Former OPRF baseball pitcher Brendan Barrette won the 2021 White Sox Speed Pitch Challenge held on March 31 at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Barrette, a 2018 graduate, won with an 85 mph pitch, beating last year’s 84 mph winning pitch. He won a White Sox jersey signed by the team’s ace starting pitcher and 2019 all-star Lucas Giolito and a year’s worth of pizza, courtesy of Beggars Pizza.
Barrette was voted the Huskies’ Most Valuable Player in 2018. He was also named the Most Outstanding Pitcher of the West Suburban Conference and was chosen by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches for the 2018 All-State 4A Team. He now pitches for Triton College.
OPRF and Fenwick football
- There’s a song on “Schoolhouse Rock” — a Saturday morning TV staple from the past — called “Three is a Magic Number”. On April 1 at Oak Park Stadium, the OPRF football team channeled the energy from that song, and made two the magic number.
Demetrius Dortch (4 carries, 67 yards) ran for two touchdowns, Jack Gooch and Jack Landis each threw for two touchdowns and Eric Locke (3 receptions, 72 yards) caught two touchdown passes as the Huskies (2-1) blanked Proviso West 53-0.
The OPRF defense also got into the act, notching a pair of safeties. The Huskies held the Panthers to 45 total yards for the evening, including minus-5 yards rushing.
OPRF is scheduled to visit Downers Grove North on April 9.
- Fenwick had a 19-7 lead midway through the fourth quarter on Saturday at Marmion Academy. However, the host Cadets scored two touchdowns in a span of 2:42 to hand the Friars a gut-wrenching 20-19 defeat.
Fenwick quarterback Kaden Cobb completed 18-of-30 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown before leaving in the fourth quarter. He was replaced by sophomore E.J. Hosty, who completed 3-of-6 for 22 yards.
On their final drive, the Friars got to the Marmion 39-yard line, but stalled there and turned the ball over on downs with 1:14 remaining. The Cadets got a first down two plays later and proceeded to run out the clock.
Fenwick’s running game was solid as senior RB Isaac Novak (11 rushes, 49 yards) ran for two scores before leaving due to injury, while his replacement, junior Danny Kent, gained 92 yards on 23 attempts.
Wide receivers Bryan Hunt (54 yards) and Max Reese (69 yards) each had seven receptions, while Eian Pugh added six receptions, including a 5-yard touchdown.
Defensively for Fenwick (0-2), Martin Paris and Nick Polston each had interceptions, while Conor Paris recorded a sack and Aden Vargas a fumble recovery.
The Friars are back in action April 9 at Triton College against St. Patrick.
Fenwick boys water polo
The Friars routed visiting De La Salle 19-7 on March 31. Wil Gurski (5 goals, 3 assists), Pete Buinauskas (3 goals, 4 assists), Peter Spina (3 goals), and Brian Moore (5 saves) were Fenwick’s standout performers.
On April 3, Fenwick went 1-2 in a quad meet at Stevenson that also included New Trier and St. Rita. In their opener, the Friars defeated the St. Rita 14-9, scoring the game’s final five goals in the last three minutes. But they then fell to the New Treir 13-6 and to the host Patriots 15-5 in the remaining contests.
Fenwick visited St. Patrick on April 6 after the Journal’s press time, and they’ll host the Dan Lynch Invitational on April 10.
Trinity volleyball
The Blazers continued their perfect start to the season, sweeping host Regina Dominican in straight sets 25-7, 25-15 on April 1.
Trinity has won its first five matches and looks to keep things rolling this week with a rematch against Regina on April 6, followed by a home-and-home series with DePaul Prep (April 7 at home, April 12 on the road).
