Latest news with #Kaczmarek
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Alex Toth puts ‘discouraging times,' including demotion, behind him. Then he helps put Lake Zurich in front.
Roller coaster season is just beginning, but Lake Zurich's Alex Toth has already experienced an up-and-down ride this spring. The sophomore third baseman knew he had to stay the course after starting the season 0-for-30 and being demoted to the junior varsity team. 'It wasn't the best feeling,' Toth said. 'There were for sure some discouraging times, but I really never told myself that I wasn't good. I always kept it positive and tried to battle my way through. 'Now look where we're at. I'm out here doing my job, and it feels good.' Since Toth was brought back to the varsity team this month, his job has revolved mostly around playing good defense and supplying a little offense at the bottom of the order. But he provided more than a little during the eighth-seeded Bears' 9-4 win against ninth-seeded Warren in the Class 4A Fremd Regional semifinals in Palatine on Thursday. Batting ninth, Toth drove in three runs, including two on a single up the middle to spark a game-changing six-run fourth inning for Lake Zurich (24-11), which will play top-seeded Fremd (27-4-1) in the regional championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday. His clutch hit wiped away the Blue Devils' 2-0 lead and gave his teammates a jolt of momentum. 'That was a huge at-bat,' Lake Zurich senior outfielder Cash Kaczmarek said. 'It got us right back in the game. It's not normal for a sophomore to come up this big in a playoff game.' Toth doubled his RBI total for the season with that hit off Warren junior starter Braylan McCarthy. 'I wanted to focus on the game not being too big — just do my job, get on base,' he said. 'I was thinking just to have a good at-bat and get to the next batter — provide what I can for the seniors. 'Rounding first after that hit, I was almost a little relieved, but it felt great.' Toth tacked on another run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center field off Warren sophomore reliever Mason Palmer, driving in senior shortstop Dylan Fogelsong, who led off the inning with a single. 'I had faced him (Palmer) before in a conference game, so I knew what he had, and I again just had to do a job,' Toth said. Kaczmarek, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit who went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs against the Blue Devils (20-15), understands what Toth has gone through this season. 'It's definitely been a mental battle for him, and I've been there and done that,' Kaczmarek said. 'It's tough being younger on varsity seeing great pitching. But every day, his at-bats get better, and it showed here.' The Bears' six-run inning was all that senior right-hander Josh Marzec needed. He allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 7-2 as Lake Zurich won for the 11th time in 13 games. Toth's contributions haven't been overlooked. 'He's gotten mentally tougher and matured over the year,' Lake Zurich coach Mike Manno said. 'Anybody who starts 0-for-30, that can really weigh on you. He's just gone with the process of working hard. I always say the kids that work hard, good things happen for them. I think that's where he's at at this point. He didn't look like a sophomore today.' Toth, who gives some of the credit to his travel coach, Anthony Drago, has often been a middle-of-the-order hitter in the past. He has noticed pitchers are approaching him differently at the bottom of the order. 'You're not going to see much off-speed there, so it's being ready for the fastball,' Toth said. 'I've honestly liked hitting in the nine spot. It's motivation for me, too, because they'll say I'm an easy out. I'm making sure I'm a tough out.'
Chicago Tribune
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Lake Zurich's Cash Kaczmarek steps into the box knowing a hit is likely. ‘Stepping away' is likely a reason.
