
Throwing TD passes, Quinn Schambow thought about a state title. In baseball, he and Libertyville have a shot.
Senior catcher Quinn Schambow went 2-for-4 and scored the decisive run in the top of the eighth inning to back junior right-hander Chase Lockwood's gem as Libertyville pulled out a 2-1 win against Normal Community in the Class 4A state semifinals in Joliet on Friday.
Schambow, an Oklahoma State baseball recruit who threw 52 touchdown passes during the 2024 football season, crossed the plate on junior designated hitter Carson Holmes' single, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead after the teams played seven scoreless innings.
Lockwood allowed only an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth. He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out seven for Libertyville (35-4), which will play either McHenry or Brother Rice in the state championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcats will make their third appearance in a state final with a chance to win their first title.
'That was the goal coming into the year,' Schambow said. 'That's the goal in any sports.'

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Chicago Tribune
11 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Working out of bullpen, Danny Sheehan battles for Brother Rice in state semifinals. ‘Give it everything I had.'
Senior left-hander Danny Sheehan, a longtime stalwart on Brother Rice's pitching staff, has been working out of the bullpen most of the postseason with junior Braydon McKendrick and sophomore Brady Cunningham getting the big starts. Sheehan took the move in stride. And when the Crusaders needed him Friday night, he surely answered the call. 'Getting moved to the pen, it was about not taking it personally, just knowing my role and being ready when I'm called upon,' Sheehan said. 'When your back's against the wall like that and you know it could be your last time going out there, I just had to give it everything I had.' Pressed into duty in the middle of a nightmarish first inning for Brother Rice, Sheehan limited the damage and then delivered 4 2/3 strong innings in relief to keep his team in the game. The Crusaders ultimately came up short, losing 4-1 to McHenry in a Class 4A state semifinal at Duly Health and Care Field in Joliet. Sheehan struck out three, allowed three hits and gave up two earned runs, both of which scored after he had departed the game for Brother Rice (37-4). Eastern Michigan recruit Aidan Nohava came through with an RBI single, while Louisville commit Colin Campbell singled and drew a walk. Conner Stack and Kentucky recruit Nolan Ramoley each added a single. The Crusaders, who fell short on their quest to win the program's second state title and first since 1976, will play at 4 p.m. Saturday against Normal Community (36-5) in the third-place game. 'It's tough, but we'll be back,' Stack said of Saturday's last game of the season. 'Us seniors want to end on a 'W,' so we'll get the guys going.' Louisville recruit Brandon Shannon was dominant on the mound for McHenry (36-4-1), striking out eight holding the Crusaders to one run on four hits over six innings. 'They had a good guy on the mound,' Nohava said of Shannon, a senior righty. 'We put together some good at-bats. He threw a lot of pitches. Sometimes, it just doesn't go your way.' Sheehan did his best to match Shannon. After McKendrick struggled with his control, walking three and hitting two in the first, Sheehan was called upon with the Crusaders already down 2-1 and the bases loaded with two outs. He got a flyout to end the inning. Brother Rice coach Sean McBride felt confident giving Sheehan the ball. 'We made that early move because we knew we had another guy who could keep us in the game,' McBride said. 'Danny's a No. 1 on a lot of staffs. We trusted him, and he did what we expected him to do.' Sheehan went into cruise control after escaping the jam in the first. McHenry did not have a hit until the fifth inning but led 2-1 nonetheless. 'It's the same approach,' Sheehan said. 'My job has always been to throw strikes and get guys to put the ball in play. I've always had great defenses behind me the last three years. 'Just letting them do their thing and facilitating a great defense, that's always been my mentality and it's the same approach today as it's always been.' It turned out to be by far Sheehan's longest outing of the playoffs as he threw 61 pitches. 'My arm hurts, but it's fine,' Sheehan said. 'It didn't really bother me.' McHenry grabbed some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Kaden Wasniewski ripped a two-run single with two outs. McBride credited the Warriors with beating his team at 'the little things' and praised Shannon's performance. But he also tipped his cap to Sheehan. 'Danny's a top guy, too,' McBride said. 'Danny's had one of the better careers here. He's pitched in some of the biggest games and done very well. 'He did what he needed to do to keep us in the game.'


