St. Ignatius Handles Bremen 42-7 in IHSA 6A Playoff

The game ended 42-7 but it was 7-7 with 1:42 left in the first half.

Having seen St. Ignatius play a couple weeks ago, I expected the Wolfpack to be able to deal with Bremen. The Wolfpack are solid in every phase. Before the game, I asked St. Ignatius Coach Bob DeCarlo what to expect. He cautioned that Bremen had improved since the Wolfpack handled them the second game of the season.

The Wolfpack scored on their first possession. Jr. Quarterback Jake Petrow had a 70 yard run. Sr. RB Vinny Rugai finished off the drive with a three yard touchdown.

The rest of the half was just the teams trading field position until the final minutes when Bremen put together a nice drive. Bremen senior running back Keyshawn Lewis-Hunt scored with 1:45 left in the half.

Not over yet. The Wolfpack quickly moved the ball down the field. Sr. wideout Jack Molloy took a handoff around the right end and scored a six yard touchdown with 26 second left making the score 14-7 Wolfpack at the half.

Second half was all St. Ignatius. Vinny Rugai added three more touchdowns. I think it was three. Frankly, I lost track of who scored because I am there to take photos. Just too much to keep score and take photos—in the rain.

The Bremen Braves could not manage much offence against the stingy Wolfpack defense. Midway through the the fourth, the bench players came closing out a high school football for many that will never play another game.

Wolfpack moves on to face the winner of the Crete-Monee v. Glenwood game this afternoon.

I got some good photos that I am happy with given the conditions.

IC Catholic Prep Volleyball Wins DePaul Prep IHSA Regional

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep defeated the DePaul Prep Rams in two sets to win the IHSA Regional on Thursday evening (October 28, 2021).

I don’t know much about volleyball but the IC Knights played vary well as it appeared to me.

The new configuration of the court limited where I could shoot from. But I found a good spot. I hope you like the photos.

St. Ignatius defeats DePaul Prep 35-0

St. Ignatius defeated DePaul Prep 35-0 Friday evening (Friday, October 15, 2021) at DePaul.

I was looking forward seeing St. Ignatius with the Wolfpack coming into the game with their best season in decades.

I was genuinely impressed with the St. Ignatius’ play calling. And they were in no hurry. They took advantage of the fancy new play clocks at the new DePaul Prep Stadium. They used up the forty second clock then gashed the Rams for six or seven yards. It’s the kind of game I like; run the football and eat the clock.

The Wolfpack’s first possession took up half of the first quarter. It was all runs and short passes; nothing down the field. There weren’t even a lot of long gainers. Just of a lot of between the tackles runs for 5 to 12 yards. They worked the ball down the field and punched it in for a touchdown on the opening drive.

When the Rams got the ball, they had a couple of good gains and I think a first down, maybe two. But were stopped and had to punt.

A short punt gave the Wolfpack the ball near midfield. I felt it coming. Ignatius hadn’t thrown the ball down the field even once. Sure enough. A fade pattern to the pylon. The receiver ran an excellent route getting some separation before the goal line. The well thrown ball resulted in a quick Wolfpack touchdown and a 14-0 lead with plenty of time left in the first quarter.

Not entirely unexpected. St. Ignatius’ 7-0 record is its best start to a season in a long time. People I spoke to did not even know who long. With St. Ignatius not playing football at all for decades in the 1900’s, it could be sixty years since it had a record like this.

I knew coming in they were good, but how good I wasn’t sure. DePaul Prep head coach Mike Passarella told me before that game that Mount Carmel coach Jordon Lynch said, “If we played them ten times, they would beat us ten times.” High praise indeed.

After the trouncing of Mount Carmel early in the season and the favorable press reports, I was anxious to see them.

It would be a long night for the Rams. It was 28-0 St. Ignatius with plenty of time left in the second quarter.

The second half a different story. The game got chippy.

A friend asked, “What does chippy mean?”

It’s kind of hard to define. The players on both sides were in each other’s faces after the plays and finishing blocks after the whistle. Tacklers would take too long getting off the runners. Lots of pushing and shoving after the play.

Many games get chippy right after the outcome becomes obvious. But it usually tappers off and stops. Or the refs put an end to it.

Not this game. It just got worse. At one point, a member of the chain gang on the Ignatius sideline got in shouting match with the Ignatius coaches.

I hesitate to blame either team when this happens because it takes two to tango. The game seemed more about grievance than about the scoreboard.

It is not usually that way in the Chicago Catholic League. It was not that way last week when East Suburban Catholic League powerhouse Notre Dame played the Rams. This is typically not the way the winning team treats the losing team in the CCL.

Several people I spoke to after the game, basically said, “That’s the way they have always been.” One person recounted an exchange of angry words in the press box between supporters of each school.

