Latest news with #WaubonsieValley
Chicago Tribune
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
‘Sky is the limit' for Waubonsie Valley's Owen Roberts, the 2025 Naperville Sun Baseball Player of the Year
Waubonsie Valley's Owen Roberts proved he's a big-game pitcher once again during his senior season. The Indiana State commit did it by treating each pitch the same way. 'I think it's just going out there and just being competitive every pitch, just taking it one pitch at a time, having the mentality that nobody is going to beat me,' Roberts said. Hardly anyone did. Roberts, the 2025 Naperville Sun Baseball Player of the Year, was as close to a sure thing as there is in high school baseball, and everyone knew it. The player of the year for the second straight season, Roberts went 8-2 with a 0.49 ERA for the Warriors (23-13), who won their first sectional title since 2005. He struck out 92 and walked just 16 in 72 innings. 'What he did on the mound last year was special,' Waubonsie Valley coach Bryan Acevedo said. 'I was like, 'I don't know if he can do it again,' and he was even better this year on the mound.' Waubonsie Valley sophomore catcher Shane Torres, a rising star known for his handling of pitchers, said it was fun to work with Roberts, who increased the velocity of his fastball by several miles per hour and throws in the high 80s to low 90s. 'When I'm catching him, I kind of have to focus a little bit more, obviously, because the higher velo sometimes gets you,' Torres said. 'But other than that, it's like catching any other guy — except he'll shut the other team down pretty much every single time. 'He had an amazing year last year, so it was kind of just get the momentum going from last year to this season, and he did a pretty good job doing that. He had a spectacular year.' Roberts, who was also the DuPage Valley Conference's co-pitcher of the year, said Indiana State intends to use him as a two-way player. It's easy to understand why considering what he did at the plate and at shortstop for Waubonsie Valley. Batting second in the lineup, he hit .367 with two home runs, 19 RBIs and 32 runs scored. 'He's probably the most competitive kid I've been around,' Acevedo said. 'He just competes, and that's his edge.' Roberts actually had to make more adjustments as a hitter than as a pitcher. 'At the plate, I was definitely seeing a lot more off-speed,' Roberts said. 'They were attacking me off-speed early, so it was definitely a challenge because I had to think more in the box a little bit. But I think I was up for the task.' On the mound, Roberts had been a relative unknown before his junior season. But hitters weren't able to adjust to him this season. 'I just focused on gaining velo and just kept throwing strikes because that's all you basically need, and trusting your defense,' Roberts said. 'The velo happened with just putting on weight, training in the offseason, and I just kept pumping the gas.' Indeed, Roberts did it without losing any accuracy. 'Most guys, they'll have the velocity but don't have the command,' Torres said. 'But every single day we can count on Owen to throw strikes.' That's something other pitchers try to emulate. Among them is Seth Gilliland, who will play at NCAA Division III national champion Wisconsin-Whitewater after finishing his high school career with a strong performance in Waubonsie Valley's 2-0 loss to Normal Community in the Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional. 'In the beginning of the year, I was in a little bit of a protect mode and nervous about pitching,' Gilliland said. 'But I've learned from him that it's just about attacking the zone and getting your stuff in. Just let the guys hit it. They need to earn it, and that's what I've learned from him.' Gilliland also praised the leadership of Roberts, whose example helped the entire pitching staff. 'He's definitely a nonverbal leader,' Gilliland said. 'Whether it's a bad day or a good day, he's gonna go out there and he's gonna try his best. So I definitely think he's a big role model.' Acevedo said Roberts will be missed. 'He's a big piece of why we've had the success in the last two years, for sure,' Acevedo said. 'If he keeps progressing the way he has here over the last couple years, the sky is the limit for him. I'm excited to see what he does.' Whatever it is, Roberts won't forget his time at Waubonsie Valley. 'I owe so much to the school,' he said. 'I'm so thankful for all the coaches, all the teammates, just everyone. I couldn't thank them enough and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.'
Chicago Tribune
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Hiroshy Wong chips in as Indiana State recruit Owen Roberts does it all for Waubonsie Valley. ‘Anything to help.'
