The OPRF boys volleyball team defeated St. Patrick 25-12, 25-9 in the Guerin Sectional title game to make its third straight trip to the IHSA state quarterfinals. (Courtesy Marsha Shipley)
The OPRF boys volleyball team defeated St. Patrick 25-12, 25-9 in the Guerin Sectional title game to make its third straight trip to the IHSA state quarterfinals. (Courtesy Marsha Shipley)
After an early exit in the 2018 playoffs, the OPRF baseball team has the talent and motivation to make a deep run in Class 4A this spring. (Photo by Jake Fine)
OPRF pitcher Taylor Divello went the distance, scattering four hits and striking out seven in a 4-0 win over regional host Evanston in the final. (File photo)
Fenwick senior shortstop Rachel Martinez ranges deep in the hole to make a defensive play. (Alexa Rogals/Staff Photographer)
OPRF senior Kyle Rasmussen hits a kill during a win against Riverside-Brookfield. The NYU-bound Rasmussen is one of top players on the Huskies’ 33-4 squad. (Photo by Carol Dunning)
The Fenwick softball team celebrates winning a regional title in the state playoffs. (Courtesy @FenwickAD/Twitter)
The OPRF boys track and field team finished third at the Class 3A IHSA state meet, hosted by Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. The Huskies excelled in shot put, hurdles and the 800 relay. (Photo by Alesha Young)

WEDNESDAY JOURNAL

POSTSEASON DAILY ROUNDUP

SATURDAY, JUNE 1: Scores & Highlights

OPRF boys volleyball

– At the IHSA boys volleyball state semifinals at Hoffman Estates High School, OPRF put up a tremendous effort versus one of Illinois’ premier teams in Marist. However, the Huskies’ dreams and hopes of playing in the state championship match were not to be realized as the Redhawks slid past OPRF 25-22, 25-23 in two hard-fought sets.

Jared Schattauer led the Huskies (35-5) with 13 kills, while Kyle Rasmussen added seven kills and Jared Schainis six

OPRF baseball 

At the IHSA baseball Class 4A Loyola Sectional title game, Tommy Cronin belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth to give OPRF the breathing room it needed during its 7-3 victory over Glenbrook South.

Griffin Holderfield went the distance on the mound for the Huskies (24-12). He gave up three runs on only five hits while walking two and striking out ten.

OPRF advances to Monday’s supersectional game at Boomers Stadium (previously known as Alexian Brothers Field) in Schaumburg.

The Huskies will face Hampshire, which was a 5-4 winner over Cary-Grove at the McHenry Sectional. First pitch is set for 5pm, with the winner moving on to the state semifinals next weekend at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. 

FRIDAY, MAY 31: Scores & Highlights

The OPRF softball team lost to Whitney Young 2-1 in the championship game of the Niles West Sectional. Game story posted online.

The OPRF boys volleyball team defeated Barrington in an IHSA state quarterfinals match 25-17, 25-13.

The Huskies advance to the state semifinals where they’ll meet the winner of the Marist/Minooka match on Saturday, June 1 at 11 a.m.. The other semifin al will pit Glenbard West against New Trier at 10 a.m. The third-place match is scheduled for 4 p.m. with the championship match following at 5:30 p.m. (all matches are June 1 at Hoffman Estates High School).

Stay tuned for an update later…

THURSDAY, MAY 30: Scores & Highlights

Fenwick sports

The 2018-2019 year for Fenwick High School athletics came to a close today at Benet Academy in Lisle as the Fenwick softball team fell to Glenbard South 6-2 in an IHSA Class 3A sectional semifinal. Overall, it was another successful year for the Friars with some notable achievements, the biggest being girls hockey winning a state championship and the water polo teams both advancing to the state tournament. The athletic program is in good hands under the direction and leadership of Scott Thies; look for the Friars to contend in many sports again in 2019-2020 with a bevy of talented athletes like Bryce Hopkins, Trey Pettigrew, Kaden Cobb, Delaney Seligmann, Kassy Rodriguez, Audrey Hinrichs among many others.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29: Scores & Highlights

OPRF baseball
 
After notching a thrilling walk-off 2-1 victory over Maine West Saturday in the IHSA Class 4A Maine West regional title game thanks to Adam Landsman’s 2-run game-winning homer, the Huskies trounced New Trier 12-2 in 5 innings at Loyola Academy in Wilmette. 
 
