A sacrifice fly? Think again, Quinn Rooney. ‘It just kept going.' He makes sure Benet keeps going too.
It wasn't until he got to second base that he realized what he had done.
Kaneland junior right fielder Carter Grabowski drifted back and got ready to catch what everyone figured would be a sacrifice fly. Then he signaled that he couldn't find the ball. That's because it was gone for a tie-breaking three-run home run.
'I actually didn't think it was a home run,' Rooney said. 'I thought it was like a sac fly to the right fielder. But as I was rounding second, I saw the home plate umpire point like that, and I just got really excited.'
So did Rooney's teammates, who mobbed him after he crossed home plate with what turned out to be the decisive run in Benet's 5-4 victory in the Class 3A Kaneland Regional championship game.
Rooney's first home run of the season, coming in the fifth inning, capped a five-run rally by the second-seeded Redwings (23-12), who advance to the Kaneland Sectional semifinals to play top-seeded Burlington Central at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Third-seeded Kaneland (25-11) led 2-0 when junior second baseman Nathan Cerocke and senior third baseman Merrick Sullivan led off the inning with singles for Benet. Senior right fielder Luke Wildes walked to load the bases for senior center fielder Josh Gugora, who hit a slow tapper to third. An errant throw home allowed two runs to score.
Rooney followed with his decisive swing.
'Off the bat, I was excited because, all right, at least that's one, you know, if it was a sac fly,' Benet co-coach Jorge Acosta said. 'He caught enough to backspin it, and it just kept going and got out of here. It was awesome, a good moment for him.'
Rooney has had many good moments this season. The Redwings originally planned to use him as a pitcher, but he impressed so much at first base during the preseason that he earned the starting spot there.
'He's been one of our biggest clutch hitters all year long,' Acosta said. 'I think this is his fourth or fifth game-winning hit.
'He had a couple walk-off hits back-to-back days against Naperville North and Carmel. He's very calm in big spots and keeps things simple. He just finds a barrel, and good things happen.'
Not much good was happening in this game for the Redwings, who had mustered only two singles off Kaneland junior pitcher Hayden Foster through the first four innings. But Foster's day was done after Rooney's homer.
'I just had to stay relaxed just like any other at-bat,' Rooney said. 'You can't tense up in those tough moments but just got to show up for your team.'
The Redwings know they can rely on Rooney to do so.
'He's been huge all year coming through in big spots,' Benet senior pitcher Gino Zagorac said. 'As a sophomore especially, it's tough.
'There's a lot of pressure on you, but he's thrived through all the pressure, and he's came up in big spots for us a lot throughout the year. You've got to give a lot of credit to him for staying composed.'
Zagorac (3-2), a Wichita State recruit, stayed composed despite some struggles with command. He walked four and hit a batter but allowed only two hits and struck out six, leaving after issuing a leadoff walk in the sixth.
'It was tough in the beginning trying to find my all my pitches, and then as the game went on, I was able to throw three pitches in the zone for strikes,' Zagorac said. 'That helped me keep them off balance and battle through even though I didn't have my best stuff.'
Benet junior Lucas Kohlmeyer pitched two innings to get the save. Rooney helped him by making a diving catch for the first out of the seventh inning and then grabbed a grounder and tossed the ball to Kohlmeyer for the second out.
Northwestern-bound senior Jake Rifenburg is scheduled to pitch for Benet on Wednesday. Zagorac said 'the entire school' has confidence in Rifenburg, while Rooney said the Redwings have confidence in themselves.
'We've been battling all year, but we just got to keep going,' Rooney said. 'We're just going to keep winning games, eventually getting to state. That's the goal.'
