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Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Waubonsie Valley senior Danny McGuigan earns a new perk in his new gig. He gets to enjoy a tie and a win.
Waubonsie Valley senior Danny McGuigan didn't see a lot of playing time until late in the regular season. He was used mainly as a pitcher out of the bullpen. But Waubonsie Valley coach Bryan Acevedo saw something in the Aurora University commit and decided to try him as the designated hitter. 'On Saturdays, when he got some opportunities, he hit some baseballs hard, and we liked his approach,' Acevedo said. 'We gave him some opportunities a couple weeks ago as the DH, and he hasn't left the lineup.' McGuigan left the bench only four times on Thursday, but he took advantage of his chances. He went 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs to lead the 10th-seeded Warriors to a 7-1 victory over sixth-seeded Naperville Central in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional semifinals. McGuigan's two-out, bases-loaded double in the top of the first inning plated the first three runs of the game. He blooped the hit into a perfect spot about a foot inside the right-field line. 'I was lucky on that one,' he said. 'I think it was a change-up away, and I tried to foul it off, but it stayed fair. 'That felt great. It set the tone for the rest of the game, and it really hyped me up as well as the team, so I was really pumped up by that.' The three runs were more than enough for senior right-hander Owen Roberts. The Indiana State commit pitched a three-hitter with two walks and 10 strikeouts and also went 2-for-5 with an RBI for the Warriors (20-12), who advance to play third-seeded West Aurora in the regional final at 11 a.m. Saturday. Roberts improved to 7-2. Junior infielder Casey Cooperkawa scored an unearned run in the sixth for the Redhawks (20-16). By that time, Waubonsie Valley was comfortably ahead, and it all started with McGuigan's big hit. 'That helped us to wake up because the energy was low,' Waubonsie Valley senior third baseman Hiroshy Wong said. 'When we scored that three runs, we got excited, we got happy.' Wong is happy to see McGuigan succeed. 'Being a DH is really tough because your only job is hitting, as you know,' Wong said. 'He had a slow start, but he never gave up. 'As they say, the game always comes back to you. So he's been working really hard in the cages, and it's paying off right now.' McGuigan got hits off three pitchers. He had an RBI double and scored in the fifth inning and singled in the seventh. 'I've got to stay locked in on the other pitcher, taking it at-bat by at-bat,' McGuigan said. 'So before my first at-bat, l just really try to zone in and figure out how I'm going hit him and see what he's throwing.' McGuigan's hitting prowess isn't the only new wrinkle for the Warriors. He was seen wearing a striped tie in the dugout after each of his hits. 'Our manager, Matthew Choi, used to dress up in a shirt and tie for big games, and today he just brought the tie and used it as kind of like the celebration chain type of thing you see in the NFL or Major League Baseball,' Acevedo said. Just like that, a new tradition appears to have begun. 'It started out of nowhere,' McGuigan said. 'Matthew just brought it out and put it on one of the poles and started putting it on everybody who hit.' Expect McGuigan to continue as the DH. 'He's got a really good mentality for it,' Acevedo said. 'He's kind of a goofy kid, but he's able to lock in in spurts. 'We talk about team mystique in our program and for guys to take the next step as a senior, and he's definitely done that for us this year.'
