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36 | April 19, 2018 | The Lockport Legend SPORTS lockportlegend.com SOFTBALL Local squads aiming for postseason success JEFF VORVA, Contributing Editor Lincoln-Way East’s softball team dominated regional and sectional action en route to a second-place finish in the Illinois High School Association Class 4A state tournament in 2017. East outscored Thornton Fractional South, Minooka, Joliet West and Lockport by a combined score of 26-3. Will the Griffins be able to breeze in the early part of the postseason again? The other teams in the 19- team Joliet West Sectional will have something to say about that. This Week In... Lockport Township High School Varsity Athletics Baseball ■April ■ 19 host Lincoln-Way East, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 21 host Plainfield East, 10 a.m. ■April ■ 23 at Lincoln-Way East, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 25 at Providence, 4:30 p.m. Softball ■April ■ 19 at Homewood- Flossmoor, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 20 at Lincoln-Way West, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 21 host Lockport Triangular, 10 a.m. ■April ■ 23 host Sandburg, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 24 host Bradley Bourbonnais, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 25 host Joliet West, 4:30 p.m. Girls Soccer ■April ■ 19 at Bolingbrook, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 21 at Stagg, 10 a.m. ■April ■ 22 at Pepsico Showdown, TBA at Depaul University ■April ■ 24 host Homewood- Flossmoor, 4:30 p.m. Girls Track and Field ■April ■ 20 host Lockport Invitational, 4:30 p.m. Boys Track and Field ■April ■ 20 at Downer’s Grove South Invitational, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 24 host Lockport Triangular, 4:30 p.m. Boys Volleyball ■April ■ 19 host Joliet West, 6 p.m. at Lewis University ■April ■ 24 at Lincoln-Way Central, 5:30 p.m. Boys Tennis ■April ■ 19 at Plainfield North, 4 p.m. ■April ■ 21 host Lockport Invitational, 8 a.m. The Griffins will join 22nd Century Media-area teams Lockport, Lincoln- Way Central, Lincoln-Way West and Andrew in that sectional. Others in the tournament are Bolingbrook, Bloom, Crete-Monee, Homewood- Flossmoor, Thornton, Joliet Central, Joliet West, Thornton Fractional South, Minooka, Plainfield Central, Plainfield East, Plainfield South, Romeoville and Thornwood. Sandburg is heading to a 19-team sectional that does not have a host yet. Other teams in that sectional are Morton, Eisenhower, Reavis, Curie, Kelly, Kennedy, Marist, Mother McAuley, Hinsdale South, Proviso West, Hinsdale Central, Lyons, Oak Lawn, Richards, Shepard, Stagg, Riverside- Brookfield and Argo. In Class 3A, Providence Catholic and Tinley Park are in a sub-sectional at the 20-team Ottawa Sectional. Other teams in the subsectional are Coal City, Hillcrest, Joliet Catholic Academy, LaSalle-Peru, Morris, Ottawa, Plano and Sandwich. Seeds will be announced on May 8. The regionals begin May 21 and the state finals are June 8-9. ■April ■ 24 at Sandburg, 4:30 p.m. Boys Water Polo ■April ■ 19 at Sandburg, 5 p.m. ■April ■ 20 at Brother Rice Invite, 4:30 p.m. ■April ■ 21 at Brother Rice Invite, 8:30 a.m. ■April ■ 24 host Stagg, 5 p.m. ■April ■ 25 at Hinsdale South, 6 p.m. Girls Water Polo ■April ■ 19 host Sandburg, 5 p.m. ■April ■ 21 at Hersey Triangular, 11 a.m. at Prospect ■April ■ 21 at Hersey Triangular, 11:45 a.m. at Prospect ■April ■ 24 at Stagg, 5 p.m. Badminton ■April ■ 21 at East Aurora Tomcat Feather Invite, 8 a.m. Boys Lacrosse ■April ■ 25 at Plainfield Co-op, TBD Athlete of the Week 10 Questions with Tyler Thompson Tyler Thompson is a junior at Lockport Township. He scored a game-high four goals last week as the Porters rallied for a 10-9 victory over Lincoln-Way Central. After a nice comeback victory over Lincoln- Way Central, the team traveled to Lincoln-Way East and lost 13-10. What happened in that loss? I think it’s better to get the loss over early in the season and get over it. It was the first game back [after a 19- day layoff] with all our starters, and people weren’t used to how everyone moves. Still, the team got off to an 8-0 start. What was the key to that happening? The focus on that was having most of our senior starters this season back from last year’s team. We only graduated two guys off last season’s team, so we knew