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Chicago Tribune
36 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Countdown to football: Carter Grabowski lives up to name for Kaneland, No. 10 in Aurora-Elgin preseason rankings
As a youngster, Kaneland senior Carter Grabowski rarely gave his name a second thought. How many kids do? The more he accomplishes on the football field, however, the more the two-way starter for the Knights finds himself fielding inquiries about that surname. 'I've been asked a decent amount of times if my grandparent played football,' Grabowski said. That included a reporter scheduled to speak with him about Kaneland — which comes in at No. 10 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings — before Monday's first practice. Grabowski has a strong Chicago connection thanks to its large Polish population. It grew in the mid-1980s, boosted by a proclamation from coach Mike Ditka as the Bears won the Super Bowl. Ditka told the press his players weren't 'fair-haired Smiths, they were Grabowskis,' linking them to tough, blue-collar folks with a strong work ethic often used to characterize the city's population. Ditka's point of reference was Jim Grabowski, a Chicago kid who starred at fullback in college for Illinois and then for five seasons in the mid-1960s with Ditka's archrival Green Bay Packers. Carter Grabowski is not related to the former NFL star, but he does have a strong work ethic that Ditka and the Chicago area admires. Last season, Carter started at running back and safety as the young Knights (5-4) made the postseason with six sophomore starters playing a schedule featuring six playoff teams 'He's a pretty good athlete,' Kaneland coach Mike Thorgesen said of Carter, who played right field for the baseball team. 'I think he grew up a baseball kid but really likes football now, too.' It's become his favorite sport, according to Grabowski, who led the Knights in rushing with 140 carries for 631 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught 18 passes for 179 yards and one TD. On defense, the 6-foot-1, 180-pound Grabowski was third on the team with 61 tackles and returned one of his two interceptions for a TD. He also returned a kickoff 90 yards for another TD. 'Last year is last year, but we definitely surpassed expectations,' said Thorgesen, who recalled three straight regular-season losses to conference rivals Morris (8-5), Sycamore (11-1) and Rochelle (10-2). The Knights also lost 14-10 last season to Class 1A state champion Belleville Althoff (14-0), which sent three players to Division I programs at Oregon, Missouri and Boston College. 'You could argue the best of all the teams we saw were in our conference,' Thorgesen said. 'We had a tough time. The ceiling is raised this year for sure, but that doesn't win you games. 'We've still gotta do the work. Those other teams may improve, too.' Grabowski will have much the same role but hopes for more yards rushing, even though he will be spelled some by junior Jackson Little, who also starts at linebacker. 'I'll play some receiver but mainly running back,' Grabowski said. 'The majority of my snaps I think will be on defense. We grew up a lot last year but basically our whole team is coming back. 'We're gonna be strong. We have a lot more weapons on offense, too.' It starts with senior transfer Jalen Carter, a strong dual-threat quarterback who played his sophomore year at Aurora Christian and changed positions last season at Wheaton St. Francis. 'He's an athlete back there, as mobile as we've had in a long time,' Thorgesen said of Jalen. 'But he's still a pure quarterback. He can make the passes, make the reads. He's right at home.' Grabowski thinks the passing game will be improved and looks to do more. 'I think I'm pretty versatile and can spread out and even in empty (backfield), for instance, be relied upon to catch the ball,' he said. It will likely be his last hurrah, athletically, though. 'It's not at the top of my list,' he said of playing a college sport. 'We'll see.' Team: Kaneland. 2024 record: 5-5. Offensive leaders: Jake Buckley, senior, offensive line; Carter Grabowski, senior, running back; Brady Brown, senior, wide receiver; Jack Parker, senior, offensive line. Defensive leaders: Rogan O'Neil, junior, linebacker; Jackson Slifka, junior, linebacker, Brady Alstott, senior, defensive back; Jackson Little, junior, linebacker. X-factor: Jalen Carter, senior, quarterback.
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Red Wings prospect timelines: When will Detroit's pipeline talent make an NHL impact?
