Mustang Baseball Academy players Jimmy Duggan, Patrick Juarez and Gideon Earley were Wiffle ball champs in the tournament, which benefited Toys for Tots. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Park High School
Area Sports Report | Evergreen Park Wiffle Ball players aid Toys for Tots
By Jeff Vorva
Staff Writer
Toys for Tots was the big winner, but the players also had some fun.
The Mustang Baseball Academy (MBA) joined the Evergreen Park High School baseball team for the third annual Wiffle Ball Tournament, held Dec. 13 at high school’s sports complex.
Each player who participated got a spot in the tournament by donating a toy to support the Evergreen Park High School National Honor Society’s Toys for Tots drive. The effort yielded approximately 35 toys, according to an unofficial tally.
The MBA is a youth baseball program that serves as a feeder program for the Mustangs. Its Wiffle tournament team of Jimmy Duggan, Gideon Earley and Patrick Juarez won a championship, as did the high school team consisting of Rashawn Andrews, Aidan Carr, Billy Duffner, Yarim Garcia and Noah Munoz.
Evergreen Park students Thomas Gobby, Jack Hughes and Rowan Smith won a Wiffle ball tournament held Dec. 13 in the high school’s indoor athletics complex. Photo courtesy of Evergreen Park High School
Wrestling warriors
Four Marist wrestlers made it to the championship round of the 35th Al Dvorak Tournament, which wrapped up Dec. 27 at Harlem High School in Machesney Park.
George Marinopolis (120) and Will Denny (157) earned titles for the RedHawks, while Michael Esteban (126) and Conor Phelan (190) took second.
The RedHawks finished second with 174.5 points to St. Charles East, which won the title with 214.
Sandburg had a pair of champs in the 57th Rex Whitlach Invitational held Dec 16 at Hinsdale Central.
Madden Parker won at 126 and Ryan Hinger won at 138 for the Eagles. Gunnar Garelli of Lyons earned a title at 175.
Red Stars stay put
The National Women’s Soccer League will expand to 14 teams with Bay FC and the Utah Royals FC joining in 2024, but neither team selected any Chicago Red Stars player during the expansion draft on Dec. 15.
An unprotected list of 16 players for the Red Stars included Jill Aguilera, Jenna Bike, Samantha Fischer, Amanda Kowalski, Zoe Morse and Mackenzie Wood.
Protected players were Orland Park native Tatumn Milazzo, Julia Bianchi, Penelope Hocking, Taylor Malham, Alyssa Naeher, Cari Roccaro, Ally Schlegel and Arin Wright.
Blueprint
The NWSL announced that the 2024 season will open March 16.
The schedule will feature a balanced 26-game slate for each team, and there will be league breaks from July 8-14 and July 15-Aug. 18. Match details will be announced in the coming months.
With the addition of Bay FC and Utah, the playoffs will expand from six to eight teams. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Nov. 9-10, with the semifinals Nov. 16-17 and the championship on Nov. 23.
Preseason camps will open for business on Jan. 22. The Challenge Cup has been revamped, with San Diego facing Gotham on March 16 to open the 2024 season.
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