Woodstock (3-5, 2-2) got a double from Logan Wisner. Blue Streaks pitcher Grady Goglin pitched six innings, striking out seven.

Bishop McNamara 18, Marian Central 14: At Woodstock, the Hurricanes led the Chicagoland Christian Conference game 14-13 in the seventh inning but allowed five runs, spoiling a two-homer game by Jackson Hatfield. Hatfield also singled and drove in four runs for Marian, which was on the verge of winning its first game of the season. Both of Hatfield’s homers were two-run shots. TJ Cutrona also homered and, like Hatfield, finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Owen Neuzil (3 for 3) added a double and two singles and scored four runs for Marian (0-8, 0-2). Gus Fisher was 1 for 2 with two walks and three RBIs. Conor Brandt added to the Hurricanes’ 18-hit attack with a 4-for-4 performance, while Jaxson Christensen contributed two hits and an RBI.

Johnsburg 9, Woodstock North 2: At Johnsburg, Ashton Stern allowed one run over five innings, striking out seven, as the Skyhawks won the KRC game. Nate Frost and Jacob Smith were both 2 for 3 for Johnsburg (9-3, 4-0), and Josh Speer had a single and three RBIs.

Tristan Schaffter was 3 for 3 for Woodstock North (2-7, 1-3).

Prairie Ridge 6, Hampshire 2: At Hampshire, Maddon McKim hit a two-run homer, Jack Dahlem went 3 for 3, and the Wolves won in Fox Valley Conference action. Jack Spindler was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Prairie Ridge (10-2, 4-1), which got doubles from Dahlem, Beckett Breseman and Zach Techen.

Hampshire (9-4-1, 2-3) got an inside-the-park home run from Cole Harkin.

Libertyville 10, Crystal Lake Central 6 (9 inn.): At Crystal Lake, the Tigers dropped the nonconference game in extra innings, failing to protect a 4-0 lead after two innings. Konner Altergott and Max Geske doubled for Central (4-9), while Altergott and Ethan Wolf each had two hits, an RBI and a stolen base.

Marengo 3, Harvard 0: At Marengo, Elizabeth White pitched a four-hitter, striking out 11 and walking two for the Indians in the KRC game. Gianna Iovinelli doubled twice for Marengo (8-7, 4-1), which also got doubles from Arianna Rodriguez and Gabby Christopher.

Harvard pitcher Leona Eichholz also struck out 11. She was charged with one earned run in her six innings. Eichholz (2 for 3) had half of the four hits by the Hornets (4-5, 3-2).

Burlington Central 4, McHenry 3: At McHenry, Alexis Skarda was 3 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs for the Rockets in the FVC game. Madison Butler went 2 for 3 and knocked in a run for Central (5-6-1, 4-1), and Isabelle Reed allowed one earned run in a complete-game performance. She struck out six, walked two and allowed two hits.

McHenry (6-4, 2-4) got doubles from Charlee Cape, Danica McCarthy (2 for 4), Elyse Fullington and Natalie Bender.

Dundee-Crown 11, Cary-Grove 5: At Cary, the Chargers (4-9, 2-3) got home runs from Jordyn Jeffs, Josie Sheldon and Kate Graham in the FVC game. Jeffs’ homer was a grand slam. She finished with two hits, as did Sheldon and Abby Hsu. Sheldon drove in three runs, and Graham knocked in two.

C-G (1-8, 1-5) got a big game from Paityn Ahlquist, who homered, doubled and singled. Lyla Murray and Holly Streit were both 2 for 4 for the Trojans.

Jacobs 5, Crystal Lake Central 1: At Algonquin, Emily Popilek homered, singled, drove in three runs and went the distance in the circle for the Golden Eagles in the FVC game. Olivia Fillipp was 3 for 4 for Jacobs (8-9, 2-3). The only run Popilek allowed was unearned. She struck out five, walked three and allowed two hits.

Elise Thorsen (1 for 3) scored the only run for the Tigers (6-4, 4-2) and stole a base.

Johnsburg 11, Plano 3: At Johnsburg, the Skyhawks (4-7, 2-3) got triples from Abri Bruns (three RBIs), Mady Stark and Sarah Nethaway (2 for 3, RBI) in the KRC game, while Kayla Riener (2 for 3, two RBIs) had a double. Evelyn Mercurio (RBI) and Casie Majercik (two RBIs) also had two hits. Brooke Wilkinson went the distance in the circle, allowing two earned runs.

Sandwich 10, Woodstock 0 (6 inn.): At Sandwich, Ellie Norton doubled for one of two hits by the Blue Streaks (2-7, 0-5).

Huntley 6, Dundee-Crown 0: At Huntley, Maizie Nickle scored twice and added two assists, as the Red Raiders won the FVC match. Brooke Grabs, Addi Avi, Peyton Ruffner and Genevieve Adamson also scored. Avi and Marina Reicher had assists as well, and Ashlyn Grabs made three saves in earning the clean sheet for Huntley (4-1-2, 2-1-1).

Karla Guillen made eight saves for D-C (2-4-1).

Crystal Lake Central 6, Hampshire 0: At Hampshire, Addison Schaffer scored a hat trick, Allison Barnett added two goals and two assists, and the Tigers got the shutout win in FVC action. Alex Hannell also scored. Jordin Gaunaurd had two assists as well. Ella Bechler and Mia Murphy had one assist each, and Charlotte Wallner made two saves in goal to earn the clean sheet.

Fremd 4, Jacobs 3: At Palatine, the Golden Eagles dropped the nonconference match despite wins from Samuel Santa Ives (No. 1 singles), Daryan Do (No. 2 singles) and Kurtis Kornatoski and Brendan Mau (No. 3 doubles).

Crystal Lake South 15, McHenry 6: At Crystal Lake, the Gators moved to 9-0 as Logan Driscol scored five goals and collected seven ground balls. Owen Hess added three goals, three assists and four ground balls. Braedon Muraski (two assists, six ground balls, 11 of 18 on face-offs), Renner Stravropolos (three assists, five ground balls) and Drake Lenckus (one assist, three ground balls) each had two goals. Chase Griffith contributed one goal, one assist and nine ground balls. Daniel Hayes made eight saves and earned the win in goal.

“The first two games were really rough,” said senior Makayla Nordahl, who pitches and plays first base. “So just moving on from that. Our attitudes are better. If we make a mistake, just drop it and move on.”

The Thunder haven’t made many mistakes since, and in fact are enjoying one of their better starts in school history.

Nordahl pitched a five-hit shutout Thursday, as North got timely hits, played flawless defense and defeated Richmond-Burton 8-0 in the teams’ Kishwaukee River Conference game in Woodstock.

It was the seventh win in a row for the Thunder, who improved to 7-2 and kept their perfect KRC record intact at 5-0.

“We’re really close,” said senior catcher Kylie Stevens, who threw out a baserunner at second base in the fifth, an inning in which the Rockets put their first four runners on base but did not score. “I think our main strength right now is our defense. We’re just able to get those quick outs.”

Nordahl struck out six and walked four in the win, junior Kylee Nicholson was 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs, and senior Allyson Schaid added a pair of hits, two runs scored and drove in one. Junior Maddie Nordahl tallied two hits and two runs at leadoff.

North scored a pair of unearned runs in the third against R-B starter Chase Cooper (three strikeouts, five walks), who gave up eight runs (four earned) on nine hits in her six innings of work.

In the fifth, Nicholson had an RBI hit to score Allyson Schaid. Nicholson later came around to score on a bases-loaded walk by Kylee Jordan. Nicholson had the game’s lone extra-base hit, a double in the sixth to bring home Schaid.

North added four runs on four hits in the sixth, with two of the runs unearned. For the game, R-B committed five errors.

The Rockets’ best chance of scoring came in the fifth when their first four hitters – Bre Warren (walk), Mattie Furzland (single), Kacie Taylor (single) and Ruby Gregurich (infield hit) – all reached base. But Stevens threw out Warren stealing second base, and North later threw out pinch runner Cam Lindholm trying to take third.

North senior Addy Crabill had two line-drive snags at third base, and the Thunder pulled off a 4-3 double play in the first inning when second baseman Aly Jordan leaped in the air to grab a hard-hit ball by R-B’s Rebecca Lanz and threw to first base to retire the baserunner, who was on the move from first to second.

“We’re going to stay true to our philosophy,” R-B coach Tylar Stanton said. “In the first (inning), if that ball is six inches higher, it’s a 1-0 game. I’ll take ownership on that all day if the girls come back and think they did something wrong. We’re going to play aggressive.

“We missed a couple of signs that got us in some negative situations. We’re not a power-hitting team. We’re gonna play a small ball, speed type of game, where we have to hope for timely hits. We didn’t have any today.”

Richmond-Burton was led by Gregurich’s 2-for-3 day at the plate. The Rockets (6-11, 1-4) didn’t have any extra-base hits against Nordahl.

“She’s been getting ahead in count a lot, which has been great,” said Thunder first-year coach Gwen Malecke, who graduated from Hampshire in 2020. “She’s a pitcher where she gets better throughout the game. She learns from each batter each time they’re up and switches it up to make sure she’s still effective.”

Stevens’ arm behind the plate has also been an early-season difference-maker for North.

“She’s aggressive, and I really like that about her,” Malecke said. “She can anticipate what’s going to happen, where the runners are going to be. I think she kind of scares them sometimes, surprises them like, ‘Oh, you’re not going to throw,’ and then she does. She’s a wonderful leader, wonderful catcher, so definitely going to miss her next year.”

Richard Jones, 53, is charged with two counts of domestic battery, Class 2 felonies, according to a criminal complaint in the McHenry county court.

Jones made his initial court appearance Wednesday, where Judge Cynthia Lamb found he was a danger and denied his pretrial release from the county jail.

On Thursday, Judge Tiffany Davis granted the state’s motion to revoke his pretrial release on the case in August in which he was charged with driving while his license was suspended. That suspension was the result of previous convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the indictment in that case shows.

On Tuesday, during a verbal argument with a woman, Jones grabbed and scratched her and pushed her onto a couch, then pressed a wooden dowel against her neck, according to Lamb and the criminal complaint.

He then left, “only to return later banging on the sliding glass door,” Lamb said in the detention order.

Jones “has a long criminal history including domestic batteries and violations of orders of protection” involving the same alleged victim in his current case, according to Lamb, who also said Jones has had 29 convictions, “three of which were felonies.”

Court records show multiple cases involving alleged drunk driving, domestic battery and driving on a revoked driver’s license.

Markea L. Brown, 33, of Milwaukee, made her first court appearance on the two separate cases Tuesday. She is charged in each case with retail theft of more than $300, according to criminal complaints filed in McHenry County court by Crystal Lake and McHenry police.

About 6:45 p.m. Feb. 9, Brown allegedly stole “various fragrances” valuing $1,452 from the McHenry store; about an hour later she allegedly stole “several female perfumes and male colognes” from Ulta in Crystal Lake, according to the complaints.

Assistant State’s Attorney Garrett Miller argued Brown should be detained pretrial in McHenry County jail because otherwise she would continue to commit retail thefts and is a flight risk. Other than stealing from retailers, she has no reason to return to McHenry County, Miller said.

The allegations are “part of a string of thefts ... part of an ongoing criminal business in the Wisconsin and Illinois area,” Miller said, adding Brown wore a mask during the alleged thefts and then fled.

“It’s not something that is going to stop in the near future. [There is] no reason to believe she will return ... for court,” Miller said.

He also said Brown has been to prison previously for retail thefts and currently has two pending cases in Wisconsin and Illinois. The alleged crimes “constitute an ongoing criminal enterprise,” he said.

Wisconsin court records show Brown was convicted of retail theft in 2021, 2020, 2018 and 2015 in Milwaukee County and in 2017 in Kenosha County. According to Cook County, records she has been convicted in Northbrook for retail theft.

However, Assistant Public Defender Kim Messer said Brown does not live too far away to come to court and should be released pretrial. She has no history of not appearing in other cases and turned herself in when she learned of the charges in McHenry County, Messer said.

Judge Cynthia Lamb released Brown pretrial. She is allowed to return to her home in Milwaukee and only travel between Illinois and Wisconsin for court. Lamb also ordered Brown have no contact with Ulta stores.

The gas station and convenience store are proposed for the southwest corner of East Algonquin Road and Route 25 near the Kane County line. The vacant 9-acre lot sits across the street from a Mobil gas station and neighbors the Atomic Express Car Wash to the west.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based company has 10 stores in the surrounding Chicago area, with a goal to have over 100 stores over the next decade, Ali Bukhres of QuikTrip said. A location recently opened on Randall Road in Elgin.

The chain is not to be confused with Kwik Trip, which is prominent in Wisconsin. Bukhres said the name changes to Kwik Star if they are in the same state as QuikTrip.

The plan is to build an approximately 5,300-square-foot building with 16 fueling stations and 43 parking spaces. The 24-hour convenience store specializes in grab-and-go and made-to-order food options, including pizza, tacos, donuts and sub sandwiches, Bukhres said.

