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Chicago Tribune
2 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
4 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Bella Phillips, with Bunny written on her arm, helps Yorkville hop past Waubonsie Valley. ‘It's like my alter ego.'
Word up, Foxes. It's playoff time for senior shortstop Bella Phillips and her Yorkville teammates, and that means sporting their very own word or phrase of the day on their forearm for game day. It's a practice that can help ease the tension in one-loss-and-you're-done games. It can inspire, remind or simply be fun. 'We very much have a family chemistry and we all buy into the season and we work really hard and push each other,' said Phillips, described by Foxes coach Jory Regnier as a natural leader who plays a key role in building her team's culture. Phillips was among three key contributors bearing apropos messages in a 10-0 five-inning win Tuesday over Waubonsie Valley in a Class 4A Yorkville Regional semifinal — Phillips with 'Bunny,' junior catcher Kayla Kersting with 'Beast mode' and junior pitcher Ellie Fox with 'Confidence.' Fourth-seeded Yorkville (23-12) advances to a 4:30 p.m. Friday regional final against the winner of Wednesday's semifinal between fifth-seeded Plainfield East and 12th-seeded Naperville North. Phillips, meanwhile, got Yorkville rolling against 13th-seeded Waubonsie Valley (9-20) with an RBI single to highlight a three-run first inning. She then sliced a liner toward the right field line and legged out an RBI triple in the third. She celebrated with a rabbit-like hop at the third base bag to the delight of teammates in the nearby dugout. ''Bunny' is from softball,' said Phillips, who's also a starting guard in basketball. 'It's like my alter ego. I have like a funny (high-pitched) voice that goes with it, keeping like a positive mindset and cheering on the team.' Phillips isn't sure how that started, but after one of the assistant coaches heard Phillips doing the voice, Kersting said it became like a running joke from there that has helped keep the team loose. 'She's so funny — she's our comic,' said Kersting, the team's power-hitting leadoff hitter. Kersting hit three deep outfield drives into the wind that might have gone out on a calm day, running out two for triples. She was robbed by sophomore center fielder Dezirae Kelly with an outstanding sliding catch at the fence. 'Kayla brings the big hits for us for sure,' said Phillips, a defensive standout who has held up her end at the plate by hitting .337 with three doubles, four triples and 15 RBIs. Kersting, who leads the team with a gaudy .598 average to go with 12 triples, 10 homers and 38 RBIs, didn't mind having to work for her hits Tuesday. 'I like running the bases,' Kersting said. 'It's pretty easy to get triples here if you hit it in the gap, with the eight-foot fence all the way around. You really have to hit it to get it out.' Fox, a hard-throwing junior right-hander, pitched with confidence for the win, striking out six and giving up only three hits and a walk in her four innings. 'She did a great job,' Regnier said of Fox. 'Came in and was lights out.' Freshman righty Bella Rosauer struck out two in the fifth inning to get some playoff experience. This postseason run will be it for Phillips and her athletic career, however. She plans to attend Iowa State and major in marketing. 'I think she's had a phenomenal year,' Regnier said of Phillips. 'She just really has put it all out there. She's that person that helps get everything together and organizes, makes sure things get done the way they're supposed to get done. 'She has high standards and is part of a senior group that's big on our culture.' Over the last six seasons, it has helped Regnier's Foxes win 75% of their games by compiling a 155-51 record. 'Bella will do anything for the team,' Regnier said. 'She even went behind the plate last year when Kayla was hurt. She didn't love it, but she'd do it tomorrow if we asked and do her best. 'She's kind of the glue.'
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Wanting to avoid penalty kicks, Oswego's Jordyn Washington gets open for a shot. And scores. ‘You never know.'
The last thing Oswego's Jordyn Washington wanted was for the game to go to penalty kicks. Some might call what happened next serendipity. The junior forward ended up with the ball at her feet just outside of the Waubonsie Valley box — and she saw her chance to slam the door. 'The game was very physical up to that point,' Washington said. 'I looked and looked and knew the ball was coming to me. I grabbed it underneath my foot and then kicked it as fast as I could. 'You never know. You just have to get it there.' Washington definitely got it there Thursday night, scoring a goal in the 92nd minute to lead the host Panthers to a 3-2 victory in double overtime of a Class 3A Oswego Regional semifinal. Freshman forward Mane Brolley also scored off an assist by Washington for fifth-seeded Oswego (20-4-1), which plays at noon Saturday against fourth-seeded Naperville North (12-5-3) for the regional title. Senior forward Katie Chapman scored two goals in the second half on assists off free kicks by junior defender McKinley Ladd to lead Waubonsie Valley (3-10-5). Washington now has 28 goals and 16 assists this spring. Her ability to facilitate for others is the most significant improvement from last season, when had 23 goals and three assists. 'I think I'm always aware of where I am and I always try to go as far as I can with the ball,' she said. 'I'm always thinking about who's around me and if I can pass it off. 'That is just great to see if somebody has a better shot than me.' Brolley pointed out that having a game-changing player like Washington allows the team to stay calm even in the most demanding situations. 'I just know if I play Jordyn the ball, she's going to get it and score,' Brolley said. 'I wasn't worried even when they tied it and it went to overtime. She's really fast and can get by anybody.' Senior midfielder Grace Braun confirmed the other players also have complete faith in Washington's ability to deliver. 'She's really clutch in tough games,' Braun said. 'We can always rely on her to come through for us under pressure. Any time she gets the ball in the box like that, it's very hard on the other team. 'She wants it so badly and everything is personal.' The 5-foot-11 Washington, an Alabama A&M recruit, missed her freshman season recovering from a torn ACL. She combines elite size, speed and a physical presence on the ball. 'I think because of my size, my speed sometimes catches people off guard,' Washington said. 'I always try to be aggressive and play more at my feet with my speed.' She has a scorer's instinct as well, with a feel for the action around her. Two or three defenders are usually trying to dislodge the ball from her. And that's not all. 'I've always been able to look up and just know exactly how many steps I need to take to shoot the ball,' she said. 'I know what feels comfortable and what doesn't.' Her father, Verrell, played college football at Tennessee State. Jordyn, who did multiple sports growing up, played basketball for Oswego through her sophomore year before focusing exclusively on soccer. She recently took up the electric guitar, underscoring her creative nature and competitive intensity. She showed off considerable promise in her sophomore debut but was hungry for more. 'I had a great sophomore season, and it showed where I wanted to be and how good I could be,' she said. 'I remember thinking maybe I'm not going to be good anymore. 'Some players come off an injury and they don't play as well. I improved a lot.'