the offenses and defense we were going to run. How did you get involved playing water polo? I never thought about water polo going into high school. But a friend [Patrick Downey] got me interested in swimming. Before that I was into football, but I was a natural at swimming. So Patrick got me interested in swimming, and I got him interested in football. He no longer swims, and I no longer play football. I just do swimming and water polo. What do you like better, swimming or water polo? Water polo, by far. That’s because you can socialize in water polo. But in swimming, you just stare at the bottom line in the pool for two hours. Besides the socializing, what is it about water polo that makes it the sport for you? The physical aspect of it. I like to play physical sports, like football. I used to wrestle, as well. The Porters water polo team is in the Metea Valley Sectional, which has No. 1-ranked Naperville Central in it. What are your thoughts on being in that tough sectional? Personally, I don’t look ahead too much. I just like to stay in the moment and want to get better for the next day. But the coaches say all that matters is the sectional. So, we’re trying to build to that point. Speaking of coaches, what have you learned from Lockport boys water polo coach Joe Lewandowski? I’ve learned a lot, but the one thing that sticks out is to push yourself to the max. Also, to meet every challenge, no matter how you feel. Adam Jomant/ 22nd Century Media What do you do right before a water polo game to get yourself fired up and ready? I stretch a lot before I enter the pool. In water polo, before the start of the game and before the start of each quarter, I do a belly flop. It gets me all hyped up and tingly. You still have another year of high school, but are you going to swim or play water polo in college? Personally, I don’t have too much of an interest to play in college. I want to attend the University of Iowa. My brother, Jacob Thompson, goes there, and I’d like to major in physical therapy. But if I got a scholarship offer [to another school], I’d think about it. What is the best thing about being an athlete at Lockport? The amount of newer equipment and facilities we have compared to other schools. That helps get us better prepared for the games. Interview by Freelance Reporter Randy Whalen
lockportlegend.com SPORTS the Lockport Legend | April 19, 2018 | 37 Boys Water Polo Porters edge past Knights for eighth win of season Hecker makes nine of his 18 saves in fourth quarter for LTHS Randy Whalen Freelance Reporter Water creates rust. After not playing against an opponent for 19 days, the Lockport Township boys water polo team had rust. The Porters not only had a long layoff, they had four players, including two starters, not at the first game back for a variety of reasons last week. But in the end, the Porters also had something else — defense and Connor Hecker. The senior goalkeeper and defense came through big time, holding Lincoln-Way Central scoreless for the final 8:18 of the game, and the team rallied for a 10-9 victory in a SouthWest Suburban Conference clash on April 10 at Lockport. The win moved Lockport to 8-0 on the season. The Knights played well but just couldn’t get their offense going at the end. “Just trying to keep the guys motivated and focused was unbelievable,” Lockport coach Joe Lewandowski said of the long layoff. “But we were able to get certain things done, like a lot of fundamentals work that we can always use. But we were also short guys and missing six or seven guys to the flu, but we did the best that we could. That’s probably why in the beginning of the [Central] game, I was so stressed out. We hadn’t played in 19 days and were down two [starters], so things were going to be tougher, since we had to go deeper into the bench.” Lockport did, but the results were good. Junior Tyler Thompson, who led all scorers with four goals, scored from close range with 29 seconds left in the third quarter to close the Porters to within 9-8. He then skipped a shot in for a score to knot it up with 4:45 left in the game. That set the stage for a chaotic finish. Lockport had multiple guys ejected in the fourth quarter, but the Knights could not take advantage. They either turned the ball over or were turned back by Hecker, who made nine of his 18 saves in the fourth quarter. “We were missing two starters, so we