Algonquin Planning and Zoning commissioners unanimously approved recommending the plan to the village board. The petition will next go to the village’s committee of the whole.

Last year, the preliminary planned-unit developed was approved by the Village Board in a 4-2 vote, according to village meeting minutes.

Since the preliminary plan, the Illinois Department of Transportation has denied direct access to the site from Route 25. Access points are planned for Algonquin Road and Russet Road.

Village staff recommends prohibiting delivery trucks from entering and exiting the site on Russet Road, which feeds into the Glenloch subdivision.

The Skyhawks, who advanced to the Class 1A state finals last spring, are off to an unbeaten start after dominating Marengo 7-0 in Kishwaukee River Conference action Wednesday evening. Liz Smith spearheaded the Skyhawk offense, scoring four goals and sparking a three-goal sequence over five minutes during the first half.

“All of us believe in each other,” Smith said. “If I make a mistake, everybody around me will lift me up and get me back on my feet.”

Johnsburg (5-0, 3-0 KRC) has been practically flawless on both ends of the field. The Skyhawks are averaging five goals per game and have yet to concede a goal this season. Nine Johnsburg players posted at least one shot on goal Wednesday. The Skyhawks held a 5-0 halftime lead over the Indians, who had been unbeaten in KRC play.

“We’re slowing down and listening to each other,” said senior Lauren McQuiston, who notched one goal and one assist in the game. “I want to shout out our defense, because no one ever looks at the defense, and I think they’re a big part of why we’re winning so much. Our runs opened up space so we could take up space, dribble and find a pass.”

Showcasing her breakaway speed, Smith scored three of her four goals in the first half. The senior forward gave the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead in the sixth minute, cashing in a through ball from teammate Charlie Eastland. The two linked up for another goal in the 19th minute, when Eastland booted a pass through the air that Smith finished at the net.

“My speed definitely used to not be a strength, but now I can use it to my advantage,” Smith said. “I can go from cutting and going super fast to beating a player and then slowing down right before the shot.”

Goals in the 21st and 23rd minutes quickly put the game out of reach for the Indians (5-3, 3-1 KRC), who were limited to just one shot on goal and one corner kick. McQuiston hit Smith on a long through ball to put Johnsburg ahead 3-0. She then scored her first goal of the match after teammate Dorothy Ruth rolled her a short through ball.

“We have to find a way to be more competitive,” Marengo coach Sergio Orozco said. “We knew what kind of team they were, and they have a lot of returners. They did really well last year, and we knew what we were up against.

“We’ve got a few injuries all the way around, so we only had a few subs. Playing a team of that quality is very difficult.”

Johnsburg, which had five shots on goal in the first 12 minutes and ended the match with 23, entered halftime with a five-goal advantage after Ruth beat the Marengo defense off the left side of the box in the 34th minute. Capitalizing on a handball foul inside the box, Eastland converted a penalty kick in the 45th minute to cap off her evening.

“We know how to read and strategize on the field, and a big part of that is communication,” Eastland said. “That’s a big part of where I come in, but our defense really makes everyone take a deep breath and relax. Without this defense, it would’ve been a different game.”

Smith iced the Johnsburg win in the 60th minute, booting in a ball that Marengo goalkeeper Macy Noe initially deflected in a one-on-one situation. Noe, who made multiple diving efforts on saves in the first half, finished with 18 saves.

The Skyhawks will host Plano on Monday, while Marengo will play at Crystal Lake South on Saturday.

“A big thing for us is communication, but we also know how to control the ball and find feet,” Eastland said. “We play one game at a time, and the defense has been outstanding. We’re playing as one big unit, and I think all of our years playing together has helped us a bunch.”

But perhaps the biggest change coming for the redshirt junior and Johnsburg graduate is that he’s poised to see ample playing time for the first time in his career, and perhaps even crack the starting lineup.

“We’ve had so much change since I’ve been here in ’23, I think we’re just used to it,” Welch said. “We understand how to go about our business every day, even though that stuff changes. That’s the world of college football right now. You just have to adapt and keep pushing forward.”

New head coach Rob Harley said Welch is an incredibly versatile and cerebral player who can plug in anywhere on the line. With most of the experienced players graduated or otherwise gone from the program, Harley said Welch is providing valuable leadership, along with other junior linemen.

After coach Thomas Hammock announced he was resigning as head coach in February to join the coaching staff of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Harley was named the interim coach through the end of the season.

Welch said he was instantly energized when he found out Harley was going to lead the team.

“When I heard coach Harley was going to be the new head coach, I was super excited,” Welch said. “I know that last year the defense loved him and his energy. I didn’t really talk to him much last year, but I could just see the buy-in and the couple of conversations we had have been awesome.”

Harley said Welch and other veteran linemen, such as Welch’s roommates and fellow redshirt junior linemen Luke Skartvedt and Landon Hron, met with Harley after he got the job.

The super-tight-knit group, as Welch describes it, gave him its seal of approval.

“When I met with those guys right after it happened, it was a powerful meeting because they were all like ‘Coach, we got you,’ ” Harley said. “I think part of that is they knew me. Maybe not from a day-to-day, all the time, but I think that helped.”

Under NCAA rules, NIU players had a chance to enter the transfer portal after Hammock left due to the coaching change.

Welch would seem like an ideal candidate to go into the portal. He’s 6-foot-6, 316 pounds and hasn’t played outside of special teams in his first three seasons.

But through all the turnover in his time at NIU, Welch never tested the transfer portal. Like 90 of the 93 other players on the roster when Hammock left, Welch stayed this time as well.

“I think what that says about him is that he enjoys playing with his teammates and his friends,” Harley said. “He’s got a life of four years built here, and he wants to see it through.”

Harley also said bringing in a “great human being” as the offensive line coach in Matt White helps. He said an inside zone is an inside zone regardless of the coach. That eases the constant coaching carousel Welch and the line have been subjected to.

White said the coaching staff is asking the line to play fast, play physical and play together this year.

“The school means something to him. The program means something to him. NIU means something to him,” White said. “The guys who stick around are guys I want to be around.”

The project along Route 47, a state highway, entails widening the road to add another lane in each direction, as well as installing a mixed-use path on the east side of the road. A sidewalk is planned for the west side, in addition to roundabouts at the Lake Avenue, McConnell Road and Judd Street-Irving Avenue intersections, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation website for the project.

After a yearlong delay, work began in early April on the project, and city officials anticipate it will be completed in 2028.

Crews installed temporary traffic signals “to maintain a safe work zone” last week, according to a project update sent Wednesday. Crews are working on removing and replacing water mains from Willow Brooke Drive to Route 14, which is expected to improve water service for residents and businesses in the area, according to the update.

Utility improvements throughout the Route 47 corridor and installation of new sanitary and storm sewers will be happening in the coming weeks, according to the update.

The eastern lane of Route 47 will experience daily lane closures on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., but no weekend work is scheduled at this point.

The widening will be done over a stretch of roughly two miles, from Route 14 to Route 120.

IDOT hopes eventually to extend the widening three more miles north to Charles Road, but so far has secured the funding only for the southern stretch. Officials from the state agency have said they will consider funding for the northern segment from Route 120 to Charles Road in the future among similar improvement needs.

IDOT’s website says it plans to keep a lane in each direction open while the construction is ongoing, as well as keep access available to businesses and residences along the route. However, there could be times when drivers might need to use detours during roundabout construction.

To get to downtown Woodstock from Crystal Lake, stay on Route 14 and turn right on Dean Street.

To reach points north of Route 120 from the south, people can take Raffel Road and cut over on Ware Road, or they can take Queen Anne Road and cut over on Banford Road to get to Raffel Road.

IDOT estimates its share of the Route 47 project will cost $58.6 million, $9.6 million of which is for land acquisition. The city will have to pay to relocate its utilities along the corridor, which is expected to cost about $25.1 million. The city committed to paying its share last year, which at the time was around $16 million. But the project was delayed because bids came in around $9 million more than estimates.

While the city has gotten nearly $16 million in outside funding, most of the overage has been passed on to the city. Officials have allocated $1.3 million in motor fuel tax revenues to cover increased costs for utility relocation work and $400,000 to cover streetscape work.

Officials have acknowledged bonds still are a possibility as city officials still need to find a way to finance the remaining about $7.75 million that’s left.

That could include a review of water and sewer rates as a means to cover payments related to utility work if no additional external funding materializes.

The effect on businesses in the corridor has been a concern for the city, with officials encouraging people to support the businesses while the construction is in progress. To that end, the city has launched a relief fund for enterprises in the Route 47 construction zone.

The city also is urging residents to keep up their backing of local businesses.

“Don’t change your buying habits,” Mayor Mike Turner said in a city news release. “Your continued support will make a real difference for our small businesses during this time.”

Jameer Miles, Carmel, Class of 2028

Miles turned in a monster sophomore season for the Corsairs, posting 74 tackles along with 11 TFLs, 3 sacks, 5 INTs, 2 PBUs and 1 FF. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder is a four-star prospect and the No. 1-rated linebacker prospect in the state’s 2028 class according to 247Sports. Miles holds Power 4 offers from Texas A&M, Tennessee, Oregon, Illinois, Ohio State, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and more.

Grant Bowen, IC Catholic Prep, Class of 2028

The son of former Iowa star and NFL player Matt Bowen, Grant totaled 55 tackles, 6 TFLs and 5 PBUs with 3 FFs and a pair of interceptions this past fall. The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has seen his recruitment blow up since his sophomore season ended, adding Power 4 offers from Miami, Notre Dame, Georgia, Florida, Iowa and more. He had 34 catches for 731 yards and 11 scores at the wide receiver position.

Derrick Pomatto, Joliet Catholic, Class of 2027

Pomatto was named a Class 6A All-State Honorable Mention and the CCL/ESCC Orange Division’s Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. The 6-foot, 220-pounder recorded 74 tackles (six for loss), a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception for the Hilltoppers in 2025. Pomatto also pitched in at running back, scoring three rushing touchdowns and adding nearly 200 yards on the ground.

Will Mettee, Loyola, Class of 2027

Mettee shared the CCL/ESCC Blue Division’s Defensive Player of the Year honor with Brother Rice defensive lineman Brayden Parks this past season. The junior linebacker posted 88 total tackles, 7 TFLs, 6 sacks, 5 hurries, 2 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR and 1 INT for the Ramblers, who saw their run of three straight 8A titles end in 2025. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder recently announced his commitment to Boston College.

Mick Smith, Morris, Class of 2027

Smith was the Interstate 8 Defensive Player of the Year after totaling 82 tackles (two for loss), three interceptions and a forced fumble as a junior. Smith also ran for 250 yards and 10 touchdowns for Morris, which reached the Class 4A semifinals. At 6 feet 2 inches and 200 pounds, Smith had 37 solo stops during Morris’s 11-2 campaign.

Roman Igwebuike, Mount Carmel, Class of 2027

One of the top linebacker prospects in the nation, Igwebuike shined for the Caravan, compiling 115 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 7 sacks, 2 INT, 3 FF, 1 FR and 3 PBUs in 2025. With Igwebuike, a four-star recruit, at the front of the defense, Mount Carmel went 14-0 and won its fourth state title in a row (7A 2022, 2023, 2024, 8A 2025). Igwebuike has offers from Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Texas and more.

Dylan Wellner, Nazareth, Class of 2027

Wellner totaled 65 tackles, 10 TFLs, 2 sacks, 2 INTs, 4 FFs and 1 FR during his junior season with the Roadrunners, who advanced to the Class 6A semifinals. The 6-foot, 205-pounder is a team captain and was an All-CCL/ESCC selection in 2025. Wellner picked up his first Division I offer in late January, earning an offer from Western Illinois.

Camren Loghmani, Oswego, Class of 2027

Playing in 12 games last season, Loghmani recorded 82 tackles (40 solo tackles) and 10 TFLs for the Panthers, who advanced to the 8A state finals. The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder had 1 INT, 1 FF, 1.5 sacks and 2 FRs. He was named to the Record Newspapers All-Area Team.

Blake Livdahl, Richmond-Burton, Class of 2027

Livdahl, who suffered a torn ACL during his junior wrestling season, was the Kishwaukee River Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and an IHSFCA Class 3A All-State recipient in 2025. Livdahl, who medaled in second at the Class 1A state wrestling tournament last year, recorded 65 tackles, including 41 assists, while also forcing two fumbles and recovering one during his junior season with the Rockets.

Sean Rice, St. Laurence, Class of 2027

Now a three-star prospect with Power 4 offers, Rice was a tackling machine for the Vikings during their 6A semifinal run in 2025. Rice posted 123 tackles, 2 FF, 5 INTs and 10 TFLs as St. Laurence went 8-5 and knocked off Bradley-Bourbonnais and Dunlap in the playoffs. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder has offers from Minnesota, Purdue and Illinois, all schools he’ll be visiting over the next few months.

