, though, it'll be up to the spring sports to carry Driscoll to the finish line.

"We've built one of the best baseball programs in the state and it's our responsibility to finish this with a great deal of pride," said Bieterman, the coach of a program that's won three state titles and six state trophies.

"For everyone who helped build the program, people like (former head coaches) Rod Molek and Jeff Sefcik, it's our responsibility to finish this the right way," he said.