Swinging away

Whether on the courts or diamonds, there were plenty of tennis balls and baseballs flying around Thursday as the state tennis tournament began and baseball teams battled in regionals around the suburbs.

Defending state champion Matthew Sikorski from Hersey got off to a good start at the state tennis tournament.

Streamwood’s Mathieu Veltkamp also advanced to the quarterfinals.

On the baseball diamond, Ryan Martin delivered a clutch hit for Stevenson.

The day before Buffalo Grove came up with a big upset.

York earned a chance to play No. 1 seed Willowbrook.

Bartlett also is headed to to a regional final.

Kevin Schmit’s weekly column.