The 1,444-square-foot house, built in 1978, was sold for $320,000, or $222 per square foot. This single-story house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, the building includes access to a detached two-car garage. The property sits on a 13,939-square-foot lot.

Chmiel also finished 3 for 4 at the plate with a home run, double and three RBIs. Bailey Keller (3 for 4) had a homer, two runs scored and three RBIs for Marian (8-3, 3-0), Kaylie Kowalsky had a solo homer, and Vivianna Lara and Claire Ostrowski each drove in a run.

McHenry 8, Prairie Ridge 3: At McHenry, the Warriors (6-3, 2-3) scored six runs in the second inning in a Fox Valley Conference win against the Wolves (7-3, 3-2). Natalie Bender had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs. She also picked up the win, allowing two runs in seven innings. Izzie Townsend drove in two runs, and Layla Oeffling, Jocelyn Roeder and Elyse Fullington (double) each had an RBI.

Kylie Carroll had three hits, including a double, and one RBI for Prairie Ridge. Bella Moore was 2 for 3, and Reese Vrba had a double.

Crystal Lake Central 7, Cary-Grove 1: At Cary, Lily Perocho struck out 13 over six innings, allowing one unearned run on six hits and a walk, as the Tigers (6-3, 4-1) beat the Trojans (1-7, 1-4) in the FVC game. Cassidy Murphy was 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs, and Perocho (two runs, RBI), Ella Arana (double, two runs) and Elise Thorson had two hits apiece.

Paityn Ahlquist had a triple and drove in C-G’s lone run. Avery Mattran had two hits, including a double.

McHenry 20, Cary-Grove 6: At Cary, the Warriors (11-2-1, 5-0) collected 20 runs on 15 hits in a runaway FVC win over the Trojans (3-9, 0-5). Kaden Wasniewski (3 for 5) hit a homer with five RBIs and three runs scored, Carver Cohn had two hits, including a double, with four RBIs and three runs, and Jeffry Schwab had two hits, three runs and an RBI. Landon Clements had two hits, two runs and an RBI.

Oskar Freund was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for C-G, and Canyon McKinney had three hits and two runs scored.

Sandwich 5, Harvard 3: At Sandwich, Eltan Powles and Connor Firlick collected two hits apiece for the Hornets (2-8, 0-4) in a KRC loss to the Indians. Alex Bannwolf had a triple, and Logan Nulle knocked in one run. Bannwolf allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings, striking out six and walking two.

Harvard 1, Woodstock North 0: A Woodstock, Julie Silva scored off an assist from Crystal Morales in the first half to lift the Hornets (6-1-1, 2-1) past the Thunder (2-7-1, 1-3) in their Kishwaukee River Conference game. Jarithsie Mercado came up with 10 saves for Harvard.

McHenry 7, Woodstock 0: At Woodstock, Drew Franklin (No. 1), Matt Zurawski (No. 2) and Angel Gonzalez (No. 3) won at singles for the Warriors in a nonconference victory over the Blue Streaks. Nick Marchant and Owen Miller (No. 1), Tony Rehm and Logan Lewakowski (No. 2), Atticus LaPorta and Drake Coon (No. 3) and Christian Bersie and Luke Miller (No. 4) had wins at doubles.

Marian Central 4, Johnsburg 3: At Johnsburg, the Hurricanes came out on top in their nonconference matchup against the Skyhawks. Marc Cheng and Alek Jasovic won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 doubles for Marian, while Tyler Batt won at No. 1 singles by the same score for Johnsburg.

Marian’s Danny Derouen and Finn Peifer (No. 2) and Trevor Zopp and Michael Davis (No. 4) added wins at doubles. Ryan Falbo won by default at No. 3 singles.

For Johnsburg, Ryan O’Dell won at No. 2 singles, and Josue Ortega and Drew Jesuit won at No. 3 doubles.

Last year’s finish: Tied for second at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Chris Ptaszek, sr.; Finn Karlovsky, jr.; Halen Young, sr.; Joe Riedel, jr.; Mason Rebscher, sr.; Owen Lonergan, jr.; Zachary Nygren, sr.

Key newcomers: Brady Watkinson, so.; Colton Winkelmann, jr.; Curran Ostrowski, jr.; Ricky Anderson, sr.; Sahil Rao, sr.; William Hartmann, sr.

Worth noting: Duncan replaces Amanda Schuetzle, who stepped down after 15 seasons. The Trojans’ doubles lineup is packed with returning talent. Karlovsky and Young played second doubles last season and will move to No. 1 doubles this spring. The singles lineup includes top returner Riedel but will be tapping into what Duncan calls C-G’s “rising talent pool” with Watkinson and Ostrowski. “The boys have been working hard since last May,” Duncan said. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to work with them. We’re trying some fresh methods that should help on court and in their future lives off court. We fully expect to have a season that goes the distance with some state qualifiers. Amanda (Schuetzle) did a fantastic job leading these boys over the prior 15 seasons. I’m grateful for how supportive she’s been of me and the boys during the transition. It’s been an example of best practice and reflective of the process discipline of C-G Athletics.”

Coach: Cory Osterberg (11th season)

Last year’s finish: Fifth at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Ryan Spencer, sr.; Jack Lisle, sr.; Prateek Ponnam, sr.; Nate Muszynski, jr.; Jackson Gerambia, jr.

Key newcomers: Michael Vo, sr.; Rylan McKnight, jr.; Matthew Grindstaff, jr.; Caden Smith, jr.; Geo DeSando, so.

Worth noting: The Tigers will have a new look this spring. “We will have an all-new singles as well as doubles lineup for this season,” Osterberg said. “While we return four starters, most of our team has no varsity tennis experience. They are a great group of guys with an excellent work ethic, and I know that we will get better throughout the season. I look forward to the challenge and to figuring out who is going to play where and with whom.”

Coach: Mark Scheurich (third season)

Last year’s finish: Sixth at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Zeke Boldman, sr.; Eryk Bucior, sr.; Bayel Muktar, sr.; Nazar Muktar, so.; Jake Pasek, jr.

Key newcomers: Tengis Khatanbaatar, sr.; Kevin Opiela, so.

Worth noting: The Gators boasted four Class 1A state qualifiers last spring, and all return this season. In his second appearance at state, Boldman advanced to the second day, winning three matches. Bucior competed in singles after qualifying for state in doubles his sophomore year. The Muktar brothers qualified for state as doubles partners. All four players are switching roles this season, Scheurich said. The Muktars are moving to singles, while Boldman and Bucior will be playing doubles together. “We are hoping these four can pick up where they left off in their new roles,” Scheurich said. “I am very excited about the number of boys players [in the program] increasing for the third consecutive year.” ... Scheurich adds that Khatanbaatar worked extremely hard during the offseason to prepare for a jump from varsity spot starter in 2025 to a top-level varsity starter in 2026. Pasek is playing his third year on varsity and will have a new doubles partner this year. ... “As a team, we are hoping to improve in the FVC standings from last year,” Scheurich said. “We have a deeper varsity squad than the last two years, so I look forward to seeing what the boys can do this spring.”

Coach: Yuto Tsukida (seventh season)

Last year’s finish: Seventh at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Aarav Shah, jr.; Pranav Saravanan, sr.; Cavan Svec, sr.; Sebastian Llavona, jr.

Key newcomer: Nate Rekuc, fr.

Worth noting: Shah qualified for state as a freshman for the Chargers two years ago. He finished third at No. 1 singles in the FVC Tournament last spring. “With only 14 players coming out this year, we are competing without a JV squad,” Tsukida said. “This means that several beginner players will be stepping into varsity matches earlier than usual. While that may bring some early challenges, we hope to stay positive and focus on growth. The goal this season is to gain valuable experience, build confidence and continue improving while competing against strong opponents, while returning players continue to work hard to obtain good results in the FVC and become state qualifiers.”

Coach: Jonathan Okon (second season)

Last year’s finish: Eighth at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Sawyer Davis, sr.; Andrew Kalinowski, sr.; Jacob Cho, jr.; Christian Perez, jr.; Carter Dustin, so.

Key newcomers: Nick King, sr.; Brandon Regalado, sr.; Matthew Herzing, jr.; Anthony Marino, jr.; Parth Patel, jr.; Rudra Patel, jr.; Rudraks Patel, jr.; Andre Suello, jr.

Worth noting: The Whip-Purs graduated nine seniors who accumulated 357 combined starts at the varsity level over the past four years. “Five returners look to mentor younger talent,” Okon said. “The returners worked extremely hard to improve throughout the offseason. The group is looking forward to a competitive Fox Valley [Conference] and quality nonconference schedule.”

Coach: Kris Grabner (third season)

Last year’s finish: Third at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Will Geske (Haverford), sr.; Tanush Gulati, jr.; Vivek Yandamuri, jr.; Eashan Cherukuri, sr.; Rithwik Depala, jr.; Adam Stec, so.; Ethan Cronin, so.; Habib Halloway, sr.; Leo Medina, jr.; Chanakya Adepu, so.; Shivam Brahmbatt, jr.

Top newcomers: Virgile Duguit, sr.; Lucas Reed, fr.

Worth noting: Geske has anchored first singles for the Red Raiders since his freshman year. He won the FVC Tournament in his first two years before finishing second last spring. Geske is a two-time Northwest Herald Boys Tennis Player of the Year and three-time state qualifier. “Geske should be a major player in the state singles draw,” Grabner said. ... As sophomore doubles partners last year, Gulati and Yandamuri qualified for state after placing third at No. 1 doubles at the FVC Tournament. “We are looking forward to competing for the FVC championship,” Grabner said. “We have moved from fifth to thirdrd in the past two years. This year, we should be a contender.”

Coach: Jon Betts (21st season)

Last year’s finish: First at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Zach Hallenbeck, sr.; Dylan Heard, sr.; Soham Kalra, sr.; Kurtis Kornatoski, sr.; Ronnav Deshmukh, jr.; Jack Soto, jr.; Daryn Do, so.; Samuel Santa Ines, so.

Key newcomers: Eashan Immadi, sr.; JJ Jones, sr.; Brendan Mau, sr.; Gio Giacomino, jr.; Lukas Gober, jr.; Lyon Sapanhila, jr.; Connor Hoth, so.; Svilen Kolev, so.

Worth noting: The Golden Eagles dominated the FVC last season, winning both the regular-season and tournament championships, and they are loaded again. Reigning FVC champ Kalra (No. 2 doubles) is a two-time Class 2A state qualifier in doubles. Soto was an FVC champion at No. 1 doubles last year and earned all-state honors. He and his doubles partner, the since-graduated Augie Nelson, were the Northwest Herald Boys Tennis Players of the Year. Do won the FVC title at No. 2 singles. Santa Ines captured No. 1 singles at conference and went on to win all-state honors. "Though we graduated some tremendous long-time varsity contributors from last year’s lineup, including FVC champions and fantastic leaders like Augie Nelson, Ryan Fulton and Rudra Rathod, we return a strong group who will be joined by players hungry to earn a varsity spot and contribute,“ Betts said. ”We’ve been impressed with the great effort our boys have put in this offseason and, though Huntley looks to be the team to beat, we hope our talent at the top and our depth throughout the lineup will put us in a position to keep pace with the Red Raiders and challenge them for the FVC title."

Coach: Kyle Funkhouser (21st season)

Last year’s finish: Ninth at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Andrew Franklin, jr.; Brayden Gardon, sr., Atticus LaPorta, sr.; Nick Marchant, sr.; Owen Miller, sr.; Matt Zurawski, jr.

Key newcomers: Christian Bersie, sr.; Logan Lewakowski, sr.; Anthony Rehm, sr.

Worth noting: The Warriors are looking to rebound after finishing last at the FVC Tournament last spring. “The guys have been working hard the last couple of weeks getting ready for a busy April/May schedule,” Funkhouser said. “We have a good mix of new and returning players and are excited to see their progression throughout the season.”

Coach: Willy Stastny (eighth season)

Last year’s finish: Tied for second at FVC Tournament

Top returners: Tim Jones, sr.; Evan Seegert, sr.; Eli Loeding, sr.; Rory Senese, jr.; Odin Bailey, so.

Key newcomer: Matt Jones, fr.

Worth noting: The Wolves’ runner-up finish at state last season was their best in program history, bettering the third-place effort they had in 2024. Tim Jones and the since-graduated Cole Palese finished sixth as doubles partners at state. Jacob Kim, who lost in the consolation semifinals at state, also graduated. Tim Jones, Seegert and Senese return after qualifying for state. Tim Jones, Seegert and Loeding have been on varsity since their freshman year. “Losing half of our sectional lineup from last year [Kim, Palese, Jack Widger] will be tough to overcome, but we have some players with state experience coming back to provide some stability,” Stastny said. “We have a senior-heavy lineup this year, so it will be fun to watch them compete in their final high school season and maintain a good culture for the underclassmen.”

