Niles West Sports Roundup: Girls Soccer Starts Playoffs With a Win

Boys Track: Niles West’s defending state champion relay teams made some noise at the right time on Thursday, winning the 4x100 and taking third in the 4x200. After a season full of injuries – Santiago Ochoa has had hamstring issues – and switching in different people, Niles West’s performance at the sectional meet was one of its best all season.

The Wolves’ relay marks weren’t spectacular and they’ll have to battle at state to get back on the podium, but it’s something they’re familiar with. Last year Niles West came out of relative obscurity to take both relay championships.

Now with a little time before the state championships in Charleston, Niles West still has a few kinks to work out.

“Get our handoffs right and hopefully we come home with a victory from state,” junior Lavelle Jordan said. “We’ll get it down by next week.”

Baseball: Niles West (21-12, 8-8 CSL South) went 2-1 in three conference games this week. Jason Meger (5-1) pitched seven innings, giving up only one earned run and striking out five batters in a 6-2 win over Waukegan on May 16. Kyle Colleta was 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Wolves were blown out by Evanston, 11-2, the following day, but rebounded to beat Niles North, 7-3, on May 19. Nick Wheeler was the winning pitcher, striking out six for Niles West. Kevin Ross and Ryan Olen each went 2-for-4 at the plate with Ross connecting for a three-run homer.

Boys Gymnastics:  Niles West had five new athletes competing at the state meet his year. Senior Eli Shiheiber took 23rd on horizontal bar (8.25), Ari Lazar placed 25th on pommel horse (8.15) and Josh Nicolasin took 35th on pommel horse (7.65),

Junior Casey Mahoney-Muno tied for 37th on vault (8.8) and placed 41st on floor exercise (8.55) while senior Hantac Chang was 47th on parallel bars (7.25).

Shiheiber (floor exercise and horizontal bar), Chris Williams (floor and vault) and Chang (parallel bars) will participate in the John Brinkworth All-Star Meet this weekend for Niles West.

Softball: In one of Niles West’s (14-16, 4-6 CSL) final tune-ups for the postseason, the Wolves defeated Regina, 5-1, on May 17. Gracie McDonagh gave up only three hits on the mound to get the win for Niles West. Shelby Peters was 3-for-4 at the plate and Joanna Lefevre was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Girls Soccer: Niles West, the No. 6 seed in the IHSA Class 3A Evanston Sectional, beat Resurrection, 1-0, in overtime thanks to a goal from Cheyenne Farrell.

SCOREBOARD WATCHING

Boys Volleyball:

Deerfield d. Niles West 25-18, 25-17 on May 14

Baseball:

Glenbrook South 2, Niles West 1 on May 12