Latest news with #St.Laurence
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Battling an illness, Alyssa Thulin strikes back with goal as Providence rallies past St. Laurence. ‘Just amazing.'
Providence's Alyssa Thulin couldn't believe the horrible timing she dealt with Friday morning. The junior midfielder awoke on the biggest day of the season to this point — and she was sick. Sick enough to warrant a trip to the doctor, a visit that didn't provide Thulin any encouragement that she would be able to play soccer in a few hours. 'I woke up feeling really miserable,' Thulin said. 'I went to the doctor and he told me I had strep throat. I went home, rested up and got here right before warm-ups. 'I didn't think I was going to be able to play, but I got here and I was able to play and I tried my best.' Thulin felt well enough to rescue the Celtics and help keep their undefeated season alive. Her goal sparked a big comeback as Providence erased a 1-0 halftime deficit and pulled out a 3-1 victory over St. Laurence in the Class 2A Kankakee Sectional championship game. Gabby Tylka and Maggie Wolniakowski also scored for the top-seeded Celtics (22-0-2), while Thulin and Giuliana Savarino each added an assist and Claire Wajda made four saves. It's the second straight sectional title and third in program history for Providence, which will take on Peoria Notre Dame (24-1-1) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the downstate Washington Supersectional. It's a rematch of last year's supersectional, won 4-0 by Notre Dame. 'It's been really amazing,' Thulin said. 'My freshman year, we barely won five games. To go to supersectionals last year and to do it again, and hopefully win supersectionals this year, it's just amazing.' Valerie Dominguez scored a goal and Marissa Amador finished with nine saves for second-seeded St. Laurence (18-5-2). The Vikings led 1-0 at halftime before Thulin came through, volleying in Savarino's corner kick to tie the game with 29:21 to go. 'I wasn't feeling well at that time, so it felt really good to get that first goal and get us all energized,' Thulin said. 'After we scored that first goal, we got our energy back and realized we were still in this.' Just 41 seconds later, Tylka — a freshman midfielder — gave the Celtics the lead. Providence coach Mike Taylor was confident things would turn around once his team broke through. 'Alyssa, being out here with strep throat, played awesome,' Taylor said. 'She started it off, putting that ball in the back of the net. We know once we score that first one, you're not stopping us.' Thulin ranks second on the team with 16 goals and third with 15 assists. When Tylka heard about Thulin's illness, though, she was concerned. To say the least. 'I was like, 'How am I going to play in the middle?'' Tylka said. 'I didn't know if she was able to walk or what was going on. She really pulled through. It was insane.' Tylka credits Thulin with helping her score 10 goals as a freshman. The duo has quickly developed a bond in the midfield. 'Alyssa, I'm always looking up to her,' Tylka said. 'We're always connecting in the middle. Coach (Taylor) says that the engine of the car is in the middle and that's her for us. 'She's always there, passing and getting assists for us and then scoring goals, too.' Thulin was thrilled to be there to provide the power Friday night. It's something she didn't think was going to happen earlier in the day. 'I just had to think to myself, 'You need to go out 100%. Just ignore it, as hard as it may be, because you need to play for the team,'' Thulin said. 'I didn't want to miss this game. 'I'm really happy I got to play.'
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Alongside his dad, Mickey Lotus leads St. Laurence to Do It Stevie's Way Tournament title. ‘This means a lot.'