Coach: Rachel Rung (second season)

Last year’s finish: Third at KRC Tournament

Top returners: Tyler Batt, sr.; Ryan Odell, sr.; Jack Rung, jr.; Miles Davis, jr.; Charlie Ten Bruin, jr.; Carson Teschner, sr.; Josue Ortega, so.

Top newcomers: Drew Jesuit, jr.; Dax Martinek, jr.; Beck Shedbalker, so.

Worth noting: No. 1 singles player Batt is a three-time KRC champ for the Skyhawks and two-time state qualifier. He was All-Area second team last year. “Numbers remain a challenge for us,” Rung said. “This year we have 10 players. We should be improved with three players entering their fourth year on the team and three entering their third. We play a challenging schedule, but we look forward to competing.”

Coach: Rafael Martinez (second season)

Last year’s finish: Fourth at KRC Tournament

Top returners: Tannin Peck, so.; Julio Ruiz, jr.; Derek Guidana, so.; Connor Salazar, so.

Top newcomer: Nathan Scholfield, jr.

Worth noting: The Indians return Peck and Ruiz at singles and sophomores Guidana and Salazar at doubles. Program numbers are good. “Largest group so far with a full varsity team and some JV players,” Martinez said. “Expectations are high to compete with a full squad against the KRC schools. Our (No.) 2 doubles are very competitive, and our singles could upset any player.”

Coach: John Oliveira (second season)

Last year’s finish: Second at KRC Tournament

Top returners: Ben Vanderville, sr.; Ayden Zim, sr.; Brody Flynn, sr.; Cristian Tapia, jr.

Key newcomers: Lucas Balgeman, jr.; Simeon Oberhuber, jr.; Luis Fuentes, so.; Vic Perez, so.; Alex Rodriguez, so.; Andrew Mroczenski, fr.; Ben Webb, fr.

Worth noting: The Blue Streaks had a strong KRC Tournament last spring in Oliveira’s first season, but graduated several top players. “We are young and largely untested, but that brings a lot of excitement to Jim Mitchell courts,” Oliveira said. “Our goal is simple: Get better every single day. I can’t wait to see how these players rise to the challenge and they compete.”

Coach: Bart Zadlo (ninth season)

Last year’s finish: First at KRC Tournament

Top returners: Parker Mauck, sr.; Jude Suay, sr.; Logan Barnes, sr.; Braden Olson, jr.; Charlie Martin, so.

Worth noting: The Thunder boasted five champions in winning the KRC Tournament last season. Suay was the runner-up at No. 1 singles. Mauck and the since-graduated Alex Flores finished second at No. 1 doubles. Olson won third singles.

Coach: Gina Jasovic (third season)

Top returner: Alek Jasovic, so.

Key newcomer: Marc Cheng, sr.

Worth noting: Jasovic went 14-5 as a freshman for the Hurricanes last year and earned All-CCC honors at No. 2 singles. Cheng is a transfer from Woodstock. “We are entering this season with clear goals and hopes to improve our overall performance as a team,” Jasovic said. “If we stay focused on growth, teamwork and effort, we believe the results will take care of themselves.”

The flooding happened 114 years to the day since the legendary ocean liner fatally struck an iceberg just before midnight on April 14, 1912, sinking on April 15.

The museum staff in Volo were able to rescue the valuable displays when the intrusive waters were discovered Wednesday morning. The collection includes authentic fashion pieces and artifacts from the Titanic era and vehicles valued at more than $6 million and once owned by prominent Titanic passengers, including John Jacob Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim and Lady Lucy Duff Gordon, according to a Volo Museum news release.

“The irony of any Titanic exhibit flooding is strange enough, but the fact that ours flooded on the exact anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking is more than ironic; it’s almost paranormal,” marketing director Jim Wojdyla said in the release.

Though the intense thunderstorms that blanketed northern Illinois Tuesday night may be an easy explanation for the mishap, employees and owners say paranormal activity isn’t out of the question. Thorough inspections revealed no cracks in the foundation, broken pipes roof leaks or other obvious points of entry, according to the release.

The Volo Museum, located at 27582 Volo Village Road, isn’t usually prone to flooding since this is the second time the building has experienced it in more than 40 years, according to operators. The other occurrence also happened at the Titanic exhibit under mysterious circumstances in 2024.

“This is the second time our Titanic museum has flooded,” Wojdyla said in the release. “The first time occurred during its opening year, and now again on the anniversary. I’m not sure what to make of the coincidence, but it’s enough to give us goosebumps.”

The first flooding incident drew attention from national news programs and the Travel Channel’s “Paranormal Caught on Camera.” Other unexplained occurrences at the museum have also been featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Ghost Hunters.”

“Another point to stress was that the first leak came from under our Titanic car,” Wojdyla said. “Only two were ever made. One went down the Titanic, and we have the only other one in the world.”

Tuesday’s leak came from a different location – by the interactive slopes where people can experience how the ship tilted a degree by the minute while it sank.

According to the National Weather Service’s Chicago O’Hare station, more than 2 inches of precipitation were observed on Tuesday. That amount could be a new record for the day, smashing the 1.21 inches recorded in 1949.

More bad luck may be coming the museum’s way, as another round of thunderstorms was predicted to hit the area Wednesday evening. A flood watch for McHenry County was issued with the possibility of torrential rain falling at rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour, according to the NWS.

According to complaints filed in McHenry County Court, Benjamin Ramirez, 18, of Johnsburg, is charged with a Class A misdemeanor count of battery causing bodily harm, accused of stabbing Coltyn Crawford in the torso with a knife. Following a detention hearing Wednesday, Ramirez was released from McHenry County Jail pending trial.

Crawford, 18, of Wonder Lake, is charged with a Class A misdemeanor count of battery, accused of striking Ramirez’s head with his hand during a physical altercation, according to court records.

Both men were charged with well lesser counts of disorderly conduct and assault, court records show. The court complaints allege both were involved in a “telephonic argument ... where threats of bodily harm were exchanged” and later a fight, leading to the additional charges.

The McHenry Township Fire Protection District responded to the incident, and Crawford was flown by air ambulance to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville. His mother, Brittney Crawford, told Shaw Local that her son had four inches of small intestine removed following the stabbing and he was released from the hospital on April 2.

She set up a GoFundMe to cover medical and lost work expenses, Standing with Coltyn Through His Healing Journey.

The Richmond Township Fire Protection District was called to a structure fire on Keystone Road near Richmond at 8:49 a.m. Tuesday and learned en route it was a garage attached to “an occupied house,” officials said in a news release Wednesday.

Fire crews found light smoke coming from the service door of the attached garage when they arrived and found a small fire inside.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire and did overhaul and ventilation. Officials said searches found no victims and the fire did not extend beyond the inside of the garage. Nobody was injured, according to the release.

The investigation into the fire is pending.

“The Richmond Township Fire Protection District reminds all residents to have working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and to consider installing residential fire sprinklers for your home and attached garage,” according to the release.

The home at 2106 Hazelwood Drive in McHenry was sold on April 1 for $420,000, or $199 per square foot. This is a single-story house. The property is equipped with central heating and central A/C. Additionally, the building includes access to a parking spot for two cars. The property is situated on a lot spanning 10,019 square feet.

The recently built home at 2006 Serenity Lane in Woodstock was sold on April 1 for $405,000, or $162 per square foot. This two-story house has three bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The property is situated on a lot spanning 8,276 square feet.

Other homes in Woodstock have recently changed hands nearby:

· At 2114 Greenview Drive, in May 2025, a 2,468-square-foot single-family residence was sold for $420,000, a price per square foot of $170. The home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

· In May 2025, a 1,654-square-foot single-family home at 2112 Serenity Lane sold for $275,000, a price per square foot of $166. The home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

· A 1,990-square-foot single-family home at 2101 Red Barn Court, sold in October 2025, for $399,000, a price per square foot of $201. The home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Prairie Ridge 4, Jacobs 2: At Crystal Lake, Owen Satterlee struck out 10 in 6⅔ innings, and the Wolves avenged Monday’s FVC loss. Satterlee allowed two runs (both unearned), three hits and three walks. Jack Hermann got the final out for the save.

Maddon McKim was 2 for 2 with two runs scored for the Wolves (9-2, 3-1), and Jack Dahlem was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Andrew Deegan had a double and an RBI for the Golden Eagles (9-2, 3-1).

Jacobs’ starter Cooper Gulgren allowed three earned runs in 4⅔ innings.

Plano 4, Marengo 1: At Marengo, Dominic Iovinelli’s third-inning homer accounted for the Indians’ lone run in their Kishwaukee River Conference loss. Alex Johnson allowed four runs in six innings for Marengo (7-5, 2-2).

Woodstock North 1, Harvard 0: At Woodstock, Aly Jordan doubled home the game’s only run in the sixth inning, lifting the Thunder to the KRC win. Kylee Nicholson pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks in earning the victory, as North (6-2, 4-0) won its sixth straight. Nicholson also went 2 for 3.

Harvard’s Leona Eichholz surrendered five hits, struck out 12 and walked one. Grace Nellessen was 2 for 3 for the Hornets (4-4, 2-1).

Sandwich 13, Richmond-Burton 5: At Sandwich, the Rockets led 4-3 after three innings but allowed 10 runs over the next three innings. Ellie Smith hit a solo homer for the Rockets (6-10, 1-3), and Bre Warren was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Plano 19, Woodstock 3 (4 inn.): At Plano, the Blue Streaks had five hits, including doubles by Ellie Norton and Tipper Axelson in their KRC loss. Woodstock (2-6, 0-4) allowed 17 runs in Plano’s last three innings.

Christian Liberty 17, Alden-Hebron 2: At Arlington Heights, Hayden Smith hit a solo homer, walked and scored twice for the Giants (1-3-1, 1-1-1) in the Northeastern Athletic Conference game.

Dundee-Crown 6, McHenry 0: At McHenry, Rylie Mensik scored four goals, two in each half, and added an assist, as the Chargers (2-3-1) won the FVC match. Olivia Holic and Valeria Rodarte scored as well. Madalyn Peralta had two assists.

Crystal Lake Central 5, Hampshire 2: At Crystal Lake, the Tigers got straight-set singles wins from Ryan Spencer (No. 1) and Geo DeSando (No. 3). Central (3-3, 1-1 FVC) also received doubles wins from Jack Lisle and Nate Muszynski (No. 1), Prateek Ponnam and Jackson Gerambia (No. 2) and Rylan McKnight and Caden Smith (No. 3).

Hampshire’s winners were Michael Vo (No. 2 singles) and Matthew Grindstaff and Michael Marry (No. 4 doubles).

Northridge Prep 4, Marian Central 3: At Niles, the Hurricanes got wins from Ryan Falbo (No. 3 singles), Alek Jasovic and Marc Cheng (No. 1 doubles) and Michael Davis and Trevor Zopp (No. 4 doubles).

Jacobs 6, Prairie Ridge 1: At Crystal Lake, the Golden Eagles swept singles, as Samuel Santa Ines (No. 1), Daryan Do (No. 2) and Lyon Sapanhila (No. 3) all won in straight sets. Jacobs got doubles wins from Jack Soto and Soham Kalra (No. 1), Kurtis Kornatoski and Brendan Mau (No. 3) and Dylan Heard and Zachary Hallenbeck (No. 4).

Prairie Ridge won No. 2 doubles with Rory Senese and Matt Jones.

Johnsburg 6, Larkin 0: At Elgin, Tyler Batt (No. 1), Ryan O’Dell (No. 2) and Miles Davis (No. 3) each won their singles matches in straight sets for the Skyhawks. Batt and Davis each won 6-0, 6-0, and O’Dell only dropped one game with a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

Johnsburg also won all three doubles matches in two sets. Jack Rung and Charlie Ten Bruin (No. 1), Carson Teschner and Josue Ortega (No. 2) and Beck Shedbalkar and Dax Martinek (No. 3) were winners.

“I get sore, but just got to push through it,” said White, who threw all five innings Tuesday in a 16-5 Kishwaukee River Conference victory against Johnsburg. “It’s not too bad. There’s kind of no other option, so you got to do what you got to do.

“Just go out and get the job done.”

White, who has thrown 77⅓ of her team’s 84 innings so far this season, shook off a four-run top of the third inning Tuesday, surrendering home runs to No. 3 hitter Kimmy Whitlock and No. 5 hitter Carlie Majercik, and finished with 10 strikeouts as the Indians (7-7, 3-1 KRC) moved to .500 after an 0-4 start.

Marengo has won the conference three years in a row, and a lot weighs on the arm of White, who doesn’t plan to play softball beyond high school.

“I was pretty nervous before the season,” said White, who allowed four earned runs on eight hits and no walks. “I was behind Jozsa [Christiansen] last year. She kind of taught me. She kind of plays in my head every day. Just trying to be a leader and staying positive. We’ve had a couple of rough games this season, and I’m just trying not to get down on myself.”