These things happen I guess. Just an off night. 8-0 is new territory for most teams. I have tremendous respect for the St. Ignatius basketball coaches and players. Matt Monroe is a great coach and a better person. I don’t know the St. Ignatius football coach Matt Miller but I believe he is a good man. Clearly, he is an excellent coach.

I plan the see the Wolfpack again in the playoffs. They are clearly the story in the CCL/ESCC this year.

I also happened into Luke Hales, a recent St. Ignatius graduate and very talented photographer. I got to know him when we would shoot the same basketball games. He is studying communications at the University of Michigan now. He is going to be a famous photographer some day soon. I wanted to be happy for Luke with his beloved Wolfpack having such a great season.

As for the photos, not my best work. I just didn’t feel it tonight. I wasn’t writing a story about the game and publishing the photos any place but here. I also didn’t feel like fooling around with the 300mm. I was taking different kinds of photos tonight. Not typical football shots. So I hope you like them but I will certainly agree if you are underwhelmed.

DePaul Prep Girls Volleyball Falls to Trinity on Senior Night

The DePaul Prep girls varsity volleyball team lost a close match to Trinity on Senior Night Thursday (October 7, 2021).

This was my first time photographing volleyball since my daughter Mary Claire played for Gordon Tech in 2011. That was a good volleyball team, or so I remember. It came back to me after a while. I hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Falls to Lena-Winslow 38-27

The stadium was packed, an electric atmosphere for the Rams and their supporters. The presence of 200+ eighth graders and their families signal a boost in future enrollment for the school. Would it mean a boost in the varsity football record starting tonight against one of the top class 1A programs in the state?

The DePaul Prep Rams lost an entertaining game to the Lena-Winslow Panthers 38-27 on Friday night at DePaul Prep Stadium.

The Lena-Winslow Panthers came into the game 5-0. They took an 16-0 lead early in the second quarter when the Rams struck back. Senior quarterback found Rams’ sophomore wide receiver Lavelle Hardy up the right sideline for a 53 year touchdown.  

A break-out game for DePaul’s Sophomore wide reciever Lavelle Hardy. Young Hardy can flat out play. He followed this touchdown with another in the third quarter on a post pattern from Rams senior quarterback Chris Perez.

The Rams added two more touchdowns. One on a 43 yard pass from Perez to senior running back Cole Ceravolo and then another on a run up the middle near the goal line in the fourth quarter.

Final score Lena-Winslow 38, DePaul Prep 27.

I am going to have to go all Ted Lasso on you folks. This team is improving even if the improvement doesn’t show in the wins and losses. I always fell like this DePaul Prep team is just about to break through to winning games and being a playoff team. The effort is there. The coaching is there. The play makers are there. It will come. I am sure of it.

I took more photos than I usually do. 2483 to be exact, with three cameras. I wanted to document the night as much as I could. I wasn’t planning to right a story about it for Inside Publications. It was fun and did not take all Saturday morning to process 120 finalists down to the 50 or so below.

I hope you like them.

SHAEF Reunion in DC

On September 23rd, Bruce Springsteen’s birthday, Carol and I jetted off to DC for the SHAEF Reunion. SHAEF is the acronym for Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force, my father’s Army unit in World War II.

There are only 22 surviving members of SHAEF that once had 10,000 soldiers. Most of the current members, like my sister and I, are children and grandchildren of those who served.

A strange thing I grant you.

One thing I remember about my childhood was my dad talking about guys he knew in the Army. He talked about his good friend Herb Abel, from Texas.

I don’t know anybody from Texas. I know people who live in other states, but they all from here. That’s why I know them.

I think it was easy for my dad and his generation to work and compromise with people from other states after the War. And by other states, I mean Southern states.

Our generation can’t seem to do that. They are not the opposition; they are the enemy.

At the dinner closing the SHAEF Reunion, a lady from the South asked me for my business card. I wasn’t actually carrying one. I had to get one that my wife had in her purse.

I gave it to the Southern lady whose name I confess I do not know. She took it in both hands and studied it carefully. She looked up at me and smiled warmly, thankfully.

I am glad I went to the Reunion.

I hope you like the photos.

Long Week Taking Photos

Since last Friday I have photographed four events. Four events in six days. Friday I shot the DePaul Prep v. St. Viator football game. Saturday, I stopped at the DePaul Prep Cross Country meet to grab some photos of runners. Then soccer on Monday and golf today. It feels good to be busy making pictures.

Today, I photographed the DePaul Prep varsity girls golf match against Fenwick. I got particularly good light at a point in the late afternoon which lent itself to wonderfully backlit shots.

After a few times now shooting golf, I am getting a good sense of what shots to get. Plus, it’s just really fun to be out on a golf course watching some very good golf being played. Many thanks to Pat Mahoney and Justin Lane for letting me get these photos.