Nate Diamond got the win for OPRF, giving up two runs on just three hits and no walks while racking up seven strikeouts. On offense, six different Huskies had two hits apiece as the team pounded out twelve overall. 
 
It didn’t take long for OPRF (23-12) to establish the advantage. Dylan Whitney led off the bottom of the first inning with a double. Luke Fitzgerald’s RBI single with one out plated Whitney. Fitzgerald moved to second on a wild pitch. After Jake Adams grounded out to third for the second out, Landsman walked. Then Griffin Holderfield and Tommy Cronin recorded back-to-back RBI singles to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead after one.
 
OPRF tacked on five more runs in the third inning, with the key hits being Holderfield’s second RBI single of the contest; Landsman scoring off another Trevian wild pitch; Cronin’s 2-run homer to right; and Ethan Reinhardt scoring  after a successful double steal when the throw from New Trier catcher Donald Stricklin sailed over third base for an error. The Huskies had a commanding 8-0 lead after three innings. 
 
After the Trevians scored twice in the top of the fourth on a RBI single by Patrick Jodloman and a RBI groundout by Preston Anderson, OPRF ended the game with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Reinhardt singled and advanced to third on another throwing error by Stricklin. Following a walk issued to Zach Silverman, Whitney ripped a RBI single to bring in Reinhardt. Alan Brown was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Fitzgerald subsequently walked to bring home Silverman and raise the score to 10-2. Then Adams completed another walk-off win with a two-run single, instituting the 10-run slaughter rule.
 
The Huskies will face either Glenbrook South or Lane Tech on Saturday at 11 a.m. for the Loyola Sectional title. 
 
Trinity softball
 
The Blazers fell behind early in their Class 3A Benet Sectional semifinal against Wheaton St. Francis, and a late-inning rally attempt got doused in a 3-0 loss to the Spartans. 
 
Carlee Jo Clark went the distance for St. Francis in notching the shutout, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out ten. 
 
Trinity freshman ace Danielle Hoffman had a very credible performance despite the loss, giving up three runs on just four hits. She walked two and struck out three.
 
St. Francis jumped ahead in the bottom of the first. Kristina Sherwin walked and moved to second on Bridget Rath’s single. Clark followed with another single, but Trinity centerfielder Parker Phillips nailed Sherwin at the plate with a perfect strike to catcher Nikki Romano. However, on the play, Rath moved to third and Clark to second. This proved to be vital as the next batter – Caroline Caesar – singled in Rath to give the Spartans an early 1-0 lead. Even so, the Trinity defense sparkled on the play as left fielder Ali Weber threw out Clark trying to score a second run.
 
In the second inning, St. Francis increased its lead to 3-0. With one out, Kelly Griffin was hit by a pitch and subsequently advanced to third due to a pair of wild pitches by Hoffman. After Riley Banigan drew a walk, a popup by Kellyn Langton was dropped by Blazers’ second baseman Heather Shortall, allowing Griffin to score. Then Sherwin’s RBI single brought in Banigan and ultimately would end the day’s scoring.
 
Trinity, however, never gave up and kept battling until the end. In fact, the Blazers managed to get the tying run to the plate in the top of the seventh. Rachel McGovern led off with a single. But Meagan Murphy and Hoffman followed up with back-to-back strikeouts, and the Blazers were down to their last out. Alexa Padula then coaxed a walk to bring up the tying run in Michela DelSanto, pinch-hitting for Weber. However, she would ground out to Rath to end the game and season.
 
