Baseball: Resilient Spartans rally late, force tie v. Mount Carmel
By Steve Millar
Correspondent
Oak Lawn has built the confidence to know it can rally from a big deficit.
“Usually in those types of innings, when we’re down, it just takes one man to get on base and then we all rally off each other,” senior second baseman Steven Hebel said after the Spartans battled to a 6-6 tie with Mount Carmel on April 20. “Whatever it takes, we have to get on base. We have to put the ball in play and force them to make plays and when they don’t, we score runs and that’s when we get hyped.”
The Spartans had a lot to be hyped about after rallying four runs in the seventh inning to force the deadlock with the Caravan.
The game was called after seven innings because of darkness, but the tie felt like a rewarding result for the Spartans (9-4-1), who trailed 5-0 entering the sixth inning. They felt like it earned them some respect, as well.
“We know teams like [Mount Carmel] are looking down on the name ‘Oak Lawn,’” Hebel said. “History is history but today is a new day, and in a game like this we have to come out and show these teams what we can do.”
Both teams missed opportunities to win the game in the seventh inning.
The Spartans’ big rally started with a pinch-hit double by John Marchetti, who moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-3.
Austin Zernia was hit by a pitch before Ayham Salah and Ivan Gonzalez came up with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Hebel, who ripped a two-run single to left to cut the deficit to one.
An error then led to the tying run.
“We had a rough game (in a 4-2 loss to Shepard on April 19), and in this game we had opportunities to really get down on ourselves and we didn’t,” Oak Lawn coach William Gerny said. “I told them that’s what I was most proud of. They kept battling back. I was happy.”
The Spartans had the go-ahead run at third with one out, but Mount Carmel reliever TJ Boyd wiggled out of trouble.
Oak Lawn reliever Nate Coghill did the same thing in the bottom of the seventh.
The Caravan (14-4-1) loaded the bases with one out, but Coghill got consecutive flyouts to end the inning and the game was called.
It made for a frustrating result for Mount Carmel.
“This was definitely not how we wanted it to go, but it happens,” Mount Carmel senior catcher Colin Horneman said. “It’s baseball. We know we need to get on teams early going forward, get a lead and then play good defense and not give up walks.”
Horneman, who is leading the Caravan with 24 RBIs, ripped a two-run double to left-center as part of a three-run third inning.
“I was just sitting fastball,” Horneman said. “I knew he was going curveball first pitch so I watched that. Next pitch, I was sitting fastball, got it and took it the other way. That’s basically what I do is hunt the fastball and try to get it early on, not get too deep into the count.
“I think it boosts up the team a lot, seeing the ball get hit in the air and into the gaps. It brings energy to the dugout.”
Brandon Rogers was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Caravan.
Salah and Gonzalez each went 2-for-4 for Oak Lawn, who hope the comeback provides some confidence.
“To come back against a team like this is going to help in the long run,” Hebel said. “On a Saturday in a regional game, I think we’ve got a shot.”
