High School Sports RSS: strita baseball

Payton, Conlon pace St. Rita to crown

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

The pitching of Shane Conlon and the hitting of tournament MVP Mark Payton helped St. Rita shut out Sandburg 9-0 Thursday night in the title game of the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic at Benedictine University.

Eagles soar into summer title game

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

Sandburg used an 11-hit attack and the complete-game pitching of Joe Greenfield to roll past Downers Grove South 12-2 Wednesday in the semifinals of the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic at North Central College.

Another rally sends Mustangs to final

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita rallied late for the second game in a row on Wednesday, edging Waubonsie Valley 6-5 to advance to the title game of the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic.

More dust to settle for St. Rita, Sandburg

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:00 CST

St. Rita and Sandburg high schools will meet tonight in the championship game of the summer baseball Phil Lawler Classic. The game will be a rematch of the Class 4A Crestwood Supersectional final in June when the Mustangs, then the SouthtownStar's second-ranked team, won a 6-4 thriller over No. 1 Sandburg.

Once again, Payton saves St. Rita

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

Mark Payton picked up his third save in four games and Stefano Belmonte drove in two runs to pace St. Rita to a 4-2 win over Downers Grove South Tuesday. St. Rita advances to Wednesday's semifinals of the Phil Lawler Summer Classic.

Mustangs win a wild one vs. Warren

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita knocked off Warren 7-3 Monday in the first round of the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer Classic. But a controversial play in the fifth inning overshadowed the heroics of players like Shane Conlon, Stefano Belmonte, Anthony Andres and Mark Payton.

St. Rita's win not without weirdness

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 04:00 CST

Lost amid a controversial play in the fifth inning of St Rita's opener in Monday's Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Lawler Summer Classic playoffs was another impressive win for the Mustangs.

Plenty at stake at state for St. Rita

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

After losing to New Trier in the Class 4A state baseball championship last month, St. Rita gets a chance at redemption in this week's Phil Lawler Summer Classic.

St. Rita rolls over Richards, on to state

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:00 CST

By cruising past Richards 15-1 in five innings Thursday, the St. Rita Mustangs advanced to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association tournament in Naperville next week. The opportunity of a second chance for a state title isn't lost on the returning players from the regular season, in which St. Rita lost the state championship game to New Trier 4-3.

Belmonte, St. Rita clean up in final

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

No. 4 hitter Stefano Belmonte drove in four runs as St. Rita cruised to a 15-1 win over host Richards Thursday in an IHSBCA summer regional final.

Payton pitches in as Mustangs advance

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

Mark Payton was dominant in a rare pitching appearance and hit one of three St. Rita home runs as the Mustangs beat rival Mount Carmel 6-2 on Wednesday in the IHSBCA Richards Regional semifinals.

Filomeno powers Mustangs into semis

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

Joey Filomeno drove in four runs with a homer and a sacrifice fly, pacing St. Rita to a 12-2 win over Illiana Christian Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the IHSBCA Richards Regional.

Frain ushers in win for Crusaders vs. St. Rita

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Wed, 8 Jul 2009 00:00 CST

Dan Frain, who's trying to win an outfield job for Brother Rice, had two hits and scored a run to help his own case and pace the Crusaders to a 7-4 win over St. Rita on Wednesday.

Payton powers Rita after USA tryout

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

After playing in a USA Baseball 18-and-under national tourney last week, Mark Payton was back at St. Rita on Tuesday. He didn't skip a beat, reaching base four times and slugging a homer in a split with Mount Carmel.

Time for St. Rita to focus on future

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

Still stinging from a close loss to New Trier in last weekend's Class 4A state championship game, St. Rita was back on the field on Wednesday to start preparing for the 2010 baseball season.

Three strikes against St. Rita: greatest of E's, missed call, not much in clutch

Pat Disabato — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:00 CST

It was a difficult end to an unforgettable season for St. Rita and its loyal, passionate fans Saturday night.

Miscues cost Mustangs

By Pat Disabato, Staff writer — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:00 CST

St. Rita could not overcome the five errors they committed in the 4A championship game versus New Trier, falling 4-3.

St. Rita's Payton earns the spotlight

BY SEAN DUNCAN — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

The 2009 Sun-Times Player of the Year Mark Payton.

St. Rita scores first, never looks back

By Pat Disabato, Staff writer — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:00 CST

For a St. Rita team regarded as the favorite entering the season, what so far has been a 41-game journey has come down to this: one victory. That's what's required of the Mustangs if their goal of bringing home the program's first state championship is to be realized.

Conlon keeping St. Rita well-armed

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:00 CST

Shane Conlon continues to pitch like an ace for St. Rita in the postseason.

Mustangs strut their stuff, reach 4A final

BY PAT DISABATO pdisabato@southtownstar.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

Led by Mark Payton, Shane Conlon, Dan Dispensa and Angelo Burrage, St. Rita knocked off O'Fallon 4-0 Friday in a Class 4A state semifinal at Silver Cross Stadium in Joliet. Payton went 3-for-3 with a homer.

