In 2023, the Chicago Hounds were a struggling first-year team in Major League Rugby.
In 2024, they were in the Final Four of the playoffs.
This year, they are back in the Final Four and looking for more.
The Hounds shook off a 16-10 halftime deficit to defeat Old Glory DC 27-16 on June 14 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
They will visit two-time defending champion New England at noon June 21 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Free Jacks beat the Hounds 27-17 May 10 during the regular season.
In the semifinals, Chris Helsenbeck accounted for 12 points on three conversions and two penalty kicks. Peyton Wall, Charlie Abel and Ignacio Peculo scored tries for the Hounds.
Morton gets national leader
Morton College baseball recruit Bren Milburn of Crete-Monee finished the season No. 1 in the nation in stolen bases among high-school players, according to MaxPreps
Milburn stole 93 bases for the Warriors and according to stats submitted to MaxPreps, that’s the No. 1 theft total in the country.
It’s also tied for third in the history of the MaxPreps National High School Record Book. Silento Sayles of Port Gibson, Mississippi, is first with a 103 stolen-base season in 2013.
Joey Hood from Los Angeles was second on this year’s list with 73.
Earlier in the season, Milburn told Southwest Regional Publishing that he had offers from various colleges, but chose to go the junior college route because it won’t count against his NCAA eligibility after a court ruling earlier in the year.
“The end goal is to play baseball at the highest level,” Milburn said. “So, going to that JUCO is a great route nowadays. It’s a lot different than it was. So, I think that’s the route for me to play at the highest level.”
Milburn hit .439 this spring. His 93 swipes for a season tops the IHSA record book as two players are now tied for second with 73 each.
He is also third on the IHSA’s career stolen-base list with 188 behind Waltonville’s Tim Dressler (210 from 1981-1984) and Woodlawn’s Rick Gaebe (194, also from 1981-1984).
Soccer scramble
The three area pro soccer teams were all in action on June 14, including a doubleheader at Soldier Field.
The Chicago Stars (1-8-3) moved out of the NWSL basement and into 13th place with a 2-2 tie with Seattle in the opener.
Brazilian star Ludmilla scored in the 11th and 13th minutes to get the Stars off on the right foot, but Seattle (5-4-3) scored in the 87th and 89th minutes to even it up.
The Stars visit Portland at 9 p.m. June 21.
The Chicago Fire (7-6-4) dropped a 2-0 MLS decision to Nashville in the second game. It was their first shutout loss of the season.
The Fire next host Philadelphia June 25 at Soldier Field.
The Fire II (5-4-3) tied Carolina 1-1 in High Point, North Carolina, in a MLS NEXT Pro game. Chase Gasper’s header in the 43rd minute tied the game up. The Fire gained an extra point with a 5-4 shootout win.
Earlier in the week, the Fire II finished their weather-suspended game against New England on June 9, playing to a 2-2 tie. Jean Alpha Diouf and Claudio Cassano scored for Chicago.
The Fire II visit Inter Miami CF II at 6:30 p.m. June 25.