Roundup
The Riverside-Brookfield High School softball team started off the season in impressive fashion, picking up three wins and outscoring its opponents 33-3 last week.
In the Bulldogs’ season opener, Jessie Hutchens cranked a three-run homer and Becky Mantel added a solo shot as RB rolled to a 9-3 win over Willowbrook.
RB (3-0) also knocked off Addison Trail 13-0 as starter Morgan Vogel picked up the victory, while Hutchens (2-for-4, 2 RBI) and Michelle Demitro (3-for-4, 3 RBI) paced RB offensively.
The Bulldogs capped off their perfect week on Thursday with an 11-0 victory against Immaculate Conception. Senior starter Kristin Kleinmeyer threw a no-hitter and struck out 11. Maggie Zeleny had three RBI and Kleinmeyer added two doubles and two RBI.
“We had a good first week,” said RB coach Dan Hull. “Maggie [Zeleny] had a key hit to tie the [Willowbrook] game for us, and then we broke the game open in the sixth inning.”
RB boys water polo
RB closed the first half of its season with 12-7 home loss to Waubonsie Valley last week. Trailing 8-1, the Bulldogs rallied with two goals apiece from Kyle Miller and Eddie Morrisey and goals from Patrikas Gladstein, Ken Castle and Chris Buh. Six of RB’s losses this season have come against top 30 teams in the state.
“You don’t get any better at any sport if you don’t challenge yourself with great competition,” RB first-year head coach Matt D’Anca said. “What has really impressed me about our team is that they will often win these games for the last three quarters. They just are struggling with overcoming first-quarter point deficits.”
RB boys volleyball
The Bulldogs went 4-1 at the Plainfield North Tournament to finish second behind the host Tigers. Plainfield North defeated RB 25-15, 20-25, 25-22 in the championship match.
RB rallied for a 12-25, 25-16, 26-24 victory over Joliet Central in the semifinals. Juan Gomez Velez had 11 kills, while Elliot Louthen dished out 24 assists.
Gomez Velez (46 kills, 22 digs, 5 blocks) and Louthen (116 assists, 27 digs, 5 aces) were named to the all-tournament team.
LT girls soccer
Returning from spring break, the Lions (0-1) resume action with three home games this week against St. Ignatius (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.), Andrew (Thursday, 6 p.m.) and Lincoln-Way North (Saturday, 11 a.m.) at Bennett Field.
LT dropped its season opener 2-1 to Waubonsie Valley on March 18. Iowa-bound Katie Nasenbenny scored the Lions’ lone goal. The Lions should battle defending state champion Hinsdale Central and OPRF in the West Suburban (Silver) Conference this season.
“We feel like we have a very good chance to win conference,” LT coach Will Lanspeary said, “and make a pretty good run in the state tournament.”