I hope you like them.

DePaul Prep Cross Country Meet in Horner Park

I went over to Horner Park for the DePaul Prep cross country meet. I got some good photos of the runners. I wanted to see how my new camera would deal with this type of thing. I wanted to get outside the box on presenting some high school sports photos.

St. Viator Overwhelms DePaul Prep 41-7

The disappointment was palpable on his face. Disappointment twinged with a healthy bit of anger.

DePaul Prep’s varsity football coach Mike Passarella spoke to me a few minutes after talking to his team in the wake of the 41-7 loss to St. Viator on Friday, September 10, 2021.

“The biggest thing was defensively we missed a lot of tackles. Offensively, we did not move the ball. Three and outs. We keep going backwards. We put our defense in a tough spot. We had a good game plan. We just didn’t really execute it,” said Passarella.

“You could tell that we can play, but when it gets close, we just can’t compete,” Passarella continued. “We have not learned how to win. That’s the one thing we have to work on, just that growth.”

That’s basically true about the game as a whole but the first half but the first half was close. One had feeling that the game could go either way with St. Viator leading 13-7 when the teams went into the locker rooms.

The DePaul Prep Rams (2-1, 0-0 in ESCC Red) won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. That showed me an aggressiveness and confidence that many teams give up these days preferring to get the ball opening the second half. The Rams took the ball but their opening drive stalled near midfield.

The St. Viator Lions (1-2, 0-0 in CCL/ESCC Purple) worked the ball down the field with their first possession. Junior running back Jake VanBooven took a handoff at the four yard-line around the right end and scored giving the Lions an early lead.

The Rams answered quickly on the next drive with a 73-yard pass from Grant transfer senior quarterback Chris Perez up the right sideline to sophomore wide receiver Lavelle Hardy. Perez hit Hardy in stride, and no one was near enough to stop him. Perez impressed the opening games of the season with impressive wins over Walter Payton College Prep and Ridgewood High School particularly throwing the deep ball.

Late in second quarter the Lions answered with another touchdown from VanBooven making the score 13-7 at the half.

St. Viator head coach Dave Archibald was on the opposite side from Passarella on the field and on the season. Archibald’s Lions lost two non-conference openers to tough teams. The opened against very strong 3-0 South Elgin team that handled the Lions 48-7. Last week the Lions lost a close game to Morgan Park 30-22.

“I told our guys we are a young team in ways. If we keep climbing, we have wins that we can get on this schedule. Tonight was a great momentum [builder] where they gained that belief in themselves. When we play the way we are capable of playing, we are going to be able to contend and win some big games,” Archbald said.

The early difference in the game was Viator’s Jake VanBooven. “Jake is a phenomenal athlete. He had an injury last season. The first couple weeks for him were weeks where he was growing in confidence. Tonight he showed his best performance as a running back. He is nowhere near his ceiling. You will only see him get better and better.”

The game turned in the third quarter. St. Viator’s VanBooven added a third rushing touchdown. The Rams’ Perez threw a late pick-six to St. Viator’s Sr. linebacker Carson Eggebraten. The Lions started passing and added two more fourth quarter passing touchdowns to put the game out of reach.

I could feel Coach Passarella’s disappointment because he apologized to me before the game for what his Rams were about to do to my alma mater. Having seen the growth in his program over the last few seasons and the amazing growth of DePaul College Prep, I believed him.

The Rams are close. They just need to take that final step and, in Coach Pass’s words, “learn how to win.”

League play begins next week with Leo. The season is young.

DePaul Prep Takes on Notre Dame at Marovitz

Just my second time photographing golf. I need more practice on where and when to shoot. I got a few good shots. The fading evening light was a little challenging.

Many thanks to DePaul Prep’s Justin Lane and Pat Mahoney for allowing me to use their boys varsity team as test subjects. Special thanks to Rams Jack Kennedy, Wyatt Carlson, Emmitt Miller, Aiden Williams, Alex Johnson and Will Hartman for dealing with the distraction of a guy taking their photo while golfing. That can’t be easy to deal with.

And it was also great to see my friends Doug and Elsa Johnson whose son Alex is an excellent golfer.

DePaul Prep Shuts Out Payton 49-0

High school football started in more-or-less normal fashion last Friday with a double feature of DePaul College Prep vs Payton College and Lane Tech vs Kenwood at a sunbaked Lane Stadium. The near 100-degree temperatures and 90% humidity tested the stamina of the heartiest football fans. This reporter, for one, was thoroughly cooked by the end of the second game.

Despite the heat, a large crowd saw the Payton College Prep Grizzlies (0-1, 0-0) fall to the DePaul Prep Rams (1-0, 0-0) 49-0.