There may not have been a more important development for the Detroit Red Wings last season than Marco Kasper's arrival and rapid ascent to top-six staple. The 2022 No. 8 pick was called up in mid-October, and by late January, he quickly became one of the team's most important players. It was a welcome sight in a long rebuild, and the Red Wings are hoping it won't be the last time they see that arc play out. They are counting on their prospects to change their outlook. Advertisement But when will those prospects get to Detroit? And how good will they be? Those are the questions we'll try to answer today about 10 of Detroit's top prospects who are gradually getting closer to arriving at the NHL's doorstep. Before we dive in, a couple of things to keep in mind: First, the 'estimated arrival' refers to when I'd expect a player to debut (or, in the case of players who have already debuted, the next time they could be called up). That's not necessarily the same as being a permanent roster fixture — though in some cases it will be. In other cases, there will be some up-and-down, or they may never become full-time roster players. Second, the long-term projection is what kind of role and impact I think the player will ultimately have in Detroit, not the role they'll have immediately upon being called up. And of course, the projections are meant as broad expectation-setters, not a hard ceiling or floor for each player. Long-term projection: Bottom-six forward Estimated arrival: 2025-26 Mazur made his debut already, and for that reason, he's probably the slight favorite for the next young player to get the call. His debut was short-lived, of course. He sustained a season-ending injury just over a minute into his first game, but the work Mazur put in to earn that call-up last spring didn't just vanish when he got hurt. When healthy, the 23-year-old Mazur has lived up to his reputation as a gritty forward with a nose for the net, willing to dig out pucks for second chances and boasting an impressive shot. That could give him a nice path to a bottom-six role soon, adding the kind of hard offense Detroit needs more of. He'll need to deliver a strong preseason — and stay healthy — but I could see him jumping into the bottom six more regularly this season, and possibly early. Advertisement Long-term projection: Second-line center Estimated arrival: 2025-26 Danielson has all the tools to be a legit second-line center in the NHL as a smart, responsible, 6-foot-2 center who skates well and can make plays with the puck. The main question on whether he will reach that level is the production — which, in fairness, was virtually identical to what Kasper did in the same league at the same point in his development. But the two are different players, and it remains to be seen if Danielson can find the same hard-area offense Kasper has. So if you wanted to say 'middle-six center' as the projection, I could understand that too. Especially with Kasper looking like Detroit's long-term 2C. But whatever the long-term role, I think Danielson makes his way to Detroit at some point this coming season. He'd need a big camp to make the team for opening night, with the Red Wings typically preferring their top prospects play a major role in Grand Rapids, but it's easy to imagine him getting a look at some point this season and earning his keep when he does. Danielson has a lot of tools to work with and a lot of ways to contribute in a top nine very soon. Long-term projection: 1A goaltender Estimated arrival: 2025-26 Cossa is another player who has already technically made his NHL debut and could very well get his next look this coming season. He's set to start in Grand Rapids again, though, with John Gibson and Cam Talbot locked in as Detroit's NHL tandem, and he has some work to do with the Griffins. The 2021 first-round pick had a rocky finish to last season after a lights-out start. It's probably a little longer than Cossa would have preferred to spend in the AHL, but if he can show he's ready for the next level, it's realistic to think he could get a handful of games in 2025-26 (especially with Gibson now 32 and Talbot 38) and be ready to share the net with Gibson in 2026-27. Advertisement As for the long-term projection, the NHL is clearly moving more toward tandem goaltenders. Last season, only 12 goaltenders started 55 or more games. While Cossa does have the upside to someday take on that kind of workload, the safer bet is probably that he becomes more of a lead type in a tandem, starting 40-50 games a year and sharing the crease with another capable goaltender — quite possibly one who will appear later on this list. Long-term projection: Third-pair defenseman Estimated arrival: 2026 It's about time for the Red Wings to see what they have in Wallinder, a 2020 second-round pick. The physical tools are impressive as a 6-4 blueliner who is an excellent skater. That gives him a projectable path to the NHL; those are coveted traits for a defenseman, especially when it comes to defending the rush. But to be a regular, Wallinder will need to show he can clear the front of the net consistently, ideally with some meanness in his game to make full use of his size. Griffins coach Dan Watson felt Wallinder was close to being ready late last season, and if he can come into camp with some extra strength and ready to play with that jam, I could see him getting that chance at some point this season. From there, how he plays will determine if he becomes a permanent fixture or more of a depth