started off rusty,” Hecker said. “But in the second half, I feel like we picked it up and started playing our game. I wouldn’t be doing anything like this if it wasn’t for my defense. They’re sticking up for me and stealing the ball, so they’re making my job so easy. I appreciate that, so all of the credit goes to them. I like this team because we’re all on the same page. If we’re not having fun, then we’re not learning.” Hecker’s defense came through down the stretch. With the game tied, and with the Porters in many a precarious position being down a man, the defense stepped up. That allowed Simon Harmata to get a pass to junior Michael Bates, who scored what proved to be the game-winner from the left side with 1:56 to play in the game. “On the go-ahead goal, I saw the ball land in front of me, and two guys were on me,” Harmata said. “I saw Michael swimming open down on the weak side and tossed it to him, and he scored. We’re definitely a Lockport’s Caleb Speechley (right) tangles with Lincoln-Way Central’s Adam Ceh as the two go for the ball during a SouthWest Suburban Conference match April 10 at Lockport. Adam Jomant/22nd Century Media defensive team this year after being all about offense last year. We’re stepping up and trying new things, and it’s working out. In the end, we always put a smile on our face and fix what we do wrong.” The Knights couldn’t get the equalizer. A final opportunity ended with Harmata getting another steal with 11 seconds left in the game. Harmata, who missed the start of the season with an injured left shoulder, has been going to therapy for that. His first game back was the Porters’ last game before the 19-day break, a 9-5 victory at Andrew on March 22. Thompson had a highlight goal when he skipped one in past senior keeper Chuck Evans with four seconds left in the first quarter to put the Porters ahead 4-3. Junior Declan Ruane added a goal in the opening minute of the second quarter to give Lockport a 5-3 advantage. Hecker then turned back a 5-meter penalty shot with 5:43 to play in the first half. But Brian McGuire and fellow seniors Adam Ceh (2 goals) and Tim Murphy (2 goals) tallied, as the Knights rallied for a 6-5 halftime lead. Senior Ryan Burke (3 goals) put Central ahead 7-5. The Porters, however, scored for the first time in a span of 9:26. That happened when senior Matt Zalesko zipped in a pair of goals in 23 seconds. The last one of those, on a penalty shot with 3:25 left in the third quarter, tied the game at 7-7. Senior Jack Lyons and junior Caleb Speechley added first-quarter goals for Lockport. Murphy and senior Josh Fox had third-quarter goals for the Knights, the final one of which gave them a 9-7 lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter. “We had two tries at the end to tie it but couldn’t get it done,” Central coach Patrick Shaughnessy said. “We [had] six games this [past] week, so the guys are just working on getting better. We played really well, and we’ve been clicking and are starting to really get it. Ryan [Burke] played awesome and does so many things for beside scoring. He’s our leader and really showed it. “But our eyes are on sectionals, and we have to get better for that. The guys are all working together. I told them from the start, if they want to win, they have to work together.” Central will be at the Lincoln-Way East Sectional, while the Porters are at the Metea Valley Sectional, along with the top-ranked team in the state — Naperville Central. But the Porters, and Hecker, aren’t afraid of any team. “Connor is a different goalie this year,” Lewandowski said of Hecker. “He’s spotting things, reading the outside shot much easier and is really doing a good job of coming off the line. This team likes the pressure. They want to see it in every single game.” The Porters schedule picks up now. On Thursday, April 12, they traveled to Lincoln- Way East for another SWSC matchup, losing 13-10 for their first loss of the year. Then, last Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14, they were at the Sandburg Invite. This week brought a home match on Tuesday, April 17, against Lincoln-Way West, and then on Thursday, April 19, Lockport is back at Sandburg at 5 p.m. for a huge SWSC showdown. This Friday and Saturday, April 20 and 21, the Porters are at another tough tournament at Brother Rice.
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