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: New exhibit to highlight Aurora's rich baseball and softball history
As I watched my 14-year-old grandson playing baseball with his youth travel team Wednesday evening on Aurora University's beautiful field, I looked around at all the other bustling diamonds in this section of the Fox Valley Park District's Stuart Sports Complex and thanked the heavens for making the game part of my life. Baseball really is America's sport. More specifically, baseball and softball have huge legacies in this area. So on Thursday, when I found out the Aurora Historical Society will be featuring the exhibit 'Play Ball, Aurora!' at its museum at 20 E. Downer Place starting June 6 at downtown's First Fridays event, I gave Executive Director John Jaros a call to find out a little more about the deep roots baseball and softball have here in our community. Jaros told me this exhibit is similar to the popular display that ran through the summer of 2014, featuring photos, trophies, uniforms and other memorabilia from 'old-timers who played the game' back in the day when both baseball and particularly fast-pitch softball really did rule. 'A lot of good material came into the collection at that time … including Aurora's 1959 World Softball Championship Trophy,' said Jaros. It was 65 years ago in September of 1959, according to the Aurora Historical Society, that the Aurora Sealmasters, a fast-pitch softball team sponsored by Stephens-Adamson Company, made history by winning the Amateur Softball Association National Tournament. (At the time, it was the World Softball Championship). Aurora pitcher Harvey 'The Horse' Sterkel – who had been recruited from Denver after Stephens-Adamson decided to get serious about the game – dominated this Florida tournament, winning eight of the team's nine games, including pitching three shutouts on the final day of the tournament. Sealmasters would go on to win Amateur Softball Association championships again in 1961, 1965 and 1967, and would win the first International Softball Federation World Tournament in 1966 and '68. Sterkel himself would dominate for a good 20 years, earning a well-deserved spot in two major softball Halls of Fame. And as I found out while writing this column, one of the fields in the Stuart Sports Complex on Jericho Road where I watched by grandson play this week is named in his honor. Aurora's winning ways in softball continued into the 1970s, culminating with a win at the international Softball Congress World Tournament in 1980. Under Dolan & Murphy Real Estate, which took over sponsorship in 1988, Aurora continues to field men's and women's teams, and according to its website, has qualified for and played in the world tournament since 1994 – a record – finishing as high as second in 2012. While some of those championship players are still with us, Jaros noted, many have died, including the legendary Sterkel, who passed away in 2019. 'We wanted to pay tribute to those who are still around,' he said, adding that the decision to reintroduce the exhibit is also because 'it was very popular … the sport is big in Aurora.' Baseball in this community actually dates back to the 1870s, with the city being home to some minor league teams back in the early days including the Aurora Blues, whose roster in 1911 included the legendary Casey Stengel. By 1912, Stengel was in the majors playing for Brooklyn. The number of amateur baseball teams grew in the 1930s and '40s as more city and neighborhood leagues formed. And it became even more popular in the 1950s as youth leagues came into existence. 'Back then everybody played ball,' said Jaros, noting that Aurora also had several semi-pro teams. 'Baseball really was America's pastime.' It was in the 1930s, he added, that softball – originally called 'diamond ball' – came into prominence in Aurora, with two men's recreational leagues: The Industrial League – 'every factory had a team' – and the Protestant Church League. But the sport here was far different then what Jaros grew up playing, with big 16-inch softballs and no gloves, in his North Side Chicago neighborhood. 'When I came to Aurora (in 1984), they told me this was a big softball place,' he said. 'I loved softball but when I saw how they played, throwing really hard with a smaller ball and they all had gloves, I thought, this is not how I played.' While Jaros never participated in any Aurora fast-pitch games, he never lost his appreciation for the sport or the special spot it holds in this city's story. 'We have a lot of cool material that comes in and out of storage,' Jaros said. 'We just felt this was a good time to bring it out again.'
Chicago Tribune
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Salvador Rodriguez, Luis Santoyo join the 2026 race for Kane County sheriff
Two more candidates have thrown their hats in the ring to be elected Kane County sheriff in 2026, as current Sheriff Ron Hain prepares to retire when his term ends next year. Earlier this month, Kane County Undersheriff Amy Johnson announced her intention to run for sheriff — with Hain's support. So far, she faces two opponents, including a primary challenger. Salvador Rodriguez of Sugar Grove, who previously worked in the Kane County Sheriff's Office, has announced he is running for sheriff as a Democrat against Johnson. Luis Santoyo, a current Elburn village trustee, has announced he is running as a Republican for sheriff in the 2026 election. Rodriguez retired from the Kane County Sheriff's Office, where he said he worked for nearly 30 years and held a number of different positions — such as a patrol deputy, field training officer, K-9 handler, a sergeant in the Office of Professional Standards and a public safety police lieutenant, according to his campaign website. He said he was involved with the office's Explorer Post Program and also helped develop the office's Cadet Program, which gives individuals ages 17-20 insights into how the department operates and provides entry-level deputy sheriff training. Rodriguez said he has been planning to run for sheriff since last spring. He filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections in October, and has begun to accept campaign contributions, according to records from the state Board of Elections. His top goal is to provide leadership 'rooted in real community involvement,' he said on Monday, like facilitating talks with the community and partnering with local police departments. 'Everything from coffee with a cop to putting on programs where we come together with the youth,' he said. He said forming relationships with local communities could increase the likelihood that community members will call law enforcement when problems arise. 