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Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Nick Lambert answers call on mound as Waubonsie Valley rolls past West Aurora. Key factor? ‘Better every time out.'
Senior right-hander Nick Lambert was definitely ready to take the mound Saturday morning for Waubonsie Valley. He just wasn't sure that was going to happen before the playoffs began. After Owen Roberts pitched the Warriors to Thursday's win, however, the coaching staff was faced with a decision — start Lambert or go with Seth Gilliland? Lambert, indeed, got the call. And he had to focus in quickly. 'I found out a day or two ago, so I had to mentally prepare for that,' Lambert said. 'I had a little bit of nerves, but I knew all I had to do was throw strikes, pitch my game and it would be fine.' Fine would be an understatement. Lambert cruised through five innings for the host Warriors in a 15-0 win over West Aurora in the Class 4A Waubonsie Valley Regional championship game. Lambert (7-1) struck out four and scattered four hits without a walk for Waubonsie (21-12), which plays at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday against the host Porters (24-13) in a Lockport Sectional semifinal. The Warriors scored 11 runs in the fourth inning to break Saturday's game open against West Aurora (27-8), sending 17 batters to the plate. It took pressure off Lambert and the Warriors. 'We've had three guys throwing the ball well all season,' Waubonsie coach Bryan Acevedo said. 'Going down to two games and two pitchers, we felt good. Nick has gotten better every time out. 'That was kind of the deciding factor. It was definitely a tough call. Seth has been really good.' Ryan Lucas produced two hits, including a double, scored twice and drove in three in the fourth for Waubonsie. Nick Cerilli added a two-run double. Roberts, Hiroshy Wong and Seth Nielson each had two hits, while Roberts and Nielson also drove in two runs apiece. Mason Atkins, Henry Hinkle, Eliseo Liscano and Chase Yusi had hits for West Aurora. Having three solid starting pitchers is a luxury in the regular season. In the playoffs, when two can carry the load to state, difficult choices need to be made. That was the case Saturday. But Lambert delivered exactly what Acevedo was hoping. 'He commands the zone,' Acevedo said. 'He throws three pitches for a strike. He's not going to walk you, so you're going to have to beat us when he's on the mound. That's what we saw.' Still, Lambert did find himself in a two-out jam in the bottom of the third inning. An error followed by a single from Liscano had the Blackhawks threatening in a scoreless game. Lambert got a strikeout to end the threat and then Waubonsie opened the floodgates. 'I think that's what carried our momentum,' Lambert said. 'Everybody had nerves, but once we got out of that inning, everybody was more relieved.' Josh Hung led off the fourth inning with a single and Shane Torres bunted him to second. 'We were playing for one and Nick was going to keep us in it,' Acevedo said. Waubonsie had other ideas, though, and the bottom of the order got it started. Lucas, Cerilli and Nielson combined for four RBIs to get the Warriors on the board and they kept going from there. 'The fourth inning there was like the inning from hell,' West Aurora coach John Reeves said. 'We couldn't get out of the inning. Honestly, I don't even know how to describe it.' The inning went so long that Lambert had to go down to the bullpen to stay loose. He was unfazed, retiring West Aurora's final six hitters in order to end the game. 'I just knew I had to go back out there and shut them down,' Lambert said. 'You can't give them any momentum.' And now, the momentum is with Waubonsie heading into the sectional. 'We like our chances,' Acevedo said. 'If we play clean defense and score a couple of runs for (Roberts), he's going to give us a chance to win a baseball game.'
Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Grace Riggs, a sophomore who doesn't play travel or club, gets job done for Waubonsie Valley. ‘Working so hard.'
