Blazing Trojans' Locicero Completes Seaon-long Hit Streak

Geena Locicero, a senior member of the Bloom Blazing Trojans softball team, reached base safely in all 24 regular season games this season. Locicero and the rest of the Blazing Trojans will play Thornton on May 20 in the IHSA tournament.

The Bloom Blazing Trojans' recently wrapped up their regular season and with it, one player completed 'the perfect season,' notching a hit in every game. Senior Geena Locicero went 1-for-3, slapping a single in the bottom of the first inning against Crete Monee on May 16. By reaching base safely in every game this season, Locicero etched her name in the Bloom record books. Locicero also was in the top ten in RBI, batting average and home runs in the area this season. The Blazing Trojans will play Thornton on Monday, May 20, at Bloom at 4:30 p.m. in the opening round of the Lincoln-Way North Regional, part of the IHSA State Tournament.   It's easy to keep up with Patch!

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Glory Days

Former L-W East Softball Standout Goler Takes to Being Called a Bandit

Playing pro softball close to home with the Chicago Bandits eases Alisa Goler's pain following a disappointing end to her Georgia career.

After the University of Georgia women’s softball team fell just short of its third straight trip to the College World Series, Lincoln-Way East graduate Alisa Goler wasn’t sure how she was going to deal with the pain from her collegiate career concluding. Playing for the Chicago Bandits helped her cope. Just six days after the Bulldogs lost their best-of-three series to Baylor in the Super Regional, Goler was making her professional debut June 4. “I’m happy it worked out like this,” said Goler, who was selected in the third round of the 2011 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft with the 12th overall selection. “It’s just been a great experience and made my transition from not making the World Series a lot easier.” The NPF, formerly known as …

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Glory Days

L-W East Grad Goler Relishes Dream-Come-True Georgia Softball Career

Three-time All-America selection Alisa Goler helps Bulldogs earn first two College World Series appearances.

While watching the Women’s Softball College World Series on television with her father as a child, Alisa Goler made a bold proclamation for a 7-year-old. “I told my dad that I was going to play there one day,” said Goler, a Frankfort native and 2007 Lincoln-Way East graduate. Goler backed up her prediction and is in the midst of a remarkable softball career. She’s currently in her first season with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch league after an All-American career at the University of Georgia where she experienced two trips to the World Series. Goler’s journey to the professional ranks began at an early age. “My mom and dad bought me a tee when I was 2 and I started hitting the ball,” Goler said. “I guess they saw a …

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Glory Days

L-W East Softball Coach Meader Was a Champ as a Player, Too

Griffins softball coach Katie Meader was part of the 1997 state championship team at Lockport. She played collegiate ball at Loyola.

Katie Meader is used to winning. She played a key role in the Lockport softball program winning its first state championship in 1997 when she was known as Katie Blackmore and contributed to the Whiteford Sharks earning a summer national championship in 1998. That winning mentality has carried over in her current role as the head coach of the Lincoln-Way East softball team the past four seasons. “I think any coach or player should start the season with the goal of getting to state,” said Meader, a 1999 Lockport graduate. “If you fall short of the goal, it’s difficult to digest. Only one team can win it all each year, but it should be a driving force in playing the game. "I just really enjoyed my time as a player at Lockport and being part …

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Heather Blackmore

10:04 pm on Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Katie was an incredible softball player. I had the chance to watch a few of her high school games and enjoyed reading about her in the local papers. L-W East is fortunate to have her. Best wishes to you Katie! Heather   more ›

Weekly Sportscast: Southland Teams Fall Short in Baseball Title Games

A weekly video recap of the Southland's top sports coverage.

After compiling fantastic seasons, two Southland baseball teams fell just short of the ultimate goal this weekend. Oak Forest lost in the Class 3A state championship against Kaneland, and Providence Catholic dropped just its fourth game of the season, this time to Lyons Township in the Class 4A title game. To read more about the games and athletes featured in this week's Sportscast, check out the links below: Lyons Ends Providence's Title Hopes Oak Forest Falls Short in Class 3A State Title Game Verzbicas Runs Mile in Under 4 Minutes to Win NYC Race Longtime Andrew Coach Fondly Recalls 1992 State Championship Team

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Local Sports Notebook

Marian Catholic Grads Set to Turn the Page

Spartan standouts look forward to continuing their athletic careers in the collegiate ranks.

As the 2010-2011 high school sports season comes to an end, the following Marian Catholic student-athletes already are beginning to look forward to competing on the collegiate level in the fall. Six different sports are represented on the Spartan list, highlighted by the softball team with eight player moving on to the collegiate ranks:  Girls Basketball: Maryssa Cladis, North Central College; Jamie Johnson, Lewis University; Simone Law, Loyola University; Jasmine Mathews, Bowling Green State University. Football: Wes Fleming, St. Ambrose University; Marc Grkinich, St. Ambrose University; Michael Toliver, St. Ambrose University;  Alyssa Wlodarczyk, St. Ambrose University. Girls Lacrosse: Hannah Conway, Adrian College; Alexis DiGiovanni, …

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Local Sports Notebook

Rich Central Seniors Helped Forge 'Incredible' Baseball Turnaround

Despite falling short of their ultimate goal, the Olympians enjoyed remarkable success this season.

Though Rich Central’s baseball season came to an end with Wednesday’s loss to Oak Forest in the sectional semifinals, there’s no doubt that the Olympians had a hugely successful season. The Olympians won their first conference title in 22 years and won their first regional title since the mid-1980s. "To see how far this program has come in the last three years is incredible," Olympians coach Corey Stallings said.  "Three years ago we had nobody watching us play, but the guys kept believing. Jayme (Taylor), Nick (Collins) and the rest of the guys put this program in the direction we want to head." Several players will be heading off to the college ranks, including Collins (Northern Illinois) and Tyler House (Missouri). The emotions that …

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Sandburg Climbs Back on Top of the Heap

Top-ranked Eagles rolling toward showdown with Lockport. Look out for No. 4 Andrew.

1. Sandburg (26-6): Sevens were wild as two South suburban powers set up a state-championship like matchup. Sandburg blanked Minooka 7-0 behind the three-hit pitching of Lora Olson. Candice Koch and Lexi Bryant homered. Lockport downed Marian Catholic 7-0. So, you know what that means, right? Sandburg faces Lockport at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lockport Sectional. Last week: No. 2. 2. Richards (30-2): After 28 straight wins, the Bulldogs lost two games in three days. But they quickly righted the ship at the De La Salle Regional. Danielle Kappel blasted a three-run homer and drove in five runs in 15-5 victory over De La Salle. Richards next will face St. Ignatius at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Morton Sectional. Last week: No. 1. 3. Oak …

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Weekly Sportscast: Play Ball! Regionals Begin This Week

A weekly video roundup of sports in the south suburbs.

The Sox and Cubs might not be worth the price of admission this season, but there's a lot of good ball being played in the south suburbs. Playoffs began this week, and the Southland is packed with talented team, whether it's Providence Catholic and Lincoln-Way North baseball or Richards and Sandburgh softball. For a rundown of the top sports coverage from this week, click on the links below. Baseball Rankings: Wetzel Wets Providence Appetite for Postseason Party Softball Rankings: Unbeaten No More, Richards Can Relax and Play Ball Boys Water Polo: Gintautas, Sandburg Place Fourth in State Tourney Brown, L-W East Girls Bring Home First State Track Trophy in School History Ehimwenman Claims Two State Titles--Heartbreak in Team Race for H-F …

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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 …

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