Hoffman and Romano each went 2-for-3 at the plate for Trinity (17-15), which advanced to the sectional round for the first time in three seasons. The Blazers will say farewell to senior standouts in DelSanto, McGovern, and Emely Martinez. 
 
However, there is plenty of cause for optimism in 2020 as Trinity will return several key players, including Hoffman, Romano, Murphy, Shortall, Phillips, Padula, Weber, and Bella Parravicini. In addition, the Blazers will regain the services of star pitcher Julie Hoffman, who was injured and missed the majority of the season. 

TUESDAY, MAY 28: Scores & Highlights

OPRF softball

Cassie Metzger tossed a three-hitter to lead the Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team to a 3-0 victory over Maine South Tuesday afternoon in a Class 4A Niles West Sectional semifinal. 

Metzger put in a dominant performance for the Huskies, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out eight batters. 

After missing out on golden scoring opportunities in the second and third innings (OPRF left two runners on base in each inning, including two in scoring position in the second), the Huskies finally broke through against Maine South ace Violet Kamienski in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Lucy Goodwin led off with a single. Then Taylor Divello’s sacrifice bunt advanced courtesy runner Olivia Baig to second. Nellie Kamenitsa-Hale’s double brought home Baig to give OPRF a 1-0 lead. 
 
After Carli Tucci flied out to right for the second out, Wisconsin signee Fiona Girardot came through with a clutch RBI single to plate Kamenitsa-Hale to give the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
 
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Jacky Neuman and Goodwin hit back-to-back singles. After Divello flied out to left for the second out, Kamenitsa-Hale singled to bring in Neuman and raise the OPRF lead to 3-0.
 
Girardot and Kamentsa-Hale each finished 2-for-3 at the plate. Goodwin and Maddi Grant also had two hits apiece for OPRF, which finished with 10 hits in the game.
 
The Huskies will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal game between Whitney Young and Niles West on Friday, May 31 for the sectional title. Game time is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
 
OPRF boys volleyball
 
The Huskies clinched their third straight trip to the IHSA quarterfinals with a convincing 25-12, 25-9 win over St. Patrick in the title game of the Guerin Prep Sectional in River Grove.
 
OPRF will face Barrington, which defeated Deerfield 25-23, 25-14 for the Machensey Park (Harlem) Sectional title, in a quarterfinal at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 31 at Hoffman Estates High School. 
 
Fenwick girls soccer
 
After a scoreless first half, Benet Academy exploded for four goals during a 14-minute span of the second half as the Friars’ terrific postseason run came to an end with a 4-0 shutout loss at the Class 2A Hinsdale South Supersectional in Darien. 
 
Abby Casmere’s goal three minutes into the second half sparked the Redwings’ flurry. Four minutes later, Mia Tommasone found the back of the net, then Casmere added her second goal four more minutes later. Sarah Bozych capped the Benet outburst with a goal six minutes after Casmere. 
 
“It was a great game vs. Benet for 40 minutes,” Fenwick coach Rob Watson said. “It was 0-0 at halftime after a tremendous effort, but Benet is a very good team. We wish them the best of luck.”
 
Eva Franzen and Ava Rogers combined to get the clean sheet for the Redwings (21-3-1), who advance to the Class 2A state semifinals on Friday, May 31 to face Troy (Triad) at 1 p.m. Joliet Catholic and Wauconda will meet in the other 2A semifinal at 11 a.m.; all the 2A and 3A games will take place at North Central College in Naperville. 
 
For Fenwick (14-7-1), the loss spells the end of the careers of seven seniors, including stalwarts in DePauw-bound Anissa Nourse, Margaux Shearer, Regan Hultquist, Erin Frumkin and MK Kapsch.
 
“This was a great season,” Watson said. “This was one of the best groups of girls in Fenwick soccer history. I was very proud to see them return to the sectional final and win it. Our seven seniors are very special student-athletes. I have watched them grow on and off the field. They have contributed a lot of time and effort and will be missed next season.”
 
