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Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Instead of going to another high school, Taylor Norkus gets Beecher back to state with walk-off hit. ‘So grateful.'
EAST PEORIA — Taylor Norkus almost wasn't a Beecher Bobcat. When she was in middle school, Norkus and her parents had a decision to make. Norkus was a talented pitcher, but at Beecher, she would likely be behind Ava Lorenzatti, who was in the same 2026 class and even back then was considered one of the top pitchers in the country. 'There was an opportunity for me to go to a different school,' Norkus said. 'We passed it up and this is where we are now. I'm so grateful for that.' So is Beecher, especially after Norkus' heroics Monday. The junior pitcher earned the win in relief and delivered a two-out, walk-off single in the 10th inning, sending the Bobcats back to state with a 4-3 win over Brimfield/Elmwood in the Class 2A East Peoria Supersectional at the EastSide Centre. Norkus, a Colgate recruit, threw the final 4 2/3 innings without allowing a run. She struck out eight and scattered five hits. Northern Kentucky commit Makenzie Johnson went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and Lorenzatti, a Florida State recruit, added an RBI double for Beecher (35-2). Carmela Irwin singled and drew a walk, while Rockford commit Tayiah Scanlan made two key catches in left field. The Bobcats will take on Auburn (24-5) at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. Beecher, which clinched the eighth state trophy in program history, will play in the Final Four for the second time in three years after last season's supersectional loss. 'I'm so excited,' Johnson said. 'Last year, we came up short down here against Rockridge. That hurt. This season, we knew this was our year. We needed to make it back. 'We weren't going down again like we did last year.' Norkus has pitched terrifically all season, but her batting has been inconsistent. Her average is .289, she was hitless in her last five games and she wasn't in Monday's starting lineup. But when she came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th, she was ready to break some hearts for Brimfield/Elmwood (33-4). 'My mind was just like, 'Hit the ball — the game has to end somehow,'' Norkus said. 'There was a lot of pressure, but I just really wanted to do it for my team.' Norkus then ripped a single up the middle to start the celebration for the Bobcats. 'Her pitching has been amazing, but hitting … we didn't know which Taylor we were going to get,' Johnson said. 'Line drive base hit up the middle to walk us off. It was great. She's amazing.' Beecher coach Kevin Hayhurst, who celebrated after the game with a lime snow cone he got from a food truck at the stadium, was definitely proud of Norkus. 'That was really nice to see,' Hayhurst said. 'She didn't start the game. She didn't pout. She was ready to go. She's a team player.' When it comes to pitching, Norkus has certainly taken a backseat to Lorenzatti in past years. But this season, she has appeared in 25 games to Lorenzatti's 21. Norkus is 17-1 with a 1.03 ERA and Lorenzatti is 18-1 with a 1.48 ERA. Norkus also has had plenty of motivation. Before the season, she knew that, if she was going to get more than a few pitching chances, she was going to have to earn them. 'You know you really have to be good,' Norkus said. 'You have to take after her footsteps. There can't be a hole in the pitching staff. I try to fill that.' Lorenzatti was terrific through five innings Monday, allowing just one hit as Beecher took a 3-0 lead. But Brimfield/Elmwood started hitting her in the sixth, rallying to tie the game, Norkus was there to help. What a duo. 'We really have each other's backs,' Norkus said. 'I didn't expect to have this big of a role this season, but it feels amazing.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sharpsville softball falls in district title game
ERIE, Pa. (WKBN) – Sharpsville softball loses to Seneca in the Class 2A District Championship game, 14-5, at Penn State Behrend Monday afternoon. Watch above for extended highlights. Sharpsville's Izzie Candiotti drove in two runs with two hits in the loss. The Blue Devils as a team posted eight hits in the defeat. Seneca's Haylee Farrell led the way for the Bobcats with one home run and drove in four runs in the win. The Blue Devils were down, 6-5, until the Bobcats rattled off an eight-run sixth inning on the way to victory. Blue Devils will face the District 7 No. 1 seed on Monday, June 2 in the 2025 PIAA Softball Tournament First Round. All statistics provided by our friends at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seneca defeats Daniel 3-1 to advance to baseball state championship series
Central – Seneca gets an RBI double from Rafael Little & a 2-out, 2 run double from Kade Scruggs to eliminate Daniel in the 4A Upper State finals series. The Bobcats will face Airport in the 4A State Champion series starting Tuesday night at Seneca. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
After round of batting practice in the garage, Makenzie Johnson goes to work for Beecher. ‘Try to come up big.'
