College Achievers: Huntley’s Bakes brothers become first twins to hit grand slams in the same game
In a 16-6 win over Bradley on April 24, Illinois State sophomore outfielder Brayden Bakes and junior catcher Ryan Bakes, graduates of Huntley High School, each hit grand slam home runs. According to Illinois State, they became the first set of twins in NCAA history to each hit grand slam home runs in the same game.
In the third inning, Ryan Bakes cleared the center field fence, and the bases. Brayden Bakes sent everyone home in the bottom of the eighth inning with his grand slam over the right field fence for the run-rule walk-off.
It helped Ryan Bakes earn his first Missouri Valley Conference award, newcomer of the week, while Brayden Bakes received his third MVC player of the week award of the season.
Brayden Bakes also was named to Baseball America’s National Team of the Week for a second time this spring after going 10-for-18 with 2 home runs, 5 doubles and 10 RBI.
RESPECT
In addition to awarding all-conference honors to student-athletes in the various sports at the conclusion of their season, the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin (CCIW) also bestows the RESPECT Award. Each school selects a recipient from their programs who uphold values of responsibility, enthusiasm, service, pride, excellence, collaboration and trust.
In CCIW men’s lacrosse, a pair of Buffalo Grove High School graduates were chosen for the RESPECT Award: Augustana freshman attack Connor Schlachter, and North Central sophomore defender Charles Eidson.
In men’s tennis, Illinois Wesleyan junior Chase Tomecki (Downers Grove South) drew RESPECT for the second time in three seasons. Also in CCIW men’s tennis, North Central junior Henry Ros (Wheaton North) made first-team all-conference. In singles Ros went 17-10 overall, 7-0 in the CCIW, and 16-9 in doubles. Ros tied for the team lead in both singles and doubles.
Dropping time
Elmhurst University sophomore Sarah Hahn (Geneva) was named CCIW women’s track athlete of the week on April 29. Four days before at Grand Valley State’s Extra Weekend Meet, Hahn ran 800 meters in 2 minutes, 13.28 seconds. That beat the Bluejays’ program record from 2023 by more than a second.
That was Hahn’s second league honor this outdoor season. She also earned CCIW track athlete of the week after running the 1500 in 4:35.64 at Washington University in St. Louis. That ranks third all-time at Elmhurst.
Alabama slammer
Senior softball player Alexis Pupillo (Crystal Lake South), who transferred to the University of Alabama after hitting .382 with 35 home runs and 98 RBI in two years at Northern Iowa, continues to crush college pitching. Through 52 games Pupillo was hitting .395 with 10 doubles, 15 home runs, 50 RBI, .782 slugging, a 1.285 OPS, and 115 total bases. She’d started every game at designated player or catcher for Alabama, which, depending on the poll, is either the No. 3 or No. 4 team in the nation.
Breaking a drought
Playing under weather delays in California that extended the match to 6 hours, 38 minutes, on April 25 Michigan State beat Ohio State 4-3 to clinch its first Big Ten Conference men’s tennis title since 1967.
At No. 2 doubles, Spartans sophomore Mitchell Sheldon (Hersey), and partner Taym Alazmeh secured a 6-3 win to contribute to the championship effort.
A 6-foot left-hander with a sizzling serve, in the 2024-25 academic year Sheldon played at Michigan State with his older brother when Max Sheldon was a senior. Max Sheldon finished as the Spartans’ all-time wins leader with 170 combined singles and doubles victories.
No. 16 Michigan State concluded its season Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbia, S.C. On the season Sheldon went 10-7 in singles, 5-2 in the Big Ten. He and Alazmeh dropped their doubles match Friday against North Carolina, 6-3. After that match Sheldon was 9-8 in doubles, but again he shined against Big Ten competition at 6-1.