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Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Introducing the 2025 News-Sun Baseball All-Area Team
Five players from Class 4A state champion Libertyville highlight the first and second teams, which also include three players each from Antioch, Lake Zurich and Mundelein. Ryne Dzierzynski, Grant, senior, shortstop/pitcher: Batted .387 with .500 on-base percentage, 1.102 OPS, three home runs, 24 RBIs, 30 runs scored, 17 walks and six strikeouts. Also went 6-0 with 1.96 ERA, 56 strikeouts and eight walks in 55 innings. All-conference. Committed to Wisconsin-Parkside. Caden Earing, Mundelein, senior, first baseman: Batted .433 with .545 on-base percentage, 1.295 OPS, program-record 18 doubles, three home runs, 31 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 10 steals. All-conference and Class 4A all-state honorable mention. Committed to Saint Louis. Ryan Fostiak, Wauconda, senior, outfielder: Batted .443 with .514 on-base percentage, 1.227 OPS and 24 extra-base hits. All-conference and 3A all-state first team. Committed to Illinois Tech. Joshua Holst, Libertyville, senior, pitcher/first baseman: Went 13-0 with 1.34 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 118 strikeouts and 25 walks in 73 1/3 innings for 4A state champion. Also hit .361 with five home runs and 44 RBIs. Conference pitcher of the year and 4A all-state first team. Committed to Air Force. Cash Kaczmarek, Lake Zurich, senior, first baseman: Batted .417 with .500 on-base percentage, 1.196 OPS, five home runs, 37 RBIs and 42 runs scored for 4A sectional finalist. All-conference and 4A all-state honorable mention. Committed to Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Owen Klosinski, Lakes, senior, outfielder: Batted .471 with .532 on-base percentage, 1.208 OPS, 18 RBIs and 30 runs scored. All-conference and 3A all-state. Committed to Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Chase Lockwood, Libertyville, junior, pitcher: Went 10-0 with 0.82 ERA, 64 strikeouts and 14 walks in 59 2/3 innings for 4A state champion. All-conference and 4A all-state. Cole Lockwood, Libertyville, senior, shortstop: Batted .421 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, 52 runs scored and 38 steals in 40 attempts for 4A state champion. All-conference and 4A all-state. Committed to Valparaiso. Quinn Schambow, Libertyville, senior, catcher: Batted .449 with 18 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 47 RBIs and 32 runs scored for 4A state champion. Conference player of the year and 4A all-state. Committed to Oklahoma State. Evan Schmidt, Antioch, senior, first baseman: Batted .446 with .513 on-base percentage, 1.275 OPS, 17 doubles, five home runs, 30 RBIs, 29 runs scored and 10 steals. Conference player of the year. Committed to Wisconsin-La Crosse. Baris Brua, Mundelein, senior, pitcher: Went 5-3 with 1.40 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 54 innings. All-conference. Committed to Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Colin Chung, Lake Zurich, junior, pitcher/second baseman: Went 4-4 with 1.45 ERA, 61 strikeouts and 21 walks in 48 1/3 innings for 4A sectional finalist. Cal Hanson, Grayslake Central, senior, first baseman/pitcher: Batted .395 with 13 doubles and 32 RBIs. Also went 4-3 with 1.40 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 39 innings. All-conference. Committed to Parkland. Carson Holmes, Libertyville, junior, outfielder: Batted .419 with .536 on-base percentage, 1.252 OPS, five home runs, 25 RBIs and 17 runs scored for 4A state champion. All-conference. Joey Kafka, Mundelein, senior, pitcher: Went 5-1 with 1.50 ERA, 54 strikeouts and 10 walks in 41 2/3 innings. All-conference. Committed to Valparaiso. Ben Lichtenfeld, Highland Park, senior, pitcher/infielder: Went 7-2 with 2.86 ERA in 49 innings. Also hit .378 with 20 RBIs and 12 steals. Conference player of the year. Josh Marzec, Lake Zurich, senior, pitcher: Went 8-2 with 2.42 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings for 4A sectional finalist. All-conference. Committed to McHenry County College. Javier Rolon, Round Lake, senior, shortstop: Batted .393 with .494 on-base percentage, 1.297 OPS, six triples, four home runs and 12 steals. All-conference. Committed to College of Lake County. Nathan Yeager, Antioch, senior, outfielder: Batted .466 with .593 on-base percentage, 1.218 OPS, 44 runs scored, 24 walks and 23 steals. All-conference. Committed to College of Lake County. Carson Young, Antioch, senior, pitcher: Went 8-1 with 1.94 ERA, 72 strikeouts and 27 walks in 54 innings. All-conference. Committed to Bethel University.