Junior center fielder Makenzie Johnson goes above and beyond to make herself the best softball player she can be for Beecher. She's even willing to work overtime. Junior teammate Taylor Norkus, who is also her next-door neighbor, will vouch for that. 'When I come home sometimes late at night, Makenzie is in her garage,' Norkus said. 'She is consistently out there working on her hitting.' On Wednesday, the Northern Kentucky recruit made that practice pay off for the Bobcats in a 12-0 nonconference victory in five innings over host Oak Forest. Johnson had an RBI triple and two singles for Beecher (29-2). Ava Olson went 3-for-4, while Elena Kvasnicka and Tayiah Scanlan added two hits apiece. Norkus struck out eight for the pitching win. Imani Hogan and Addison McClure each came through with a hit for Oak Forest (17-12). Melanie Andrysiak struck out seven. Johnson went late night with her hitting habit a few years back. 'Basically, my mom and dad surprised me for Christmas with a new bat, a bucket of balls and a new net for the garage,' Johnson said. 'We have a three-car garage, and it's set up where I can put up the net. 'I focus on contact extension and full swings. I work on my mechanics and break everything down.' Her power, patience and persistence show up all over the stat sheet. Johnson is hitting a team-leading .538 with nine doubles, four triples, five home runs and 28 RBIs. And patience? Johnson and Alexa Gliva are tied for the team lead with 12 walks. 'Honestly, I just try to go up there with a calm mindset,' Johnson said. 'I know I need to do a job for my team whether it's getting a walk, getting hit by a pitch — single, double, triple, home run. 'I'm here for my team. Whenever they do need me, I try to come up big and be successful.' Even if it's with her voice. 'It's great to have her around,' Norkus said. 'She is so, so, so supportive. Yeah, she's like a bundle of joy, and she has this burst of confidence that brings energy all around the dugout.' Beecher coach Kevin Hayhurst can use Johnson on defense as an outfielder or as a catcher. She's a force batting in the second slot behind leadoff hitter Ava Lorenzatti. They put their one-two punch to work right away against Oak Forest. Lorenzatti began the game with an infield hit before Johnson smashed a triple to the fence in right field. In the second inning, she reached on an infield single. After hitting a towering fly ball that was caught on the warning track, Johnson finished her day with a single to left field. That's being ready and keeping your foot on the gas. 'Mackenzie is very intense, really focused,' Hayhurst said. 'I don't know if I've ever had anybody as much focused before the game, preparing herself for the game, sitting on the bench watching the game. 'She is into every pitch. It doesn't surprise me that she'll be out there in her garage cleaning up a little flaw that she might have. That's Makenzie Johnson.' Johnson also played basketball at Beecher, but will be concentrating on softball during her senior year. And if she's good at pumping up her teammates, it's no wonder. 'Growing up, I was a competitive cheerleader,' Johnson said. 'It was about sixth grade when I had to choose whether I wanted to play travel softball or continue with cheerleading. 'I chose softball, and obviously, that has worked out well for me. I'm thankful for it and I'm thankful for all the opportunities that my parents have given me.'