Local News
Oak Lawn Library draws a crowd with Fan Fest
Spread the loveBy Kelly White Comic book lovers gathered together in one common space earlier this month. Oak Lawn Public Library hosted its eighth annual Fan Fest, an all-ages celebration of pop culture, on May 11 at the library, 9427 S. Raymond Avenue. “It’s wonderful to see the community come together in celebration of shared…
Navajo Hills residents want to save threatened cul-de-sacs
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Navajo Hills greenspace islands could be getting the ax and residents are upset. Residents of the East and West Courts of Navajo Hills, aware of the historical significance of the greenspace, spoke up during the Palos Heights City Council meeting May 21. There are five cul-de-sacs in the Navajo Hills…
Nerds and bullies among topics of Orland’s State of the Village
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The 2024 Orland Park State of the Village Address was held at the Orland Park Civic Center, but it could have been held on a playground with talk of nerds and bullies and cool kids. Mayor Keith Pekau spent the first half hour “ripping off the Band Aid” of some…
Little things make a big difference in West Lawn
Spread the love. By Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Thank you to all who make a positive difference in West Lawn. There are some who are putting enormous efforts into making our neighborhood better and safer. We often hear about these good people and all…
Daina Cyvas again pedals with a purpose
Spread the love. Kathy Headley Your correspondent in Chicago Lawn and Marquette Manor 6610 S. Francisco • (773) 776-7778 . As I’m sure you remember, in past years, Daina Cyvas, the Communications and Project Coordinator for the Sisters of St. Casimir, has participated in Bike MS. in honor of one of her heroes, SSC Sister…
Folks urged to enter costume contest for La Grange Pet Parade
Spread the loveBy Steve Metsch About 40,000 people are expected along the streets of downtown La Grange on Saturday morning June 1, with some of them dressing in costumes for the 78th annual La Grange Pet Parade. A costume contest has long been part of the parade, Molly Price, the parade’s executive director, said on…
Hodgkins breaks ground on new public works building
Spread the loveBy Carol McGowan The Village of Hodgkins is getting ready to welcome a new public works office building at its facility off of 67th Street, east of East Avenue. Village officials and public works employees gathered last month for a groundbreaking. Hodgkins Mayor Ernest Millsap explained the history behind the Paul G. Struve Public Works Building.…
Neighbors
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
Pritzker signs bill creating new Department of Early Childhood
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday creating a new cabinet-level state agency dedicated to early childhood education and development. The new Department of Early Childhood, which will become operational in July 2026, will take over programs currently housed across three state agencies, including funding for preschool…
Speaker Welch rebuffs lawsuit from would-be staff union as ‘forum shopping’
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is urging a Cook County judge to dismiss a lawsuit members of his staff filed against him last month seeking to force recognition of their union. In a new filing Monday, attorneys for Welch argued the Illinois Legislative Staff Association has no…
Advocates say SCOTUS ruling paves way for law ensuring abusers have guns confiscated
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com After the U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld a federal law that bars those under domestic violence-related restraining orders from owning guns, victim advocates say Illinois lawmakers should pass a measure to ensure firearms are actually confiscated in those situations. The legislation has been stalled for more than…
Communities, commission push Pritzker admin for more prison plan details
By DILPREET RAJU Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com Jimmy Soto spent more than 42 years wrongfully imprisoned in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities. In 2020, he was moved to the “F-House” at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet, a condemned unit, not because he was being punished, but because it was where the facility was housing individuals…
Elections board urged to dismiss complaint that Bailey illegally coordinated in 2022 campaign
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com A hearing officer is recommending the Illinois State Board of Elections dismiss a complaint that alleged conservative radio host and political operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated with former Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey during his 2022 campaign for governor. Proft, a one-time gubernatorial candidate himself, is behind an…
State highway shootings decline as critics sue over ‘dragnet surveillance’
By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois State Police say an automated license plate reader program has helped the agency identify witnesses or suspects in 82 percent of highway shooting cases this year, including all eight that resulted in a death. But as the state looks to further expand its network of more than…
Just weeks before Republican National Convention, Illinois GOP chair announces resignation
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Halfway through the 2024 election cycle and just a few weeks away from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy on Wednesday announced his resignation as head of the state Republican Party. Tracy, who’d held the job since February 2021, explained his resignation in…
As Illinois session ends, lawmakers’ attempt to reinstate wetland protections fails
by JENNIFER BAMBERG Investigate Midwest jennifer.bamberg@investigatemidwest.org In 2006, 19-year-old Jessica Whinston inherited 20 acres of land that her grandparents once farmed in Quincy, Illinois. The land had sat dormant since the 1980s and was overgrown, but Whinston and her husband Bradley worked to turn it into a productive farm. The couple were eventually able to…
Elections board dismisses illegal campaign coordination complaint, declines to clarify law
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com CHICAGO – State elections officials on Tuesday indicated they were unlikely to step in to clarify what constitutes illegal campaign coordination after voting to dismiss a complaint alleging such coordination in the 2022 campaign for governor. At their monthly meeting in Chicago, Illinois State Board of Elections members…