Marshall's key in Texas Christian's postseason run
Closing time for Texas Christian baseball meant it was Eric Marshall time this spring.
Which usually meant it was a good time for the Horned Frogs and Marshall, a Daily Herald All-Area co-captain who led Barrington to third place in the 2005 Class AA state tournament.
The right-handed senior, who rebounded from elbow surgery last November, finished 2-2 with 9 saves and a 1.48 ERA. Marshall had 20 strikeouts and only 5 walks in 301/3 innings as TCU went 40-18 and reached the NCAA Super Regional before losing two of three games to perennial powerhouse Texas.
Marshall got an old-school save to preserve TCU's 3-2 win that forced a decisive third game with Texas, the top-seeded team in the tournament the fourth-ranked team in the country. Marshall went an economical 2 innings with 13 strikes in 15 pitches.
Marshall also got the victory with a scoreless ninth inning as TCU won its regional with a dramatic 5-4 win over Oregon State, which had won two of the last three NCAA titles.
Marshall graduated Magna Cum Laude from TCU with a degree in finance. He is deciding whether to return for his final year of eligibility (he had a medical redshirt season) while pursuing his MBA.
Football
Former Hersey standout Travis Brubaker got in some good work during a European vacation.
The 2005 Daily Herald All-Area player and 2006 Hersey graduate took part in Illinois Wesleyan's trip to Vienna, Austria.
Brubaker, who will be a senior, rushed for a team-high 72 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in a 64-14 victory in the "Charity Bowl" exhibition game against the Vienna Vikings.
As a junior, Brubaker rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown.
Softball
Sophomore pitcher Claire Voris (Barrington) of the Washington University in St. Louis softball team was named to the 2009 Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-America Team.
Voris, who earned second-team at-large honors, is 19-7 with a 1.08 earned run average in 25 starts for the Bears. She has struck out 206 batters in 1741/3 innings with 20 complete games and 10 shutouts.
Voris was also a first-team all-Midwest Region and all-University Athletic Association (UAA) honoree and a member of the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional all-tournament team.
Voris posted a 5-1 overall record and a 0.19 earned run average with 46 strikeouts in 362/3 innings at the 2009 UAA Championship. She also posted back-to-back 3-hit shutouts against No. 6 Emory University.
Voris ranks second in school history in strikeouts (397), third in shutouts (16), fourth in wins (34), complete games (36), earned run average (1.49) and innings pitched (323.1), and fifth in games pitched (58).
Volleyball
Senior Charlie Spicer (Barrington) was one of the top attackers for NAIA national champion Lindenwood University. Spicer also received all-conference honors.
Track and field
Illinois State sophomore Michelle Brunk (Palatine) was named to the second team of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V men's and women's track and field/cross country teams, as voted on by College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Thursday.
Brunk set a personal-best time in the 5K (18:09.50) and earned a 10th-place finish at the State Farm MVC Cross Country Championships. She also recorded a personal-best time in the 6K (22:48.50) at the Pre-Nationals held in Terre Haute, Ind. Brunk participated in the NCAA Midwest Regional in the 6K and recorded a 23:12.60.
Brunk set a season-best in the mile at the Iowa State Classic with at time of 5:06.68. She won the MVC Championships with a time of 2:10.31 to break the Marks Field track record at Indiana State.
Brunk was a 2008 All-MVC Cross Country and All-Academic teams selection. Brunk earned All-MVC honors in the distance medley relay that finished third at the State Farm MVC Conference Championships with a time of 11:45.93.
Basketball instruction
Former Schaumburg High School star Zach Pancratz, who played at Northern Illinois and Rollins College, has started "Elite First Class Training" for basketball skill development at a high level. An experienced college player will put younger players through highly advanced and competitive skill development workouts with the 1-on-1 coaching providing focused training on each player's needs.
There are a variety of workout sessions and programs available. For more information contact Pancratz at (847) 809-8334 or zpancratz@rollins.edu.
• Former Hersey boys coach Don Rowley will direct summer grade school camps for boys and girls in second through eighth grade from July 6 to Aug. 14 at The Athletic Barn Sports and Fitness Center in Mount Prospect. Sessions will focus on shooting, dribbling, passing, defensive footwork and conditioning.
For more information on camp sessions, cost and location go to athleticbarnchicago.com or contact Jim Rebecca at jim@athleticbarnchicago.com.
Basketball officiating
Ed Curtin will conduct a "Basics of Officiating" class for basketball starting Sept. 8 from 6 p.m.-8:45 p.m. at the Palatine Public Library. There will be seven sessions detailing mechanics, rules and other issues for those looking to get started in officiating.
Cost is $80 and includes all materials and is limited to the first 12 paid applicants. The registration deadline is Aug. 1 and for more details contact Curtin at (847) 991-3144 or by FAX at (847) 934-5861.
Elk Grove football golf outing
Spots are still available for the Elk Grove football golf outing Aug. 7 at 1 p.m. at Fox Run Golf Course. To register go to golfdigestplanner.com/11482-eghsfballgolfouting/.
Have a great summer
Since this is the last installment of Sports Notes for this school year, thanks to everyone who contributed and helped make the transition easier from retired colleague Bob Frisk.
mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com