Chicago Tribune
13 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Western Michigan-bound Liliana Janeczko leads Lockport as field general in state semifinals. ‘Unbelievably proud.'
PEORIA — She could have pouted. But she supported her teammates instead. She could have folded, especially after an injury. But she healed, watched and learned, and eagerly embraced a glorious opportunity. Lockport catcher Liliana Janeczko is having a remarkable senior season. She will be remembered as the field general on the first team for the Porters to bring home a state trophy since 2004. The Western Michigan commit is pretty proud of that. 'Unbelievably proud,' Janeczko said. 'After the things I went through, I'm just so happy with myself for getting through them and not giving up during the hard times that I've had.' Janeczko smiled as she and her teammates found solace in hugs following Friday's tough 1-0 loss in 10 innings to Barrington in a Class 4A semifinal game at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex. Colgate recruit Kelcie McGraw had two hits and struck out nine for the Porters (31-10), who will play Oak Park-River Forest at 2 p.m. Saturday in the third-place game. Alexis Vander Tuuk added a pair of hits. Janeczko gave Lockport a chance to walk it off against Barrington (35-3-1) in the bottom of the ninth when she doubled with one out. Junior right-hander Katie Taraschewsky was able to wriggle out of it, though, by getting a fly out and a lineout. They were oh-so close. 'I was so excited about that hit,' Janeczko said. 'I have been in a little bit of a slump, and I know I'm better than that. I have high expectations.' Janeczko's journey during her high school career has been a tough one. Before her sophomore season, she underwent shoulder surgery. 'I was at a camp at Wisconsin,' Janeczko said. 'I dove and tore my labrum and dislocated my right shoulder.' Janeczko came back strong as a junior, but Northern Kentucky recruit Brooke Keltner was in her senior season as a standout behind the plate. Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec used Janeczko primarily as a designated hitter and runner. But Janeczko never stopped believing. And when she graduated, Keltner offered some encouraging words. 'At the end of last year, she told me, 'You've got this — it's nothing new for you,'' Janezcko said. 'We've been been catching since we were little. She told me to do what I do and it'll turn out great.' Those words came true. Janeczko entered the weekend hitting .328. She has 10 doubles and 27 RBIs. 'Liliana has done a great job for us behind the plate,' Chovanec said. 'She is a fighter and she loves the game. She has caught every inning of every game for us this season. 'We've had some really great catchers the last few years, and Liliana has done a fantastic job. I'm a catcher at heart, so any time I get one like Liliana, I relish it.' The battery of Janeczko and McGraw have taken Lockport on an incredible playoff run. Even with Friday's setback, opponents have yet to score an earned run. It seemed like they jelled quickly in Janeczko's lone varsity season, but their ties go way back. 'I'm so grateful I got to be here with her,' Janeczko said of McGraw. 'We've known each other since we were 5 years old and played on the same travel team for a while. 'It's crazy that we got to grow up together and be here together.' Janeczko is also the catcher for McGraw during her pitching lessons. 'Liliana is a great leader on the field,' McGraw said. 'She is always there picking people up. And she is always there to keep me on my game. 'We have such a good bond that it helps pitching and catching. It's great to have.'


Chicago Tribune
14 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Throwing TD passes, Quinn Schambow thought about a state title. In baseball, he and Libertyville have a shot.
Senior catcher Quinn Schambow went 2-for-4 and scored the decisive run in the top of the eighth inning to back junior right-hander Chase Lockwood's gem as Libertyville pulled out a 2-1 win against Normal Community in the Class 4A state semifinals in Joliet on Friday. Schambow, an Oklahoma State baseball recruit who threw 52 touchdown passes during the 2024 football season, crossed the plate on junior designated hitter Carson Holmes' single, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead after the teams played seven scoreless innings. Lockwood allowed only an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth. He scattered five hits, walked three and struck out seven for Libertyville (35-4), which will play either McHenry or Brother Rice in the state championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday. The Wildcats will make their third appearance in a state final with a chance to win their first title. 'That was the goal coming into the year,' Schambow said. 'That's the goal in any sports.'