In an era of nearly universal specialization for high school athletes, Waubonsie Valley's Grace Riggs is definitely old school, but the sophomore second baseman is getting the job done. Riggs, who's very good defensively, is batting ninth for a second straight year on varsity. She doesn't, however, play summer travel or fill winter weekends working out in the batting cage. 'I like having my free time and not having all that traveling,' said Riggs, who seems to realize it could come at a cost. 'I started off bad this season, I think, because I don't play outside of this. 'I hadn't hit in a while before coming back.' By Thursday, yet another bone-chilling, windy spring day in Aurora for the Warriors' DuPage Valley Conference matchup at neighboring rival Metea Valley, that was hard to tell. Riggs looked to be in midseason form, emerging as the star of the game at the plate and in the field during a remarkable 8-7 come-from-behind victory for Waubonsie Valley. Ssenior pitcher Charlie Benesh was cruising with a 7-0 lead on a one-hitter through four innings for Metea Valley (2-8, 0-1), but Riggs produced singles in a three-run fifth and one-run sixth. She then came up with the game-winning hit for the Warriors (4-2, 1-0) with a two-run, two-out single in the top of the seventh that capped off a four-run rally. 'I just knew I had to hit it,' Riggs said. 'I like to open my shoulders, so I had to make sure to keep my shoulder in and hit it. I was just trying to get it in play. 'I guess I just got used to her pitching. I had been looking for change-ups, but she didn't throw as many as last year, so I was just going up looking for strikes.' It made a winner of senior right-hander Samantha Wiertelak, who pitched the final three innings and gave up no runs and no hits in relief of freshman starter Molly Quinn. Sophomore outfielder Dezirae Kelly added a two-run double for Waubonsie. Benesh notched an RBI triple and senior catcher Sydney Eakin had a two-run double and three RBIs for Metea. 'She's been working so hard with her hitting,' Waubonsie coach Valerie Wood said of Riggs. 'I know that's been a point of contention with her. She's been working on her confidence, and (Thursday) kind of solidified that. 'I told her it was gonna come because at that point we had played only two games and everyone was struggling. We've worked a lot with the whole team on mentally just getting over things and stepping back. It showed — she had a heckuva game.' Only three of Waubonsie's runs were earned and just two of Metea's runs were earned, although Riggs handled nine total chances without an error. She did bobble one of two seventh-inning grounders but scooped it up in time to sophomore shortstop Aislee Morgan for a force-out. She also snared a line drive and stepped on second for an unassisted double play in the second inning. 'We talk a lot about finishing the play and that's always our focus,' Wood said. 'It transferred over (Thursday), and Grace didn't give up on the bobbled ball and could have easily enough. 'She stuck with it and got the out. Grace and Aislee are best friends and work well together.' The 5-foot-7 Riggs also plays volleyball and was an outside hitter last season for the school's sophomore team. She doesn't play club in volleyball, either. Whether that continues for both sports remains to be seen. 'My mom's always saying, 'Other people play outside and you don't and don't get as much practice, so it's good you've been doing as well as you are,' Riggs said.
Chicago Tribune
19-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Hard work in offseason pays off in first at-bat for Waubonsie Valley's Addison Powell. A home run? ‘More used to it.'
One year later, Waubonsie Valley sophomore Addison Powell is feeling right at home. The difference this preseason has been like night and day for the power-hitting right fielder, according to Warriors coach Valerie Wood. Plenty of hard work since last spring has Powell looking ready to settle into the cleanup spot in the lineup. 'Last year, I was pretty nervous,' Powell said of her promotion to the varsity. 'Being a freshman on varsity was, like scary. I'd never really played against 17 and 18-year-olds. 'Now, I'm more used to it and I've seen more pitching like this.' She looked ready for the role Tuesday at West Aurora. Powell hit a home run down the left field line in her first at-bat of the season, capping a three-run first-inning outburst by the Warriors in an eventual 9-6 nonconference victory. 'First home run of my high school career,' Powell said, flashing a smile. 'It looked foul for a second, then I saw it go over and I was like, 'OK.'' Powell followed with a RBI single in the third inning for Waubonsie (1-0) to back senior Samantha Wiertelak, who teamed with freshman Molly Quinn to pitch the win. Sophomore shortstop Aislee Morgan also had a big day at the plate for the Warriors, driving in four runs with a three-run double and fielder's choice groundout to go with a pair of walks. It offset the solo home run and double from Ohio State-bound senior shortstop Sara Tarr that led the Blackhawks (0-1), missing three starters who were on a field trip. It made for two young teams, with Waubonsie starting one senior, two juniors, five sophomores and one freshman. West Aurora's lineup had two seniors, five sophomores and two freshmen. The key, though, was Powell. 'She has just come back with a vengeance,' Wood said. 'She was a little sporadic, and she was out for a little bit last year because she ran into a fence chasing a fly ball and had a concussion. 