Maine South Sports Roundup: Baseball Deals With Weather's Realities

Baseball: More than any other sport, baseball depends on good weather. Games can’t be simulated inside a gym and indoor facilities are few and far between.

So far “Spring” 2011 hasn’t been exactly been a graceful host to the North Shore’s baseball teams. Maine West sits at 5-5, with five rainouts. A full 33 percent of their games canceled due to weather. No wonder coach Bill Milano says the team has had trouble finding consistently good performances.

“We have played well in spurts and need to work on playing a complete game in all four phases: pitching, defense, hitting, and base running),” Milano said. “The only game in which we did that was our 11-2 win over Prairie Ridge.”

Maine West held leads in each of its five losses, but Milano notes that the team needs to improve its two-out hitting and defense, elements that are instrumental in putting teams away.

Junior first baseman Nick Mitrovich is off to a great start, batting over .500 with eight RBIs and four extra-base hits. On the mound, junior Patrick Aloisio is 2-0 with two complete game victories and an ERA of 1.00.

As long as the weather allows them to compete, Milano expects to contend for a conference championship in the CSL South. Currently, they are 1-1 in conference.

“We will work on improving as a team and take it one pitch at a time,” Milano said. “Our goals are to win conference, improve every day, and peak during the state playoffs.”

Girls Soccer: Alli Curry and Carli Pappas each scored for Maine South (5-4-2) in the Hawks’ 2-0 victory over Providence on April 16.

The Hawks played to a 0-0 tie with Glenbrook North on April 12.

Badminton: Tara Jakubow and Lizzy Kowalski finished 3-1 in No. 2 doubles at New Trier’s Featherfest last weekend. Maine South garnered 10 points, beating out Deerfield and Evanston. New Trier won the tournament for the second straight year.

Maine South scored 11-7 victories over both Evanston and Maine West in the last week.

Boys Water Polo: Mike Oulvey scored four goals, including two in the fourth quarter in Maine South’s 9-6 victory over Niles West on April 19. Kevin Morrisroe added three goals and Jon Prinz had two.

The Hawks also defeated Elk Grove, 16-8, on April 15

Boys Basketball: Senior basketball star Matt Palucki has signed to play at Washington University in St. Louis next year. He joins Glenbrook North center Peter Szostak, who also agreed to play for the Division III powerhouse.

Boys Volleyball: Greg Sims had 10 kills and Joe Pearson contributed 18 assists in Maine South’s 18-25, 25-10, 25-13 victory over Niles West on April 20.

Maine South (7-4, 1-1 CSL South) lost to Glenbrook South 25-18, 25-22 on April 12.

Girls Track: CSL Insider provides an in-depth look at Maine South’s girls track team.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING:

Girls Water Polo:

Maine South 18, Resurrection 17 (OT) on April 18

Evanston 15, Maine South 7 on April 14

Softball:

New Trier 12, Maine South 2 on April 14