piece. Wallinder's entry-level contract expires after this season, so it would behoove the Red Wings to get a look at him before then, though it's worth noting that 2019 second-round pick Albert Johansson didn't debut until he was on his second NHL contract. Long-term projection: Bottom-six scorer Estimated arrival: 2026 Lombardi had a breakout season in Grand Rapids in 2024-25, scoring 19 goals and 40 points in 44 games. He's a creative scorer and a very good skater, both of which are appealing traits in a young forward. Advertisement Now it's all about showing he's ready for what the NHL will demand: consistency and responsibility, so a coach feels comfortable trusting him at the NHL level. At 5-10, Lombardi likely isn't going to play a classic checking role, but if he can manage the puck well, be a pest on the forecheck and still create offense, he could bring some pop to a bottom-six line soon (though I'd guess forwards such as Mazur and Danielson would get first crack, so a later-season call-up would be more likely). Lombardi is the same age as Jonatan Berggren was when he got his first taste of NHL action, and his production rate was comparable to Berggren's in the AHL at the same age last season. They're not identical players — I'd prefer Lombardi's motor and skating and Berggren's poise and smarts — but I could see their roles and career arcs being similar: yo-yoing a bit between the NHL and AHL but chipping in secondary offense when he's up. Long-term projection: Second-pair defenseman, power-play specialist Estimated arrival: 2026-27 Sandin-Pellikka may be the single most anticipated prospect in this group because of what he did over the last two years, putting up rare production for a young defenseman in the SHL and twice being named the best defenseman at World Juniors. After dipping his toes into the AHL late last season, he's expected to be in Grand Rapids full-time this year, looking to prove his game can translate to the faster, heavier North American game. It wouldn't shock me to see Sandin-Pellikka get an NHL game or two late this season if he plays well, but what I saw from him last spring suggested he'll need at least a year in Grand Rapids to acclimate. Remember, Simon Edvinsson spent the bulk of two seasons in Grand Rapids before he became a full-time player — and he was much bigger than Sandin-Pellikka, who stands just 5-11. Advertisement Regardless, the Red Wings will be far more concerned with making sure he reaches his potential as a top-four puck-mover (and power-play quarterback) than how soon he debuts. Long-term projection: Top-nine winger Estimated arrival: 2026-27 Brandsegg-Nygård got his first taste of the AHL late last season and scored a pair of goals in three playoff games. He's got a rocket of a shot, is physically advanced for his age (he'll turn 20 in October) and is not afraid to throw his weight around. For all those reasons, he projects to have serious versatility in an NHL lineup. He can win pucks down low, use his size around the net or blast pucks from distance. That kind of player can fit anywhere in a top nine, whether serving as a big-bodied complement to skilled players in a top six or as a menacing matchup forward who can still score 20 goals on a third line. I lean more toward the former long-term, but the versatility to do either is part of the appeal. As for when he could arrive, I think he'll benefit from a year in Grand Rapids — in a league that should suit his game well — and then be one of the more interesting potential roster challengers a year from now. Long-term projection: No. 4/5 defenseman Estimated arrival: 2027 Johansson came over for the end of the AHL season, and in the games I saw, he was even more impressive than Wallinder and Shai Buium despite being younger than both. He's got the size at 6-4, the edge to make use of it and is a good skater with a big shot from the point. That's an impressive profile that projects to at least an NHL third pair, with an outside chance to log some time on a second pair if he can consistently make the right decisions with the puck. He's back in Sweden this season, and I expect he'll get some time in Grand Rapids before jumping to the NHL, but I could see it being a shorter stay in Grand Rapids than some others because of his age (he's already 21), the physical tools and how good he looked in that first glimpse. Advertisement Long-term projection: Top-six winger Estimated arrival: 2027-28 Detroit's most recent first-round pick is an exciting addition as the kind of creative, skilled forward the Red Wings need while also playing a fearless brand of hockey. That profile looks like a natural fit in a future top six, where he can think the game at the level of players such as Lucas Raymond and play in the hard areas of the ice. But he'll need time, like any other prospect — even before remembering he's coming off an Achilles injury. Bear will be back with WHL Everett this season, and it's not impossible to imagine him competing for an NHL job as soon as 2026-27. As a late birthday, though, he'll also be eligible to play in the AHL that season, and that's the path the Red Wings have tended to prefer for at least a season. If so, that would put Bear on track to debut sometime in the 2027-28 season and on a similar timeline to Danielson. Long-term projection: 1A goaltender Estimated arrival: 2028 All Augustine has done, at every level he's played, is thrive. He led Team USA to a gold medal at the World Under-18 Championship, then back-to-back golds at World