The Rams took the opening kick-off and methodically moved the ball down the field under the leadership of senior quarterback Chris Perez. A mix of short passes and inside running plays brought the ball down to the one-yard line where senior running back Vasco Sierra took a handoff from Perez right up the middle to give the Rams a 6-0 lead they would never relinquish.

On the next series, the Rams defense held the Grizzlies. Grizzlies punted. DePaul’s junior wide receiver and cornerback Shane Leonard fielded the punt at his own 38-yard line, cut up the left side line, broke a tackle and ran it into the North endzone. With both PATs good, the Rams opened and early first quarter 14-0 lead and never looked back.

Remarkably, the Rams hit seven out of seven extra points. I don’t recall ever seeing that in a high school.

The Rams look to take a leap forward as the program and bring themselves back into the football prominence once enjoyed by its processor Gordon Tech. In recent years, it has been difficult for Gordon Tech/DePaul Prep to achieve beyond Chicago Catholic League Red Division championships. Five wins are needed to qualify for the IHSA playoffs—a difficult task for Rams who have played an almost impossible CCL schedule.

This year may well be different. The CCL has combined with the East Suburban Catholic Conference for football. The Rams will not have to play CCL Blue powerhouses like Loyola, Brother Rice or Mt. Carmel. Conference games for the Rams this year are St. Viator, Leo, St. Laurence, Notre Dame, St. Ignatius and Marian Central Catholic.

“The biggest goal right now is just to get in the the playoffs. If we make the playoffs, we don’t have the multiplier on us so we are playing in 3A. We just came out here and beat a 5A/6A  [team], one of the better CPS schools in the area,” said DePaul head coach Mike Passarella.

Five wins is very doable for DePaul. Once in the playoffs, the Rams can do some damage in the 3A playoffs.

The Payton College Prep Grizzlies struggled against DePaul suffering some injuries during the game and having lost some productive players to graduation.

“We played a really tough team that played well,” said Payton coach Craig Knoche after the game.

“We will find out [what happens with this season] on Monday/Tuesday of next week. We have got to respond to what just happened. They usually respond well.”.

In the second game, home team Lane Tech fall to the Kenwood Academy Broncos 27-9. This much more competitive game saw Lane Tech hang with the Broncos most of the first half.

Lane took an early 3-0 led. The Lane defense impressed with an early goal line stand against a big, fast and athletic Broncos’ offense. Eventually, the Lane defense cracked under the pressure of Kenwood’s speed giving up a long early second quarter touchdown run by the running back Taylen Goodwin.

The Lane offense struggled to move the ball only adding its only touchdown in the fourth quarter bringing the score to 21-9. Kenwood answered with the touchdown making the final score 27-9.

Lane travels to Lansing, Illinois for game against a game against a tough TF South team looking to rebound at home from a shellacking at the hands of Chesterton, Indiana high school.

Last Day in My House

I sold my house in July and moved out on August 8, 2021. I lived in this house almost half my life. These are the photos that I took that day. I didn’t have to move everything out because the house is being torn down. I just left what I could not keep.

DePaul Prep Defeats St. Joseph in Last Game

At the strange abrupt end to the COVID football season, I photographed the DePaul Prep Rams football game against the St. Joseph Chargers. It was the last ever football game for St. Joseph High School. The school administration announced earlier that week that the school would close at the end of the school year.

DePaul Prep defeated St. Joseph 44-0, on April 23, 2021. Three early interceptions of St. Joe’s replacement quarterback doomed the Chargers. The Chargers fought hard but the Rams dominated the undermanned Chargers in all phases.

It was an emotional game. I spent a lot of time photographing from the St. Joe’s sideline. I wanted to document the last game as best I could. I have been going to St. Joe’s basketball and football games in 1977 when I was a freshman at St. Viator. Joe’s was in the ESCC then. I distinctly remember Isiah Thomas playing as a senior in St. Viator’s Patrick Cahill Gym when Isiah and legendary coach Joe Pingatore were on their way to a state championship.

Fast forward to recent years when my son Dan played football and basketball at Gordon/DePaul; I have seen many games against St. Joe’s.

It’s always sad when a school closes, especially a Catholic school. I have also liked and respected the people at St. Joseph. I wish them well.

As for the photos, I apologize that it took me so long to get these up. I was writing stories for the Inside Publications in the Spring and I just did not have enough time to do that and photograph non-story games.

A DePaul Prep player inquired about the photos and I realized although I have processed them some time after the game, I never posted them to my website. So here they are better late than never.

I hope you like the photos.

Basketball is Back at the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout

I love the R-B Shootout. Gets me back into basketball. I get to see teams and players I don’t ordinarily see during the season.

The games don’t mean much. One always wants to win but it is more about seeing what teams have and what they lost.

Last year I realized the R-B is not a good time and place for photos. It is more of a place to get to know teams and players. Although I do love the main gym. It has excellent light and lots of space to get a good position.

