Pinnick, Johnson warming up to new surroundings
It was a reunion of sorts at Waubonsie Valley.
Climbing the bleachers Dec. 23 to watch their alma mater play Aurora Central Catholic at Waubonsie's holiday boys basketball tournament were Jelani Johnson and Shakeia Pinnick, escorted by Johnson's mother, Natalie, who teaches math at the school.
Had to be cold as the dickens for Pinnick, a freshman track athlete at Arizona State in Tempe.
"It's not too shocking, because I've lived here for awhile. But I'm not happy," Pinnick said. "It was actually cold a couple of weeks ago - well, cold for (Arizona), 40 degrees or something like that."
Most everybody in the country's been cold. Johnson - a freshman swingman at Western Illinois who's started five of 14 games - picked the right time to get hot.
"My first collegiate points were clutch free throws down the stretch, so that was fun for me," said Johnson, who also grabbed 2 rebounds with a steal and a block in the last 37 seconds of a 56-46 win over Central Arkansas with his family in the stands.
"So far it's been fun," Johnson said. "Just adapting to everything. It's an environment where everybody loves basketball, so it's just real fun. The coaches are making it fun for me, and it's a great experience so far."
He's midway through his season. Pinnick is just getting started. Arizona State's first indoor meet is Jan. 22 at Northern Arizona.
"We're just training right now outside, which is the good thing about Arizona - it's always hot," said Pinnick, who won the 100- and 300-meter hurdles at last year's Class 3A state meet.
"The team is great as a whole. We're a very young team. Actually, there's a lot of freshmen and we've all come in like top in the nation, so we hope to go to nationals."
Pinnick was recruited as a heptathlete and 400-meter runner. She figures to at least run a relay leg or two in the early going.
"They've told me I'm in the rotation," she said, smiling as usual.
Pinnick said Arizona State offers its student-athletes a lot of help to stay on top of their grades. Johnson - so much more well-spoken than even last year at Waubonsie - is also winning that battle.
"It can get tiring at times," he said, "but I know I have to make it through so I'm making it work for me."
'Opportunity Through Baseball'Memorabilia signed by Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Satchel Paige and Sandy Koufax, skybox tickets to a Blackhawks game and a Disney vacation are among the goodies to bid on at the 13th annual Opportunity Through Baseball event on Jan. 31. Presented by Neuqua Valley baseball coach Robin Renner, Opportunity Through Baseball has raised some $340,000 over the past dozen years. The large majority goes to the Aurora Neighborhood Baseball League, the Aurora Neighborhood Kids Club and the Opportunity Through Baseball Camp - all of which benefit underprivileged kids. For most, attending a Cubs game is beyond their pocketbook, but Renner makes it happen.The event's big draw is always its speakers. This year Renner has lined up the inspiring former big-league pitcher Dave Dravecky in a return appearance, as well as the legendary Gordie Gillespie. Last spring, the 83-year-old University of St. Francis baseball coach won his 1,800th ballgame, the most in college history. Gillespie, a member of 15 halls of fame, also won five state football championships at Joliet Catholic, four straight from 1975-78. Opportunity Through Baseball is well worth the $45 admission, which includes dinner. It'll be held 4 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at the Roundhouse in Aurora on Sunday, Jan. 31. For info call Renner at (630) 428-6000, ext. 4864.Speaking of hall of famers...In a 2009 boys track article we referred to York coach Stan Reddel as a "future Hall of Famer." The future is now - Saturday, actually, at Oak Park-River Forest where Reddel will be inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, fittingly along with York girls coach Annette Schulte."It's nice to be recognized by your peers," said Reddel, whose 2009 Class 3A title came 25 years after his Class A title at Walther Lutheran."It's a nice feeling. It's a nice sense of... I won't say 'closure,'" said Reddel, who said he'll retire from teaching after the 2010-11 term.A near-future hall of famer is Glenbard South baseball coach Mike Riley. The man with the wraparound shades and meticulously manicured gem of a ballfield will join the Illinois Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in a Feb. 6 ceremony at the Signature Room in Lisle. Benet coach Jeff Bonebrake will be honored as well with the IBC President's Award."It makes you reflect back on your career a little bit, all the way back to where you first started, and some of the things you've learned and experienced, and how it's affected where you've gotten to," said Riley, who has won 439 games over 23 seasons.He recalled his four years as a "paraprofessional" at Hinsdale Central, where he and the late Bill Huskisson monitored the lunchroom. Riley said he was a "glorified bouncer, making sure there were no food fights."Early on Riley learned the fundamentals, especially the nuances of running a high school sport. He coached at Rockford West and Guilford for 13 years and then, on the advice of fellow Hall of Famer Phil Lawler of Naperville Central, sought and landed the Glenbard South job.By now coaching is second nature to this hall of famer. The acceptance speech? That's the tricky part."I've sat through enough teachers' institutes in the last 28, 30 years," Riley said. "My goal is not to put people to sleep."Que pasoNorth Central quarterback and Naperville North graduate Aaron Fanthorpe, heading the Team Stars and Stripes, completed 11 of 20 passes for 111 yards with a touchdown in the Tazon de Estrellas All-Star Game on Dec. 19 in Monterrey, Mexico.Fanthorpe was part of a four-man Cardinals contingent that included Naperville Central grad Brad Spencer as receivers coach. Surprisingly, the Americans lost 24-12.