IC Spring Sports—Softball, Track, Baseball, Soccer—In Full Swing

In its first game in nearly two weeks because of rainouts, the Immaculate Conception softball team returned to action April 25 and lost to Chicago Christian 12-1 in six innings in a Suburban Christian Conference crossover game in Elmhurst.

Katelyn Conenna and Judy Morris had the lone hits for the Knights (6-7, 3-1 in SCC Gold Division) with Conenna’s triple scoring Morris in the fourth inning. Losing pitcher Briana Iosco (5-5) only allowed five earned runs.

IC had won its previous five games, with its last victory 16-2 over Aurora Christian in five innings April 14.

Winning pitcher Iosco (2 for 3, double, 4 runs batted in), Nina Vlahiotis (2 for 4, 2 doubles), Maria Kieliszewski (2 for 3, double, RBI, walk), Conenna (2 for 3, triple, 3 RBI, walk),  Megan Sutton (2 for 3) and Jenn Clementi (2 for 4) fueled a 14-hit attack. Iosco (1 hit in 3 innings, 7 strikeouts) and Conenna combined on a three-hitter with a combined 12 strikeouts.  

On April 11, IC edged Montini 9-8 after rallying from an 8-4 deficit after two innings.

Iosco (2 RBI, 2 runs, walk) hit a towering home run to deep center field in the sixth inning to break an 8-8 tie. IC tied the game with a three-run fifth when Kieliszewski (2 runs) belted a two-run homer and Gabbi Davis (2 runs) singled two batters later and scored on a double by Clementi.

IC defeated Westmont 8-4 April 9 after the first game was canceled by a sloppy field from rain the day before.  Sutton (3 RBI, walk) hit a two-run, bases-loaded single to put IC ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the first, and pinch-hitter Davis hit a two-out, two-run bases-loaded single in the fifth. Winning pitcher Iosco struck out nine, had an RBI double and walked twice. Kieliszewski went 2 for 3.

Conenna threw a five-inning two-hitter in her first varsity pitching victory April 7 as IC beat Proviso West 16-2. Conenna fanned nine and walked seven.

Clementi (3 for 3, 3 RBI, double, 2 runs, walk), Nina Vlahiotis (3 RBI, triple, 2 runs, walk) and Conenna (2 RBI) led IC, which drew 19 walks.

IC track

Immaculate Conception’s Dan Vatch cleared 6 feet-2 inches in high jump to tie a school record and take first place at the Rockford Lutheran Classic April 9.

IC girls were third (40 points) and the boys finished fourth (63 points). 

Vitino Labadessa also took first place for the IC boys in shot put (43-5). The 800-meter relay of Loren Butler, Anthony Rice, Cody Kotlow and Patrick Kirby was second (1 minute, 36.2 seconds) and the 3,200 relay of Mike Bosworth, Matt Kremske, Tommy Guinan and Danny Headley was third (9:56.5). The 400 relay was leading before a bad handoff.

“Vitino has been working really hard with Jeff Fredrickson our throws coach, and that hard work is paying off,” IC coach Bob Cronin said. “Dan Vatch is a special young man.  He is quiet and really works hard with Jennifer Lomeli, our high jump coach. He is only 5-8 and always surprises the field at competitions because they are all always taller than him, but he has great form and I am just so proud of him. Any time you set or tie a school record, that is something very special.”

For the IC girls, Rachel Hill won the 400 (1:04.3), Cara Horan (200 in 28.4) and the 800 relay (Michelle Erpelo, Demetra Spell, Marissa Mesnard, Horan in 1:57.0) were second and Genarra Bell (28-1 ½ in triple jump), Allie Cervone (75-6 ½ in discus), Demetra Spell (4-4 in high jump) and Stephanie Stahl (300 low hurdles in 52.9) were third. The Knights suffered a missed handoff in the 400 relay.

“Our freshmen and sophomore girls are really talented and contributing so much to our team, which bodes well for the future of our program,” Cronin said. “Little (4-11 freshman) Cara Horan is a dynamo in the sprint relays and the 200. (Freshman) Rachel Hill is a great talent and if she puts in the work could be a state meet athlete. Both Cara and Rachel are as nice as they are talented, which fits them in so well with this bunch.”

On April 23, the IC boys were fourth (46 points) and the IC girls were sixth (31 points) at the Walther Lutheran Invitational at Concordia University in River Forest.

Labadessa was second in shot (40-10) and third in discus (109-1). Vatch (6-0 in high jump) and the 1,600 relay (Patrick Kirby, Arturo Chaidez, Riley Ricobene, Kotlow in 3:49.58) were third and Kirby (18-5 in long jump), the 3,200 relay (Bosworth, Sean Sutton, Guinan, Headley in 9:41.52) and the 800 relay (Butler, Rice, Kotlow, Kirby in 1:35.78) were fourth.

Stahl was third in the 100 high hurdles (17.39) and 300 hurdles (52.77), and Ashia Johnson (28-2 ½ in shot) and the 800 relay (Mesnard, Spell, Erpelo, Horan in 1:57.22) were fourth.

On April 15, the IC girls were eighth (21 points) at the Oswego East Girls Invitational.

Hill was second in the 400 (1:06.15). Stahl was third in the 100 hurdles (17.66) and Horan was sixth in the 200 (29.44).

“When we arrived, it was 41 degrees with rain blowing sideways.  It was great to get the meet in but our performances reflected the weather,” Cronin said.  “Our girls got to look at some big school programs which should pay dividends later in the season.”

IC Baseball

The Immaculate Conception baseball team earned its first Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division victory by beating St. Edward 17-4 in five innings April 12 at Plunkett Park.

Winning pitcher Jose Godinez allowed just three hits over the first four innings while striking out seven for the Knights (5-10, 1-6 in SCC Gold). Clark Brinkman pitched the fifth.

Robert Rivera (3 for 4, 3 RBI, double, 2 runs), Brinkman (3 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 runs) and Dan Ribando (2 for 2, 3 RBI, double) led a 10-hit attack. Charlie Pulkownik added two RBI and Brian Harvey, Godinez, James Peachey, John Cheng, Kyle Siranovic and Frankie Carrera also scored twice.

IC lost to Guerin 16-2 April 25. Harvey was 2 for 3 and Ribando doubled.
The Knights lost to St. Edward 7-3 April 11 despite two hits apiece from Godinez (2 RBI, double, 2 walks), Brinkman and Pulkownik. Peachey tripled.

IC also has defeated St. Joseph (5-1 March 29) and Limestone (9-8), Alden-Hebron (12-2 in 6 innings) and Tropia (13-11) in its first three games of the season at the Jacksonville Jamboree March 19-20. Godinez has three of the team’s pitching victories.

IC Soccer

The Immaculate Conception girls soccer team is 7-3 overall, and 1-3 in the Suburban Christian Conference.

The Knights won their first seven games of the season over St. Joseph (9-2 March 15), Westmont (7-3 March 17), St. Francis DeSales (13-0 March 19), Lisle (10-2 March 21), Elmwood Park (4-2 March 28), Indian Creek (13-0 March 31) and Guerin (9-0 April 1).

The 13 goals against DeSales set a single-game program record. Grace Vitek had four goals, Natalie D’Agostino three, Rocky Salinas two and Delaney D’Amore and Rachel Hill one each.

D’Agostino and Angela Toritto (3 goals each), Vitek (2 goals) and Hill (goal) accounted for the scoring against St. Joseph.

The Knights lost to Chicago Christian (2-1 April 5), Wheaton Academy (9-3 April 11) and Aurora Central Catholic (3-2 April 14).