CHARLESTON – Providence Catholic continued one long track and field tradition in the pole vault and had a huge performance in the shot put Friday at the IHSA Class 2A Girls Track and Field State Meet.
Sophomore Natalie Papes placed seventh in the pole vault, clearing a height of 10 feet, 10¾ inches. The Celtics have a long tradition of medaling at the state meet in this event, with Sam Spencer winning in 2019.
Papes would have set a personal best and placed higher, however on her second attempt at 11-1½ she cleared the bar easily, but as she was in the pit, her pole knocked the bar off.
“That was disappointing when my pole hit the bar, but I’m happy to place and get a state medal,” Papes said. “This is my first time down here and it has been so fun, especially being with all my teammates here. Plus, I still have two more years of this, which is motivating.”
The performance of the day for the Celtics came in the shot put as senior Gabby Yaccino entered the meet with only the 15th-best performance, but ended the day in seventh place with a school-record throw of 37-11¼. Her best toss came on her first attempt and she had three other throws over the previous school record.
“Oh my, I can’t believe this,” Yaccino said with a big smile. “This was so unexpected and I’m so happy right now. The weather was hot and that is the way I like it. I felt really good in warm-ups and then everything came together on the first attempt. It’s a great way to end my Celtic career and I still can’t believe it.”
Yaccino then finished 12th in the discus, with a toss of 109-1½.
BASEBALL
O’Fallon 6, Joliet West 3: At O’Fallon, the Tigers lost the Class 4A sectional final despite solo home runs from Ty Batusich and Preston Vowel.
Camden Karczewski was 3 for 4 for Joliet West, which allowed the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fourth. O’Fallon added three more runs in the sixth to extend its lead to 6-2.
The Tigers finished 20-11-1.
Ottawa Marquette 16, Coal City 5: At Coal City, the Coalers had their season end in the Class 3A sectional final.
Abram Wills and Riley Ponio (double) were both 1 for 2 with two RBIs for Coal City.
SOFTBALL
Minooka 6, Belleville East 4: At Minooka, the Indians rallied late to win the Class 4A sectional final.
Anna McClimon hit a solo homer, and Chloe Kohnhorst went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, as Minooka erased a 4-1 deficit by scoring five runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Winning pitcher Allie Timm went the distance, allowing only one earned run. She scattered four hits, walked two and struck out five.
Minooka advances to the Illinois State University Supersectional in Normal and will play Yorkville at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
BOYS LACROSSE
Neuqua Valley 13, Lincoln-Way 5: At Neuqua Valley, the top-seeded Wildcats beat the No. 2 seed to win the sectional championship.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Lincoln-Way 17, Lockport 6: At Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way’s top-seeded co-op ousted the second-seeded Porters for the sectional title.
Lincoln-Way advances to the Streamwood Supersectional and will play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
GIRLS SOCCER
Sandburg 2, Lincoln-Way Central 0: At Sandburg, the top-seeded Eagles ousted the second-seeded Knights to win the Class 3A sectional championship.