Lake Zurich's Cash Kaczmarek is learning less is more sometimes. The senior outfielder has never played better, and the timing is notable. 'I ended junior year pretty well, and I didn't do as much baseball-wise in the offseason,' Kaczmarek said. 'I think that helped.' Kaczmarek, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh baseball commit, decided to play basketball this past season. He didn't play the sport during his junior year so he could give more attention to baseball, but returning to the court at Lake Zurich boys basketball coach Terry Coughlin's invitation turned out to be a win-win. 'Coach asked if I wanted to go to some open gyms in the fall, and I realized how fun it was,' Kaczmarek said. New baseball coach Mike Manno voiced his support, and Kaczmarek became the Bears' sixth man. 'Junior year, baseball was everything,' Kaczmarek said. 'This year, I couldn't lift as much because of basketball, and stepping away from baseball like that was something that I needed. I worked on my mental approach a lot.' Manno's arrival also pushed him. 'Two months ago, I really didn't know where I stood,' Kaczmarek said. 'There was some stress and uncertainty, which was good. First impressions are huge for me. I felt like I had to fully reprove myself. It was kind of like being a freshman again.' Not that he's playing like one. Kaczmarek, who began the season batting cleanup but has moved into the No. 2 hole, is on a tear at the plate for the Bears (11-6, 4-2). Including Lake Zurich's 5-3 nonconference win against Deerfield on Wednesday, he has hit .583 with a 1.810 OPS, four home runs, 14 RBIs and 14 runs scored in the past seven games. 'I'm just going up there wanting to hit it right back at the pitcher and thinking that I'm better than him,' he said. Kaczmarek, who hit two home runs all of last season, went 4-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs during Lake Zurich's 17-9 nonconference win against Normal West on Saturday. His home run during the Bears' 4-3 North Suburban Conference win against Lake Forest on Tuesday was his third in as many games and couldn't have been more clutch, coming in the top of the seventh inning of a tie game. 'He's always been a hitter at heart, and when he gets hot like he is right now, there's no stopping him,' Lake Zurich senior pitcher Josh Marzec said. 'It looks like he's adjusting really well to pitches and he's hitting beach balls. 'What's also great about him is that he's a great teammate and leader who holds everyone to the same standard.' Manno didn't know what to expect from Kaczmarek but quickly came to believe he would make a big impact this season. 'He's been easy to coach from day one, and you could tell, even early in workouts, that he carries himself the right way,' Manno said. 'There's a grit about him that is infectious for the rest of the team.' Kaczmarek also knows how to deal with the failure that is inevitable in baseball. 'I've gotten better at not dwelling on negatives, and I think a lot of that is being a year older,' he said. 'I try to not think about mistakes too much and move on to the next game or the next pitch.' As the Bears prepare for their next game, they have won five in a row. 'The heart of our lineup is heating up, and we're starting to feed off each other,' Kaczmarek said. 'I'm enjoying this season a lot, and I just want to enjoy my last time playing high school baseball.'
Fox News
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘Malcolm in the Middle' revival will be missing key actor who ditched Hollywood
"Malcolm in the Middle" is set for a four-episode revival on Disney+ with all but one of the original cast returning. In December, the streaming service announced the news with stars Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek on social media. It was recently announced, per Variety, that Christopher Masterson and Justin Berfield, who played Muniz's brothers Francis and Reese, respectively, on the show, will also be returning. However, Erik Per Sullivan, who played youngest brother Dewey, will not be back for the series. According to the outlet, his role will be played by Caleb Ellsworth-Clark, who had roles in "Fargo" and "The Expanse." Per Sullivan has been absent from Hollywood for 15 years, with his last credited role in the 2010 film "Twelve." The actor has also skipped out on "Malcolm in the Middle" reunions over the years. Kaczmarek, who played mom Lois on the hit sitcom, spoke about Per Sullivan in a 2024 interview with Malcolm France, saying he is "well, he's very, very well." "He wasn't interested in acting at all. He goes to school at a very, very, very prestigious American university that he's asked us all to be quiet about," she continued, saying he is doing graduate work in Victorian literature. She added that she admired his decision, explaining, "I think so many people think being in show business is just the greatest thing in the world, and it's not for everybody." "He's a very grateful kid, for Dewey," Kaczmarek said. "Malcolm in the Middle" originally ran on Fox for seven seasons from 2000 to 2006, earning 33 Emmy nominations, including two wins for the late Cloris Leachman as best guest actress in a comedy and two wins each for best directing and best writing for a comedy. The new episodes will feature, according to the official logline shared with Variety, "Malcolm (Muniz) and his daughter are drawn into the family's chaos when Hal (Cranston) and Lois (Kaczmarek) demand his presence for their 40th wedding anniversary party." No release date has been announced. Muniz told E! News in February, "I'm so excited. I think Brian and I first started talking at a dinner that we had in 2015. And the fact that now, 10 years later, 25 years after the show started, it's going to happen—I'm really excited. I think people are going to be thrilled to see everybody and the ideas that they've come up with." WATCH: FRANKIE MUNIZ EXPLAINS WHY HE CALLED LA A 'HELL HOLE' He added, "Because that was a big thing for me, too, is like the possibilities are endless on what Malcolm and his family could be up to. I've read the scripts, so I know. And I think people are going to be pretty excited."