'Whatever she did from the time I saw her last year until now, she's a completely different kid, a completely different player. She has a lot more confidence and is a lot more self-assured.' Powell said it was simply continued work with her Illinois Hawks travel team and private hitting lessons from Ben Hewett, the organization's instructor. She's been with both for four years. 'Really, in the offseason, I tried to work on my flaws,' Powell said. 'I was sitting back on change-ups or I'd just miss completely. I worked on trying to improve my pitch selection and just get my confidence again.' Learning last week from Wood she would need to make an impact this season while hitting higher up in the order also helped. 'I keep focusing on pitch selection and know I need to go up there with confidence,' Powell said. Wiertelak, the lone senior on Waubonsie's roster, is having fun taking more leadership with this team. She's been in Powell's shoes as well after making the varsity as a freshman. 'Freshman year is always the hardest because you're making that jump from 14U to 18U,' said Wiertelak, who also plays travel for the Hawks. 'No matter which team you're on, it's a hard jump to make.' Wiertelak has been impressed with Powell's improvement over the past year. 'A lot of it has to do with the work Addison puts in outside of practice,' Wiertelak said. 'I see her at least once a week because our teams' practice times kind of overlap. Her work ethic and development in the past year has been insane. 'She's been able to make that adjustment within that year and so fast. It really makes me happy for her.' Powell doesn't believe she's alone in putting in the work. 'We have a ton of underclassmen on this team, but we've really put in a lot of work to try and come together and work together,' she said. 'We're really focused on our confidence and bouncing back from mistakes.'
Chicago Tribune
21-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Maya Cobb can score points for Waubonsie Valley. But she knows what makes her teammates go. ‘Get the energy flowing.'
Waubonsie Valley's Maya Cobb couldn't help but smile at the mere mention of it. The topic of the day was defense, and take-your-breath-away pressure defense, in particular. Cobb, a 5-foot-3 junior guard, and the Warriors take great pride in their full-court trapping press. The team goes pretty much six deep until the game is in hand. Until then, Waubonsie appears to be coming at their opponent in waves, and they are pretty relentless in the process. 'We know our defense fuels our offense, of course,' Cobb said. 'Getting stops, that's just getting the momentum of the game going. 'Just to get the energy flowing, that's what my part is. I try to do it for the team, to defensively bring energy so we can come out on top.' Helped by Cobb, the Warriors had plenty of energy Thursday in a Class 4A regional final they hosted, forcing nine turnovers in the first quarter to take control in an 82-44 win over West Aurora. The victory sends second-seeded Waubonsie (29-1) to a 7:30 p.m. Tuesday semifinal in the Bolingbrook Sectional against third-seeded Bolingbrook (20-10) or sixth-seeded Yorkville (19-10). Junior guard Danyella Mporokoso scored 27 points Thursday to lead the Warriors, who are riding a 19-game winning streak. Senior forward Lily Newton added 18 points, followed by junior guard Arie Garcia-Evans with 16 and Cobb with 12. Senior guard Brooklynn Johnson, a St. Xavier recruit and the Upstate Eight Conference's MVP, produced 19 points and six rebounds for West Aurora (21-5). Senior guard Shiane Johnson, playing with a heavily bandaged injured thumb on her shooting hand, added 12 points. 'It was difficult to get past the pressure,' Brooklynn Johnson said. 'We weren't really faced with games like this throughout the season because conference wasn't as strong as it was last year.' Cobb, who rotated between the junior varsity and varsity as a freshman, came off the bench last season as the sixth man but is now a starter for Waubonsie coach Brett Love. 'It's definitely changed my role,' Cobb said. 'It's different from getting put in the game and reacting to what's already happened. You're trying to start the momentum and keep it going.' The move has been seamless. 'She's improved so much on defense — she's really worked hard on that,' Mporokoso said of Cobb. 'She can contribute offensively and get us some tough buckets, whether it's a 3-pointer or her little floater.' But the Blackhawks, who won the Upstate Eight Conference title, finished the first half with 16 turnovers and trailed 44-23. 'It's the best defensive team we've seen all season,' West Aurora coach Teresa Waldinger said. 'We didn't have a lot of preparation for that kind of defense, and I give credit to them. 'They're a very disciplined basketball team. We tried to hang and couldn't come away with it. We haven't been pressed a whole lot this season and clearly met our match.' Newton, who made 3 of 6 shots from beyond the 3-point line, led the Warriors with 11 rebounds and Garcia Evans chalked up six steals. 'Every day in practice, we work on defense, communicating through traps,' Mporokoso said. 'I think we all have good chemistry on defense. I think it would be really tough to face us.' Cobb, who added three rebounds, two steals and two assists Thursday, averages 10 points a game and is one of four starters who average in double figures for Love. 'Her defense has really picked up a lot,' Love said of Cobb. 'Her hustle plays, getting 50-50 balls and creating extra possessions has been a boost. 'And being able to shoot the way that she does, she's a basketball player. I mean, she can handle the ball, dribble into the teeth of the defense, finish well and really shoot at a high clip.'