I took some photos more to capture the atmosphere than game action.

R-B has 56 teams. A mix of traditional powerhouses, teams with standout players and just average teams but more of the former than the latter.

I hesitate to comment upon and evaluate players for want of proper bone fides for such an endeavor. My basketball credentials don’t get much past coaching my son’s grade school basketball team. But I am sticking with my decision to report because more coverage is better than less coverage. (Mike Clark encouraged me. So blame him if I get it all wrong.) So, in the venerable words of the late Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, “I know it when I see it.” I can recognize a good player, or maybe just a good play, when I set it. So here goes.

The first game of the day was St. Ignatius vs. Timothy Christian. I wanted to check out Timothy Christian’s 6’8” senior center Ben VanderWal. I also wanted to see how Chicago Catholic League contender and likely top ten team St. Ignatius looks.

VanderWal is the real thing. He has size and length. He can shoot. He plays defense. He will carry Timothy Christian.

St. Ignatius is very good. They move the very well. They make layups. They play defense. It seemed like they are much bigger than last year. Kolby Gilles, Richard Barron and A. J. Redd all looked bigger and faster. I do not remember big junior Jackson Kotecki from last year but I should have. He is the piece that rounds out this group. And they have a player named Emmett O’Shaughnessy. How can one not love that?

Next was Rolling Meadows vs. Ridgewood. I wanted to see Cameron Christie. He didn’t play much so I can’t draw any conclusions. It seemed like Rolling Meadows coach Kevin Katovich wanted to see what the rest of his squad could do. Interestedly, when Christie was in, he brought up the ball like his older brother incoming Michigan State freshman, Max Christie.

Without too much of Christie to be contended with, Coach Chris Mroz’s scrappy Ridgewood squad made a game of it. Tons of effort in this game even without the East Gym packed with college coaches.

Next were the DePaul Prep games. First Oak Forest, then Glenbrook South. Oak Forrest has Robbie Avila. That kid is just big. He he can handle the ball, he can score and he can blot out the sun. But I have to say, DePaul Prep’s Dylan Arnett played him well. I would say Arnett got the better of him.

From the frying pan and into the fire for Arnett. Glenbrook South’s Nick Martinelli followed immediately. It’s no secret to even casual observers that Martinelli is one of the best players in the state but I had never seen him until today. He did not disappoint. Arnett played well but at times, many times, Nick Martinelli could not be denied.

Glenbrook South, last year’s Central Suburban League Champions over Evanston, is a much better team than Oak Forest. Glenbrook South held the young Rams in check. One noticed the absence of DePaul Prep’s scoring machines TY Johnson and Rashid Bello in this game. The Rams stayed close but lost 43-34.

Then Glenbard West vs. St. Rita. I had to see Glenbard West and I wanted to see how the young St. Rita team was coming along.

Glenbard West is the best high school basketball team I have seen in a long time; certainly the biggest. The 1-3-1 zone had St. Rita stymied in the first half. The Mustangs did not score for a long time at the beginning of the game. The Hilltopper’s 6’10” forward Braden Huff has length and nose for the basket. He just took the ball to the hoop. Caden Pierce, Paxton Warden, Bobby Durkin and Ryan Renfro rounding out an all 6’3” or better starting five. Oh, and they are athletic too. Fast. This team has to be a favorite to make it to the 4A finals.  

Then Loyola vs. Bogan. Loyola is always good. Tom Livatino gets a bunch of athletes, coaches them up and turns them into a winning basketball team. Just always expect Loyola to be very good. Nothing different with this group. I don’t think he has any D1 prospects but they will contend for the CCL for sure. As always.

Finally, Joliet West vs. Whitney Young. The last that I saw Whitney Young, TY Johnson put forty points on them and DePaul Prep upset the Dolphins at St. Patrick’s last March in the Chipolte season ending tournament. Coach Slaughter has his team hitting on all cylinders. Just a group of big, fast athletes. They are excellent shooters. Gotta be another favorite to win 4A.

I also learned today that DePaul Prep sophomore coach Sean Connor got the head coaching job at Antioch High School. Sean is a great coach. Seriously, this guy can coach. His teams won the sophomore division of the Chicago Catholic League for, I don’t know how many years in a row, eight, nine? And he won it with the best freshmen and sophomore playing up a lot of the time. Antioch will love Sean. Just a wonderful person. I am happy for him that he will be fifteen minutes away from his home and won’t be so far from his growing family. I am also happy he didn’t land at a Catholic League school.

There you go. I am so happy basketball is on again.

Hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Falls to Timothy Christian 7-6 in 2A Sectional Semi-final

I love high school baseball. It’s just so much fun to go and see baseball for free under the lights in the evening. It’s like having a minor league baseball team, or teams , in the neighborhood to go see in the evening.