However, there will be a large number of key players returning in 2020, including forwards Juliana Giuffre, Taylor Hultquist, Grace McGann and Lily Reardon; midfielders Anna Dray, Kate Henige, Emi Kapusta and Margaret McFadden; and defenders Shelia Hogan, Molly McCann, Emily Ortiz, Alyssa Ruiz and Courtney Youngerman. Also, both goalkeepers – junior Mary Heneghan and freshman Audrey Hinrichs – will be back.
 
With such a vast quantity of talented players returning – along with expected reinforcements from the lower levels – look for the Friars to contend again in 2020.
 
“Fenwick soccer is very healthy,” Watson said. “We have a great group of younger players and will return a lot of varsity members from this team. We start five sophomores. The future is certainly bright.”
 
Trinity softball 
 
The Blazers’ Class 3A Benet Sectional semifinal game against Wheaton St. Francis was postponed due to weather. The game will be rescheduled for Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
 

SATURDAY, MAY 25: Scores & Highlights

The OPRF boys track and field team capped off another excellent campaign by finishing third in the team standings at the IHSA state meet, hosted by Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. The Huskies scored 30 points, trailing only champion Crete-Monee (60) and runner-up Homewood-Flossmoor (46).

The Huskies scored well due to their impressive depth. Seniors Mykolas Saloninas placed third (59 feet, 4 inches) and Keon Gilbert eighth (56-2.25), respectively, in the shot put.

In the 110 high hurdles, senior JT Lowder came in second at 14.05 seconds, behind state champ Victor Cameron of Crete-Monee (13.93). Fellow OPRF senior Koren Leonard took seventh in the state in the 300 intermediate hurdles in a time of 40.04. Senior Amir Blanchard also ran well, taking eighth in the 200 in a time of 22.27.

In the 800 relay, the quartet of Dallas Rapharoah, Tyrone Clarke, Naz Bryant and Blancard notched second at 1:27.41.

The OPRF baseball team rallied for a 2-1 victory over regional host Maine West in championship game. Adam Landsman hit a dramatic two-run walkoff homer in the bottom of the seventh. The Huskies exacted a thrilling measure of revenge, considering the Warriors eliminated favored OPRF the past two postseasons.

FRIDAY, MAY 24: Scores & Highlights

Fenwick, OPRF and Trinity softball each claimed a regional title.

The Friars downed host Benet 6-0 to advance to the sectional, which is also hosted by the Redwings. Fenwick will face either Glenbard South or Lake View in a semifinal on Wednesday, May 29 at 4:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Huskies posted a 4-0 shutout of the host Wildkits in the 4A Evanston Regional title game. Taylor Divello (8-3) went the distance for OPRF, scattering four hits while walking one and striking out seven hitters. Maddi Grant’s RBI single in the bottom of the first inning turned out to be all the scoring OPRF would need. n the second inning, 

Karly Cantrell belted a home run to raise the Huskies’ lead to 2-0. Fiona Girardot added a RBI single in the fifth, and Nellie Kamentsa-Hale (2-for-4) scored OPRF’s final run in the sixth on a passed ball. Kamentsa-Hale had a double and triple, Grant and Lucy Goodwin each went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Huskies, who pounded Wildkits pitching for 11 hits.

Trinity pitcher Danielle Hoffman tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Blazers past the host Wolfpack at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the 3A St. Ignatius Regional final on May 24.

In a dominant performance, Hoffman struck out 14 batters and issued only two walks. The lone Wolfpack hit came on a single in the sixth inning. Hoffman, a promising sophomore, helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI’s – one on a single, and the other on a triple during a four-run seventh inning that put the game away.

Megan Murphy, Bella Parravicini (2 RBIs) and Parker Phillips also went 2-for-4, while Nikki Romano went 2-for-3 with a walk for the Blazers, who pounded out 12 hits.

Trinity (17-15) faces Wheaton St. Francis in a 3A Benet Academy Sectional semifinal on Tuesday, May 28, in Lisle at 4:30 p.m.