Along with a .371 batting average, 14 doubles and 35 RBIs, White was 6-1 as a junior with a solid 3.12 ERA behind Christiansen, who factored into 31 decisions with 21 of the team’s 27 victories.

Only sophomore Payge Litchfield and freshman Natalie Potirus have joined White in the circle this season, totaling just 6⅔ innings.

White was coming off a 5-0 win over Plano on Monday, where she allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked none in seven innings.

“I think Ellie White’s been doing a really good job all year,” Marengo coach Dwain Nance said. “She’ll probably break the record of innings pitched for us. There’s times where she labors because she throws a few too many balls. But when she’s really on and hitting those spots, a lot of the time she gets one-, two-, three-pitch outs, and that’s a really big key. I think there’s only been a couple of games where she’s been over 100 pitches. A lot of games she’s in the 90s, and I do look at that number quite a bit.”

White also helped her own cause at the plate, reaching base in her first three plate appearances, which included a double, and scoring three times. Marengo came out with a 10-run first inning, sending 16 to the plate against Johnsburg (3-7, 1-3), and added five runs in the second.

Allie Tucker went 3 for 3 with four RBIs, while Gianna Iovinelli (1 for 4, double, two runs), Ari Rodriguez (1 for 2, three runs) and Abby Balmes (1 for 2, two runs) each drove in a pair of runs. Mia Miceli had two hits, including a double, and drove in one.

Tucker, a freshman, started at catcher Tuesday. She didn’t even expect to make the varsity team.

“I thought I was going to be on JV, but I’m super grateful to be on varsity,” Tucker said. “We’ve had some rough games, but we’ve been able to work as a team and push through that. [White] hits her spots really well. She stays positive and is able to perform under pressure.

“I just try to be a wall. Try not to let anything get past me and be the best target for Ellie so she can pitch well.”

Johnsburg, despite going down 15-1 after two innings, found some offensive life in the third, thanks to long balls from Whitlock and Majercik. Whitlock’s was a two-run shot.

Johnsburg has lost two in a row following a doubleheader sweep against Marian Central, which threw ace and Dayton-commit Christine Chmiel at the Skyhawks.

“We do have some really good hitters,” first-year coach John Rodgers said. “They take a lot of pride in their at-bats. We never really take any at-bats off. ... It was just unfortunate that, today, you get into a spot like this and suddenly the game’s a little out of hand, and you’re trying to come back. Sometimes you just run out of time.”

Brooke Wilkinson was the third pitcher to enter the game for Johnsburg, and she held the Indians to a run in 2⅔ innings with three strikeouts.

“She’s not super experienced, but she’s improved a lot,” Rodgers said. “She’s been very dependable being around the plate. She has a lot of the pitches you wouldn’t expect from somebody who hasn’t pitched that much.”

In the top of the fifth, White struck out Whitlock and Evelyn Mercurio to start the inning. A fielding error allowed Majercik to reach base before White got Abri Bruns to ground out for the final out.

“I just wanted to end it right there,” White said. “If they scored, we’d have to keep playing.”

And keep pitching.

Awarded a penalty kick after a handball foul inside the Huntley box, Crystal Lake Central called upon its senior midfielder to deliver the go-ahead strike during the fifth minute of the team’s Fox Valley Conference opener against the Red Raiders.

Staring down Huntley goalkeeper Ashlyn Grabs, McMahon successfully finished the PK chance.

McMahon’s goal was the first of two in the opening half for the Tigers, who blanked the Red Raiders 2-0 and avenged a one-goal loss against Huntley last season. In a match that could eventually loom large down the stretch, Central (4-1, 1-0 FVC) held the Raiders (3-1-2, 1-1-1 FVC) to just one corner kick and zero shots on goal.

“It all started with my teammates putting that hard work in,” said McMahon, one of three Tigers to register a shot on goal. “It was great to see them get in the box and draw that foul for me. ... I don’t usually pick a specific spot until that very moment, but all I’m thinking about is confidence and having to score. That’s all that goes through me.”

Maintaining consistent pressure, Central earned a total of six corners, five of which came in the first half. Holding a 1-0 lead for most of the first half, the Tigers sprinted ahead in the 35th minute, when senior forward Addison Schaffer rolled a through ball into the Huntley box.

The ball crept through multiple Huntley defenders and landed at the foot of senior forward Ella Bechler, who blasted a right-footed shot past Grabs and into the goal. The Tigers, who finished second in the FVC to Huntley last spring, ended the match with a 3-0 advantage in shots on goal. Schaffer said she knew her pass would result in a goal.

“When I got it, I was looking for passes through,” said Schaffer, a Loyola Chicago soccer commit. “I dribbled a little, and I saw Ella make a perfect run through. I saw the slot and the ball went through. ... I thought this was a really important game for setting the mood for the season. They won last year, so we wanted to come back and win.”

Huntley earned its lone corner of the match during the second half. But the Raiders, who battled wind gusts hovering around 25 mph in the first half, were unable to find any dangerous chances against the strong Central back line. The Tigers nearly went up by three, but a shot by Bechler, off a Schaffer pass, zoomed just wide of the net.

“We had to win the first half, and our coach said we needed to have two,” Bechler said. “We knew we needed to go into every ball with 100% effort. We knew this game was going to be close, and we had to put in all of our effort. This game is one of the determining factors in the conference almost every year. We knew we needed this one.”

The Raiders, who haven’t scored in their last two games, resume FVC action at Dundee-Crown on Thursday. Central, which has earned three consecutive shutouts and has outscored opponents 14-0 over that stretch, will travel to Hampshire on Thursday.

“We needed a learning experience today,” Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said. “I think we got it because they came out and they simply ran hard. When you run hard, things happen for you. I’m really proud of the way (we) played. We made some changes and did some things we’ve never previously talked about, and they adjusted well.”

The home at 10709 Mallard Lane in Richmond was sold on March 30 for $440,000, or $227 per square foot. This single-story house has three bedrooms. Additionally, the building includes access to an attached garage. The property’s lot measures 13,068 square feet.

Other homes in Richmond have recently changed hands nearby:

· A single-family home at 5210 Pheasant Lane, sold in February, for $545,000.

· At 10817 Quail Crossing, in August 2025, a single-family residence was sold for $377,500.

· In January 2025, a 3,216-square-foot single-family residence at 5135 Wood Duck Lane sold for $542,500, a price per square foot of $169.

The home, built in 1994, has an interior space of 1,661 square feet. The house has two bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The property is equipped with a heating system. The property is situated on a lot spanning 1.7 acres.

Other homes that have recently changed hands close by include:

· At 1521 Adams Street in Crystal Lake, in September 2025, a residential property was sold for $263,000. The home has three bedrooms and one bathroom.

· In March, a residential property at 1394 Parkridge Court in Crystal Lake sold for $375,000, a price per square foot of $205. The home has four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.

Following a resident’s inquiry, the Village Board recently discussed whether beekeeping should be allowed in all residential areas if certain criteria are met.

Current Huntley zoning code allows for beekeeping in residential estate districts with a special use permit. The lot size minimums are 20,000 square feet to 40,000 square feet in those districts.

The board did not vote on anything, but trustees indicated they generally wanted to limit beekeeping to those larger lots. Some felt smaller lots would not be conducive to bees and could create issues for nearby neighbors.

Currently, the permit process requires a public hearing at the plan commission and public notice. It also requires Village Board approval and comes with a $500 permit fee and $3,000 escrow to cover legal notices and attorney’s fees.

Some trustees felt the cost was too high for beekeepers.

“For hobbyists, that amount is unrealistic,” Trustee Ric Zydorowicz said.

Trustee JR Westberg said the fees were “crazy” and if he was a hobbyist, he would be discouraged. But he said he was fine with a notification to the village from beekeepers that they are doing it and paying a $50 fee.

But officials wanted to take a step back and try to find some regulations that work for all parties.

Trustee Vito Benigno said any proposed regulations needed to address both beekeepers’ and neighboring residents’ concerns.

“I think that it’s very important that whatever regulations we come up with, that they’re grounded in research that shows why that particular regulation will work or why that particular regulation applies to this particular instance,” Benigno said.

However, the board was more divided on whether to allow beekeeping on vacant lots, with some members against it and others were open to it or wanted to allow it with regulations.

Several members of the public, all of whom live in the same subdivision, weighed in on the topic.

Dan Keippel said he has been beekeeping for eight years and said he has never had an issue with the bees. He said he is slightly allergic to bees but can stand by his hives without issues.

He said beekeeping is a passion for him and he has never sold a drop of honey. Rather, he gives the honey to his neighbors and isn’t trying to be difficult. He said he has no issue following rules or paying a permit fee each year, but wants beekeepers involved in making the rules.

“We’re not a farm. We’re a hobbyist. That’s all we do,” Keippel said.

Michelle Diversey said she has bees on a vacant lot, and is in her fourth year beekeeping. She said she went to the village before starting and asked what the rules were. She said she was told if it was a hobby, it was fine.

She said she took classes at McHenry County College, as Keippel did. Interest in beekeeping and in beekeeping classes has grown in recent years in the county.

Diversey said she found out she was allergic and she wears protective gear in the hive. She said she mows the grass without protective gear and they don’t bother her.

“I would never want to harm anybody,” Diversey said.

She said the permit fee structure is geared to commercial uses, not residential uses and wants an ordinance to clarify that. But Diversey said she will comply with the rules that are put in place.

“I just want to be a beekeeper,” Diversey said.

Resident Tony Chirchirillo is neighbors with the beekeepers but said he has no ill will toward them. He said he likes bees and thinks they benefit nature in general but does want to see regulations on beekeeping.

He said the bees are close to a bus stop and a couple of kids had been stung, “but it’s not horrible.”

However, he said every time the weather is warmer than 45 degrees, hundreds of bees swarm.

“We can’t even use our pool in the summertime sometimes because the bees are so bad,” he said.

He added at the meeting the bees are already out and his dog was stung on April 7.

Leslie Chirchirillo said the pool is where family and friends hang out. She said she felt the family should be able to use the pool whenever they want.

“My kids should feel safe, and we currently don’t. And so that is our, our biggest issue,” she said.

She also wanted regulations, including ones on how far beehives can be from a house with a pool.

“We like bees. We’re not against them, but I just don’t want them in my pool,” she said. She added it wasn’t fair that every time the bees swarm, she is cleaning out bees from the pool.

Charlie Nordman, Huntley director of development services, said Woodstock and Lake in the Hills ban beekeeping in residential areas, adding Algonquin allows beekeeping but it is not addressed in the village code.

McHenry, Crystal Lake and Elgin allow beekeeping but it’s subject to specific criteria, Nordman said.

Any proposed changes to Huntley’s bee ordinance would need to come back to the Village Board for final approval.

I’m happy that the players union and the league finally reached a collective bargaining agreement that prevented a lockout. That would have hurt everyone involved, especially since the league is building momentum around the country. That’s demonstrated by the addition of two new teams this season: the Portland Fire and the Toronto Tempo.

When the last season ended, things were a bit tense with the Sky. They didn’t make the playoffs, which was painful, but there was dissension between the team and arguably its best player, Angel Reese.

Of course, the season had been derailed almost right out the gate when the team’s point guard, Courtney Vandersloot, who came back to the team after winning a championship with the New York Liberty, suffered a season-ending injury.

The team never really recovered from that. Many different combinations were tried in the search to replace Vandersloot, but nothing seemed to click. The team finished the season 10-34.

Worse yet, the team never seemed to capitalize on their biggest strengths: Reese and fellow big girl Kamilla Cardoso. Too often, players settled for three-point attempts that didn’t fall instead of getting the ball to Cardoso or Reese.

For players who are used to winning, as Reese is, this couldn’t have been an easy situation. Yet, she worked to remain positive.

Meanwhile, Reese won a lot of us over with her grit, determination and desire to improve. Sure, she has a lot of endorsements and interests, but those of us paying attention know how hard the girl works.

WNBA legends like Lisa Leslie, who worked with Reese when she was with the Unrivaled League in the offseason, say much the same thing. As do many of the other WNBA players who played with her in Unrivaled and during the All-Star festivities. Let’s not forget the U.S. National team practices, too.

Still, despite Reese’s stellar rebounding skill and her developing scoring and ball-handling skills, the Sky never found a way to win consistently.

No doubt Reese’s frustration with the team grew out of losing Teresa Weatherspoon, the WNBA legend who was coach during Reese’s rookie year. The move to replace Weatherspoon after one year was a surprise to a lot of us fans, too, but it was heartbreaking for Reese.

Still, she put on her game face and weathered some early-season criticism. Until she couldn’t any longer. An interview she gave late in the season finally gave vent to some of her frustrations. One issue in particular was the team’s desire to hang its hopes on getting Vandersloot back.

Let me be clear: Everything Reese said was true. They came from a place of wanting to compete and to grow as a team. I will never think less of her for them, even as a fan of Vandersloot.

The team’s response: They suspended Reese a half-game. And she never suited up for the team again.

