Rob Oesterle

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Rob Oesterle

MORRIS — After scoring just one run in Wednesday’s Class 3A Morris Regional semifinal win over Kankakee, the Morris offense was looking for a spark Saturday against La Salle-Peru in the championship game. That spark came from one of the unlikeliest spots, No. 9 hitter Landon Norris. Norris walked in each of his first two at-bats and came around to score both times before coming up in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded and his team leading by six runs.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Rob Oesterle

MORRIS — Ottawa and Morris had squared off twice on the softball field during the regular season prior to Friday’s Class 3A Morris Regional championship game, and both games had been won by the Pirates by a run. There is an old saying that it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season, but Ottawa was able to be an exception to that rule.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Rob Oesterle

JOLIET – It wasn’t the start that Plainfield South was hoping for Wednesday against Joliet West in a Class 4A Joliet West Regional semifinal, but the ending was much more to the Cougars’ liking in a 6-4 win that boosted them to Friday’s championship game against Lincoln-Way East. Despite playing on their home field, the Tigers, seeded 12th, were the visiting team against the No. 7 Cougars. In the top of the first, West got started right away.

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Rob Oesterle

This weekend, it will be the boys turn to take their talents to the big blue track at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Stadium for the IHSA state track and field finals. As always, there will be several Herald-News area athletes competing, and many with good chances to come home with a medal or even a state title. Let’s take a look. In the 100-meter dash, Plainfield East‘s Joe Owusu has the sixth-best qualifying time, while Lockport‘s Xavier Adeniyi is seeded 33rd.

2 weeks ago | shawlocal.com | Rob Oesterle

MINOOKA — The young Yorkville boys volleyball program, seeded 24th in the 31-team Hinsdale South Sectional, got its first postseason win Saturday afternoon, defeating No. 9 seed Joliet West 25-16, 26-24 in the Minooka Regional. It was the formidable front wall at the net that boosted the Foxes (11-21) to the historic win, anchored by 6-foot, 5-inch Micheal Harry and 6-4 Akongnwa Fongu-Atehnkeng. They consistently thwarted the Joliet West attack and frustrated the Tigers the entire match.