Welcome to the club, dude. That's what Waubonsie Valley's Hiroshy Wong, approached Thursday by a reporter for a postgame interview, seemed to be thinking as he flashed a knowing smile when the first question focused on the performance of Indiana State-bound pitcher Owen Roberts. Of course it was. Wong, a senior third baseman and the team's leading hitter Thursday, was once again up close to to witness another standout performance by the senior ace and hard-throwing right-hander. 'He's very confident in the first place,' said Wong, who was brought up to the varsity for the final four games of his freshman season and has started since his sophomore year. 'He knows what he has to do and he also knows, as a defense, we're going to make plays for him to make it easy. 'Owen is always very good. He's always throwing strikes and trying to get the quick innings.' That held true again Thursday night as 10th seeded Waubonsie Valley cruised to a 4-1 upset of the second-seeded hosts Porters in a Class 4A Lockport Sectional semifinal at Ed Flink Field. The pitching and hitting of Roberts led the way for the Warriors (22-12), who advanced to play at 11 a.m. Saturday against Downers Grove North (30-7) in a rematch of last year's sectional final, won 3-2 by the Trojans on a walk-off home run in the seventh. Roberts, meanwhile, carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning and handcuffed the Porters (24-14) on two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. He hit one batter. 'We give him the ball at the beginning and tell him we'll get it back at the end of the game,' Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said. 'That's what he's done for two years now. 'He's been really special for us. Any time he's on the mound, we've got an opportunity to win.' Roberts (8-2), who went 10-0 last season, also is the team's No. 2 hitter. He drew a walk and singled and scored twice as the Warriors took a 3-0 lead after three innings. Wong, who bats third and leads the team with a .390 average, was in the thick of those rallies, advancing Roberts with two of his three singles. In the seventh, Roberts gave himself some insurance with his second home run of the season, clearing the left field fence and doinking the ball off the scoreboard beyond it. 'That felt good to get it over the fence,' Roberts said. 'We came out a little slow this season, but we're starting to find our identity. Our pitching has been great all year. 'We're scrapping a few runs together and the defense has been amazing.' That was evident from the start, when junior left fielder Aidan Kornak ranged far to his right and made a sliding catch on the first Lockport hitter. Wong went far to his left, charging a slow grounder past the mound in the sixth and throwing the batter out, ending up on the right side of the infield. 'I have pretty good range,' Wong said. 'I've actually been moving around. I play second and third base and also play in the outfield, too. Anything to help my team. 'I'm mainly a utility guy. I play everything.' He also upped his career hit total to 125, five short of the program record of 130 held by former major leaguer Michael Bowden. Lockport coach Scott Malinowski said Roberts, who needed only 90 pitches, was as good as his team has seen. 'He throws hard, but what separates him from most hard throwers at this level is he fills up the strike zone,' Mallinowski said. 'There were a lot of short at-bats and short innings. It's why he was easily able to go a complete game.' On top of that, Acevedo pointed out that the Warriors have come around, going 9-1 in their last 10 games after being 13-11 when seeding took place. 'All the pressure has been on the other teams since we're the 10th seed,' Wong said. 'We were looking forward to getting a rematch with Downers Grove. We're playing good baseball now. 'We just started doing all the little things right and aren't making those little mistakes.'
Chicago Tribune
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Waubonsie Valley senior Danny McGuigan earns a new perk in his new gig. He gets to enjoy a tie and a win.