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Texas State Preview 2025: GJ Kinne's Bobcats About to Keep Winning
No offense to Texas State University, but it's a minor miracle that GJ Kinne remains in San 36-year-old is making significantly less than a top college quarterback - under a million a year - and all he's accomplished is a 12-2 record with Incarnate Word, finishing No. 3 in the FCS in 2022, before coming to Texas State and elevating the program several Bobcats have only been in the FBS since 2012, achieving three winning seasons over 13 years. Kinne is responsible for two of those seasons with 16 wins at a place that managed just 16 victories in the six years before his arrival. The defense improved dramatically last season, the offense remained roughly the same, and … there was a shocking lack of the Bobcats have to beat all of the teams they're supposed year, they lost to a Georgia State squad that went 3-9 and to an Old Dominion squad that didn't go bowling. Win those types of games, and a Sun Belt title will be in time to get greedy and ask for a little bit more in Year Three under Kinne. Texas State Bobcats Preview 2025: Offense X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN Texas State Bobcats Preview 2025: Offense - There's been no problem fining quarterbacks in the portal who want to lead the attack. This year, the Bobcats have three options ready to give it a McCoy (Oregon State) has the most upside if he can cut down on the picks, Nate Yarnell saw plenty of work last year at Pitt, and Holden Geriner is an interesting option from Dawn is a dangerous threat on the outside - he caught six touchdown throws as part of the rotation - and transfers Mavin Anderson (Cal) and Tyrin Smith (UTEP and then Cincinnati) have the experience to fit in immediately. - Losing all-around running back star Ismail Mahdi to Arizona hurts. Lincoln Pare is back after finishing second on the team with 554 yards and with a team-high eight scores, and Torrance Burgess added over six yards per carry on his chances.- The offensive front might be making some big changes, but it's more than solid. It's also relatively homegrown around the tackle Dorion Strawn and 327-pound guard Tellek Lockette. Texas State Bobcats Preview 2025: Defense - The defense was good, but when it missed, it missed big. Few teams in college football were better at coming up with tackles for loss, the pass rush was great, and the run defense was terrific at times. But when the run D was bad, it was a struggle going 1-4 when allowing 170 yards or more.- Top pass rusher Kalil Alexander is back along with fellow end Jo'Lauson Landry. These two are great on the outside, and the tackles will be okay if Syracuse transfer Michael Nwokoacha can hold up right away. The back seven is loaded up with transfers around safety Ryan Nolan, the team's second-leading tackler. The cornerbacks are a bit green, but Khamari Terrell (Oregon) will linebacking corps is all about the transfers, starting with TCU's Terrence Cooks - be shocked if he's not one of the team's leading tacklers. Texas State Bobcats Key to the Season Score a whole lot of defense was and should be better, but Texas State will still need the offense to keep its foot on the gas. In two seasons under GJ Kinne, the Bobcats are 15-2 when they score more than 31 points and 1-8 when they don't. Expect every game to be a shootout again. Texas State Bobcats Key Player Gevani McCoy, QB McCloud was terrific last season hitting 70% of his passes with 30 touchdown throws. He was a good runner and scored seven times, but he wasn't as dangerous on the ground as McCoy will McCoy isn't a sure thing to grab the gig, but he can move - he ran for 328 yards and five scores in his limited time with the Beavers last year - and showed flashes with the passing game. Texas State Bobcats Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss Top Transfer In: Tyrin Smith, WR fifth-year senior had a fantastic 2022 at UTEP - 71 catches for 1,039 yards and five scores - but he missed most of the following year and most of last year at Cincinnati. The veteran has a shot to be a No. 1 target if he can stay Transfer Out: Joshua Eaton, CB starting as a three-year reserve at Oklahoma, Eaton turned into a strong playmaking corner for Texas State over the last two seasons. He has yet to pick off a pass, but he made 49 tackles with 13 broken-up passes for the Bobcats. Now he'll be part of the Michigan State secondary. Texas State Bobcats Key Game at Arkansas State, Oct. 4James Madison will be a problem, and going to Louisiana will be dangerous, but starting out the Sun Belt season on the road against the Red Wolves will be the big test case. Pull this off, and the Bobcats will be players in the conference chase. Lose, even early on, and it'll be an uphill battle in the strong West division.- 2025 Texas State Bobcats Schedule Breakdown Texas State Bobcats Top 10 Players 1. Kalil Alexander, EDGE Sr.2. Ryan Nolan, S Jr.3. Lincoln Pare, RB Sr.4. Chris Dawn, WR Jr.5. Gevani McCoy, QB Sr.6. Jo'Lauson Landry, EDGE Soph.7. Nate Yarnell, QB Sr.8. Tyrin Smith, WR Sr.9. Dorion Strawn, OT Sr.10. Kamren Washington, DT Jr. Texas State Bobcats 2024 Fun Stats - 1st Quarter Scoring: Texas State 161, Opponents 62- Sacks: Texas State 36 for 281 yards, Opponents 19 for 99 yards- Passing Touchdowns: Texas State 31, Opponents 13 Texas State Bobcats 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen The team will be just fine with all the new parts and changes across the starting 22, but the schedule will be far, far more of a trip to Arizona State is bad enough, but having to go to UTSA, Arkansas State, and Louisiana will be challenging. But just like the last two seasons, the Bobcats will crank up enough offense to win most shootouts, but there will be just enough duds - watch out for the trip to Southern Miss - to keep this from being a Sun Belt title The Texas State Bobcats Win Total At … 7.5Likely Wins: Eastern Michigan, Nicholls50/50 Games: at Arkansas State, James Madison, at Louisiana, at Marshall, South Alabama, at Southern Miss, Troy, ULM, at UTSALikely Losses: at Arizona State © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