Mickey Lotus has watched several Do It Stevie's Way Tournaments from the stands. His dad, St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus, had been 0-3 in championship games before Saturday night. Mickey, a junior second baseman who's excelling in his first season as a varsity starter for the Vikings, was thrilled to help his dad finally get over that hump. 'It makes me so happy to see him win this,' Mickey said. 'I know he wanted this so bad. I'm happy we could get this done for him.' Mickey drove in two runs and scored another Saturday as the Vikings rolled to a 10-1 win over Lemont in the Do It Stevie's Way Tournament championship game at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. Adrian Perez went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for St. Laurence (29-5). Louisville recruit Cory Les added a double, three runs and an RBI, while Danny Donovan finished 2-for-4 with a run. Jimmy Benson, a Lemont resident, threw a complete game for the Vikings. He struck out five and allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks. 'It was against my hometown team and I know all the sophomores and juniors over there,' Benson said. 'So, I definitely wanted to go out there and do my best.' Oakton commit Zach Corse came up with an RBI single for Lemont (27-7-1). Zane Schneider singled and scored, while Missouri-St. Louis recruit Matt Devoy finished with a single and a walk. St. Laurence's first tournament title, meanwhile, was extra special for the Lotus family. Pete played baseball with Mark Bajenski, who runs the tournament in honor of his late son, Stevie, who was a senior baseball player at Mount Carmel in 2009 when he died at the age of 17 following complications from surgery to repair a heart defect. 'I've known 'Baj' for a long time,' Pete said. 'We played together in the summers. I'd hang around with Stevie, playing catch with him. They had a great father-son relationship and that was before I had kids, so I thought it was really cool. 'I've always appreciated this tournament and the message, and this means a lot.' Listening to Mark Bajenski speak about his son after the game, the significance of being on the field together as father and son wasn't lost on either Lotus. 'Seeing my dad kind of tearing up out there, it's definitely special,' Mickey said. 'It means a lot to him and it means a lot to me, as well.' Mickey and Pete said they were both a bit nervous about how this season together would go. But both are enjoying it. 'It's been good,' Mickey said. 'He tries to treat me just like any other player on this team and I think he does a good job of that. If he says something to me, I try to take it like it's just coming from a regular coach and not my dad.' Mickey was hit by a pitch and scored during a three-run first inning for St. Laurence. He later added a pair of RBI groundouts. Mickey is now hitting .505 with 46 runs and 21 RBIs, silencing anyone who doubted he belonged in the varsity lineup. 'I definitely hear people talk about how I only play because he's my dad, but I think it's quite the opposite,' Mickey said. 'I think he's hard on me and I have to earn it. 'I try to block that stuff out. It doesn't really matter to me. But for sure, I like to prove them wrong.' For Mickey, putting on the St. Laurence jersey every day is still a surreal feeling. 'It's an honor for me,' he said. 'Before every game, I'm so grateful to have this opportunity. I talk about it all the time. I watched this growing up and always dreamed about it and now this is the time. 'It's definitely awesome.'
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
After missing football due to injury, Anthony Cartolano breaks out in baseball for Brother Rice. ‘Fun to be back.'
Last fall was frustrating for Anthony Cartolano, who broke his right arm in August and missed all of what was supposed to be his first varsity football season for Brother Rice. Instead, the sophomore outfielder had all that extra time to think about baseball. He was more than a little amped up to get back to competing on the diamond this spring. 'Breaking my arm and being out for that long, the biggest challenge was mentally,' Cartolano said. 'It was hard just to stay mentally high. Getting down was pretty easy, but I knew I had to get back up fast. 'I love playing baseball, and it's fun to be back.' While Cartolano, who suffered the injury in football practice, has to wait to showcase his skills as a wide receiver on varsity, he's sure made a quite a splash in his first full season of varsity baseball. He helped the Crusaders win a conference title Saturday. Cartolano's two-run single was a key hit as host Brother Rice topped St. Laurence for a 6-2 Catholic League Blue win in Chicago. Braydon McKendrick threw six-plus innings, striking out four and allowing two earned runs on just two hits and three walks for the Crusaders (29-2, 13-1). Eastern Michigan recruit Aidan Nohava went 2-for-3 with a home run, while Arizona commit Gavin Triezenberg added a two-run double and Joshua Torres finished 2-for-3 with an RBI single. Brother Rice needed to sweep St. Laurence (26-5, 12-2) in the final two-game series of the conference season and did just that to win its first Catholic League Blue title since 2022. That set off a raucous celebration with students storming the field to join the team. 'Honestly, there's no better feeling,' Nohava said. 'Seeing my teammates with smiles on their faces puts a bigger smile on mine. We've got all my buddies coming out to watch us at this new field with this atmosphere. You can't recreate it anywhere else. 