Niles North Sports Roundup: April 15

Softball: Despite Niles North’s five-inning loss to defending conference champion Glenbrook North on Wednesday, the Vikings (6-5) know they’re in position to take the CSL North championship.

Before Wednesday’s 12-2 defeat, the Vikings had won two straight one-run games over Lakes and Maine West.

“I am not sure a coach can ever be 100 perecent satisfied, but we are in a good place,” Coach Karin Wick said. “We are hitting the ball well as a team. We have production throughout the lineup.”

Part of the reason for Niles North’s success so far is 3B Rachel Matthies. As a vocal leader who leads by example with her hustle, Matthies has improved “leaps and bounds” according to Wick.

Sophomore Kristin Reichert has transitioned from her the outfield to first base this season, but it hasn’t affected her offense. She’s hitting a robust .476 at the plate.

While the team’s batting average is a solid .340, Wick says the Vikings need to get better at situation at-bats like sacrifice bunting in order to turn those hits into runs.

Wednesday’s loss to Glenbrook North might’ve been a wake-up call for Niles North, but they still have a chance for redemption: May 3 at home. 

We expect to win conference and Regionals, Wick said. “I think that we are in the right frame of mind as a team and are extremely driven. We have a special group of players, both talented and driven.”

Boys Tennis: High school tennis is all about depth, something Niles North is struggling with at the outset of their spring season.

“We've taken it on the chin a little bit early in the season,” Coach Rich Jaffe said.

No. 1 singles player Dave Bacalla is 7-1 and No. 2 Eric Rosen sports a record of 6-2, but the team is only 1-4 in dual meets, including a recent 5-2 loss to Niles West.

Last weekend at the Niles West Invitational, the Vikings finished third and Bacalla repeated as the singles champion.  

Boys Volleyball: Niles North has gotten its work in recently, playing five matches at the Warren Invite last weekend. The Vikings swept through pool play, beating Antioch and Maine South in straight sets while tipping Morton in a three-set battle.

In the semi-finals, Niles North fell to runner-up Deerfield, 25-23, 25-18 and ended up in fourth place after a 25-12, 25-20 defeat to Warren in the third-place game.

The Vikings won their most recent conference game, 25-14, 25-21 against Maine East on Wednesday.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING

Girls Soccer:

Warren 2, Niles North 0 on April 7

Plainfield Central 2, Niles North 1 on April 9 in Pepsi Showdown

Niles North 1, Niles West 1 on April 12

Baseball:

Von Steuben 10, Niles North 2 on April 9

St. Patrick 4, Niles North 2 (8 Innings) on April 11

New Trier 8, Niles North 0 on April 12

Boys Gymnastics:

Niles West 131.7, Niles North 128.6 on April 6