The Pepsi Showdown isn't just a prestigious soccer tournament where numerous high school teams pick up a few wins or suffer a few losses. It's a place where coaches can gauge their team's play and tweak things as the final stretch of the regular season approaches.

Getting to play a string of games hasn't been easy for the OPRF baseball team. Last week, the uncooperative weather allowed for just one game in five days for the Huskies, who earned a 13-9 win over West Suburban (Silver) rival Hinsdale Central.

The OPRF boys volleyball team took Morton to three games on Thursday night, but it was the Mustangs who came back late and edged the Huskies for the victory.

Also on the ballot Tuesday night was an advisory referendum on whether Oak Park and River Forest High School should use some of its reserves to build a pool/fitness center for the entire community.

The Chicago Hoops Express, a girls basketball club based at Trinity High School, recently won the eighth grade AAU State Championship.

It's been a good run, but the time has come. After 12-plus years, I've decided it's time that this section needs a fresh perspective, so I'm leaving Wednesday Journal.

After falling to Downers Grove South earlier in the week, the OPRF  baseball team took all its frustration out on another West Suburban Conference foe by serving up 23 runs in two games. The victim was Leyden, who the Huskies pummeled 14-1 and 9-0 in doubleheader action on Saturday.

The Fenwick boys water polo team suffered its first defeat of the season with a 9-8 loss in overtime to St. Louis University High School at the York Invitational.

The Huskies went 2-1 at their own invitational on Saturday, securing wins over St. Charles North and Wheeling, but falling to Lincoln-Way North 10-4. 

The Fenwick softball team shutdown, shutout and swept Joliet Catholic in doubleheader action on Saturday.