Prep Baseball: Warriors ready for playoff push
Westminster Christian began preparing for the 2008 Class 1A playoffs 347 days ago. That's when the Warriors saw their 2007 postseason run come to an end with a 12-1 loss against Pickneyville in the Class A state quarterfinals at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. Ever since that time, Westminster's primary focus has been on returning to Joliet for the second year in a row.
Cubs blow out San Diego in series opener
So how come they can't do this anywhere but cold, damp Wrigley Field? Fresh off sweeping the big, bad Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, the Cubs bullied the anemic San Diego Padres 12-3 on Monday night, proving once again that they can take the whup-up out of the can, even if they can't take the can on the road.
Prep Softball Notebook: Conf. titles up for grabs
Bartlett, Jacobs and Burlington Central all can wrap up outright conference titles this week by winning out. For Jacobs and Burlington Central celebrating a conference title is nothing new. The Golden Eagles, members of the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division, have shared the league title the last two seasons.
Prep Baseball Notebook: Super sophs stepping up
With the high school baseball season drawing to a close, what better time to peek to the future by taking a look at some of the sophomores who have made a name for themselves this year. Two of the area's top performing sophomores are Burlington Central's Austin Jarvis and Hampshire's Ryan Burke.
Proud of their premises
Dandelion-infested outfields and bumpy infields often come to mind when thinking about high school baseball diamonds. However, the traditional view of high school fields being second rate is slowly disappearing as teams across the area put in the hard work to raise the level of the playing surfaces they call home. Some teams have gone so far as to build brick backstops, install outdoor batting cages, erect spiffy scoreboards, improve on existing dugouts and create press boxes, resulting in facilities that resemble college or even minor league ball fields.
Elgin High awaits field improvements
Good things come to those who wait. Those involved with the Elgin High baseball and softball programs surely hope that's the case. While their Elgin School District U46 neighbors have received upgrades at their baseball and softball fields, Maroons players and coaches might be wondering when they're going to get the goods.
Prep Baseball: St. Charles E. makes emphatic response
St. Charles East proved it can win in more ways than one Saturday as the Saints battled Upstate Eight Conference foe South Elgin. East dominated Game 1 for a 7-2 win and fought back from a four-run deficit for an 8-7 win in Game 2. The doubleheader sweep comes on the heels of a 17-7 five-inning loss to the Storm on Thursday.
Girls Track: Bartlett finds right mixture
The state of the Bartlett girls track program was in limbo before the season began without a coach. That problem was solved when the school's athletic director Dan Kallenbach stepped forward to assume the duties. Ten years ago, Kallenbach got out of the coaching profession after more than a decade as the Streamwood High girls track coach.
Prep Baseball: Rockets rout Whip-Purs
George Heller's two-run home run in the third inning effectively opened the floodgates for Burlington Central on Thursday. Trailing Hampshire by a run, Heller stepped to the plate with one out and a runner on first base and smacked an opposite-field drive over the right-field fence to give the Rockets their first runs of the game. 
Boys Track: Central captures fourth straight BNC title
Burlington Central made history Thursday at the Big Northern Conference Track Meet by finishing in first place for the fourth consecutive year.
Prep Softball: Royals can't get to Hawks hurler
Lauren Wydra's fourth no-hitter of the season may have been subject to debate Wednesday, but Bartlett's place in the Upstate Eight Conference certainly is not. With a 4-0 win against visiting Larkin, the Hawks remained unbeaten at 15-0 atop the UEC standings. Wydra struck out 13 and walked three to improve her record to 14-2. 
Prep Baseball: Jacobs batters D-C before rain strikes
Jacobs will have to wait two days to finish what it started against rival Dundee-Crown on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles scored in each of the first four innings and jumped out to a 6-0 lead against the Chargers before rain suspended the game in the top of the fifth inning.
Prep Tennis: This spring perfect for Williamson
In a spring season that has been dominated by rain, sleet and even snow -- Dundee Crown tennis star Mike Williamson has remained perfect. With seven of the Chargers' meets postponed or suspended, it has been difficult to get in much of a groove, but Williamson has done it. Entering this weekend's Fox Valley Tournament, D-C's No. 1 singles player is unbeaten at 20-0.
Prep Soccer: Central still dominant
Burlington Central continued its domination over rival Hampshire on Tuesday in a Big Northern Conference East Division match and maintained course for a third straight league championship. For the second time this season, the Rockets beat the Whip-Purs 1-0. Should Central (9-7-1) win its next two conference games, the Rockets will play Richmond-Burton on Saturday in a game that will likely decide the outright BNCE title.
Monday's Area Highlights
A roundup of Monday's highlights for girls soccer, boys tennis, boys volleyball, boys track and college baseball.
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