So, honestly, it wasn’t terribly surprising when the Sky traded her to the Atlanta Dream on April 6.

However, what was surprising was how little they got for her: first-round picks in 2027 and 2028.

I’m heartbroken. I make no apologies for being a fan of Reese and a staunch defender. I’m happy she can now play for a team stacked with great players, a situation Reese wanted to be in here in Chicago. She gets to play with guards Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada, as well as forward Brionna Jones. The Dream are going to be a handful for the rest of the league.

The Sky have re-signed center Elizabeth William and Vandersloot, and signed former Sky player and forward-center Azura Stevens. They also acquired guards Skylar Diggins, Jacy Sheldon and guard-forward DiJonai Carrington. They also traded guard Ariel Atkins for forward Rickea Jackson. The team is still guard-heavy, and they picked up another in UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez in the WNBA draft.

Still, two things have become clear to us fans: The Sky can’t keep their star players and if there’s a master plan, management isn’t filling us in about it. These new players just add to the confusion. On paper, though, maybe just maybe there’s reason for hope. But we’ll see.

Here’s wishing Reese all the best in Atlanta. This fan isn’t giving up on her just because she’s in a new city.

• Joan Oliver is the former Northwest Herald assistant news editor. She has been associated with the Northwest Herald since 1990. She can be reached at jolivercolumn@gmail.com.

The house, built in 1968, has an interior space of 1,702 square feet. This single-story house has four bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. The interior features a fireplace. The property is equipped with forced air heating with air conditioning and central A/C. Additionally, the building has access to an attached garage. The lot of the property covers an area of 11,500 square feet.

These nearby homes in Crystal Lake have also recently been sold:

· In March, a residential property at 315 Lancaster Drive sold for $330,000, a price per square foot of $194. The home has four bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms.

· A residential property at 490 Westwood Court, Apt. D, sold in March, for $225,000, a price per square foot of $180. The home has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

· At 7608 Virginia Road, in December 2025, a 1,029-square-foot residential property was sold for $550,000, a price per square foot of $534.

The house at 1012 Pistakee View Court in Johnsburg was sold on March 31 for $1.33 million, or $469 per square foot. This is a two-story house. The interior features two fireplaces. The property is equipped with central A/C. The property sits on a 12,557-square-foot lot.

Developers are looking to build a Dutch Bros. at 541 S. Randall Road next to Buona Beef. It would be the coffee chain’s second McHenry County location if approved.

The Oregon-based national coffeeshop chain has more than 1,000 locations across the country. Others are lined up elsewhere in the northern Illinois area, including Oswego.

One of the first northern Illinois locations will open in Crystal Lake after the City Council unanimously approved plans last month for the business to move into a former bank building off Route 14.

The plan for Algonquin is to construct a new building on a shared lot with Buona Beef with two drive-thru lanes and a walk-up window.

The plan has room for 30 stacked cars total with 21 parking spaces, Eric Pedersen of Keystone Planning and Design said. On average, customers get in and out of the business within 45 seconds, and about 80% of the sales are from drive-thru orders, he said.

“Overall, the parking still appears to be efficient for the uses,” village planner Stephanie Barajas said.

One issue the village staff brought up is if cars overflow onto Rolls Road, which “could cause a big safety concern,” Barajas said. The village does not allow car stacking on public roads like Rolls Road, which runs behind Buona and the proposed Dutch Bros.

The Algonquin Planning and Zoning Commission gave a unanimous recommendation for approval Monday. Developers will next go to the village’s Committee of the Whole.

Dutch Bros. may face steep competition, as other drive-thru-only coffeeshops have been recently built or approved by village boards, including the two 7 Brew locations in Algonquin and Crystal Lake and another Dunkin’ off Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

The Algonquin 7 Brew is less than half a mile down Randall Road.

“Are we creating a traffic jam, with the new coffeehouse next to McDonald’s and this one?” Commissioner Paul Sturznickel said.

But Community Development Director Patrick Knapp said local police don’t have concerns, and that “it’s rare” for 7 Brew traffic to block roads.

If approved, construction could start within a few months, depending on the permit approval process, Petersen said. Developers aim to complete the build in about four months and get “open by the end of this year,” he said.

The 1,829-square-foot house, built in 1973, was sold for $385,000, or $210 per square foot. This is a single-story house. The property is equipped with forced air heating with air conditioning. The property sits on a 14,452-square-foot lot.

These nearby homes in Crystal Lake have also recently been sold:

· At 490 South McHenry Avenue, in August 2025, a residential property was sold for $391,000.

· A residential property at 484 Everett Avenue, sold in June 2025, for $300,000.

· In March, a residential property at 490 Westwood Court, Apt. D sold for $225,000, a price per square foot of $180. The home has two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The property sits on an 11,780-square-foot lot.

Juan Miramontes, 41, is charged with four Class X felony counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child younger than 12 years, as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, McHenry County Judge Cynthia Lamb said Tuesday at his initial court appearance, where she denied his pretrial release.

Should Miramontes be convicted on the Class X felonies, he could be sentenced six to 30 years in prison on each count, Lamb said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Garrett Miller said the girl provided authorities with an “incredibly realistic and consistent” story of the alleged assaults and described it in language a 9-year-old would use.

The girl also said Miramontes showed her a video of a woman performing oral sex on him and told her it was to teach her how to do it, Miller said. The girl identified places the alleged assaults took place, which investigators identified in Miramontes’ home, the prosecutor said.

The alleged victim “is a 9-year-old with no reason to lie,” Miller said.

Authorities said police also found a firearm under the side of the bed where Miramontes slept – a weapon that, because he is a felon, is illegal for him to have. Prosecutors said he has a 2010 Cook County conviction for home invasion causing violent injuries against a person with a firearm, armed robbery with a firearm, and unlawful restraint. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Miramontes’ attorney, Lindsay Tobias, said he denies the sexual assault allegations and that there are reasons for the child to lie. She also said there are “several” contradictions in the story.

Tobias also said Miramontes has no criminal history for the last 10 years, works as a plumber and is a “productive citizen” who had family in the courtroom supporting him.

She also said 9-year-old children can be quite “tech savvy” and that the girl could have found the sexually explicit video on her own.

But Miller said the child searching for and finding the video on her own is “incredibly unlikely” and that showing it to her was Miramontes’ way of grooming her.

Lamb agreed with the prosecution that Miramontes is a danger to the child, as well as the community, and ordered him detained in county jail pretrial.

The judge noted graphic details in the police report, including Miramontes allegedly telling the girl the assaults were his way of “preparing her for when she got older.” He abused her several times over multiple years in his bedroom, bathroom and basement and used “several measures to obtain compliance, including physical force and showing her explicit” videos and sending her sexual emojis, Lamb said.

Miramontes’ next court date is April 28.

The event includes a $5 bag sale on Sunday and special pricing for teachers with a current ID. Only cash and checks will be accepted.

For more information, visit caryarealibrary.org or call 847-639-4210.

The house at 5302 Autumn Way in Johnsburg was sold on April 1 for $625,000, or $238 per square foot. This is a two-story house. The interior features a fireplace. The property is equipped with central heating and central A/C. Additionally, the building includes access to a parking spot for five cars. In addition to its 0.8 acres lot size, the property’s backyard includes a pool.

The home, built in 1997, has an interior space of 2,667 square feet. The property is equipped with central A/C. The property is situated on a lot spanning 9,292 square feet.

Clements didn’t seem to care.

“It’s obviously cool to hit a bomb,” Clements said. “But you still just got to play the game.”

Never too high, never too low. Clements’ attitude – and skill set – helps explain why he was recruited to play NCAA Division-I ball. The junior, who hit .333 with 20 stolen bases in helping the Warriors finish in second in the state in Class 4A last spring, went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored Monday in helping McHenry beat host Crystal Lake South 5-0 in a Fox Valley Conference showdown.

The win completed a sweep for the Warriors (10-2-1, 4-0 FVC), who edged South (7-4, 1-3) by a 3-2 final Friday.

“It’s hard to sweep teams, no matter who it is in this conference,” said McHenry starting pitcher Kaden Wasniewski, who pitched two-hit ball over six innings in earning the win.

Like Clements, who committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago in the offseason, Wasniewski played long ball. The junior’s two-run homer off reliever Nick Stowasser capped a three-run fifth inning that hiked the visitors’ lead to 4-0.

Bennet Baumann’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly gave Wasniewski the only run he needed. Clements made it 2-0 with a one-out, RBI single in the fifth.

Clements, who reached base in the third when he got hit on the ankle, pulled a Stowasser pitch over the fence in right with one out and none on in the seventh.

Mind you, Clements led off the game by getting called out on strikes.

“He didn’t look very good,” McHenry coach Brian Rockweiler said of Clements’ first plate appearance. “I think he did a great job of coming back after that at-bat. It just shows his maturity, not letting that one at-bat affect anything.”

That’s what bodes well for Clements. Homers are a bonus. Strikeouts are not to be lamented.

“You got to flush that [first at-bat], get to your next AB,” Clements said.

South senior Julian Redmond said he found out during eighth period that he would be starting on the mound. Matt Bychowsky was scheduled to be the Gators’ starting pitcher but tweaked his back.

“I was like, ‘OK, let’s go,’ ” Redmond said after making his first start of the season. “Then I came outside, got a good hour in, warmed up and got ready. ... It’s not really that big of deal [starting at the last-minute]. I’m a P.O. [pitcher only]. I got to be ready to pitch whenever I got to be ready to pitch.”

Redmond, a righty who will pitch for Oakton College next year, used a nasty slider to help limit McHenry to one hit – an infield single by Wasniewski – in four innings of work.

He struck out five, walked one and hit two batters.

“I just came in and did what I needed to do,” said Redmond, who pitched the final inning against Grayslake Central on Saturday.

Wasniewski threw 50 of his 81 pitches for strikes. The hard-throwing Louisiana State commit struck out five and walked two. Nathan Niedhardt pitched a perfect seventh for the Warriors.

“I just try to pitch to contact,” Wasniewski said. “I got great defense out there.”

Wasniewski’s fifth-inning homer with Clements aboard gave him some breathing room. He hit a Stowasser fastball up in the zone on a 2-2 count over the fence in left-center field.

“I was expecting him to come challenge me,” Wasniewski said. “I just had to wait on it and get my pitch.”

McHenry’s six hits also included a double by Garet Lobbins and a single by Carter Thornton. The defending FVC champions played errorless ball and successfully executed three sacrifices.

“You just got to bring your best stuff every day. Show what you can do out there,” Clements said of sweeping South, after the Warriors swept Dundee-Crown last week.

Illinois commit Carson Trivellini and Wes Bogda had South’s only hits.

“They were better than us,” Gators coach Brian Bogda said of the Warriors. “ ’Waz’ [Wasniewski] pitched his tail off and kept us off balance. There’s a reason he’s going to LSU, and he showed it today.”

Officers Campbell, Landeros, Miller and Reyes – whose first names were not provided – were presented the Life Saving Award by Police Chief James Black during a recent City Council meeting.

The officers responded to a call at 3:13 p.m. on Feb. 19 to Cambridge Lane for a house fire, and were “informed by dispatch that there were flames in the kitchen, and that at least one homeowner was unable to escape the home,” Black said.

A portion of the body-worn camera footage was shown to the Council, and a clip was posted on the Crystal Lake Police Department’s Facebook page. The video shows officers removing someone from the home who is in a wheelchair.

Officers showed “no hesitation on their part” when they arrived, Black said, and successfully rescued two people.

Fire Rescue Chief Craig Snyder gave further details illustrating the officers’ bravery, describing the room where the fire was to be “approximately 150 to 200 degrees at the ceiling, and smoke conditions were rapidly deteriorating.”

According to a previous Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department news release, the fire was determined to be under control within 20 minutes. The occupants were assessed on scene by emergency medical services.

The house was deemed uninhabitable, and the Red Cross was requested to assist the residents with housing.

One of the police officers attempted to reenter the home when he found out a cat remained inside, Synder said. But he couldn’t enter because the fire rapidly grew, and Snyder estimates the temperatures intensified to 900 to 1,100 degrees at the ceiling.

“Smoke conditions at that time would have been non-survivable in the fire room and in the adjacent rear hall where they removed the resident from the property,” he said.

The cat was rescued from the home by the fire department.

“I’m so proud of those folks and what they did,” Mayor Haig Haleblain said. “I’m speechless after watching that video.”

Founded by attorneys Andrew J. Kelleher, Jr. and Robert A. Holland, K+H now has more than 80 employees, including more than 40 attorneys, according to a news release. The Crystal Lake location marks the firm’s fifth Illinois office, joining North Barrington, Waukegan, Hinsdale and Spring Grove.

The law firm handles the full spectrum of business and family legal matters, including corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, employment law, executive compensation, intellectual property, civil and criminal litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, divorce and family law, family office services, estate planning, estate and trust administration, elder law, tax planning, residential real estate and other areas of law, according to the release. The firm endeavors to be a one-stop legal provider for McHenry County and the surrounding region, according to the news release announcing the expansion.