Chicago Tribune
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Claire Connelly has been here before. With Mundelein in need of a run, Indiana State commit sprints for one.
Mundelein senior Claire Connelly is used to displaying her power. A four-year starter, the Indiana State recruit is widely known as a slugger with an impressive ability to put the bat on the ball. She hits to all fields and knocks a fair share out of the park. She's also a standout first baseman. On Thursday, Connelly showed something more. In the top of the seventh inning, in her first at-bat since striking out for the first time all season, she hit a long fly ball to right-center field that was misplayed by a Stevenson outfielder, and she hustled all the way to third base. 'I saw both of them coming toward center and just tried to give it my all because it could've been my last at-bat of my high school career,' Connelly said. 'I kept running, and the ball dropped. 'If I didn't run as fast as I did, I would've only gotten to second, so I'm glad I sprinted full speed because it gave me an extra base.' That proved to be particularly important for Mundelein because its next batter, junior Shea Eaman, hit a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Connelly ran home and scored the only run of a Class 4A Stevenson Sectional semifinal as the fifth-seeded Mustangs upset the top-seeded Patriots 1-0 in Lincolnshire. 'Claire was so determined to take the game over herself because she's done it so many times,' Mundelein coach Heather Ryan said. 'She got fooled once, but she wouldn't let it happen to her again. There was no one else I wanted at bat in that moment. She wanted it so badly.' The Mustangs (23-10), who will play 11th-seeded Loyola in the sectional championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the Patriots (28-4) each had only one hit in the pitchers' duel. Mundelein junior left-hander Sophia Zepeda (9-4) earned the victory, striking out eight and navigating six walks, to keep her team on track for a second straight trip to the state semifinals. Stevenson junior right-hander Ava Potempa (16-3) struck out seven and walked one. 'Sometimes in close games, when no one scores, it comes down to whatever team messes up first,' Stevenson coach Vera Pflugradt said. 'We've done a great job defensively all year. This is a great group of girls, and they bought in and had a great season.' Connelly said her rare strikeout against Potempa may have helped her. 'I think not striking out put a lot of pressure on me to not do it,' she said. 'Once it happened, I was fine, and I thought about my next at-bat. I seemed to be getting more pitches in the zone. I took what I did and was successful.' Ryan said Connelly has a lot to do with the Mustangs being successful. Connelly holds the program record for career RBIs and heads into the sectional final batting .477 with eight doubles, two triples, six home runs, 44 RBIs and 30 runs scored. She also has a .986 fielding percentage. 'Claire is the heart and soul of our team,' Ryan said. 'She's been the constant, someone so reliable throughout the years. She's mentored the younger players and raised the bar of expectations for our whole team. We go as she goes.' Ryan said Connelly helped Zepeda overcome control issues. 'Claire played a complete game today,' Ryan said. 'She played excellent defense and calmed Sophia down. She brings that senior leadership. We've had such an up-and-down season with injuries. She was the face of the team and helped us ride the waves and slumps. 'I was so happy she had the hit and scored the run. It was a great reward for her.' Zepeda said she never doubted whether Connelly would come through in the seventh inning. 'I knew Claire was going to get the job done,' Zepeda said. 'She always comes up big. I was little off today, and my spin was not so great, but she saved us.' Mundelein junior outfielder Kieley Tomas said Connelly is a calming presence for everyone. 'I've been playing with Claire since she was 10 years old,' Tomas said. 'She's always been a player to come through in the big moments. She's a great role model for everyone. She's always positive and tells us to put our best foot out there.' Connelly said she hopes to play three more games for the Mustangs. 'I never thought I would have the career or the seasons I did,' she said. 'But I'm so grateful to my teammates for supporting me.'
Chicago Tribune
03-06-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Brandon Marano rallies Mundelein like no other. As a hitter, catcher and emotional leader, ‘he anchors us.'