'Especially over on the East Side of Aurora, where it's low-income housing, where we're the busiest … one of the events that I want to do is to get some of us in uniform, go out there, knock on their doors and talk to them — and not in our (squad cars) where they're going to be intimidated, but us on foot in the neighborhood talking to everybody.' If elected sheriff, Rodriguez also plans to respond to what he called in a press release announcing his bid for sheriff 'the national disregard for the rule of law.' 'I think, nationally, there's just this whirlwind of uncertainty and things that aren't being enforced and are being enforced,' he said. 'I will not waver under any type of pressure from the federal government, federal police or just in general.' Rodriguez is also a Democratic precinct committeeman for Sugar Grove Township and a member of the Western Kane Democrats, according to Monday's press release. He's worked as an adjunct professor at Aurora University, he said, and attended schools in Aurora and Naperville as well as Aurora University. Also in the race is Luis Santoyo of Elburn, who's running as a Republican per the Illinois State Board of Elections. He filed his statement of organization on April 16. According to Santoyo's campaign website, he was born in Mexico and grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. He previously worked as a detective in the Cook County Sheriff's Department, having investigated crimes like child exploitation and gang violence and serving as a forensic artist, hostage negotiator and dignitary protection specialist. He has also worked with immigrant and underserved communities, his website says. In 2023, he was elected an Elburn village trustee. The mid-term elections will take place on Nov. 3, 2026, with the primary election next April.
Chicago Tribune
31-03-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Aurora University kicks off weeklong initiative based on generosity, positive action
Geomarco Grano of Sugar Grove, a freshman at Aurora University, stopped inside one of the buildings on campus Monday morning to inscribe a positive thought for others. Grano joined dozens of others who wrote messages of positivity on a piece of fabric mounted inside the doors of the Institute for Collaboration on campus as part of a new initiative this week leading up to a Day of Generosity to be celebrated at the university on Friday. 'The initiative this year to promote something positive is a great thing to have on campus,' Grano said as he thought about what message he might leave for others. 'Spreading kindness to everybody and doing that through any means possible – whether it's kind words, gifts, words of affirmation – things that really carry a lot of meaning for people. Everyone is really excited about it, and the teachers are really promoting it to the students.' Elise Phillipp of Yorkville, who is a junior, likewise elected to inscribe a message and said after being at the school for nearly three years, she was excited about the program she 'heard about a couple of weeks ago.' 'I saw it on emails and on Instagram and they (the school) were kind of marketing all of it,' she said. 'I think it's awesome. I think it takes a lot for a school to do something like this and show the students and faculty and staff that you can be generous and how much we mean to them and them to us.' Officials at the university stressed that the week's activities leading up to the Day of Generosity will include a number of outreach events as well as those aimed at self-care and nurturing of students. Tuesday was scheduled to feature decorating and packing bagged lunches for Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora, followed by Wellness Wednesday where students will be encouraged 'to take a break with relaxing activities focused on self-care, mindfulness and well-being.' Outreach continues on Thursday as the one-hour Cups and Comfort event is set to be held at the University Banquet Hall as students will be served coffee or lemonade while assembling blankets that will be donated to World Relief and Oaken Acres Wildlife Center. Friday's culminating events are to include a Day of Generosity breakfast held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. as well as an Arts and Crafts Pop-Up Art Cafe that will be held from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Hill Welcome Center on campus. Jen Buckley, who is currently serving as interim president of advancement at the university, said the impetus behind the initiative is about 'having a week that's focused on how we support our students within our community.' 'Some institutions call this a Day of Giving but we really wanted to focus it around generosity and what generosity means to us as a university community. It's providing opportunities and coming together to help one another,' Buckley said. 'It also creates service opportunities that build on who we are as an institution and our mission. It's about not only serving our community and talking about what generosity means, but also putting it into action.' Donation notifications were sent out to alumni as well as the community, Buckley said, advising them about a 24-hour event that begins on Thursday 'where we are going to solicit gifts where people can give donations to help our students and scholarships and campus improvements.' Buckley said the events this week are not the product of some recent discussion but rather something that was planned months ago as part of the university's strategic plan. 'We wanted to see what our baseline participation is for something like this, and also create an opportunity to build on this in the future,' she said. 'We have a brand-new strategic plan that we rolled out in August called A-Unity – fulfilling our promise. Once we rolled that out, this was within our strategic plan and it's literally fulfilling our promise to our institution as well as our students.' Upon reflection, Grano explained what he planned to write as a message to others. 'My motto is 'All it takes is all you got' and putting that into action – give everything you can and that's going to be enough,' he said. Kieran Donovan of Wilmette, who is also a freshman, predicted the week's activities 'would definitely have an impact' as he finished writing a positive message for others as part of Monday's event. 'It may not be a physical impact, but it's definitely going to be there mentally,' he said. 'For people to come and walk up and write something, that will be more impactful. Someone coming up and reading these messages, they'll see how supportive the community around them is.'
