ROUNDUP
Morton ended the Bulldogs’ season for the second year in a row with a 25-17, 27-25 win in the RB regional championship game. Juan Gomez (8 kills, 8 digs), Ivan Garcia (10 digs) and Alex Dziagwa (7 kills, 3 blocks) led RB.
Elliot Louthen had 22 assists, Mack Fiesler had five kills and four digs, Ben Bergstrom added five kills, two aces, two digs, and Galen Ryan contributed three kills and three digs.
“That game we lost [25-27], was probably the best volleyball I have seen played here at RB,” Bulldogs coach Dan Bonarigo said. “Our final four matches, three of which were wins, were probably the best four matches we have played all season. You always strive to play your best at the end of the season. We definitely accomplished that goal.”
RB advanced to the regional title game by defeating Nazareth 25-20, 25-17 in the semifinals. Ryan registered a career-high 18 digs (tying an all-time non-libero RB record) and Gomez had 13 kills and eight digs. Louthen dished out 26 assists along with two aces, and three digs. The talented trio of Fiesler, Bergstrom and Dziagwa, who are all expected to return next season, tallied five kills apiece.
The Bulldogs (20-17) enjoyed a season highlighted by record-setting performances from Gomez, who became the Bulldogs’ all-time kills leader for a career (466) and a single season (303), and the playmaking Louthen, who set the single season assists record (597) and career aces mark (74) at RB.
“I was very pleased with our season,” Bonarigo said. “We were a relatively inexperienced team and we had a pretty tough schedule. We still managed to get 20 wins for the first time in my coaching the boys at RB.”
LT baseball
Jeff Schalk’s three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted host Wheaton North to a 3-2 win over the Lions in a Class 4A regional final. LT, which won the West Suburban Silver Conference during the regular season, advanced to the regional championship game with a 3-2 victory against Addison Trail.
The Lions (24-11-1), who only lose two starters to graduation, will be formidable again next spring returning several standouts including shortstop Spencer Mahoney, first baseman Brian Rodemoyer, pitcher Connor Cuff, reliever/closer Zach Remijas and second baseman/pitcher Steve Heilenbach.
LT boys tennis
The Lions finished in a five-way tie for 24th place at the state finals hosted by Hersey High School over the weekend. LT picked up two points in singles and seven points in doubles competition.
New Trier edged three-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central by a point, 43-42, to claim the Trevians’ 18th tennis state championship.
– Marty Farmer