Juniors. He's backstopped the hockey revival at Michigan State and is a big reason why the Spartans are among the national title favorites going into 2025-26. He's been a force and has a real case as the Red Wings' top goalie prospect at this stage, ahead of Cossa. But as Cossa has shown, goalies take time, even when they're very good prospects. With Augustine going back to East Lansing for his junior season, he won't even arrive in Grand Rapids until spring 2026 at the earliest. I can't see him spending any less than a full season in the AHL, and with how the Red Wings have operated, it could very well be two full seasons there before Detroit gives him a look. Advertisement The timeline I have projected for him here would mimic that of Dustin Wolf, who debuted at the very end of his second AHL season (though Wolf turned pro a little sooner than Augustine). But it's worth noting even after Wolf debuted in April 2023, he still spent most of the following season in the AHL. That's just the way it goes for goalies, who tend to need lots of pro reps before they're ready for full-time NHL workloads. There's an obvious question of whether Augustine or Cossa can emerge as a true workhorse starter while competing with the other. And managing too many good goalies would be a great problem to have. But the Red Wings aren't there yet and realistically need to make certain they have at least one legit lead netminder before thinking too far ahead. Certainly there are more prospects whom Detroit will want to make an impact in the coming years. Another young defenseman, Shai Buium, had an encouraging rookie season in Grand Rapids (finishing with 25 points in 67 games, second among Griffins defensemen) and is another big body with plenty of smarts. A call-up in 2025-26 might be a tad ambitious, especially with Wallinder ahead of him, but with a big season he could put himself in the roster conversation at this time next year. Two more skilled wingers, Dmitri Buchelnikov and Max Plante, are on the horizon and have gotten plenty of fanfare for outstanding production in their respective leagues. Buchelnikov was top-20 in KHL scoring at age 21, while Plante scored more than a point per game as an NCAA freshman at 18. Buchelnikov's creativity and poise with the puck are impressive, and he could come to North America as soon as the end of the 2025-26 season, though his smaller build could pose some challenges in terms of how quickly he progresses. Plante is built a bit thicker and plays with plenty of competitiveness, but he's so young that he's likely at least a couple of years away from any NHL conversations. Detroit also has a pair of promising energy players in Emmitt Finnie and Jesse Kiiskinen, with Finnie slated to play in Grand Rapids this season and Kiiskinen headed back to Finland. Kiiskinen's shot can be a real weapon for him and complements his high-motor game in a way that could compare to Mazur as he develops. He'll turn 20 later this month and should be in North America a year from now, but he'll likely need at least a year in Grand Rapids, possibly more. Meanwhile, Finnie looks like a late-round find and had some success in a late-season AHL stint last spring. He's smart and responsible, and his production offers hope that he could blossom into a bottom-six type after a couple more years of seasoning. (Photo of Nate Danielson: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Red Wings Invite Undrafted Swedish Defenseman to Training Camp
Undrafted Swedish Defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson Invited to Detroit Red Wings Training Camp Despite being passed over in the 2025 NHL Draft, Swedish defenseman Carl-Otto Magnusson will get a valuable opportunity to showcase his talent in front of the NHL. Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) on X Carl-Otto Magnusson invited to Detroit camp according to agent Randy Edmonds. #LGRW The 18-year-old has been invited to the Detroit Red Wings' training camp ahead of the 2025–26 season, according to an announcement by his agent, Randy Edmonds, on Instagram. Magnusson stands approximately 6 feet 6.7 inches and weighs 223 pounds, giving him the kind of size that's hard to ignore on the blue line. Though the Red Wings cannot sign him to a contract this season due to his undrafted and junior status, the camp invite allows the towering defenseman to gain valuable experience in an NHL setting. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. Could the Red Wings Make a Competitive Offer for Devils' Luke Hughes? New Jersey Devils may consider dealing restricted free agent Luke Hughes with the Red Wings being a potential suitor. Magnusson recently made the move from Frölunda HC in Sweden to North America, joining the QMJHL's Moncton Wildcats. Moncton selected him in the second round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft. Last season, he dressed for three games with Frölunda's SHL team, logging ice time in one. Internationally, Magnusson has featured for Sweden's national junior team, most recently at the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase in Minneapolis. He went scoreless over five games in the tournament. He's also been named to the Junior Crowns' (Juniorkronorna) squad for the team's U.S. tour ahead of the upcoming season. The Red Wings' camp could mark an important step for Magnusson as he begins his North American hockey journey and looks to catch the eye of NHL scouts for future drafts. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