'I love it. There's nothing better.' Louisville recruit Cory Les homered for the Vikings. Orlando Vazquez added a single, with Jimmy Benson striking out five over 4 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits. Cartolano, however, ripped a two-run single to left field in the third inning to give the Crusaders a 3-0 lead. 'I had two strikeouts I shouldn't have had,' Cartolano said. 'The pressure got me, but that's going to happen sometimes. You can't be perfect all the time. But in that at-bat, I manned up with two strikes, put the ball in play, and good things happen when you swing the bat.' A lot of good things have been happening for Cartolano, who landed an inside-the-park home run during Thursday's 12-2 win over St. Laurence. In addition to playing sparkling defense, he's hitting .403 with 29 runs, 26 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. After batting him near the bottom of the lineup early in the season, coach Sean McBride has moved Cartolano up to the No. 2 spot. 'He's been awesome, man,' McBride said. 'For a young kid, he really believes in himself. He plays the game like a senior. He leads by his intensity and fire. He's been a spark plug. 'We're lucky he's just a young buck and we've got him for a couple more years.' Cartolano's speed has been a game changer for the Crusaders. He said he owes that to football. 'Football transformed my body and made me faster overall,' he said. 'Competing year-round makes me a better overall athlete and a better player in both sports.' It's been a fun ride so far for Cartolano, but he's ready for more. 'It's really exciting, but we're just getting started,' he said. 'Playoffs are next. We're going to state.'
Chicago Tribune
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
After Mount Carmel stages huge rally, St. Laurence's Adrian Perez hits two-run homer. Of course. ‘Stay positive.'
Much like a boxer, St. Laurence's Adrian Perez took the punch and responded in kind. Perez had just watched Mount Carmel storm back from a seven-run deficit to tie the game in stunning fashion at 10-10. But for some reason, the junior designated hitter didn't even flinch. 'I've always loved the team aspect of the sport,' Perez said of playing baseball. 'I love the chance of being able to pick up my teammates. No matter what happens, I always stay positive. 'I never get down, and I'm always up for whatever happens.' What happened? Well, Perez hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning Thursday as the Vikings ended up taking a 12-11 Catholic League Blue victory over the host Caravan in Chicago. Senior catcher Enrique Villanueva came through with three hits and drove in three runs for St. Laurence (23-3, 9-0). Mickey Lotus and Danny Donovan, both juniors, each added two RBIs. Junior infielder TJ McQuillan delivered a two-run double as Mount Carmel (16-10, 5-4) rallied from a 10-3 deficit. Senior outfielder Kolin Adams added three hits and knocked in pair of runs. The Vikings' nine-run outburst in the second inning was matched by the Caravan's six-run fifth. That set the stage for Perez after senior outfielder Corey Les reached on a bunt single. 'I was really excited to be in that position after Corey laid down the bunt, sacrificing himself to get on,' said Perez. who finished 2-for-3 with three runs. 'He threw a fastball and I was ready for it. 'I was just trying to take it to the opposite field, knowing the wind was going there.' Villanueva, for one, wasn't surprised about the roller-coaster nature of a game that saw the teams combine for 31 hits. 'People in the Catholic League know how hard it is to bury a team,' he said. 'Obviously, it was a crazy scoring game and AP just came through when we needed him. 'His personality is a bit of a jokester, but he's hardworking and he always puts the team above himself. The best thing about him is that he can just hit the ball.' St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus said the hitting prowess was self-apparent after Perez made an appearance late in the season on the varsity as a sophomore last spring. Perez was called up after senior first baseman Connor Marino suffered a hamstring injury. 'We've always known since he's been at St. Laurence that he's a really good hitter,' Lotus said of Perez. 'When Connor went down, he came up and he had five hits in his first five at-bats. 'He's a tremendous hitter who's never fazed and always hits in big situations.' Perez started playing baseball in youth leagues at age 4. Although his father played rugby, he felt that baseball best suited his son's personality. He then rose to the occasion after Marino's injury created the opening. 'I came up for the playoffs and that really helped to see the pitching,' Perez said. 'Now as a junior, I feel like I've seen it all before and I'm even more prepared.' Perez and Marino toggle between handling the defensive responsibilities at first base. When one plays in the field, the other slots in as the DH. 'He's a really good defensive first baseman and we've tried to get him reps out there,' Lotus said. 'For us to give up a big lead, that swing was huge to put two on the board like that.' Confidence is key, and Perez knows to take every moment seriously. 'I'm not really a power guy or more of a contact guy,' said Perez, who has hit two home runs this season. 'I like to go through my approach and wait for the chance to take it deep. 'When I'm up there hitting, my approach and ability to hunt the fastball is what I'm best at.'
