Since 2003, Beecher High School’s softball team made nine appearances in the IHSA state tournament and brought home eight trophies with five state championships, two second-place finishes and a fourth-place finish.
Since 1998, Beecher Junior High’s softball team, which feeds into the high-school program, has qualified for the Illinois Elementary School Association state tournament 14 times and brought home 10 trophies, including six state championships.
Don’t expect things to lighten up anytime soon.
The junior-high version of the Bobcats qualified for the Class 2A quarterfinals and lost 9-3 to Metamora on Sept. 19 at Champions Field in Normal. Avery Groom and Addison Johnson each had two hits for Beecher (19-4), while Lilah Alborn had a double and a run.
With 12 of 16 players on the roster who are eligible to return, the hope is for another top-four trophy to add to the collection.
Here is another scary thought for opponents in the future. There is more talent on the horizon.
“I have a real nice group of kids who are fifth-graders now,” said coach Kevin Hayhurst, who coaches both teams. “We have eight kids in that group and that’s a lot of kids for one class in Beecher. There are some nice pitchers in that group.”
Despite the disappointing loss in the quarterfinals this year, the Bobcats will have good memories of the wild 6-5, eight-inning Sectional A win over Bishop McNamara on Sept. 16 at Momence.
Mackenzie Davis struck out 11 in that game to keep the team in it until good fortune arrived.
“We fought our way back and had some walks and some hit batsmen and some errors and the momentum changed quickly,” Hayhurst said. “This is a very resilient team.”
Closing in on Posada
Crete-Monee’s Carlos Posada set an IHSA scoring record that hasn’t been touched in over 10 years.
That could change soon with Beecher’s Wences Baumgartner hot on his trail.
Through the Bobcats’ first 14 games, Baumgartner had 163 career goals, which is second on the state list. Posada had 177 goals from 2007-2010.
Muskie stars
Right-handed pitcher Bryce Shafer of the Beecher Muskies was named the Chicago Suburban Baseball League’s Post-Collegiate Pitcher of the Year.
Shafer was 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in six league starts. He racked up 55 strikeouts in 32 innings.
Outfielder Andy Gaytan was named the league’s Post-Collegiate player of the year as he hit .482 with 27 RBIs.
Panthers win own invite
Manteno’s girls volleyball team went 4-0 to win its own eight-team invitational on Sept. 20 to improve to 16-3.
The Panthers beat Momence, Coal City, Pontiac and St. Thomas More to push their winning streak to nine.
Junior middle hitter Maddie Gesky had 33 kills, 13 blocks, three aces and 12 digs, while junior setter Danika Fletcher had 40 assists, six aces, six kills and 12 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Kendall Blanchette contributed 14 aces. nine kills and 29 digs, while junior libero Morgan Derrico finished with 46 digs and four aces.
Beecher golfers on top
Beecher’s boys golf team won the 10-team Grant Park Invitational on Sept. 20 at Minne Monesse in Grant Park.
The Bobcats fired a 324 and were led by Peyton Serafin, who finished first in the tourney with a 76. Teammate Charlie Nowak was second with a 78.