The moment wasn't too big for Mundelein senior catcher Brandon Marano, not by a long shot. The bases were loaded when Marano faced Palatine senior left-hander Toby Peterson, a Kentucky recruit, in the first inning of the Class 4A Palatine Regional championship game on Saturday. 'Walking up to the plate felt very surreal,' Marano said. 'I did my normal routine, took a deep breath and knew to be ready. It was the first pitch, and I saw that it was middle-middle. I didn't swing as hard as I could and was just thinking to get the bat on the ball and it'll go.' In fact, it went all the way to the fence in right-center field for a bases-clearing double. Marano's hit was the first salvo in what became an eight-run inning in Mundelein's 8-4 win. 'As I was rounding first and heading for second, I picked up coach at third and looked back at the fans and saw them going crazy,' Marano said. 'I knew it would get all three in. 'After all the hard work and effort I've put in over the last 12 years, it came down to that moment, making everyone happy and knowing that I did that. I did it for more than just me.' The Mustangs (24-10-2) have been the beneficiaries of the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Marano's good deeds all season as he has developed into a steady offensive force, most often hitting fifth in the lineup, and helped guide a deep, talented pitching staff. 'Pitchers have confidence in his ability to smother pitches in the dirt, and he still keeps improving on the communication side in being able to help navigate the staff through games,' Mundelein coach Randy Lerner said. On Saturday, Marano's defensive prowess accounted for three outs on the base paths. He threw out one runner at second base on a steal attempt, did the same after blocking a ball in the dirt that trickled a few feet away, and back-picked a runner who got caught in no man's land between first and second. 'My hit catalyzed the energy we had, but I had one of my best defensive games too,' Marano said. Heading into a Stevenson Sectional semifinal matchup against North Suburban Conference rival Lake Zurich on Wednesday, Marano is hitting .347 with a .445 on-base percentage and a team-best 32 RBIs. The double against Palatine was his 14th of the season, and he also has a triple and two home runs. Marano had a similar batting average last season but far fewer at-bats. He took hold of the starting job in the second half of the season, a positive step that left him wanting much more. 'One big difference from last spring to now is that I felt like I had to prove myself,' Marano said. 'At the end of the day, I wasn't where I wanted to be. I still had to get my extra work in at the gym, and I still had to get extra swings in. 'All of the time, energy and emotion I put into the game is paying off.' Emotion is a big part of Marano's contributions to the Mustangs, not only in how he works with pitchers but also in how he makes sure everyone in the dugout is invested. 'He's kind of our glue guy,' Mundelein senior pitcher Joey Kafka said. 'Even my parents will say that things are completely different when he's not around. He anchors us down as a team.' Emotion came into play in a different way during Mundelein's game against crosstown rival Carmel on May 1. Marano went through his typical game-day routine, going home during a free period to grab his baseball gear. On this day, he was met by his parents, who were sitting on the couch waiting for him. They told him their 12-year-old dog, Wrigley, had to be put to sleep. When Marano returned to school, he learned he would catch for only part of the game. So as he went to the plate with the bases loaded and the Mustangs trailing 5-1 in the fourth inning, he knew it would likely be his last at-bat. 'The first pitch was a curve that he hung, and I hit it over the left-center field fence,' Marano said. 'I think it was the first home run I had hit since I was like 12. 'When I stepped on home, I leaped into Baris Brua's arms and hugged him. I let all the emotion out.' The Mustangs rallied to win 10-6. Not every game has been so noteworthy, but Marano's work with Mundelein's pitchers behind the scenes has had a significant impact on them. 'He didn't start the whole year last year, and I think he took that personally,' Kafka said. 'He's pretty much caught all of us since we were like 8, and he worked his tail off this offseason, catching all of our bullpens twice a week. He recognizes when our pitches are a little off, and he's the first one to tell us.' Marano, who will attend Tennessee, won't play college baseball. He may join a club team but knows it won't be the same as what he has experienced at Mundelein. His constant companion through it all has been his catching equipment. 'I wouldn't be the player I am today without catching,' Marano said. 'If you do something good at catcher, everyone sees it, and it can work against you, too, if you do something wrong. But I love that about the position. 'I'm putting everything I have into the game right now.'
Chicago Tribune
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Sophia Zepeda pitches like the ace Mundelein needs her to be. ‘I saw my potential.' Now she's reaching it.