Chicago Tribune
19-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Student-athletes at Aurora University get warm feeling making blankets for kids in need: ‘I just think it's really beautiful to give back'
Every winter, athletic teams at Aurora University come together for a project to help comfort youngsters in hospitals, group homes, shelters and more, and this year was no exception. Beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday, representatives from the university's many varsity sports teams dropped by the Thornton Gymnasium at Alumni Hall to participate in the 22nd annual Project Linus event in support of the Belton, Missouri-based nonprofit group that since 1995 has given away more than 9.3 million blankets to children throughout the country. 'I like that we get together every year and do something as a group,' said Matthew Frauendorff, 22, of Downers Grove, at Tuesday's event. 'I've done this for four years and we usually get 20 of our players here between the men's and the women's golf teams. Over the years – since freshmen year – I thought this was a great opportunity to give back to our community.' The event was again sponsored by the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Frauendorff said he joined the board of the committee and currently serves as treasurer. 'We run this entire project and the operation,' he said. 'It's just important to me. I've always believed in volunteering and it's nice to see kids come together for an hour helping out other kids.' He said 'we hope this can bring a little light to the lives of people not in as fortunate a position as we are.' Brian Kipley, director of athletic communications at Aurora University, said each blanket takes anywhere from five to 15 minutes to complete based on the number of people involved and overall, the event 'usually produces about 100 blankets each year.' 'It's safe to say over the course of the more than two decades we have had the program that at least 2,000 blankets have been given away,' Kipley said a day before the event. The blankets made this year are going to Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and its pediatric unit, he said. Kipley said the blanket-making effort 'is open to anyone on campus that wants to come and make blankets but that 99% is student-athletes.' Olivia Buzzelli, 22, of Plymouth, Michigan, said she works with Frauendorff serving as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and that this too was her fourth year participating in the program. 'I'm part of the women's hockey team. I think reflecting on Project Linus, we're very privileged as student-athletes, and to give back to the community is huge,' she said. 'To get the whole campus involved – all the sports teams involved – I just think it's really beautiful to give back.' Buzzelli said in the past, the group collectively 'has made about 100 blankets' a year, but that this year they were going to make more. Last year, the school received a donation of materials from Joann Fabrics but this year, Buzzelli said each student- athlete donated $5, which allowed the school to buy more fleece. 'The pieces of fabric were already matched together so all they have to do is unroll it, cut it in strips and tie it,' Buzzelli said. The effort paid off as officials reported at the end of the project that 155 blankets were made, a new record total for the university. Peyton Elliott, 21, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was also representing the women's hockey team at the event and said she was also tying blankets for the fourth year. 'It's a great cause. Being able to help out at the hospitals that are in need and being able to give back. It's a huge part of being an athlete here at Aurora (University),' she said. She said its not hard to recruit people to take part in the event. 'We're all in every year, and it's an expectation of our teammates to be here and we get to help those in need,' she said. Justin Zimmerman, 23, of Aurora, said he is currently a grad student representing the baseball team and that this was his third year working with Project Linus. 'For me, I just keep in mind it's for a good cause and it's for the kids and I guess that's what motivates me to show up every year and do my part,' he said.