Chicago Tribune
17-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Kris Mporokoso is unfazed by Waubonsie Valley's win over Warren at Indian Creek Shootout. ‘We know what we can do.'
Sophomore guard/forward Kris Mporokoso is aware of the doubters who say Waubonsie Valley's strength of schedule isn't as strong as most of the other state championship contenders. But he doesn't seem too bothered by it, either. 'You can't really listen to outside people,' Mporokoso said. 'We know what we can do. We know what we're capable of. We do it in practice every day, so we had to make a statement this game.' Waubonsie Valley made a big statement Saturday at the Indian Creek Shootout. Illinois State-bound senior point guard Tyreek Coleman totaled 22 points, eight rebounds and three steals as the Warriors pulled off a thrilling 60-56 victory over formidable Warren. Senior forward Moses Wilson finished with 19 points, six rebounds and three steals for Waubonsie (27-1), while senior guard Joshua Tinney added nine points and four assists. Anybody doubt the Warriors now? 'We let it fuel us,' said Waubonsie coach Andrew Schweitzer, whose team is seeded second behind Bolingbrook at the Class 4A Benet Sectional. 'There's actually a coach in our sectional that seeded us fifth, the only one to do that. 'I won't call him out by name but you can put that in the paper. Unbelievable.' The Warriors got off to an unbelievable start against Warren, sinking 10 of 14 shots in jumping out to a 24-10 lead after a frenetic first quarter. 'It's all about preparation,' Mporokoso said. 'On our bus ride here, no one was talking. 'We were all serious. We weren't laughing or giggling. We were all locked in.' Mporokoso doesn't get a lot of opportunities to shoot, but he locks in when he does. He had eight points, including a crucial 3-pointer, but the Blue Devils (20-10) would rally to force a 53-53 tie on a turnaround jumper by Jack Wolf. Coleman answered with a putback to put Waubonsie back on top. On the next possession, Tinney found Mporokoso open in the left corner for a 3-pointer that made it 58-53 with 1:25 remaining. 'That was my moment,' Mporokoso said. 'I just had to hit it. I had to shine.' Schweitzer had a feeling Mporokoso would, too. 'We've been telling him all year he can be as good as he wants to be, and to see him be aggressive like that — he's a special, special talent,' Schweitzer said. 'Everyone talks about Tyreek and Moses, but if he keeps moving forward like that, he can be a real X-factor for us.' Delivering in the clutch left Mporokoso almost speechless. 'I can't even give it a word,' Mporokoso said. 'It was amazing. The bench was going crazy.' It was just the beginning of a crazy finish that saw the Warriors turn the ball over twice in the final minute. The Blue Devils cut the deficit to 58-56 on a 3-pointer by Owen Squires and then had a chance to tie or win. But with 5.5 seconds left, Wilson intercepted an inbounds pass along the sideline and threw down his fourth dunk of the game to cap the scoring. 'He just threw the ball away, so I just went over and got it,' Wilson said. 'I tried to waste time a little bit and then I got my dunk. It's a great feeling. 'We drove an hour to come out here. Guys were sleeping on the bus, so we came in and had a lot of bounce and energy in the beginning. We completely executed and we were all stoked.' Especially since it was statement the Warriors wanted to make. 'Do not count us out,' Wilson said. 'We can compete with anybody, so we're going to play hard and give it our all.'
