SRP-IMAGE-Logo

Baseball: Reavis ace Montalto stifles Evergreen Park again

Spread the love

By Steve Millar 
Correspondent

When Reavis junior Nathan Montalto pitched against Evergreen Park on March 29, he cruised through five innings, striking out eight and allowing just one hit in a 10-0 win for the Rams.

So, when Montalto ended up facing the Mustangs a second time, he saw no need to change anything.

“Mentally, it was the same thing for me,” Montalto said. “I just knew I was going to go out there and do what I do. My arm was feeling good. It went great.”

Indeed, it did.

Montalto threw a complete game three-hitter, allowing just two unearned runs as the Rams completed the season sweep of host Evergreen Park with a 6-2 win in a South Suburban Red game on April 15.

Montalto struck out six and did not issue a walk to lead the Rams (9-4-1, 5-0).

“Everything was working,” he said. “My fastball, I was spotting it perfectly. My curveball was breaking and my slider, same thing.”

The Rams and Mustangs (6-9, 1-6) were originally scheduled to play April 13, but rain caused the game to be postponed two days and resulted in Montalto being back on the mound.

“Sometimes it’s a little easier to hit off a guy a second time around,” Reavis coach Don Erickson said. “(Montalto) threw against them last time and he wasn’t scheduled to pitch against them this time, but it’s just the way it worked out with the rainout.

“He was able to stifle them for 12 innings now. That’s good stuff.”

Erickson said Montalto started the season as Reavis’ ace but he and Anthony Tanas have become “1A and 1A.”

Montalto takes that as a challenge.

“I like pressure,” Montalto said. “I want to be that top guy. Anthony is great pitcher, too, and if he takes that spot from me, good for him — but I want it. It’s great competition.”

Down 3-0, Evergreen Park took advantage of a two-out error and mounted a rally in the fifth inning.

After Rowan Smyth reached on the error, Caleb Keyser singled and Sean Higgins with hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Sophomore Jack Hughes then came through with a two-run base hit.

Montalto was able to get out of the jam with the lead intact and Hughes’ hit was the final one of the day for the Mustangs.

“Offensively, our bats are not coming around the way we want them to,” Evergreen Park coach Mark Smyth said. “Jack came through with a big hit and got us rolling and we got close, but those are few and far between right now. The boys are battling, though.”

Tanas broke the game open with his first high school home run in the top of the sixth, a three-run blast that sailed well beyond the left field fence to make it 6-2.

“I was walking with the bat after I hit it,” Tanas said. “I was like, ‘Holy cow, my first home run.’ It was like a big, ‘Wow’ to me. My dad got it on film. It was perfect. Hopefully I can get more.”

Tanas was also the hero in Thursday’s wild 13-12 win over Lemont, coming through with the game-winning two-run single with outs in the sixth in a game that was called after six due to darkness.

It was a big week for the Rams, who went 4-0 including Erickson’s 500th career win, a 4-0 victory over Argo on Monday.

Evergreen Park, meanwhile, had a 1-3 week that was highlighted by an 18-0 romp over Hillcrest on Thursday. Keyser and Tyler Kummer each had three RBIs in that one.

While the Mustangs are searching for offensive consistency, they got a solid outing on the mound Friday from Crispin Soto, who went six innings and allowed six runs, the big blow coming on the Tanas homer.

“Crispin pitched a great game,” Mark Smyth said. “That was super encouraging. It was a good outing. He just let up that home run. The previous at-bat against that guy, he was able to get him out in front with changeups so we tried to stick with that and he just hung one, left it up and the guy got it up in the air.

“That was it.”

Local News

Crime scene tape lies on the sidewalk in front of the Crossing Bar and Grill in Worth where two men were shot and killed early Monday morning. (Photos by Linda Bogard) 

Warrant issued for suspected shooter in Worth double homicide

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Bob Bong  Worth police have an arrest warrant for a man suspected as the shooter in a double homicide January 10 at the Crossing Bar and Grill in Worth. Worth police are working with numerous law enforcement agencies to seek the man, who was not identified. Police said the suspect is not…

reporter oak lawn logo

Oak Lawn officials rip governor, legislators over crime 

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle  Two Oak Lawn officials are calling for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and local legislators to re-evaluate a police reform law that they say has resulted in a rise in crime. Trustee Alex Olejniczak (2nd) served as mayor pro-tem during the Oak Lawn Village Board meeting Tuesday night in place of Mayor Terry Vorderer,…

New Eagle Scout Adrian Ayala with his parents, Lorena Sanchez and Lazaro Ayala. --Supplied photo

Troop 1441 Scout earns Eagle rank

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports A journey that began years ago for Adrian Ayala recently culminated in Boy Scouting’s highest honor. Ayala, a member of Boy Scout Troop 1441 (sponsored by the St. Mary Star of the Sea Holy Name Society) was honored at an Eagle ceremony at Duggan Hall on Jan. 13. The Eagle rank…

Hog Wild is scheduled to open Monday in Oak Lawn, a week after it was originally set to open. (Photos by Kelly White)

Hog Wild to open Monday in Oak Lawn

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Kelly White   Dining choices will get a boost in Oak Lawn with the arrival of Hog Wild. The restaurant is  scheduled to open Monday, January 17, at 4040 W. 111th St. That’s a week later than originally scheduled. “We are very fortunate here in Oak Lawn to have attracted Hog Wild,” Oak…

