Schneider, Gandolfi help Webster break new ground

Sophomore Zach Schneider from Warren and freshman Charlie Gandolfi from Mundelein will be representing Lake County baseball at the NCAA Division III World Series this weekend.

Both Schneider and Gandolfi play for Webster University, which will be competing in the World Series for the first time in its history.

The Gorloks will be one of eight regional champions competing in the series, which starts today in Appleton, Wis. Webster defeated Birmingham-Southern College (Ala.) 3-2 to win the NCAA III Rhodes regional at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn. To advance, Webster survived a nerve-racking ninth inning.

Gandolfi had 2 hits, a stolen base and a diving catch in deep left-center field in the championship game. Schneider is recovering from arm surgery

Webster swept through the regional, winning four straight games, knocking off Birmingham-Southern, seventh-ranked nationally, twice and No. 22-ranked DePauw University. The Gorloks are now one of eight teams, out of 372 competing in baseball in NCAA III, to make it to the World Series. Webster is 35-12 on the season, and the 35 wins ties the program’s all-time high for victories in a year, set in 2010.

The Gorloks will face Wheaton College (Mass.) in the first round at 10 a.m. Friday. Wheaton (38-9) won the Eastern Connecticut regional.

The games will be videostreamed by College TV Ticket. You can access the broadcasts at: http://collegetvticket.com/ You can archive the regional championship games, as well.

Boys lacrosse

Three Vernon Hills players — seniors Tyler Amidei and Wayne Didier and junior goalie Cody Christie — were named Illinois High School Lacrosse Association all-conference honorable mention.

Women’s softball

Millikin University senior Jenna Anderson (Warren) received all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin recognition. Anderson, who was named to the first team, had Millikin’s highest batting average at .340.