But the season is over. It was fun while it lasted.

On Monday, the DePaul Prep Rams won their 2A IHSA Regional against University of Chicago Lab School at Kerry Wood Field earning.

On Wednesday, they fell to Timothy Christian 7-6 is a very exciting extra inning affair. I apologize for not having the time to do a write up on the game. However, I took photos. This is mostly a photo blog. I have to use my time to get better at photos. I write an article now and again for Inside Publications. I would love to do more but I just don’t have the time. Maybe next year.

I hope you like the photos. And I still have photos from the U. of C. that I will publish as time allows.

Lane Tech Pitcher Ryan Wong Bringing Wicked Curveball to Cal Tech

This is a preview of my upcoming article for Inside Publications:

By Jack Lydon

Lane Tech senior Ryan Wong is a serious high school scholar with a wicked curveball. So much so, that Ryan will be throwing that pitch for the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California, as well as studying computer science.

Ryan’s Lane Tech coach Sean Freeman, who has coached the 6’1” 185 lbs, senior right-handed pitcher since Ryan was ten years-old, speaks of Ryan in glowing terms.

“Ryan is one of our top pitchers. I feel like we have four #1 pitchers and Ryan in one of them. Ryan throws a 2 seam, a 4 seam, a curveball and slider. And he’s working on a change. His curveball has got the most break. It’s almost at a major league level for its spin rate. Pure stuff-wise that’s his best pitch. But he obviously throws hard and has a good fast ball for a high school kid,” said Freeman.

“The Cal Tech coaches are extremely happy about getting Ryan. Cal Tech is a newer program that is starting to build. They have a young team so he should get a lot of innings right away. They were very excited to get him,” said Freeman.

Ryan has put up some impressive numbers, five wins against two losses with the losses being to Warren Township and Evanston, two top programs. His earned run average is 2.538. His WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) is 1.189. He has 29 strike outs.

I saw Ryan pitch against Von Stueben on May 19, 2021. He got in a little trouble in the first giving up an unearned run but got out of the jam.

He settled down in the second, third and fourth setting the batters down in order.

The fifth was another story. His pitches were up. Von Stueben’s Quinn Basta crushed a line drive up the middle and into center field. Von’s right fielder Anthony Zamora pasted an up-and-in fastball between third and short.

Ryan caught a break when Basta was caught stealing third.

But Ryan walked Von’s third baseman Joe Gonzalez and pitcher Jacob Sfikas singled sharply to left to load the bases.

Ryan threw one outside and in the dirt that Lane catcher Charlie Johnson could not handle. The ball came back to the screen and Anthony Zamora scored from third. The official scorer called it a passed ball. I scored it a wild pitch. Let’s call it a passed ball.

Von Stueben sophomore second baseman hit a fly ball to center deep enough to score Gonzalez from third.

Ryan caught the next hitter looking for the third out. It could have been so much worse. Three well hit singles and a walk for Ryan in the fifth but two runs, only one earned.

What struck me about Ryan’s performance was how mature he was. He did not get rattled. He was pitching in the moment. It was great fun to watch.

And Ryan is putting up these numbers for no ordinary team and against top level competition. Lane is one of the biggest high schools in the state. The Lane baseball team (no longer the Indians) went 25-7 this year and 14-0 in CPS conference play.

Lane won its 4A Regional but dropped a heartbreaking back-and-forth loss to rival New Trier in the 4A Sectional semi-final on June 9, bringing an end to their season and Ryan’s high school career with it.

But Ryan is going to play in college at Cal Tech, a serious academic institution. Not many people play baseball after the age of eighteen. It requires a kind of freakish talent that the Almighty grants to a precious few among us.

As important as that baseball talent is, and it is, Ryan is a scholar as well.

Sporting a 5.31/4.00 GPA and a 34 on the ACT, Ryan took thirteen advanced placement course in high school. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Lane Scholars, Student Council and the Chess Team. He is member of the IHSA All-State Academic Team (2021).

I asked him how he does it. How is he going to handle a computer science major and varsity baseball at Cal Tech?

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge. But I think the work that I have had through high school and juggling baseball has really prepared me for next year. I have been in thirteen AP classes through high school so I think I might be ready. But it’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Ryan said.

College sports is all consuming. For many, the ones we see on television, the student athlete is more athlete than student. How important is baseball?

“I love the game. It’s probably the top priority right now. I love just being around the guys, being part of the team. It takes some of the stress of school and outside stresses away,” Ryan said.

His love for the game was evident when we returned to talking baseball. His big breaking curveball is indeed wicked and he can throw it for a strike.

“To a righty, I love to through the curve ball low and away. Get the swing and miss. Early in the count, I like the backdoor curve. It’s coming at them and breaks into the zone. It really depends on the hitter and the count,” Ryan said somehow with equal measures of pride and humility.