Fenwick girls soccer won the 2A Wheaton Academy Sectional title over Latin 3-2. The match was tied at 2-all after 100 minutes and went to a penalty kick shootout, which the Friars won 5-4.

Emi Kapusta scored off an assist by Juliana Giuffre during regulation, which ended tied 1-1. Anissa Nourse had a goal during the two 10-minute overtime periods. 

During the penalty kick shootout, Nourse, Grace McGann, Margaux Shearer, Anna Dray and Hensley Akers tallied scores for Fenwick, while goalkeeper Audrey Hinrichs came up with two huge saves.

Fenwick (14-6-1) advances to the 2A Hinsdale South Supersectional on Tuesday, May 28 at 5:30 p.m. The Friars will face Benet, which defeated St. Ignatius 2-1 via penalty kicks for the Nazareth Sectional title.

OPRF boys volleyball moved to within one victory of reaching the state quarterfinals for a third straight season with a 25-12, 25-14 triumph over Whitney Young in a sectional semifinal at Guerin Prep in River Grove. The Huskies (33-4) will face St. Patrick – which defeated Lane Tech 25-15, 25-22 in the other semifinal – for the sectional title at Guerin on Tuesday, May 28 at 6 pm.

Fenwick baseball saw its season come to an end as the Friars fell to Notre Dame 4-1 in its regional semifinal. The game was played on Triton College’s turf field in River Grove due to field conditions at the Priory. Notre Dame will face Glenbrook North for the 4A Fenwick Regional title on Saturday, May 26 at noon.

OPRF baseball will play Maine West tomorrow morning at 10 am for the 4A Maine West regional title. The game will be played at Triton College in River Grove.

OPRF girls lacrosse fell to host St. Ignatius 18-4 in a sectional title game.

Fenwick boys track and field senior Joseph Wermes recorded a time of 4:52.50 in the 1,600-meter run in the prelliminaries of the Class 2A state meet. The Friars’ other state qualifier, the 3,200 relay team of Joseph Schultz, Jared Wermes, Owen Filbin and Chris Brady posted a time of 8:37.91.

THURSDAY, MAY 23: Scores & Highlights

The Fenwick boys tennis doubles team of Carlos Gutierrez and Ryan Dunlap went 4-2 in matches at the state tournament. The Friars’ top tandem started well with four wins in five matches between May 23-24. Their final match occurred in a consolation quarterfinals loss against Carter Burk and Brevin Knight of Normal U-High. Gutierrez/Dunlap accounted for six of the Friars’ seven points in team scoring.

In singles, the Friars’ Pierce Butler finished 1-2 in matches. After dropping his opener 6-1, 6-2 against Carbondale’s Jack Butler, Butler beat Flora’s Mason Beckham 6-2, 6-2 in the consolation bracket.

Doubles partners Aiden Klass and Ben Pickering of OPRF tennis split four matches at the state finals. The Huskies defeated Emerson Dell and Kevin Galassini from Lincoln-Way East 6-2, 6-0 in the first round. Klass/Pickering also edged Loyola Academy’s John Carpenter and Patrick Lawler 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the consolation bracket.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22: Scores & Highlights

Fenwick girls soccer defeated host Wheaton Academy 4-1 in a 2A sectional semifinal. Juliana Giuffre and Anissa Nourse scored two goals apiece for the Friars. Nourse also had an assist, along with Grace McGann and Alyssa Ruiz.

Fenwick (13-6-1) advances to the sectional final on Friday, May 24 at 4:30 p.m. to face Latin, a 2-1 winner over Pritzker.

Fenwick girls lacrosse fell to host St. Ignatius 20-3 in a sectional semifinal. The Friars finish with a final record of 8-14.

OPRF boys volleyball won the Prosser Regional title as the Huskies defeated Lincoln Park in straight sets 25-11, 25-11. The Huskies (32-4) move on to sectional play and will face Whitney Young in a semifinal at Guerin Prep in River Grove on Friday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m.

