MK_051619

42 | May 16, 2019 | the mokena messenger sports
mokenamessenger.com
Softball
Knights clinch conference,
extend win streak to 17
Steve Millar, Sports Editor
Lincoln-Way Central’s Torince Muczynski produces one
of her three RBI in the Knights’ 7-0 win at Andrew on
May 6. Steve Millar/22nd Century Media
Lincoln-Way Central senior
Amanda Weyh knows
her team is strong in many
areas. If the Knights have
a bad pitching day, their
offense and defense will
likely come through. If the
Knights struggle offensively,
they likely won’t
need many runs due to a
lights-out pitching staff.
Most of the time,
though, Central gets the
job done in all facets.
“I think we do a lot of
things good as a group,”
Weyh said. “Everyone
goes up swinging, looking
to put the ball in play. We
always practice hard and
work hard and have each
other’s backs.
“It’s great knowing I
have such a great defense
behind me when I’m on the
mound and girls are going
to make plays. I know if I
gave up a run, we’re going
to come back out swinging
and get those runs back.”
Weyh tossed a complete
game shutout and had
three hits and scored two
runs in a 7-0 win at Andrew
on May 6.
The Knights swept a
doubleheader with Thornton
two days later, winning
both games 15-0, to run
their winning streak to 17.
Central improved to 23-2
and 10-0 in the SouthWest
Suburban Red and has
wrapped up the outright
SouthWest Suburban Red
title.
“We’ve been playing
great,” first baseman Torince
Muczynski said. “We
bond really well together.
Everyone seems to be
playing well and we’re going
to make it far. The key
is keeping our confidence
up but not getting too far
ahead of ourselves.”
Muczynski sparked the
Knights’ offense against
Andrew with three RBI,
including a run-scoring
double in the first inning.
“It felt good because
I’ve been in a little bit of
a slump,” Muczynski said.
“It’s easy to do when my
teammates are always on
base.”
Throwing her first pitch
in the bottom of the first
with a lead already in hand
helped Weyh settle in.
“It’s nice to get those
early runs,” she said. “It
takes the pressure off a
little bit, but you have to
make sure you never lose
any focus or let down.”
The Knights added a
pair of runs in each of the
third and fourth innings to
pull away.
Muczynski produced a
sacrifce fly and Sydra Seville
drove in a run with a
double in the third. Carly
Alvers (3-for-4) added an
RBI single and Muczynski
picked up her third RBI on
a groundout in the fourth.
“It’s not always one person
in our lineup,” Central
coach Jeff Tarala said. “It’s
someone different every
day. Tori, Ashley [Platek],
Amanda. Gabby [Gedville]
is doing an unbelievable
job at the top of the
lineup.”
Gedville went 3-for-5
and added an RBI single
while Alvers was 3-for-
4 with a home run that
capped the scoring.
The Knights also found
out last week that they are
the top seed in the Class
4A Thornwood Sectional.
Central will open the
postseason at home, taking
on Romeoville or Joliet
Central in a regional
semifinal at 4:30 p.m. May
22. Plainfield Central and
Homewood-Flossmoor are
the other teams in the regional,
and the final is set
for May 24.
“Hopefully the girls stay
confident,” Tarala said.
“That’s a lot of it. We’re
just preaching to always
have productive bats.
There’s always something
to do, even if you don’t
have it that day with the
bat, you can make a play
with your glove or find
some way to contribute.”
Soccer
LW East’s Johnston savoring time in US
Steve Millar, Sports Editor
Lincoln-Way East senior
Brooke Johnston is
determined to make the
most of her final weeks as
a Griffins soccer player.
More than that, though,
she’s out to create some
memories of her final
months living in the United
States.
Johnston is from Australia
and plans to move back
with her family at the end
of the year and attend college
in her home country.
“My dad works for BP
and we moved here for
three years for his job,”
Johnston said. “It’ll be
the end of three years at
the end of 2019, so we’re
moving back.”
Johnston moved to
Frankfort in the middle of
her sophomore year – and
in the middle of the winter
- at the start of the 2017.
“I’d never really seen
much snow in my life, so it
was pretty crazy,” she said.
Johnston played soccer
in Australia, and the sport
helped her adjust to life in
a new country. She joined
the Griffins and quickly
bonded with her teammates.
“I was really glad that
I made it here in time for
soccer season,” she said.
“It made it so much easier
because I got to see all my
teammates six days a week,
which made me make
friendships right away and
it helped me get comfortable
in school, too.”
Johnston said it was
tough leaving behind
members of her extended
family – and even two siblings
– in Australia.
“Two of my older brothers
still live in Australia,
so it was different being
apart from them,” she said.
Australia native Brooke Johnston has had a strong
senior season for Lincoln-Way East. Steve Millar/22nd
Century Media
“Meeting new people every
day was kind of crazy
at first, but now it’s great.”
Johnston, who’s been
playing soccer since she
was 5 years old, quickly
carved out a role with the
Griffins.
She was expected to be
a key part of the team’s
attack last season but suffered
a concussion early in
the year.
Johnston’s concussion
symptoms lingered, and it
took about a month and a
half for her to be cleared to
return to play.
“I knew I’d be out at
least a few weeks, but I
had to keep going back
each week for six weeks
until I finally got cleared,”
she said. “It was really
frustrating, but I was so
excited when I finally got
cleared.”
Johnston returned at the
end of the regular season
and scored the game-winning
goal in the Griffins’
regional championship
victory over Lincoln-Way
Central.
Her season, though, was
much too short for her liking.
“I’m just so glad to be
back playing,” she said. “It
was hard being out. I still
got to go watch my friends
play, so that was still nice,
but it wasn’t the same as
playing.”
Johnston has returned
with a vengeance, scoring
14 goals and adding three
assists.
“Brooke has been outstanding
for us this season,”
Murphy said. “She’s
been putting in important
goals for us.”
Johnston hopes to close
her high school career with
a deep postseason run for
the Griffins.
“Our team’s been really
good, and I think we’re going
to have a really good
season,” she said. “I’m excited.”
Soon after the season
ends, she’ll be headed
back to Australia. It’ll be a
bittersweet move.
“It’ll be sad to say goodbye,”
she said. “I’ve made
some great friendships that
will last forever, though.”