Lightning set to host 22-team Classic tourney
The Northern Illinois Lightning will host the Sixth Annual John Radtke Memorial Fastpitch Classic for women's fastpitch teams this weekend at the Elgin Sports Complex.
The 22-team tournament, the largest non-national women's fastpitch tournament in the nation, is named in memory of John Radtke Sr., who passed away in August 2004. Radtke's son, John Jr., is the president and general manager of the Lightning and the field manager of the Lightning women's team.
Play begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and concludes with the championship game at 4 p.m. Sunday. Each team is guaranteed five games. There is an admission fee of $5 for a weekend pass and $3 for a daily pass. Children under 12 are free and there is a discount for seniors 65 and older.
The host Lightning is 12-3 this season and coming off a second-place finish at the USSSA State Tournament in Joliet.
Other local teams entered include the Elgin Heat and the Fox Valley Renegades. The field also includes major women's teams, including the two-time defending USSSA World Series champion Indiana Slammers as well as several other top teams from around the Midwest.
For further information, log on to eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning or call (847) 812-1522.
Legion wins Plainfield tournament: The Elgin American Legion Post 57 baseball team captured the championship of the Plainfield tournament last weekend with a 5-0 record. The squad defeated the Addison Braves 4-0, Lake in the Hills 17-1, Excelsior 3-1, then Excelsior again 4-3, and Plainfield 5-4 in the title game.
Kent Larson, Luc Geier, Ryan Burke, Jordan Torres and Sam Klein each recorded pitching wins for Elgin, and Larson had a save.
Ryan Hicks (.500), Burke (.417), Klein (.389) and Austin Jarvis (.333) led the offense. Klein, Jarvis and Jeff Ehlers each had home runs, while Zack Skog, Klein and Ehlers each had 4 RBI.
Post 57 will compete against St. Charles this weekend in the Kane County tournament. Games will be played Saturday and Sunday at noon, and Sunday at 3 p.m., if necessary. All games will be held at St. Charles North High School.
The District 11 tournament will then begin Thursday, July 15 at St. Charles East High School. Post 57 will take on Joliet at 1:30 p.m. in the first round of the double elimination tournament that concludes Sunday, July 18.
Scheffler to ECC: Burlington Central graduate Ashley Scheffler, a two-time Daily Herald All-Area softball player, has signed to play at Elgin Community College next season.
Scheffler was a four-year letter winner for the Rockets, who placed third in Class 3A her junior season.
This past season, she hit .475 and had 1 home run and 14 RBI, striking out just six times in 95 at-bats. She also stole 12 bases. Scheffler is a two-time third-team all-state selection (ICA) who was also courted by Upper Iowa University, Benedictine University and Ripon College.
Field to Grand View: St. Edward senior Sarah Field has committed to play softball at Grand View University, an NAIA school in Des Moines, Iowa.
"She's been the core of the St. Ed's program for the last three years and I'm excited to be able to coach her in her senior season," said new St. Edward coach Jaci Corn. "She's worked hard and deserves this opportunity. This will be a very good fit for her."
Field, a two-time Daily Herald All-Area selection, was 17-10 with a 1.80 ERA and 145 strikeouts for the Green Wave this past season. She also hit .371 with 29 RBI and just 6 strikeouts in 105 at-bats.
Hall of Fame golf outing: The Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation will hold its annual golf outing on Sept. 7 at The Highlands of Elgin.
Cost to golf is $125 and hole sponsorships are available for $150. All proceeds go to the foundation's scholarship fund, which awarded $25,000 in scholarships to city of Elgin athletes last year.
There will also be a raffle and silent auction with many donated items, including baseballs and footballs autographed by current and former pro players.
For further information, contact Dick Fitchie at (708) 606-1102.