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A potpourri of items to take into summer

It feels like only last August that we set out to document the people and events of the 2010-11 prep sports year.

As the curtain draws on a most successful campaign — Kaneland baseball and St. Charles North softball vying for state championships — here's a potpourri of items to take into summer.

Congratulations

On Thursday, St. Charles East pitcher Wes Benjamin was selected by the New York Yankees in the 48th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-hander with a fastball in the high 80s was the 1,469th player chosen.

The senior, ranked No. 9 in Illinois Class of 2011 by Prep Baseball Report, figured he'd be drafted. His options are sound, already having committed to play for the University of Kansas.

Capping a three-year varsity career, Benjamin led the Saints to the Class 4A St. Charles North sectional semifinals. Compiling a 10-2 record this season, the all-stater was 25-5 in a varsity Saints uniform.

Conflicted

Brian Johnson was as giddy as the rest of Kaneland's big, happy family who traveled to Rock Island to see the Knights beat Peoria Notre Dame for Kaneland's first supersectional baseball title.

The Kaneland boys basketball coach had to feel a little conflicted, though, or a little rueful that should the Knights defeat Waterloo in Friday's semifinals he'd be unable to watch the championship game at Joliet's Silver Cross Field.

See, his second annual golf outing, to help benefit the Kaneland boys basketball program in providing uniforms, equipment and fees for summer leagues and shootouts, will be in full swing on Saturday.

There's the golf scramble itself at Bliss Creek Golf Course in Sugar Grove, followed by dinner, silent auction and raffles.

Standing at the gate leading to Augustana's Brunner Field on Monday, in between congratulating the Knights players and coaches Johnson said the event had drawn 24 foursomes, an increase over the 17 foursomes that played last year.

That figure may stand pat with the baseball team's success. Still, if interested in playing ($400 a foursome) or just attending dinner ($35 per person), reach the basketball coach at brian.johnson@kaneland.org.

All aboard

Speaking of that Kaneland baseball team, a fan bus for Friday's game in Joliet will leave Kaneland High School at 10:30 a.m. from the front of the building. The cost is $5, and fans are asked to bring the money with them. Those interested will need to email Leigh Jaffke at Leigh.Jaffke@kaneland.org to reserve a spot.

Fore more

Speaking of golf outings, St. Charles East and St. Charles North have combined forces to host one later this summer. The Crosstown Golf Scramble hits on July 15 at Mill Creek Golf Club in Geneva. It's to benefit both schools' football programs, though golfers are teamed in foursomes representing each school.

The fee of $110 includes a cart, lunch, dinner, prizes and, if you're like this writer, somewhere around 112 hacks at the golf ball. July 1 is the registration deadline.

Nongolfers, called “hecklers,” also are invited to attend a subsequent dinner and silent auction for $60 per person. There are also hole sponsorship opportunities, and these folks might also welcome suitable silent auction items and prizes.

For further information, visit either the North Stars or Saints football websites. St. Charles North already is bragging about, quote, another year's worth of bragging rights after last year's victory.

Welcome back

Wheaton Academy athletic director Paul Ferguson recently contacted us with interesting news.

It seems that former Warriors girls soccer coach Dave Underwood will be returning to the West Chicago school to teach Bible studies and to coach girls soccer. Underwood compiled a record of 75-32 between 2004-08 and directed a Class A state title team in 2004. He had been coaching at Sterling College in Kansas.

Underwood returns to succeed the term of Scott Marksberry, who is himself leaving for the college ranks. The Warriors suffered no slump under Marksberry, who in three seasons produced a 2A state title, a third-place and now a fourth-place finish.

Feeling strong?

This is a little out of our prep sports wheelhouse, but the third annual Men's Fitness Ultimate Athlete competition will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. June 18 at Chicago's North Avenue Beach.

It sounds like a little bit of everything will be thrown at competitors: timed challenges in football, mixed martial arts, basketball, baseball and an obstacle course.