Chicago Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Not a knee injury, or even a coffee spill, can stymie St. Laurence's Kayla Howard. ‘Made me work even harder.'
There's nothing clumsy about the way St. Laurence sophomore Kayla Howard plays defense. The 5-foot left fielder hasn't missed anything hit in her zip code. And don't be fooled by the height. You can hit the ball over her head, but don't expect that extra base. She'll track it down. But there are situations outside of softball that can be challenging. Teammate Demi Lotus provided one pretty humorous example. 'So, basically, Kayla gets a drink from Dunkin' (Donuts) every day,' Lotus said. 'Yesterday, when she came into school, it was dripping down her leg and she didn't notice. She smelled like coffee.' Coffee? 'Yeah, coffee,' Lotus said, laughing. 'That's why she's so short. It stunts her growth.' Howard had it all covered Tuesday afternoon for the Vikings, however, in their 11-0 five-inning victory over host Mother McAuley in a GCAC Red game in Chicago. Lotus, Howard, Aoibhe Landers and Vanessa Kates all reached base twice for St. Laurence (14-4, 7-2). Breanna Cahue struck out seven for the pitching win. Abbey Williams, McKenzie Cerceo, Kayla Syring and Maggie Welniak each had hits for Mother McAuley (8-13, 3-5). Howard walked and scored in the first inning, and then singled and scored in the second inning as the Vikings pulled away early. She also kept her season fielding percentage at 1.000. Meanwhile, she pleaded her case on the coffee error. 'It was my sister (Lexi's) fault,' Howard said, laughing. 'I was holding her softball bag, and she ran into the side of my bag and the lid came off. It just went all over my leg. 'She was laughing at me and didn't help or tell me, so…' All kidding aside, Howard has a lot to smile about this season. She's healthy and hitting the ball as well as anybody on the team. She's batting .457, with 11 walks, 19 runs and 10 RBIs. She hits second in the order behind Lotus. They form a one-two combination that creates chaos on the bases. 'It depends on the situation what we do,' Howard said. 'If Demi is on base, coach will have me bunt. Or she'll have Demi steal and have me hit.' It has been a different start to May, for sure. Last season, Howard was called up to the varsity for the second week. During a game on May 9 against Lockport, she injured her right knee while running to first base. 'I'd had knee surgery before because my knee kept dislocating,' Howard said. 'In the Lockport game, I felt it pop again. It was difficult because I thought I'd need surgery again. 'I was kind of scared, but it turned out I didn't have to. It got better.' Howard didn't play the rest of the season. But she still made a major impression on St. Laurence coach Teagan Walsh. 'Kayla has a team-first mentality,' Walsh said. 'Coming off of that injury, she didn't let it deter her. She was so supportive and positive. She was always up on the fence, being a voice for the girls, even though she couldn't be out there. 'She has become a a great role model as a sophomore. She has come back stronger and faster. And she has a great eye at the plate. She sees a lot of pitches. She's got it all.' And looking for more. 'I've been working on my swing and getting my timing down,' Howard said. 'And if a ball is catchable, I'll dive, do anything to catch it. 'Since I wasn't able to finish last season, it kind of made me work even harder. I want us all to get farther.' Originally Published: May 6, 2025 at 9:14 PM CDT
