Sandburg Earns Praise after Slipping into Canyon

1. Sandburg (2-2): Jessica Perkins’ RBI double wasn’t enough to prevent the Eagles from dropping a 2-1 decision to Canyon (Calif.) Saturday in the Faster to First tourney in Anaheim. Still, the Eagles gained praise. “Sandburg is one of the best in the country,” Canyon coach Dan Hay said on OCVarsity.com. “And to push some runs across against a team like this definitely gets us ready.” Valencia (Calif.) also defeated Sandburg, 9-1, in a tourney featuring many of the nation's top-rated high school teams. Last week: No. 1.

2. Andrew (0-0): Game of Week vs. Marist postponed because of inclement weather on Saturday. That leaves Christner girls (Katie and Kelly) and T-Bolts chomping at the bit. Last week: No. 2.

3. Lincoln-Way East (2-0): Carissa Ernat and Aubrey DeGroot each had two hits in the Griffins’ 3-2 eight-inning victory over New Trier. Ernat doubled and scored two runs. Last week: No. 4.

4. Stagg (5-0): Lea LaSota’s pitching and Faith Johnson’s hitting have the Chargers charging out of the gate. LaSota (5-0) struck out 11 in a 5-2 nine-inning victory over Barrington at the Bash Spring Jamboree. Johnson went 3-for-5 and drove in one run. Victoria Dellorto had two hits in three at-bats. She walked, scored a run, drove in a run, stole a base and had one RBI. Last week: Unranked.

5. Oak Forest: (1-0): No, no, no. Yes, yes, yes! Emily Norton throws a no-hitter and Emily Naegele connects for a homer in the Bengals’ opener, a 3-0 victory over Shepard. Last week: Unranked.

Next best in alphabetical order: Chicago Christian, Lincoln-Way North, Marian Catholic, Marist, Providence.

(Covering the following Patch communities: Chicago Heights, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Homewood-Flossmoor, Mokena, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos, Tinley Park and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).