USA Today
04-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Local favorite Carleton Hotel Bar makes Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. Here's how
Local favorite Carleton Hotel Bar makes Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. Here's how Show Caption Hide Caption Budweiser Super Bowl commercial stars young Clydesdale foal In a new Budweiser Clydesdales Super Bowl commercial, a foal finds a way to help after being left behind by the rest of the Clydesdales. John Kaczmarek's business, Carleton Hotel Bar, can be seen in the 2025 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. Kaczmarek is excited about the national exposure for his business and the town of Carleton. Surrounded by family and friends, it's a sure bet John Kaczmarek will be watching 2025's Super Bowl LIX. While rooting for his favorite football team, Kaczmarek will be watching for this year's Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. His business, Carleton Hotel Bar in Carleton, Michigan, will be making an appearance in this year's Budweiser commercial, called 'First Delivery." Located at 927 Monroe St., the modest business informed the community on its Facebook page, posting 'The hotel made it in the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.' For more than 17 years, Kaczmarek has owned the neighborhood bar known for its burgers and steaks. Patrons gather to watch sports on TV, play pool and sing karaoke. It offers dine-in specials like every Tuesday features a classic burger and fries and music bingo is every Sunday from 6-8 p.m. except Super Bowl Sunday when they will be hosting a watch party beginning at 6 p.m. Super Bowl LIX: Merchandise and ticket scams may be out there, AG warns 'I found out from one of my customers,' Kaczmarek said. 'There's a place where you can go and get drone coverage for free. If you go to that website they show different pictures of Carleton. One coming one way and one coming the other way. It just happened that Budweiser picked that one up out of all the places.' The Carleton resident said that same footage found on is used in a Trump ad. 'Shutterstock has all this footage of an early morning aerial view on Monroe Street,' he said. 'And that's what they both used.' Being in the national spotlight, even for a brief moment, is exciting to Kaczmarek. 'But I'm more excited for Carleton,' he said. 'I love the advertising for Carleton.' According to the marketing department at Budweiser USA, the commercial was directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and Emmy Award-winning commercial director Henry Alex Rubin and created by FCB New York. Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@ Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Carleton Hotel Bar makes Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. Here's how it came about.
Carleton Hotel Bar makes Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. Here's how it came about. Show Caption Hide Caption Budweiser Super Bowl commercial stars young Clydesdale foal In a new Budweiser Clydesdales Super Bowl commercial, a foal finds a way to help after being left behind by the rest of the Clydesdales. John Kaczmarek's business, Carleton Hotel Bar, can be seen in the 2025 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. Kaczmarek is excited about the national exposure for his business and the town of Carleton. CARLETON — Surrounded by family and friends, it's a sure bet John Kaczmarek will be watching 2025's Super Bowl LIX. While rooting for his favorite football team, Kaczmarek will be watching for this year's Budweiser Super Bowl commercial. His business, Carleton Hotel Bar, will be making an appearance in this year's Budweiser commercial, called 'First Delivery." Located at 927 Monroe St., the modest business informed the community on its Facebook page, posting 'The hotel made it in the Budweiser Super Bowl commercial.' For more than 17 years, Kaczmarek has owned the neighborhood bar known for its burgers and steaks. Patrons gather to watch sports on TV, play pool and sing karaoke. It offers dine-in specials like every Tuesday features a classic burger and fries and music bingo is every Sunday from 6-8 p.m. except Super Bowl Sunday when they will be hosting a watch party beginning at 6 p.m. 'I found out from one of my customers,' Kaczmarek said. 'There's a place where you can go and get drone coverage for free. If you go to that website they show different pictures of Carleton. One coming one way and one coming the other way. It just happened that Budweiser picked that one up out of all the places.' The Carleton resident said that same footage found on is used in a Trump ad. From the archives: The Carleton Hotel celebrates a century of customers in 2011 'Shutterstock has all this footage of an early morning aerial view on Monroe Street,' he said. 'And that's what they both used.' Being in the national spotlight, even for a brief moment, is exciting to Kaczmarek. 'But I'm more excited for Carleton,' he said. 'I love the advertising for Carleton.' According to the marketing department at Budweiser USA, the commercial was directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and Emmy Award-winning commercial director Henry Alex Rubin and created by FCB New York. — Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@ Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@
