Pohl's on a roll in quest for world championships
Shannon Pohl is currently a badminton globe-trotter.
The former Prospect star is currently in the middle of a worldwide tour in her quest to qualify for the world championships.
Pohl started play at the Finnish International where she received a late promotion from the qualifying to main draw. Pohl lost a difficult first-round match against the 20th-ranked player in the world, Judith Meulendijks of the Netherlands.
"It was really a great experience playing against such a top player," Pohl said in an e-mail of the 21-5, 21-5 loss. "My shots were feeling good but I couldn't keep up with the high-speed pace of the match."
Pohl also received some good training in Finland before heading to Denmark to train at the International Badminton Academy. This week she is playing in a tournament in the Netherlands where she has qualified for the main draw to add some points toward reaching the world championships.
From there, Pohl will be playing in three events in Kenya. She will play doubles with Anna Rice, the No. 1 ranked player from Canada and a two-time Olympian.
Pohl will also be bringing some badminton equipment from friends in Denmark to give to kids in Kenya.
Before beginning her world travels, Pohl competed in her own backyard in the Elk Grove Open in the men's singles and mixed doubles brackets.
Pohl won two singles matches before losing in the quarterfinals and advanced to the semifinals in mixed doubles.
"I was quite happy with the results and it was a great opportunity to get some good training," Pohl said of playing against the men, "and it's great defensive practice to return the men's jump smashes."
Baseball
Workhorse Wil Osmanski (Elk Grove) of Wisconsin-Platteville looked as if he was going to get a tough-luck loss in a game with Wisconsin-Superior last week.
The junior right-hander pitched 10 shutout innings before giving up a run in the top of the 11th. But Osmanski's teammates came through with 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to give him a 2-1 victory.
Osmanski allowed just 5 hits and 2 walks and had 10 strikeouts.
"I was just trying to throw first-pitch strikes," Osmanski said on the school's Web site. "I wanted to be not afraid to throw anything and let my defense make plays behind me.
"I was feeling real good. I'm thankful coach (Eric Frese) had the confidence in me to leave me in there that long."
• Andy Wulbecker (Hoffman Estates) had a big game after the first inning of North Central's 20-8 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin win over Elmhurst on Saturday.
Wulbecker hit a 3-run homer and had an RBI single as the Cardinals opened the game with a 10-run outburst. Wulbecker didn't stop there as he doubled in 2 runs in the fourth to finish 3-for-5 with 6 RBI.
Matt Burke (Palatine) also had a big day for North Central as he went 3-for-4.
• Carthage College's Mike Hughes (Round Lake) was the CCIW offensive player of the week for the first week of April. He went 7-for-13 with 3 homers, 13 RBI and 5 runs in three CCIW games.
• Shortstop John O'Brien (Lake Zurich) was the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference player of the week the first week of April in helping St. Xavier to a 10-game winning streak.
O'Brien was 10-for-14 with 2 doubles, a triple and 3 homers and 14 RBI. He missed hitting for the cycle with a double, triple and homer against the Illinois Institute of Technology and had 2 homers and 6 RBI against Trinity International.
Soccer
Martina Pettenuzzo (Prospect), a sophomore at the University of Buffalo, has signed to play with the London (Ontario) Gryphons of the United Soccer Leagues W-League.
The USL W-League is currently the second-highest level of Women's United Soccer Association Club/Association teams. It is also recognized as North America's best women's developmental organization.
Pettenuzzo signed an amateur contract with the Gryphons. The open league gives college players to maintain their eligibility and give them the chance to play with established international players.
• The Chicago Storm of the Xtreme Soccer League will have 40 weeklong summer camp sessions in the Chicago area.
Head coach Steve Morris and professional Storm players teach at every camp for players ages 4-17. Every camper will receive a T-shirt, soccer ball, certificate of participation and ticket voucher for the Storm's 2009-10 season opener.
Information on the camps, including schedules, cost and biographies of camp directors, can be found through the Storm Web site chicagostorm.net.
Golf
Loyola sophomore Nikki Miller (Libertyville) was the Horizon League women's golfer of the week for the first week of April. In the Hotels at Grand Prairie Collegiate Classic in Peoria, Miller finished tops among Loyola golfers with a 36-hole score of 164 (81-83) to finish in a tie for 22nd overall.
Miller had an 80.6 average through 11 rounds this season and was Loyola's top finisher in four tournaments.
• Senior Tyler Wollberg (Mundelein) took medalist honors with a 137 (69-68) to lead Carthage to the team title of the Augustana Invitational in Rock Island.
Softball
Kim Chalekian (Wheeling) and Loras College had a productive trip through Wisconsin. Chalekian was 6-for-12 with 5 doubles, 2 walks and 7 RBI as Loras went 3-1 and improved to 11-9 overall.
Water polo
Utica College (N.Y.) freshman Lisa Torii (St. Viator) is off to an impressive start. Torii had 5 goals, 3 assists and 16 steals in a five-game trip to Pennsylvania the last weekend of March and scored 5 goals on a four-game trip the first weekend of April.
Sports Notes items should be sent via e-mail to mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com or FAX at (847) 427-1173.