Waubonsie Valley senior Danny McGuigan didn't see a lot of playing time until late in the regular season. He was used mainly as a pitcher out of the bullpen. But Waubonsie Valley coach Bryan Acevedo saw something in the Aurora University commit and decided to try him as the designated hitter. 'On Saturdays, when he got some opportunities, he hit some baseballs hard, and we liked his approach,' Acevedo said. 'We gave him some opportunities a couple weeks ago as the DH, and he hasn't left the lineup.' McGuigan left the bench only four times on Thursday, but he took advantage of his chances. He went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs to lead the 10th-seeded Warriors to a 7-1 victory over sixth-seeded Naperville Central in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinals. McGuigan's two-out, bases-loaded double in the top of the first inning plated the first three runs of the game. He blooped the hit into a perfect spot about a foot inside the right-field line. 'I was lucky on that one,' he said. 'I think it was a change-up away, and I tried to foul it off, but it stayed fair. 'That felt great. It set the tone for the rest of the game, and it really hyped me up as well as the team, so I was really pumped up by that.' The three runs were more than enough for senior right-hander Owen Roberts. The Indiana State commit pitched a three-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts and also went 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Warriors (20-12), who advance to play third-seeded West Aurora in the regional final at 11 a.m. Saturday. Roberts improved to 7-2. Junior infielder Casey Cooperkawa scored an unearned run in the sixth for the Redhawks (20-16). By that time, Waubonsie Valley was comfortably ahead, and it all started with McGuigan's big hit. 'That helped us to wake up because the energy was low,' Waubonsie Valley senior third baseman Hiroshy Wong said. 'When we scored that three runs, we got excited, we got happy.' Wong is happy to see McGuigan succeed. 'Being a DH is really tough because your only job is hitting, as you know,' Wong said. 'He had a slow start, but he never gave up. 'As they say, the game always comes back to you. So he's been working really hard in the cages, and it's paying off right now.' McGuigan got hits off three pitchers. He had an RBI double and scored in the fifth inning and singled in the seventh. 'I've got to stay locked in on the other pitcher, taking it at-bat by at-bat,' McGuigan said. 'So before my first at-bat, l just really try to zone in and figure out how I'm going hit him and see what he's throwing.' McGuigan's hitting prowess isn't the only new wrinkle for the Warriors. He was seen wearing a striped tie in the dugout after each of his hits. 'Our manager, Matthew Choi, used to dress up in a shirt and tie for big games, and today he just brought the tie and used it as kind of like the celebration chain type of thing you see in the NFL or Major League Baseball,' Acevedo said. Just like that, a new tradition appears to have begun. 'It started out of nowhere,' McGuigan said. 'Matthew just brought it out and put it on one of the poles and started putting it on everybody who hit.' Expect McGuigan to continue as the DH. 'He's got a really good mentality for it,' Acevedo said. 'He's kind of a goofy kid, but he's able to lock in in spurts. 'We talk about team mystique in our program and for guys to take the next step as a senior, and he's definitely done that for us this year.'
Chicago Tribune
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Bella Phillips, with Bunny written on her arm, helps Yorkville hop past Waubonsie Valley. ‘It's like my alter ego.'
Word up, Foxes. It's playoff time for senior shortstop Bella Phillips and her Yorkville teammates, and that means sporting their very own word or phrase of the day on their forearm for game day. It's a practice that can help ease the tension in one-loss-and-you're-done games. It can inspire, remind or simply be fun. 'We very much have a family chemistry and we all buy into the season and we work really hard and push each other,' said Phillips, described by Foxes coach Jory Regnier as a natural leader who plays a key role in building her team's culture. Phillips was among three key contributors bearing apropos messages in a 10-0 five-inning win Tuesday over Waubonsie Valley in a Class 4A Yorkville Regional semifinal — Phillips with 'Bunny,' junior catcher Kayla Kersting with 'Beast mode' and junior pitcher Ellie Fox with 'Confidence.' Fourth-seeded Yorkville (23-12) advances to a 4:30 p.m. Friday regional final against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between fifth-seeded Plainfield East and 12th-seeded Naperville North. Phillips, meanwhile, got Yorkville rolling against 13th-seeded Waubonsie Valley (9-20) with an RBI single to highlight a three-run first inning. She then sliced a liner toward the right field line and legged out an RBI triple in the third. She celebrated with a rabbit-like hop at the third base bag to the delight of teammates in the nearby dugout. ''Bunny' is from softball,' said Phillips, who's also a starting guard in basketball. 'It's like my alter ego. I have like a funny (high-pitched) voice that goes with it, keeping like a positive mindset and cheering on the team.' Phillips isn't sure how that started, but after one of the assistant coaches heard Phillips doing the voice, Kersting said it became like a running joke from there that has helped keep the team loose. 'She's so funny — she's our comic,' said Kersting, the team's power-hitting leadoff hitter. Kersting hit three deep outfield drives into the wind that might have gone out on a calm day, running out two for triples. She was robbed by sophomore center fielder Dezirae Kelly with an outstanding sliding catch at the fence. 'Kayla brings the big hits for us for sure,' said Phillips, a defensive standout who has held up her end at the plate by hitting .337 with three doubles, four triples and 15 RBIs. Kersting, who leads the team with a gaudy .598 average to go with 12 triples, 10 homers and 38 RBIs, didn't mind having to work for her hits Tuesday. 'I like running the bases,' Kersting said. 'It's pretty easy to get triples here if you hit it in the gap, with the eight-foot fence all the way around. You really have to hit it to get it out.' Fox, a hard-throwing junior right-hander, pitched with confidence for the win, striking out six and giving up only three hits and a walk in her four innings. 'She did a great job,' Regnier said of Fox. 'Came in and was lights out.' Freshman righty Bella Rosauer struck out two in the fifth inning to get some playoff experience. This postseason run will be it for Phillips and her athletic career, however. She plans to attend Iowa State and major in marketing. 'I think she's had a phenomenal year,' Regnier said of Phillips. 'She just really has put it all out there. She's that person that helps get everything together and organizes, makes sure things get done the way they're supposed to get done. 'She has high standards and is part of a senior group that's big on our culture.' Over the last six seasons, it has helped Regnier's Foxes win 75% of their games by compiling a 155-51 record. 'Bella will do anything for the team,' Regnier said. 'She even went behind the plate last year when Kayla was hurt. She didn't love it, but she'd do it tomorrow if we asked and do her best. 'She's kind of the glue.'