St. Rita turns focus inward for state

BY PAT DISABATO pdisabato@southtownstar.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita coach Mike Zunica is less interested about countering what O'Fallon might do in Friday's Class 4A baseball semifinals than in making sure the Mustangs do what has made them successful all spring.

A barrage of playoff success for Burrage

By Pat Disabato, Staff writer — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:00 CST

The waggle of the bat, the pronounced right leg kick as the ball approaches, the slight uppercut, the prodigious follow-through - it all screams Ken Griffey Jr., circa 1997.

Fateful move for Mustangs' Stearns

BY PAT DISABATO pdisabato@southtownstar.com — Tue, 9 Jun 2009 18:00 CST

Junior Kyle Stearns went to Sandburg for two weeks as a freshman before deciding he'd be more comfortable at St. Rita. On Monday, his RBI triple was the pivotal hit in the Mustangs' 6-4 supersectional win over the Eagles, which earned St. Rita a trip to the Class 4A semifinals.

St. Rita bounces back vs. Sandburg

BY PAT DISABATO pdisabato@southtownstar.com — Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita fell behind 4-1 before rallying to knock off Sandburg 6-4 Monday in a Class 4A supersectional at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.

Mustang rally: St. Rita downs Eagles

BY SEAN DUNCAN — Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:00 CST

Kyle Stearns tripled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning as No. 2 St. Rita rallied from an early deficit to beat No. 1 Sandburg 6-4 Monday in a Class 4A supersectional in Crestwood.

Conlon, Mustangs put brakes on Caravan

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Sat, 6 Jun 2009 00:00 CST

Shane Conlon pitched a three-hitter and Mark Payton drove in two runs to lead No. 3 St. Rita past the host Caravan 3-1 Saturday in the Class 4A Mount Carmel Sectional final.

St. Rita ace too much for St. Ignatius

BY MIKE CLARK mclark@suntimes.com — Wed, 3 Jun 2009 17:00 CST

Scott Marinier pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts and one walk, leading No. 3 St. Rita past St. Ignatius 8-1 in a Class 4A Mount Carmel Sectional semifinal on Wednesday.

St. Rita blanks Farragut

Wed, 27 May 2009 16:00 CST

St. Rita 10, Farragut 0: Angelo Burrage went 3-for-3, including a three-run home, and knocked in six for St. Rita (30-6) as they blanked the Admirals in five innings at the Clemente Regional.

Mustangs hold off T.F. South

Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita 7, T.F. South 1: The third-ranked Mustangs (28-6) got a three-run homer from Joe Filomeno as they took down T.F. South. Winning pitcher Shane Conlon (6-1) struck out eight in the win and had three hits, driving in a run.

St. Rita ends Rice's run of perfection

By Pat Disabato, Staff writer — Sun, 17 May 2009 04:00 CST

Brother Rice recorded its share of come-from-behind victories during its incredible 27-game winning streak to start the season.

South Side stunner: St. Rita blanks Rice

BY SEAN DUNCAN — Sat, 16 May 2009 00:00 CST

Top-ranked Brother Rice finally lost on Saturday after a 27-0 start, falling 4-0 to No. 3 St. Rita and Scott Marinier, who pitched a four-hitter.

Extra nice for Brother Rice

By Pat Disabato, Staff writer — Fri, 15 May 2009 04:00 CST

The whispers coming from the St. Rita dugout directed at Brother Rice's Kevin Callahan as he was standing in the batter's box Thursday hardly were flattering. The Mustangs' intent was to distract the Crusaders' 6-foot-1, 250-pound left-handed slugger. Instead, it made the senior concentrate even harder on the task at hand, which was to let his bat do the talking.

Palmer's HR sets tone as Crusaders roll

BY SEAN DUNCAN — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:00 CST

Ricky Palmer led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run and Kevin Callahan slugged a grand slam in the third, powering unbeaten and top-ranked Brother Rice past No. 3 St. Rita 10-6 on Thursday.

St. Rita banks on contributions

By Pat Disabato, Staff Writer — Thu, 14 May 2009 04:00 CST

The sign of a good team is when different players step up in clutch situations. For St. Rita, a bevy of players rose to the occasion last week.

Showdown on South Side: St. Rita vs. Rice

BY PAT DISABATO pdisabato@southtownstar.com — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00 CST

One never knows when the baseball gods will provide an opportunity at redemption. For St. Rita, that time is now � against rival Brother Rice, which ended the Mustangs' Catholic League Blue title hopes a year ago.

St. Rita tops Bishop Mac

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita 7, Bishop McNamara 1: Ron McNamara threw a three-hitter and struck out seven, while Angelo Burrage (2-for-2) had a double and three RBI for the No. 3 Mustangs (26-3). Kyle Stearns also had an RBI for St. Rita.

St. Rita takes two from Fenwick

Sat, 9 May 2009 00:00 CST

St. Rita 5-2, Fenwick 1-1: Mark Payton smashed a homer in the first game to support Scott Marinier's six strong innings pitched for No. 5 St. Rita (25-3). Conlon and Kevin Jachim each drove in a run in the second game to help St. Rita earn the doubleheader sweep.