Free and open to the public, the sole qualifications are participants must be 18 and male. Still, said public relations guy Dan Lobring, the 2009 event had some women and even kids trying some of the events “just for fun” — just not for the $5,000 prize to the winner.

Registration is easy at mensfitness.com/uachicago.

Old-timers day

Batavia's eighth annual Denny Holm Bulldog Baseball Alumni Game will be held at 1 p.m. July 17 at Batavia High School's varsity ballfield.

After the game the crowd heads to River View Banquets in Batavia. Players, family and friends can dig into food priced at $10 per plate (half that for kids 10 and under) and listen to the Tin Fiddle Band featuring Batavia grads Mike Crowe and Dave Skirmont. Games and prizes, too.

Contact athletic administrative assistant Lori Holm, (630) 887-7269, for details and to make reservations. Now that school's out she's got nothing but time.

We know you're out there

Wheaton Warrenville South certainly is not in Kane County, but a lot of old Tigers are.

For those willing to embarrass themselves on the diamond, the third annual WW South alumni game will be held at 1 p.m. June 18 at the host school's diamond. Batting practice begins at noon, with players' kids welcome to shag the odd ball that dribbles through the infield.

Cost to play is $50, which provides a cool T-shirt, hot dogs after the game, a donation to the WW South baseball program and the possible chance to see a 49-year-old ex-catcher rip his labrum.

To RSVP, call Tigers coach Tim Brylka at (630) 267-4308 or email tbrylka@cusd200.org.

College achievers

Augustana freshman Kim Sawyer (Batavia) was named the Vikings women's tennis team's “newcomer of the year.” She totaled 51 wins including a team-best singles mark of 29-7, setting a new single-season victories record that had been held since 1998.

Also at Augustana, senior softball outfielder Melissa Nelson (West Aurora) was a first-team all-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin selection as well as co-team MVP. Track and field athlete Phil Christensen (Kaneland), a junior, earned his third straight all-American honor when he placed sixth in discus at the national Division II meet.

At that meet, Carthage College senior Josh Brennan (Geneva) finished 11th in the hammer throw.

Christensen's college teammate, sprinter Alex Rindone (Marmion), was named team co-MVP, and he's just a sophomore. Named the outstanding track athlete of the CCIW outdoor meet, Rindone won the 100- and 200-meter dashes a second straight year, setting a school record of 21.21 seconds in the latter. He ran on 400 and 800 relays which won CCIW titles in meet-record times.

Edgewood College third baseman Ryan O'Dell (St. Charles East) was named to the Northern Athletics Conference All-Freshman Team, while Aurora University junior outfielder Ryan Adams (Geneva) made the All-Conference first team.

North Central College senior Billy Malone (West Aurora) was recognized as a Division III Scholar all-American by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. A finance and economics double-major, Malone went 33-11 for the Cardinals at 184 pounds while racking up no less than a 3.2 GPA.

Also at North Central, catcher Michael Corrigan (St. Charles North) was selected to the Rawlings/American Baseball Coaches Association All-Central Region second team. His third straight Central Region honor made him the just the second Cardinal to do that since 1995. Corrigan had a fielding percentage of .995 this season, and ends his North Central career third in runs batted in, fifth in home runs, seventh in slugging, eighth in doubles and tenth in total bases.

Illinois Wesleyan junior Brooke Bernardoni (Batavia) was part of a 400-meter relay that finished an All-American sixth place at the Division III Outdoor Championships.

Auld Lang Syne

The end of the academic year is both cause for celebration and some sadness. People move on.

Writing an email about the joys of being a “track mom” for the Aurora Christian girls and boys teams, an emotional Lila Berger said this was her last year. She'd seek full-time work for the first time in 20 years.

“How do you explain the feeling of being the athletes' teacher, ‘mom' and general support person? It is the best job on earth, next to being a mom to my two children!”

Sports writer comes close. Have a good summer, and thanks for reading.

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

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