Mundelein senior pitcher Sophia Zepeda's run of bad luck appears to be behind her. Zepeda, who pitched sparingly behind then-sophomore Shae Johnson during the Mustangs' run to fourth place in Class 4A last year, was anointed the ace of the staff after an injury sidelined Johnson for this entire season But Zepeda, a College of Lake County commit, then suffered back-to-back injuries that forced her to sit out some games. 'It was frustrating because I reinjured myself the very first game back and missed five or six games,' she said. 'I knew I had to be ready when I came back and thought it would be difficult after a few weeks off. It was good to rest my body.' Zepeda, who returned in early May, certainly was on her game Friday. She didn't allow a hit until the sixth inning to lead fourth-seeded Mundelein to a 6-0 victory over fifth-seeded Libertyville in the 4A Buffalo Grove regional championship game. Zepeda (8-4) struck out 18, walked five and surrendered just two hits in seven shutout innings for the Mustangs (22-10), who advance to the Stevenson Sectional semifinals to play another North Suburban Conference rival, the top-seeded host Patriots, at 2 p.m. Wednesday. 'Sophia has always been ready to step in and do what she can do for the team, so this year she knew she would get more of the pitching responsibility with Shae out with her injury,' Mundelein coach Heather Ryan said. 'She's such a tough, resilient, hardworking kid. She had some injuries but did a great job rehabbing and getting ready for the playoffs. 'She brought the heat today, and her pitching was really hitting. She hit her spots.' Zepeda struck out five over the final two innings and finished her stellar performance by snaring a hard-hit hopper and throwing to first base for the last out. She struck out 16 against Buffalo Grove in the regional semifinals and has 164 strikeouts in 103 1/3 innings this season. 'I threw a lot of rise balls, and that was working in our semifinal game as well,' Zepeda said. 'That's what I've been working on every day.' Zepeda, who also plays volleyball and basketball, was impressive in relief in the third-place game last year. She said she then prepared in the offseason to be the Mustangs' No. 1 pitcher. 'The state experience was really good for me because I saw my potential and how good I can be,' she said. 'That really drove me in the offseason. I just lit up the offseason and went to the cages and threw a lot.' The Wildcats (23-9) split the season series with the Mustangs but failed to get a hit on Friday until junior Taylor Higham, who took the loss after pitching six-plus innings, ended Zepeda's bid for a no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth. Libertyville junior Maddy Kleemann followed with a single up the middle, but Zepeda escaped a two-out, bases-loaded jam with a strikeout. '(Zepeda) dominated us and pitched great, and they made all the plays defensively,' Libertyville coach Dar Townsend said. Mundelein senior first baseman Claire Connelly, an Indiana State recruit who holds multiple program records, said Zepeda has proved she's a gamer. 'Not pitching much last season, she has stepped up and come back stronger after her injuries,' Connelly said. 'She's become a more dominant pitcher and always stays composed. I don't think she missed a pitch today. She was nonstop and didn't take a pitch off.' Mundelein freshman catcher Sarah Benes agreed that Zepeda is rounding into elite form. 'She hit her spots today,' Benes said. 'She was strong and hasn't missed anything since her injury.'
CBS News
29-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Reach Rescue resale shop in Chicago suburbs helps fund medical needs of dogs and cats
A Chicago area animal rescue is giving dogs a second chance and shoppers a treasure hunt. At Reach Rescue's resale shop in northwest suburban Mundelein, your next bargain could help save a pet's life. The shop sells upscale items at bargain prices; including furniture, antiques, and even rare collectibles. "All of the funds that come into the resale shop by the purchases are what fund the medical for our dogs, the upkeep of our dogs, and everything that you see in here has been donated to us by amazing people," said Reach Rescue vice president and director Amanda Dziekanski. Many items come from estate sales, with the profits helping dogs like 6-year-old Elvira. "She came from a bad situation. She was terribly matted. She had to be completely shaved down. We've gotten all her medical done. She'd had several teeth pulled, and dental," Dziekanski said. Right next to the resale shop is the Reach Rescue adoption center, where you can meet all the available pets. "On the dog side, their whole life is taking care of the dogs, and that's just wonderful," said 6-year volunteer Linda Foulkes. Foulkes said donations at Reach Rescue are not only generous, but many times surprising. "We had an Australian birthing dish … aboriginal. It was worth about $2,000, and we marked it at a few hundred dollars, because who's going to buy it?" she said. It's not all resale gold. Some treasures come with four legs and a whole lot of love, like Elvira, who was recently adopted. "We read her story, and we just thought we would be a good home for her," said adopter Bella "She's the sweetest thing, and I think she's going to fit in just fine," said adopter Dylan While Elvira has found her forever home, others wait, like 2-year-old Oreo Cookie. "Unfortunately, the people that had her were incarcerated and couldn't keep her," one Reach Rescue staffer said. Volunteers said, once you adopt from Reach Rescue, you always come back. "I adopted another dog 13 years ago from here, and he was the best dog ever. So when he passed away last year, I knew where I was coming," said one woman who recently adopted terrier mix Rook. Donate, shop and adopt; there's plenty of dogs and cats waiting for their forever homes at Reach Rescue. Reach Rescue's resale shop is open Tuesday through Saturday. The adoption center is open by appointment on weekdays. Every Saturday, they hold an adoption event from noon until 4 p.m. For more information head to
