Rick Armstrong

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Rick Armstrong

West Aurora quarterback Mason Atkins figured the time was right, along with the school and especially its coaching staff, so he made the call. Nearing the end of his junior year, Atkins announced May 9 he was committing to a scholarship offer he had received in mid-March from Ball State, a Mid-American Conference program. “Definitely at that position, I had to make a decision soon with these offers going away, with other quarterbacks committing and with the offers that I had,” Atkins said.

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Rick Armstrong

Speed to burn pretty much sums up the game of senior pitcher/shortstop Brooklyn Marks. It’s on display when she’s running the bases and taking advantage of Sandwich’s spacious home field, covering ground defensively at either position or simply firing her fastball from the circle. Newark coach Jon Wood, whose team was on the opposite end, got a glimpse of that and more.

3 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Rick Armstrong

The question had to be asked, and senior outfielder Natalie Muellner provided the answer. What’s up with the rubber toy chickens hanging from the chain-link fence protecting Oswego’s dugout each game, home or away? Their number seems to be growing. “The first one has a Dave & Buster’s shirt on it that’s orange and blue,” Muellner said. “I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s perfect.

3 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Rick Armstrong

Do you know me? If it ever did, St. Charles North’s Jordyn McBride shouldn’t have that thought crossing her mind. Coaches, teammates and opponents have become very much aware of the grounded sophomore designated player eight weeks into her debut season on the varsity. “I think she has this, what’s the phrase, high ceiling,” North Stars coach Tom Poulin said of McBride. “She’s got such potential, hits the ball so hard and is strong.”First impressions are important.

3 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Rick Armstrong

Junior right-hander Corina Miller finds herself in good company these days as Aurora Central Catholic tunes up for the Class 2A playoffs that are looming next week. Hard work as a dedicated student of the game has put the ace pitcher in this spot, possibly with an assist from her very own flower power — a lucky sunflower she sports in her hair each game. More on that later. “She’s a real bulldog,” Chargers coach Mark Pasqualini said of the 5-foot-3 Miller.