Attorney Laura A. Dzielski will be the managing attorney of the Crystal Lake office, working alongside attorneys Tamara A. Marshall and Vonda Vaughn Schmidt.

The office is due to open later in April and a ribbon-cutting event is planned for May 13 in partnership with the Crystal Lake, McHenry, Algonquin/Lake in the Hills and Chain O’ Lakes Area chambers of commerce.

In a new email to families Monday, District 155 officials said that a decision to move to a co-op restructure has not been made. Furthermore, the district will postpone any consideration of a softball restructure until the end of the current season.

The district said in an email to families Friday that, due to declining numbers and an inability to field multiple teams at all four district schools, they had planned to move to a co-op restructure in 2027. The restructure would pair Crystal Lake Central with Prairie Ridge and Crystal Lake South with Cary-Grove.

In Monday’s email, the district acknowledged that communication was “not clearly conveyed and gave the impression that a decision had already been made. That is not the case.”

Dr. Neil Lesinski, District 155 superintendent, released the following statement Monday:

“At District 155, we take pride in working collaboratively with our students, families and community. We recognize that the timing of the softball restructure announcement during the current season was not appropriate and may have created unnecessary distraction for our athletes and families, which was not our intention. We could have communicated more effectively and been more inclusive throughout our decision-making process.

“In response, our leadership team has decided to postpone any consideration of a softball restructure, and we are postponing any discussions of the softball structure until after the conclusion of this current season, at which point we will schedule listening sessions with our athletes and families before having further discussions with the Board of Education.”

In Monday’s email to families, the district said it will “provide opportunities for athletes and families to share feedback and engage in discussion with our administration,” “share the details of each meeting with athletes and families when they are scheduled following the current season,” and “explore all options to support and sustain a strong and thriving softball program in District 155.”

In addition, the district said there will be no planned discussion of softball at the upcoming District 155 board meeting April 21, and no softball proposal will be brought up at the May meeting.

The 1,745-square-foot home, built in 2003, was sold for $390,000, or $223 per square foot. This single-story house has three bedrooms. The lot of the property covers an area of 1.3 acres.

The 2,761-square-foot house, built in 1984, was sold for $389,000, or $141 per square foot. The property is equipped with central A/C. The property sits on a 10,960-square-foot lot.

“There is interest in it” from potential buyers, Martin said of the massive campus, adding that the way it’s being marketed, a buyer could purchase the corporate office building with one of the two warehouse facilities or all three together.

Brake Parts Inc. announced it was permanently closing its McHenry operations in early February, days after the owners of its parent company, First Brands, were indicted on fraud charges and months after its bankruptcy filing.

A total of 332 employees were informed they no longer had jobs, and another 57 were retained to wind down operations, according to a notice filed under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, Act with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The last 12 remaining employees will be done on April 30, according to Martin. The city received an updated WARN Act notice recently with that information, and “the closing of the facility will be permanent,” according to Martin’s April 6 report to the McHenry City Council.

“Staff has been working with the broker and McHenry County Economic Development Corporation on the site, and there has been a lot of interest in the site, pending its full closure,” Martin said.

According to commercial brokerage website Colliers.com, interested parties can purchase – or lease – the corporate office building at 4400 Prime Parkway and 1380 Corporate Drive together, and 1100 Corporate Drive separately.

The office building has 41,703 square feet of space, and 1380 Corporate Drive is 246,297 square feet and is being offered at $59 per square foot. The building at 1100 Corporate Drive has 376,110 square feet, according to the listing. Both warehouses have 28-foot ceilings.

The Corporate Drive buildings’ ceiling heights and loading docks with room for semi-trailer parking “are appealing” to companies in either warehouse, distribution or manufacturing, Martin said, calling it “a desirable piece of property.”

The Colliers listing also notes that the building is a designated foreign trade zone.

The home at 1606 West August Lane in McHenry was sold on March 30 for $585,000, or $286 per square foot. This is a single-story house. The property is equipped with central heating and central A/C. Additionally, the building offers three parking spots. The property’s lot measures 1 acre.

The home at 3709 Doherty Lane in McHenry was sold on March 31 for $435,000, or $153 per square foot. The house has four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The property is equipped with central heating and central A/C. Additionally, the building includes access to an attached garage. The property is situated on a lot spanning 9,583 square feet.

The 1,513-square-foot house, built in 1993, was sold for $417,000, or $276 per square foot. This two-story house has four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. The property is equipped with central heating and central A/C. Additionally, the building features an attached garage. The property’s lot measures 13,939 square feet.

Nate Larson started and allowed an unearned run in five innings with 10 strikeouts and a walk. Josh Rudnick allowed a run in three innings, and Travis Dudycha pitched the final inning with one strikeout to close out the win.

Ryan Pierce had two hits, including a double, and two runs for D-C. Cole Pearson drove in two runs. Jacob Gilette allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out three and walking three.

Jacobs 12, Prairie Ridge 2 (5 inn.): At Algonquin, Andrew Robertson, Brock Vincent, Cooper Gulgren, Jack Coates and Ryan Tucker each had a double as the Golden Eagles moved to 9-1 and 3-0 in the FVC. Vincent, Tucker, Coates, and Aaden Colon each had two RBIs. Andrew Deegan scored three runs. George Donze allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits in five innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

Gabe Winkelman had two hits and two runs for the Wolves (8-2, 2-1). Gavin Piekos had two hits and one RBI.

Hampshire 4, Crystal Lake Central 3: At Hampshire, Tyler Rubino had two hits, including a home run and a walk-off single in the seventh with two outs, and drove in three runs as the Whip-Purs (9-3-1, 2-2) scored three runs in the final two innings to beat the Tigers (4-8, 1-3) in an FVC game.

Jonathan Alexander added two hits and one RBI. Mason Stanley allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings, striking out three. Joey Rodriguez tossed two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Wade Ozment allowed a run on three hits in five innings for Central. He struck out five and walked one. Konner Altergott had two hits, including a double. Ozment added a double and one RBI.

Johnsburg 10, Woodstock North 0 (5 inn.): At Johnsburg, Peyton Mesce tossed a five-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts and two walks in the Skyhawks’ (9-3, 3-0) Kishwaukee River Conference win over the Thunder (2-6, 1-2). Josh Speer had a triple and two RBIs, and Jacob Smith tallied two RBIs. Carter Block had two hits, including a double, and one RBI.

Burlington Central 11, Cary-Grove 6: At Cary, Wagner Viebrock (2 for 3) had a homer, two runs and two RBIs, and Jaxton Bovee added two hits, including a double, and three RBIs as the Rockets (6-5-2, 3-1) beat the Trojans (3-8, 0-4) in their FVC game. Daniel Koertgen didn’t allow a run in three innings of relief, allowing three hits while striking out five and walking none.

Oskar Freund had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs, and Mason Klimek added three hits. Kaden Norman allowed seven runs (six earned) on six hits over 5⅓ innings, striking out five and walking two.

Richmond-Burton 9, Woodstock 6: At Richmond, Cooper Nagel had two hits, including a homer, and three RBIs from the leadoff spot to lead the Rockets (7-7, 1-2) to their first KRC win of the season. Ray Hannemann had three hits, including a double, and two RBIs, and Bryce Kowall had two hits with a double.

Grayson Morningstar struck out 10 and walked two in 5⅔ innings. He allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits. Nagel threw 1⅓ shutout innings.

Sonny Marsalla had two hits and three RBIs for the Blue Streaks (3-4, 2-1). Noah Henning had three hits, two runs and an RBI.

Marengo 7, Plano 3: At Plano, a five-run top of the fifth lifted the Indians (7-4, 2-1) to a KRC win against the Reapers. Konstantinos Siambanis tallied two hits and three RBIs, and Max Broughton drove in two runs for Marengo while striking out 12 and allowing no hits in five innings. Broughton walked five.

Harvard 5, Sandwich 4: At Sandwich, the Hornets (4-3, 3-0) rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to beat the Indians and stay undefeated in the KRC. Kara Knop hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and struck out 13 batters in the win, allowing four runs (three earned) on 12 hits.

Woodstock North 10, Johnsburg 4: At Johnsburg, the Thunder (5-2, 3-0) picked up their fifth straight victory, beating the Skyhawks (3-6, 1-2) in their KRC game. Kylie Stevens (three RBIs), Aly Jordan (three runs, two RBIs) and Kylee Nicholson (double, two RBIs) each had three RBIs in the victory.

Allyson Schaid had a double and two RBIs. Makayla Nordahl allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings. She struck out four and walked five.

Mady Stark had an RBI for Johnsburg.

Richmond-Burton 12, Woodstock 2 (5 inn.): At Woodstock, Ellie Smith (two doubles, three RBIs) and Reagan Gregurich (three runs, RBI) each collected three hits for the Rockets (6-9, 1-2) in their first KRC win of the season.

Chase Cooper added a double and earned the win, allowing a pair of unearned runs on four hits in five innings. She struck out four and walked one.

Quincey Beard had two hits, including a double, and one RBI for the Blue Streaks (2-5, 0-3).

Marengo 5, Plano 0: At Plano, Ellie White struck out nine batters in seven scoreless innings for the Indians (6-7, 2-1) in their KRC win against the Reapers. White gave up four hits and walked none. Gianna Iovinelli had two hits, including a homer, and three RBIs. Ari Rodriguez had a double and two runs scored.

Crystal Lake Central 12, Crystal Lake South 0 (5 inn.): At Crystal Lake, Harper Wright hit two homers and drove in four runs, and Cassidy Murphy had a homer, double and five RBIs as the Tigers (5-3, 3-1) beat the Gators (1-6, 0-4) in an FVC game. Logan Grams gave up two runs on three hits in four innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Georgi Austin drove in two runs for South.

Jacobs 6, McHenry 0: At McHenry, Skylee Ferrante fired seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts as the Golden Eagles (7-9, 1-3) earned their first FVC win of the season. Ferrante allowed five hits and walked four. Kendall Davignon had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs, and Molly Hoch also drove in two.

Natalie Bender had two hits for the Warriors (5-3, 1-3). Brooke Snyder allowed six runs (two earned) on four hits in seven innings. She struck out six and walked four.

Prairie Ridge 4, Burlington Central 1: At Burlington, Kylie Carroll and Parker Frey both had two hits, including a double, and an RBI for the Wolves (7-2, 3-1 FVC). Emma Dallas pitched all five innings, allowing a run on three hits. She struck out five and walked five.

Madison Butler drove in a run for the Rockets (4-5, 3-1), who suffered their first FVC defeat of the spring. Isabelle Reed allowed four runs (two earned) on 10 hits in seven innings, striking out four.

Hampshire 12, Dundee-Crown 5: At Carpentersville, Adi Edlen (double, two runs, two RBIs) and Julissa Akins (two RBIs) each hit a homer in the Whip-Purs’ (4-3, 3-1) FVC win over the Chargers (3-9, 1-3). Becca Coffey had two hits, including a double, two runs and two RBIs, and Mia Perez had three hits and drove in one.

Akins picked up the win, giving up five runs (one earned) on nine hits. She struck out seven and walked one in her seven innings.

Kerrigan Svec had two doubles and one RBI and Casi Attapit had a double and two RBIs for D-C.

Huntley 11, Cary-Grove 1 (5 inn.): At Cary, Piper Heimbrodt hit a homer with two RBIs, and Lana Hobday added a double and drove in two as the Red Raiders (11-4, 4-0) stayed perfect in the FVC.

Aubrina Adamik had three hits and three runs, and Kateyln Bayness had two hits and one RBI. Layla Olson allowed a run on five hits in five innings with six strikeouts.

Taylor Allen drove in the lone run for the Trojans (1-6, 1-3).

Crystal Lake Central 5, Metea Valley 0: At Crystal Lake, Addison Schaffer had two goals and two assists as the Tigers (3-1) picked up a win in the BodArmor Series Tournament. Skyler Ferrero, Allison Barnett and Peyton McMahon also scored. Skyler Ferrero made three saves and Charlotte Wallner had one.

Harvard 2, Woodstock 1: At Harvard, Julie Silva and Aimar Nava scored in the first half for the Hornets (5-1-1, 1-1) in the KRC win against the Blue Streaks (0-7, 0-3). Jarithsie Mercado had four saves for Harvard.

Richmond-Burton 8, Marian Central 0: At Richmond, Maddie Seyller had a hat trick and Sydney Frericks added two goals for the Rockets (6-1) in a nonconference win over the Hurricanes. Nicole Medlik, Abby Leslie and Elle Barrettsmith also scored.

Dundee-Crown Meet: At Carpentersville, Cary-Grove won with 74 points, followed by Jacobs (68) and D-C (25). C-G’s Logan Abrams took first in the shot put (17.67 meters) and discus (51.94m).