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Wanting to avoid penalty kicks, Oswego's Jordyn Washington gets open for a shot. And scores. ‘You never know.'
The last thing Oswego's Jordyn Washington wanted was for the game to go to penalty kicks. Some might call what happened next serendipity. The junior forward ended up with the ball at her feet just outside of the Waubonsie Valley box — and she saw her chance to slam the door. 'The game was very physical up to that point,' Washington said. 'I looked and looked and knew the ball was coming to me. I grabbed it underneath my foot and then kicked it as fast as I could. 'You never know. You just have to get it there.' Washington definitely got it there Thursday night, scoring a goal in the 92nd minute to lead the host Panthers to a 3-2 victory in double overtime of a Class 3A Oswego Regional semifinal. Freshman forward Mane Brolley also scored off an assist by Washington for fifth-seeded Oswego (20-4-1), which plays at noon Saturday against fourth-seeded Naperville North (12-5-3) for the regional title. Senior forward Katie Chapman scored two goals in the second half on assists off free kicks by junior defender McKinley Ladd to lead Waubonsie Valley (3-10-5). Washington now has 28 goals and 16 assists this spring. Her ability to facilitate for others is the most significant improvement from last season, when had 23 goals and three assists. 'I think I'm always aware of where I am and I always try to go as far as I can with the ball,' she said. 'I'm always thinking about who's around me and if I can pass it off. 'That is just great to see if somebody has a better shot than me.' Brolley pointed out that having a game-changing player like Washington allows the team to stay calm even in the most demanding situations. 'I just know if I play Jordyn the ball, she's going to get it and score,' Brolley said. 'I wasn't worried even when they tied it and it went to overtime. She's really fast and can get by anybody.' Senior midfielder Grace Braun confirmed the other players also have complete faith in Washington's ability to deliver. 'She's really clutch in tough games,' Braun said. 'We can always rely on her to come through for us under pressure. Any time she gets the ball in the box like that, it's very hard on the other team. 'She wants it so badly and everything is personal.' The 5-foot-11 Washington, an Alabama A&M recruit, missed her freshman season recovering from a torn ACL. She combines elite size, speed and a physical presence on the ball. 'I think because of my size, my speed sometimes catches people off guard,' Washington said. 'I always try to be aggressive and play more at my feet with my speed.' She has a scorer's instinct as well, with a feel for the action around her. Two or three defenders are usually trying to dislodge the ball from her. And that's not all. 'I've always been able to look up and just know exactly how many steps I need to take to shoot the ball,' she said. 'I know what feels comfortable and what doesn't.' Her father, Verrell, played college football at Tennessee State. Jordyn, who did multiple sports growing up, played basketball for Oswego through her sophomore year before focusing exclusively on soccer. She recently took up the electric guitar, underscoring her creative nature and competitive intensity. She showed off considerable promise in her sophomore debut but was hungry for more. 'I had a great sophomore season, and it showed where I wanted to be and how good I could be,' she said. 'I remember thinking maybe I'm not going to be good anymore. 'Some players come off an injury and they don't play as well. I improved a lot.'