The Fenwick boys volleyball season ended as the Friars dropped a hard-fought regional title match to host Lane in three sets 23-25, 25-21, 11-25. Jack Kenny had nine kills for the Friars. Avyn Alairys, Patrick Ehrhardt (5 kills apiece) and Merrick Silvis (14 digs) were other standouts.

OPRF baseball routed Whitney Young 15-0 at the 4A Maine West regional. The Huskies will face either Evanston or the host Warriors on Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. for the regional title.

Trinity softball crushed Noble Street 15-0 in Class 3A action. The Blazers move on to the St. Ignatius Regional championship game where the host Wolfpack await. First pitch is Friday, May 24 at 3:30 p.m. in Chicago.

Fenwick softball also won in dominant fashion, a 15-0 victory against Phoenix Military in a Class 3A regional semifinal at Benet Academy. The Friars square off against the host Redwings on Saturday, May 25 (11 a.m.) for the regional championship.

Finally, OPRF girls lacrosse routed Mother McAuley 17-1 in a sectional semifinal at St. Ignatius. The Huskies face the host Wolfpack on Friday, May 22 at 5 p.m. for the sectional title.

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD STATE FINALS (RECAP)

OPRF 

OPRF shared identical results with McHenry during Saturday’s IHSA state finals. The Huskies’ Yasmin Ruff and the Warriors’Jenna Pauly tied for fourth in the pole vault, both clearing 11-6. Each pole vaulter also accounted for her team’s total scoring in the standings with 5.5.

The Huskies’ Rachel Rowe (long jump/triple jump), Danielle Chapman-Rienstra (pole vault), Kshari Pittman (high jump), Tiara Ogunsanya (discus), Monica Bradford (100 high hurdles), Hannah Thompson (800) and Josephine Welin (1,600) competed in the preliminary heats at state.

Fenwick 

The Friars fared well in the 3,200 relay and several individual events to finish 30th (8.50 score) at the Class 3A state meet at Eastern Illinois University on Saturday, May 18.

The 3,200 team of Maria Quinn, Laura Durkin, Marie O’Brien and Maggie Van Ermen came in fifth with a time of 9:51.47. The same group placed sixth in the 3,200 relay at the 2018 state finals.

Fenwick senior Claire Gatermann tied Normal U-High’s Lindsey Shouse for sixth in pole vault by clearing 11-0. Gatermann, from Riverside, became the first all-state performer in pole vaultin program history.

Sophomore Katie Cahill earned 22nd in the 3,200 at 12:42.16.

Sophomore Delaney Seligmann, who also competed in the high jump and long jump in the state meet prelims, was 12th in the triple jump with a measurement of 35-5.

“Delaney became the first female Friar to earn a trip to the state championships in four different events,” Fenwick coach Dale Heidloff said. “She qualified for the finals in the triple jump, but she sprained her ankle during the high jump competition on Friday and was not able to compete on Saturday (11th overall).”

Senior Colleen Grogan (300 low hurdles), freshman Amanda Behrend (high jump) and Quinn (800) qualified for state as well. Grogan didn’t run due to a foot injury, while the other two took part in Friday’s prelims.

“Overall we were very pleased with how the season progressed,” Heidloff said. “Through our senior leaders, the underclassmen certainly improved and became ready for the sectional competition.”

Trinity

Senior Alexis Cohn and sophomore Kate Foley represented the Blazers in the 800 and 1,600, respectively, at state.

Cohn took 10th in the 800 final with a time of 2:24.25. During Friday’s prelims, the promising Foley recorded a time of 5:44.29 in the 1,600.

Join the discussion on social media!

The Illinois Press Association recently honored Marty with the 1st & 2nd Place Awards for Best Sports Feature for his article He's in an Oak Park state of mind: Former OPRF star Iman Shumpert returns...

One reply on “Playoffs Scoreboard: OPRF boys volleyball takes fourth in state; baseball wins sectional”