Bright future for a computer programmer with a wicked curveball.

Oh, and he is a golf caddie too. Doesn’t surprise me at all.

Payton Defeats Phillips JV Squad 21-14

This is a preview of my article that will appear in Wednesday’s Inside Publications.

By Jack Lydon

This COVID delayed and shortened season came to a merciful but satisfying end Saturday afternoon for the Walter Payton College Prep football team against a junior varsity squad put together by CPS powerhouse Phillips. The Grizzlies came up with a 21-14 win against a very talented Phillips squad.

Short and unpredictable though it was, this season showed me one can play simply for the love of the game. It showed me how enjoyable the simply chance to play can be.

Payton was scheduled to play Solorio Academy on Saturday afternoon. Solorio had to cancel the game for none COVID related reasons. Injuries depleted its team to a point where the coach did not feel it was safe to play a game with so few players.

“We were not supposed to play Phillips,” Payton coach Craig Knocke said.

“Monday Solorio informed us that they would not be able to play this weekend. So CPS sports [administration staff] did a great job finding us an opponent that we could [play].

“This is not Phillips’ number 1 squad. They played last night.”

Phillips first team played Taft on Friday (April 23). Rebounding from a 30-0 defeat at Loyola the preceding Friday, the Wildcats defeated at tough and talented Taft team 26-21.

“This [Phillips] team that’s got, I don’t know how many, but has it 2-1 varsity players [as we do]. So the kids that didn’t play in the Taft game, played us,” said Knocke.

“Phillips is a great program. The kids who are not starters on this team, will be next year. They have some really good players.”

Everybody rips CPS. But these coaches, staff and administration found a way for the young men to play a football game when it could so easily have just called it a season.

After receiving the opening kickoff, the Grizzlies punted the ball back to Phillips. Payton senior linebacker and running back Joe Savaiano, who will play college football next year at Washington University, picked off at quick slant from Phillips junior quarterback Avante Savage and returned the ball into Phillips’ territory.

After a clunch third down catch by sophomore wide receiver Charlie Newton, senior running back Jack Dawson took the handoff at the five yard-line and ran it up the middle into the end zone for the games’ first score. Senior kicker Thomas Melecio added the point after.

On the first play of the second quarter, Payton added to its lead with a 60ish yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Eamon Glascott to senior wide receiver Danny O’Connell to push the Payton lead to 14-0.

There was no quit in Phillips talented junior varsity. Quarterback Avante Savage took a keeper up the middle and down the left sideline with 1:49 remaining the in second quarter to keep it close. Phillips added the two-point conversion making the score 14-8.

But the half was not done, Payton received the kickoff. On the second play, Glascott dropped back to pass.

“Basically, it was a slugo—slant go. I was able to get past the defender, it was a perfect throw. That’s what we work on in practice. It clearly paid off,” Payton sophomore wide receiver Charlie Newton said after the game.

He has a gift for understatement.

Newton bolted past the cornerback and got a few steps on him. Glascott’s pass was indeed perfect, dropping right into Newton outstretched arms on a dead sprint. Newton dodged the free safety coming over in coverage and raced toward the goal posts, adding a little flip into the endzone at the goal line which could not have made his coaches too happy.

Payton 21-8 at the half.

Phillips came out of the half a different team. The found energy they did not have in the first have. With this new found energy, the moved the ball up and down the field on Payton but could not punch it in.

Late in the third quarter, Payton fumbled a handoff to the running back. Phillips linebacker Jason Cannon Jr., picked up the ball and raced it into the endzone drawing the Wildcats to within a touchdown.

The teams traded long drives throughout the fourth quarter as the time ticked away.

Inside the last minute, Phillips marched the ball down to the Payton three-yard line. On third-down at the three, Phillips quarterback Savage fumbled the handoff to running back Rayshaun Thompson but recovered the ball.

On fourth and goal from the four, with the game on the line, Payton linebacker Joey Savaiano broke up Savage’s pass to Phillips wide-out Cohen Waters Jr.

Payton went on to win 21-14.

“It’s awesome to go out with a win. Not many seniors can say that. It’s either a state playoff loss or something of that nature. To end the season on a win is really special to me. [This] was a makeshift year. We only had three games,” said Payton quarterback Eamon Glascott.

“But I love coming out and playing football. High school football is the best. This is a great group of guys that might not be the biggest, fastest, strongest guys but these kids have a lot of heart.”

Both teams, their coaches and even CPS sports administration just wanted the play. No championships. Nothing really to play for except for the fun of it.

It was fun. This COVID season showed us the love of the game. Win or lose. Let’s just play.

Refreshing.