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
21-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Waubonsie Valley's Tyreek Coleman is the 2024-25 Boys Basketball Player of the Year for Aurora, Elgin, Naperville
When Waubonsie Valley senior point guard Tyreek Coleman thinks back to his childhood, some of his best memories are from times he spent with his father, Todd, who is an Aurora police officer. So Coleman, an Illinois State commit, appreciates his father's impact. 'My dad has been huge, my No. 1 role model,' Coleman said. 'The things I do on the court is obviously my skill set, but he's done a lot for me to get to the place that I am today, just how to model my life, the man that I want to be in the future. 'I look up to him in that regard. He's taught me a lot.' Coleman, the 2024-25 Beacon-News/Courier-News/Naperville Sun Boys Basketball Player of the Year, forged a bond with his father that helped him develop into one of the best players in the state and the inspiring leader who turned the Warriors into an elite team. Coleman averaged 20.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals this season as Waubonsie Valley (31-3) broke the team record for wins. The Warriors went 58-6 during the past two seasons, winning consecutive DuPage Valley Conference titles for the first time and back-to-back regional titles for the first time since 2007 and 2008. 'Obviously, he's been a huge part of our emergence,' Waubonsie Valley coach Andrew Schweitzer said. 'We have a great relationship, and I told him I think he's the best player in the state. 'I wouldn't want to give the ball to anybody else.' That's because Coleman has never focused on personal glory. Articulate yet humble in interviews, Coleman is the ultimate team player on the court and the biggest supporter of his teammates off it. 'He's a special young man,' Schweitzer said. 'He's a leader. He's clutch. 'He does the little things that sometimes your star players don't do — rebounding, diving on the floor, playing defense, is probably our best screener. He does it all.' That example rubbed off on younger teammates like sophomore guard Kris Mporokoso, the only non-senior in Waubonsie Valley's starting lineup this season. 'He has a lot of good qualities, but he's real encouraging, making sure you're doing good on and off the court,' Mporokoso said. 'If someone is having a bad few games, he'll talk with him one on one to make sure his mental state is still good. 'It's a good learning experience for me because next year I'm going to have to step up. I've just got to follow in his footsteps.' Coleman's play drew praise from opposing coaches such as Benet's Gene Heidkamp, whose team beat the Warriors in the sectional semifinals. 'He's an incredible player,' Heidkamp said. 'He's got a tremendous heart. He's so skilled offensively. He shoots it well, he can break you down off the dribble, he's a great athlete and he makes players better.' Coleman is proud that the senior class left the program in better shape than they found it. 'Our brotherhood was able to be showcased out there,' he said. 'We did great things. It's been a ride. I will definitely cherish the memories.' So will Schweitzer, who is grateful to Coleman's parents. 'They run a tight ship,' Schweitzer said. 'They raised a great young man.' Coleman's father and mother, Farrah, who lives in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, split up long ago, and both have since remarried. They shared custody of their son. 'I was living with my mom predominantly, and then I would come up here for summers,' Coleman said. 'When I got to high school, I moved in with my dad full time.' Coleman's father helped him improve as a basketball player. 'My dad didn't know much about the game, but he was willing to learn it just because of the love his son has for the game,' Coleman said. 'When I came up here during the breaks, he always made it a thing to go to a park, and we'd play against each other. 'When I was trying to get on varsity, he would wake up with me every morning and take me to the gym, help me with my weightlifting and cardio. He helped me mint my skills and get them to the area that they are today. Those are some of my favorite memories with him.' Might Coleman one day follow his father into law enforcement? 'Shout out to all the police officers,' Coleman said. 'He tells me he does his job so my siblings and I don't have to, so if that's something that comes to me in the future, I'll cross that bridge when it comes. But right now, I'm just focused on the next step at Illinois State.'