Orland Park Trustee Sean Kampas said voluntary camera registration will help the police solve crimes quicker. (Photo by Jeff Vorva)

Home security cameras could be big help to Orland cops

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva  Residents of Orland Park could have a hand in solving crime in the village. The board of trustees unanimously approved to move forward with a voluntary security camera registration program at its Jan. 4 meeting. It’s expected to start on Feb. 1. This program gives citizens and businesses a chance…

CRRNH_EagleComplaint_011222

Ailing eagle on the mend

Spread the love

Spread the loveSeveral blocks northwest of Garfield Ridge—just west of 47th and Harlem–motorists late last month noticed an eagle flying low and acting erratically. The Villa Park-based Chicago Bird Collision Monitors was contacted, and its volunteers found and captured the majestic bird. It was transported to a facility owned and operated by Glen Ellyn-based Willowbrook…

Joan Hadac

Can’t we just fast-forward to spring?

Spread the love

Spread the loveBy Joan Hadac Your correspondent in Clearing and Garfield Ridge (708) 496-0265 • joan.hadac@gmail.com Hi everyone. Is it spring yet? Is the pandemic over yet? Not that I’m impatient or anything. I want to move forward past all the negative COVID-19 has brought to my life and everyone else’s life. I want to see…

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Scavenger Sale different this year, Pappas says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ 2022 Scavenger Sale will look different, as the Treasurer’s Office takes steps to help small developers, homeowners and investors rebuild neighborhoods and create generational wealth. Under Illinois law, the Treasurer’s Office is required to conduct a Scavenger Sale every two years, offering at auction the…

U.S. Rep. Jesús "Chuy" García (D-4th)

Give poor countries a break, Chuy says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (D-4th) is one of 18 Members of Congress who recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging her to use the voice and vote of the United States at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to abolish the IMF’s surcharge policy, which requires countries…

U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush

Stop sale of dangerous drugs online, Rush says

Spread the love

Spread the loveFrom staff reports Legislation designed to ensure that social media platforms and websites are held accountable for failing to prevent the sale of dangerous, illegal drugs on their platforms has been introduced by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-1st). The Domain Reform for Unlawful Drug Sellers (DRUGS) Act also was introduced by U.S. David…

Neighbors

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

Lawmakers pitch sweeping changes to energy industry and Chicagoland transit system

By ANDREW ADAMS  Capitol News Illinois aadams@capitolnewsillinois.com A group of lawmakers and influential environmental advocates are calling for broad changes to the state’s energy industry and a massive increase in state oversight of Chicagoland’s transit system – which faces a projected $730 million budget shortfall.  Advocates for the policy platform, which is broken up into…

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

Democrats flex muscle to kick off final month of session as revenues remain on track

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – With about three weeks to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn its spring legislative session, supermajority Democrats showed their strength this week as fiscal forecasters noted state revenues remain on track. April is typically a make-or-break month for state coffers, as income…

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

Former state trooper who caused fatal crash halts effort to get driving privileges restored

By BETH HUNDSDORFER Capitol News Illinois bhundsdorfer@capitolnewsillinois.com The former Illinois State Trooper who pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter of two sisters in 2007 has abandoned his efforts to have a hearing into the restoration of his driving privileges – for now.  Matt Mitchell, 45, requested at least two delays in the hearing after he failed…

Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending

Capitol Briefs: Senate advances elections bill, measure targeting ‘predatory’ lending

By PETER HANCOCK & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would put more controls on certain kinds of high-cost loans to small businesses cleared the Illinois Senate Thursday. Senate Bill 2234, known as the Small Business Financial Transparency Act, targets a relatively new kind of nontraditional lender in the credit…

Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol

Law enforcement community honors fallen officers at Illinois Capitol

By COLE LONGCOR Capitol News Illinois clongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Six fallen police officers were honored at an annual memorial service outside the State Capitol Thursday. The Illinois Police Officers Memorial occurs annually on the first Thursday of May to honor officers who died in the line of duty and to support their families.  “No one…

Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions

Democrats muscle through changes to ballot access, advisory questions

By JERRY NOWICKI HANNAH MEISEL & PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Supermajority Democrats in the Illinois House moved quickly Wednesday to push through a change to state election laws that partially limits ballot access and adds three nonbinding referendums to the 2024 general election ballot.  It’s a move that caused minority party…

After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination

After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – In 1977, then-President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to make…

Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air

Capitol News Illinois partners with ‘Illinois Lawmakers’ program to bring it back to air

Capitol News Illinois announced today it will produce the long-running “Illinois Lawmakers” program this spring, in partnership with longtime host and producer Jak Tichenor.  “This new partnership is absolutely critical to providing Illinois residents with reliable, independent, in-depth, up to date coverage from the Illinois Capitol after many newspapers and broadcasters shuttered their Statehouse bureaus over…

Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated

Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated

By ANDREW ADAMS & HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge Gov. JB Pritzker, state election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State Board…

Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans

Immigrant advocates tout new report showing benefits of state-funded health plans

By PETER HANCOCK  and JERRY NOWICKI  Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Immigrant rights advocates on Friday continued to push for one of their top budget priorities: full funding for state-run health care programs that benefit noncitizens, regardless of their immigration status. Those programs offer health coverage for low-income individuals who would otherwise qualify for…