Jacobs’ Kieran Nally won the 100 meters (11.59 seconds), 200 meters (23.11) and 300 hurdles (43.94). The Eagles took first in the 4x100 (43.99) and 4x400 (3:42.15) relays.

Burlington Central Meet: At Burlington, Prairie Ridge’s Alexander Trejo won the 110 hurdles (15.33) and was second in the 300 hurdles (41.64). The Wolves swept the relays, winning the 4x100 (44.24), 4x200 (1:37.31), 4x400 (3:36.19) and 4x800 (8:43.87).

McHenry Meet: At McHenry, Huntley (75) took first, McHenry (69) was second and Crystal Lake South (31) was third. Ryan Wabel took first in the shot put (14.04m) and discus (36.97m). McHenry was first in the 4x100 (44.04), 4x200 (1:32.80) and 4x400 (3:53.93).

Max Gemelli won the triple jump (12.57m) and 400 (55.58) for the host Rockets. Hampshire’s Tyler Brown was first in the 200 (24.19) and second in the 100 (11.68).

Team scores were not provided.

Crystal Lake South Meet: At Crystal Lake, Huntley took first with 80.5 points, followed by McHenry (53.5) and South (43). Elena Fetzer won the shot put (11.98m) and discus (34.50m). Huntley also was first in the 4x100 (58.14) and 4x200 (2:02.24).

McHenry’s Addison Hoffman finished first in the 100 (12.83) and 200 (26.15). South’s Makayla Westerman was first in the high jump (1.47m) and second in the triple jump (9.23m).

Jacobs Meet: At Algonquin, the host Golden Eagles and Cary-Grove tied for first with 50 points. Dundee-Crown (37) was third. Jacobs’ Aaliyah Guichon took first in the 100 (12.56) and 200 (26.16). For C-G, Olivia Parker was first in the 100 hurdles (15.40) and 400 (1:00.91).

Crystal Lake Central Meet: At Crystal Lake, Hampshire was first with 96 points, followed by Burlington Central (95), Prairie Ridge (51) and Crystal Lake Central (18). Chichi Ukachukwu (100 meters), Ava Garcia (200), Hailey Wilson (300 hurdles), Reese Long (800), Alicia Mallory (long jump) and Hailey Homola (shot put) took first for the Whips, along with the 4x100 relay team.

For Burlington Central, Stella Volk (100 hurdles), Maria Kutrovatz (400), Addison Davis (3,200), Gracelin Turschman (pole vault) and LaRaiya Cunningham-Duncan (triple jump) all took first. The Rockets also won the 4x200 and 4x800 relays.

Jose Antonio Escobar-Albarran, 26, was charged with a felony count of aggravated domestic battery as well as misdemeanor domestic battery charges, according to a release Monday from McHenry County State’s Attorney Randi Freese.

At Escobar-Albarran’s initial court appearance Monday, Judge Mary Nader granted the state’s petition to deny pretrial release, Freese said.

According to prosecutors, Escobar-Albarran got into an argument with a female family member Friday that escalated into a physical assault.

“He allegedly placed his hands around the victim’s neck and applied pressure, restricting her ability to breathe and causing her to lose consciousness,” according to a news release.

When the victim later regained consciousness, Escobar-Albarran had fled the scene and the woman’s phone was missing, according to the release.

According to the complaint filed in McHenry County Court, the woman sustained bruising to her neck and had to receive medical treatment.

Freese emphasized the seriousness with which her office approaches domestic violence crimes, particularly those involving acts of strangulation.

“This was a deeply disturbing and dangerous attack,” Freese said. “We are committed to holding offenders accountable and protecting victims. I am relieved that the Court recognized the severity of these allegations and ordered that the defendant remain in custody pending further proceedings.”

Escobar-Albarran’s next court appearance set for May 7.

Every summer, vehicle access is shut off on the northern half of Spring Street in downtown Cary to turn it into an outdoor eating-friendly “Alfresco Alley.” The village is looking for ways to upgrade the experience to match its Main Street renovations.

In February, landscape architects MKSK Studios presented preliminary ideas to transform Spring Street. Some improvements include a seat wall, pedestrian paving that matches Main Street, overhead string lighting, bench seating and bike racks.

Originally, the village used a $850,000 grant it received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the project as a budget placeholder. Within the month, estimates for utilities, surveys and electrical costs came in, bringing the new total project estimated costs to about $1.36 million, Village Administrator Erik Morimoto said.

“These figures are estimations based on information gathered by the consultant as the design progressed from the conceptual to technical phase and remain subject to change until the design is finalized and construction bids are received,” Morimoto said in an email to Shaw Local.

Possible seasonal upgrades include a shade structure, shade pergolas, a wood deck and lawn tiles. These temporary additions would be used only during the warmer months when the street is closed off to pedestrian access.

Following about a $511,000 cost increase, the village will hold off on getting the seasonal deck this year.

“It’s not because of price creep or inflation,” Morimoto said during Tuesday’s meeting. “This refined design, we now know more of the details and the exact quantities and requirements needed for that design.”

Some good news for the village is that sales tax projections increased by $300,000 from what was originally predicted, Finance Director Kelly Brainerd said. To keep the budget balanced, that extra $300,000 will be transferred from the general fund into the capital fund.

According to village documents, sales tax is the largest revenue source for the village, taking up 26.56% of total budgeted general fund revenue for 2027. The total sales tax, not including non-home-rule sales tax, is projected to top $3.36 million, Morimoto said.

The total projection for the 1% non-home-rule sales tax is $708,000, slightly less than the originally estimated $750,000 when the village first introduced the tax.

International affairs have also affected the village’s budget. Brainerd said the village fuel costs across all of the funds in departments increased by 10% “based on what’s going on right now with gas prices.”

Oil prices soared after Trump vowed the U.S. will continue to attack Iran last week. Although a two-week ceasefire was announced Tuesday, The Associated Press reports gas prices continue to climb.

For me, this plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers serious output that can be outright fun to drive. While the exterior design leans more toward refinement than rugged, this latest iteration proves that evolution doesn’t have to come at the expense of identity.

My first impressions of the Range Rover Sport always start with its unmistakable exterior look. I’ve never found it to be flashy or gimmicky, but I must make a point of suggesting that the optional Varesine Blue paint ($710 ) is worth every penny. Depending on lighting conditions, the blue changes from deep navy tones to a brighter metallic blue. It adds a layer of sophistication that elevates the already clean and minimalistic design.

Paired with the Black Exterior Package ($750), which replaces chrome accents with gloss black trim, and the 22-inch Satin Dark Gray wheels ($1,100), the overall look leans modern and slightly aggressive without tipping into excess. The proportions remain balanced, with a low roofline and planted stance that make the Sport feel more athletic than its larger sibling.

Under the hood, the plug-in hybrid system pairs a 3.0-liter inline-six engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 454 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. Power is routed through an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering smooth, confident acceleration.

The PHEV system allows for short all-electric drives, ideal for commuting or errand runs, while the gasoline engine ensures long-distance flexibility. Fuel economy comes in at 21 MPG combined on gasoline alone, with a more impressive 53 MPGe when utilizing both electric and gas power.

Always on trial for the pure EVs, the hybrid charging is straightforward at home thanks to the included cable, though public charging will likely require adapters. For a vehicle in this price range, a more seamless charging solution would be expected.

I found the power delivery to be effortless. The electric motor fills in gaps seamlessly, and the transition between electric and gas operation is nearly imperceptible. It’s not a performance SUV in the traditional sense, but it’s quick enough to feel fun and confident in any driving scenario.

The Range Rover Sport cabin delivers on its luxury promise. The cabin offers high-quality materials used thoughtfully rather than extravagantly. Soft-touch surfaces, finely stitched leather, and subtle metallic accents create an environment that feels both upscale and never overdone.

Seating is supportive and spacious, particularly in the front row, though the sloping roofline slightly compromises rear headroom for taller passengers. Cargo space is competitive, though not class-leading.

The available Meridian Audio 3D Surround Sound System ($1,200) is a standout feature. Audio clarity is exceptional, with immersive sound staging that enhances everything from podcasts to full orchestral tracks. Again, worth every penny if you are anywhere close to an audiophile.

The Convenience Package ($595) adds useful touches like a hands-free power tailgate and additional driver aids, while the Cold Climate Package ($450) ensures comfort in colder regions with heated surfaces throughout the cabin.

The infotainment system is visually clean and relatively responsive, though some functions require digging through menus. Physical controls are minimal, which contributes to the sleek look but was frustrating at times during my week-long review.

As expected, the Range Rover Sport is equipped with a full suite of driver-assistance technologies. Features include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. These systems generally perform well, though some alerts can feel overly sensitive in real-world driving.

The interface for managing these features is integrated into the infotainment system, which can make quick adjustments less intuitive than they should be. Still, the breadth of safety tech is impressive and aligns with expectations in this segment.

On the road, the Range Rover Sport leans heavily toward comfort. The suspension absorbs imperfections with ease, making it an excellent long-distance cruiser. Body control is well-managed, though it doesn’t encourage aggressive driving.

Steering is precise but somewhat detached, reinforcing the vehicle’s focus on refinement over sportiness. For most buyers, this will be a positive, though those expecting a more dynamic driving experience may find it lacking engagement.

Even if most owners never venture off the pavement, the Range Rover Sport remains impressively capable. Terrain Response systems, adjustable ride height, and advanced traction control allow it to tackle challenging conditions with confidence. This duality, luxury on the road, capability off it, is part of what continues to define the Range Rover identity. It’s reassuring to know the capability is there, even if it goes unused.

Starting at $95,100 and reaching $101,600 as tested, the 2026 Range Rover Sport Dynamic SE PHEV sits firmly in the premium SUV category. For buyers seeking a refined, stylish SUV with modern hybrid efficiency and authentic off-road capability, the Range Rover Sport PHEV remains a compelling option. It doesn’t try to reinvent the formula – it simply evolves it in a way that feels thoughtful and, for the most part, well-executed.

• John Stein is a freelance journalist based in Chicago. He has more than 25 years of experience driving, testing and writing about the automotive industry, its latest innovations and vehicle performance.

School: Woodstock

Sport: Softball

Why she was selected: Kuiper racked up 38 strikeouts in her first 14⅓ innings of the season, nearly tossing a no-hitter against Round Lake. She carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Panthers, whiffing 20 batters in a 6-0 victory.

For her performance, Kuiper was selected as the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week in an online vote. The Blue Streaks sophomore answered a few questions from the Northwest Herald following her 20-K performance.

How did you become a pitcher?

Kuiper: I started playing softball when I was 9 years old, and I tried a lot of positions, but not pitching. I got the chance to try the next year, and I really liked it. I was absolutely terrible, so my parents signed me up for pitching lessons, and since then I’ve kept working hard at it and getting better.

What is your favorite pitching drill?

Kuiper: My favorite pitching drill are falls. That’s when I stand behind the mound and fall forward a little bit, then use that momentum to step and drive off the mound.

What is the hardest part about pitching?

Kuiper: The hardest part about pitching is learning to accept that not everything is going to be perfect, and you can only control what you can control. For example, if you don’t get a call that you like from an umpire, you can’t control that, but what you can control is how you respond to it. Another example is when someone hits a home run off of you; you can’t control that, but you can control what you do afterwards. Are you going to give up, or are you going to go after the next batter?

Who is your funniest teammate?

Kuiper: My funniest teammate is Emma Douglas. She can always lift the mood when things start to get tense. She also always has a smile on her face and is making jokes, whether it is during practice, in a game and even outside of softball.

What is a song that always gets you pumped up?

Kuiper: I usually listen to a lot of different music, depending on my mood or what I’m feeling that day. But a couple songs that always get me pumped up are “Gemstone” by Don Toliver, “Run for the Hills” by Tate McRae and “Thinkin’ Bout Me” by Morgan Wallen.

Do you have any game-day rituals or superstitions?

Kuiper: Every single game, no matter what, I always wear the same Kendra Scott earrings my aunt gave me a couple years ago, along with a “40” (my travel softball number) necklace that my mom and dad got for me. Another superstition I have is that if I have a certain drink on the first day of a tournament and do well, I have to get the same drink every morning for the rest of the tournament.

What is something that scares you?

Kuiper: Softball-related, it scares me a little when the ball is hit hard right back at me up the middle. Not softball-related, snakes freak me out.

What’s your proudest sports moment?

Kuiper: My proudest sports moment was probably when I pitched against the Beverly Bandits in a championship game and won.

What is your most prized possession?

Kuiper: My most prized possession is my glove. It’s a custom one that my dad got me for my 16th birthday.

What’s a sport you are bad at?

Kuiper: I tried gymnastics when I was little. Apparently, I was really bad at it. I thought I was good.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Kuiper: The best piece of advice I’ve gotten is to stay in my bubble. Things can get really loud, and there are a lot of distractions when you’re in the circle. I always try to remember to stay in my bubble and block out all that extra noise.