Sports

Unbeaten No More, Richards Can Relax and Play Ball

Top-ranked Bulldogs look to set aside regular-season ending setback. Keep an eye on No. 4 Marian Catholic.

1. Richards (28-1): Best thing ever? Or worst possible scenario? Antioch dealt Richards its first loss (3-1 in 8 innings) at the Stone City Jamboree. Now, the Bulldogs will be free of the pressure that comes from trying to protect an undefeated record. They’ll open postseason play vs. Chicago Vocational or Chicago Hyde Park at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The regional semifinal game will be played at Chicago Maria High School.  Last week: No. 1.

2. Sandburg (24-5): Lora Olson struck out 10 in a 4-0 victory over Bartlett. She also had two hits and drove in one run. Amanda Barna smacked three doubles. The Eagles meet Joliet Central or Shepard at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Shepard Regional. Last week: No. 2.

3. Oak Forest (25-4): A conference loss, a heart-to-heart talk and the Bengals are surging again. Emily Naegele’s three-run homer snapped a 2-2 deadlock in Oak Forest’s 5-2 victory over Lincoln-Way East. Next, the Bengals will take on CICS Longwood or Chicago Fenger on Wednesday in the Class 3A playoffs. Last week: No. 4.

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4. Marian Catholic (28-5): The Spartans swept a doubleheader from St. Viator (6-1 and 15-0) to win their first ESCC title since 2008. Bri Clark hit a grand slam in Game 1. Rachel Glenn tossed a no-hitter in Game 2. She also had three hits, including a homer. Marian opens postseason play vs. Thornton or T.F. South at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Providence Regional. Last week: No. 5.

5. Stagg (26-7): The Chargers dropped a 6-4 heart-breaker to Downers Grove South, the Mustangs snapping a 4-4 deadlock with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Now, the trick for Stagg will be to shrug off the setback and start anew in the 4A playoffs. The Chargers will face Eisenhower or Crete-Monee at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Homewood-Flossmoor Regional. Last week: No. 3.

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Next best in alphabetical order: Andrew, Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way North, Mother McAuley, Evergreen Park.

(Covering the following Patch communities: Chicago Heights, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Homewood-Flossmoor, Mokena, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos, Tinley Park and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).


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