Peter Farren remembers how St. Ignatius ended the Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team’s season last year in the playoffs, and he was eager to help atone for it.
“I was really looking forward to playing [St. Ignatius] again this year,” said Farren, who drove in five runs with a triple, two-run homer, and two-run double in the Huskies’ 14-4 victory over the Wolfpack in the IHSA Class 4A OPRF Regional title game on May 31. “The energy was up. It was a great game and a ton of fun.”
This is OPRF’s first regional title since 2021, and the first for OPRF coach Kevin Campbell.
“It’s an unreal feeling. I’m happy for these guys,” he said. “These guys worked their butts off all year, and we’re going to keep going.”
The Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team with the regional title plaque after defeating St. Ignatius 14-4, May 31. (Melvin Tate) 
Oak Park-River Forest High School pitcher Cam Barnes fires during the Huskies’ 14-4 regional title victory over St. Ignatius, May 31. (Courtesy of Mark C. Regan) 
Oak Park-River Forest High School’s Peter Farren slides into third after driving in a run on a first-inning triple during a Class 4A baseball regional title game versus St. Ignatius. Farren added a two-run homer and two-run double in the Huskies’ 14-4 victory. (Courtesy of Mark C. Regan)
Ethan Moore had four RBIs and three runs scored for the Huskies (27-10), who face top-seeded Brother Rice in a sectional semifinal at Reavis, June 4, at 2 p.m. He feels chemistry has been one of the reasons for OPRF’s success.
“Just being a part of this team means everything to me,” said Moore, a University of Tennessee signee. “The last three years have been amazing, but this team is something special.”
OPRF softball
The Huskies (26-8) blanked Morton 15-0, May 30, to win the Class 4A Leyden Regional.
“We came ready and played one of our best all-around games of the year,” said OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin.
Anna Topel allowed one hit over four innings for the victory. She posted six strikeouts, and Coughlin was encouraged by her performance.
Oak Park-River Forest High School’s Elyssa Hasapis connects for a base hit against Morton during the Class 4A Leyden Regional softball final, May 30. The Huskies won 15-0 to advance to their own sectional this week. (Courtesy of Mark C. Regan) 
The Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team with the regional plaque after defeating Morton 15-0 in the final of the Leyden Regional, May 30. (Courtesy of Mark C. Regan)
“Anna was lights-out,” he said. “When she pitches like that, our ceiling becomes higher. She’s done so much to come back, she’s worked so hard, and the team has rallied behind her.”
Julia Henderson and Julia Mattiace (4-for-4) each knocked in three runs for OPRF, which hosts a sectional at Ridgeland Common this week. The Huskies met Lane Tech, June 3, after press time. A win would mean advancement to the title game, June 6 at 4:30 pm, against either Taft or Whitney Young.
Fenwick softball
Despite managing just four hits, the Friars (13-11) defeated Elmwood Park 3-0, May 30, to win their own Class 3A regional.
“I’m definitely proud of the girls,” said Fenwick coach Valerie Jisa. “We had finals last week and were tired, so I’m happy.”
In the circle, Gianna Pescatore, Leah Lowery, and Sofia Kateeb combined for a four-hit shutout, with Lowery getting credit for the victory and Kateeb the save.
Lowery also had a RBI double in the fourth inning that scored Pescatore with Fenwick’s first run. The Friars tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a pair of Elmwood Park errors.
Up next is a sectional semifinal matchup at Montini Catholic, June 4, at 4:30 pm. The Friars defeated the Broncos twice in the regular season.
“If the girls show up with the belief,” Jisa said, “they know they can do great things together.”
Fenwick baseball
In the title game of the Class 4A Brother Rice Regional, May 31, Josh Morgan went 3-for-4 and Ryan Lazewski drove in a pair of runs. But their efforts weren’t enough as the Friars (19-16), fell to the host Crusaders 5-4.
Ben Jarnecke and J.J. Obaldo each had RBI singles for Fenwick.
Trinity softball
The Blazers (2-17) ended their season with a 21-0 loss to the host Rams in the Class 3A DePaul Prep Regional semifinals, May 28. Aly Lopez, Elizabeth Miehlich, and Abby Young each collected hits, and Lopez stole two bases.
The good news is that there is plenty of experience returning next season. Miehlich is the only senior on the roster.
“Elizabeth has added a lot of value these last two years,” said Trinity coach Chardonnay Harris. “She came out of her shell and helped the girls without experience.”
Lopez and Young, both sophomores, are two of Trinity’s 12 scheduled returnees.
“We did the best we could,” Harris said, “and the girls kept their spirits high. It’s definitely a work in progress for all of us … we want to continue to build our morale.”