Payton College Prep Football Senior Night, in the Parking Lot

The Payton College Prep Grizzles had their senior night on Friday (April 23, 2021). With the season cut short, the senior night had to be on Friday before the away game against Phillips. I hope you like the photos. Photos from the Phillips game to follow shortly.

Loyola defeats Phillips 30-0.

By Jack Lydon

 Lane Tech ran into a COVID hold that cancelled its game against Phillips schedule for Friday, April 16. Phillips coach Troy McAllister didn’t want to lose another chance to play in this abbreviated season. No. 1 ranked Loyola (5-0, 3-0) had a hole it its schedule this weekend.

“Lane cancelled on Phillips. Troy called and asked if we could schedule a game,” Loyola head football coach and former NFL player John Holecek said. Holecek quickly agreed to the unusual late afternoon Friday game for Loyola.

With its big lawn, new parking lot and tennis court, the addition to the football field, Loyola Academy has the feeling of a small college. Loyola Academy is a Chicago Catholic League powerhouse with the number one ranking. Despite being the top football program in the Chicago Public School system, Phillips (3-1, 1-0) had a tall task in front of it.

In another time, this would have been match up for the ages. As it was in August 2017, when Phillips opened its magically state championship season with a 20-14 victory over recent state champion Loyola. Could the Wildcats must the magic this time on Loyola’s home field after all the adversity of the COVID season?

Loyola got the opening kickoff and methodically moved down the field with a conservative and impressive ground attack.

“When you have Vaughn Pemberton running the ball, you can afford be conservative,” Holecek said.

“But we took our shots.”

One such shot was at the end of the Ramblers opening drive. On fourth and four at the Phillips 25-yard line, Loyola’s senior quarterback J. T. Thomas dropped back. Senior wide receiver Perrion Mcclinton ran a post and Thomas hit him at the goal line for the game’s opening score capping a 13 play, 74 yard drive that ate up over half of the first quarter.

Loyola senior kicker Nate Van zelst added an extra point giving the Ramblers a 7-0 lead.

After intercepting a pass, Loyola took over deep in Wildcat’s territory. Ramblers’ senior running back Vaughn Pemberton ran the ball in for a 16-yard touchdown. The Ramblers pushed to lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.

Phillips was by means out of the game. With 4:18 left in the half, Loyola muffed a punt turning the ball over deep in their own end. The Wildcats moved the ball down to Loyola’s 11-yard line but could not score.

Taking over on downs and continuing their conservative game plan, the Ramblers run out the clock, happy to take the 14-point lead into the locker room.

The third quarter proved to be Phillips breaking point. After Loyola senior running back Aiden Brownlee took a reverse around end for a 26-yard touchdown. Ramblers 21, Wildcats 0.

On the next Phillips possession, the Loyola defense broke the back of the Phillips offense. Ramblers’ defensive from four, seniors Liam Conaghan, Omaru Konneh and Brandan Svets and junior Michael Williams, destroyed Phillips offensive line with three consecutive sacks. Phillips junior quarterback Tyler Turner made a tremendous player to reach the ball out of the endzone while being dragged down to avoid a safety during the third sack.

Loyola added a 39-yard field goal by standout kicker Nate Van zelst and a late touchdown pushing the score to 30-0 sealing the Ramblers victory and improving their record to 5-0 on this strange COVID season.

Loyola standing out running back Vaughn Pemberton summed up the feelings of both teams after the game.

“We don’t take any of these reps for granted. We just go out there and have fun with our brothers. James Kyle [Loyola senior tight end] gets hurt and can’t play. We all wrote [Kyle’s number] 81 on our wrists. I just appreciate it. I am just happy to be out here,” Pemberton said.

Loyola will face CCL/ESCC rival #5 Marist Redhawks at Marist for the championship of the combined leagues’ Blue Division championship.

Hope you like the photos.

DePaul Prep Defeats Fenwick to Advance to Chipotle Clash of Championship

With the blizzard of basketball games at the end of this COVID season and then the immediate start of football, not to mention that I am writing a high school sports column now, it has taken me a long time to process all the photos from the basketball season.

These are the photos from the afternoon game between Fenwick and DePaul Prep.

DePaul defeated Fenwick in a close game. DePaul went out to an early lead but Fenwick slowly got back in it. As I recall, they may have tied the game or even taken a one point lead late in the fourth quarter.

Right at the end, Bryce Hopkins had the ball only down by three. He could have forced overtime.

Instead he lost the handle on the ball under pressure by Brian Mathews and Rasheed Bello. TY Johnson scooped it up and DePaul went on to defeat Evanston later that same evening.

I am generally happy with these photos. But they are so graining because I was principally using my Canon 7D. I love that camera. I know how to use it and it has a high frame rate. It just produces graining pictures with its APC sensor. Very good camera—just not full frame .

Hope you like the photos.