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1996 ASA
18-under
National
Champions |
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Sparks capture 65th at ASA Nationals |
Aug. 2: College Station, TX- The Orland
Park Sparks dropped a one-run decision in the ASA  Class A National Tournament Thursday night. The Sparks
(44-21-2) earned a tie for 65th place in the 133-team tournament.
Heartland Havoc 3, Sparks 2- After a pair of unearned runs spotted the Havoc a 2-0 lead in the first, the Sparks
stranded eight baserunners and were unable to complete a comeback. Cassie Walisiak (two runs) and Nicole Guska each went 2-for-4 to pace the offense, while Amanda Bilina
and Kara Walsh added hits. Guska and Lindsey Major knocked in the Sparks' runs.
Sparks 13, Texas Ragdolls 5- Cassie Walisiak went 3-for-4 with a triple,
three runs and four RBI to lead the 11-hit attack for the Sparks. Mary Ostman (2-for-5) knocked in three runs, Nicole Guska (2-for-4) and Crystal Amendola two
each and Amanda Bilina (double) and Tracey Walsh added single RBI. Christina Roesel (three runs) and Guska added stolen bases. Allson Gage earned the mound victory in relief.
Oklahoma Attack 3, Sparks 1- The Attack scored three unearned runs and rallied after the Sparks had overcome a 1-0 deficit in the fifth. Kara Walsh scored
the lone run for the Sparks on a wild pitch when she pinch-ran for Brittany Arrington, who had walked and moved up when Amanda Bilina reached on an error.
The Sparks had seven total baserunners, but sustained four of their eight strikeouts with runners in scoring position.
Sparks 5, Ohio Jaguars 2-
Trailing 2-0 entering the sixth inning, the Sparks got RBI-singles from Nicole Guska and Lindsey Major to key the comeback.
Allison Gage (16-9) fired three perfect innings of relief to earn the victory. Guska finished 2-for-4, while the winners got runs from Cassie Walisiak (two), Mary Ostman, Brianna Nordstrom and Major.
Maryland Heartbreakers 3, Sparks 1- The Sparks outhit their Maryland foe, 3-2, but yielded two unearned runs in the pool play setback. Allison Gage struck
out five and allowed just two singles in the tough-luck setback. The Sparks took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mary Ostman (1-for-3) scored an unearned run, but
managed only singles from Kara Walsh and Crystal Amendola the rest of the way. The Sparks stranded five runners in scoring position. |
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2007 season: 44-21-2 overall record.
65th Place- ASA Class A Nationals.
1st Place- Cincinnati ASA National Qualifier
1st Place- Elgin Invitational.
2nd Place- Minneapoils ASA National Qualifier.
Class of 2007 to college:
Brittany Arrington, University of St. Francis.
Kelly Cummings, University of Buffalo.
Allison Gage, Boston College.
Nicole Guska, University of Michigan.
Kiley Lythberg, Central College in Iowa.
Lindsey Major, University of Iowa.
Mary Ostman, Penn State University.
Christina Roesel, University of Louisville.
Notes (2007):
The Sparks were one of six (all)
organizational teams to qualify for ASA National Tournaments. . . eight of nine Class of 2007 athletes (all who planned ot play college softball) advanced to continue their softball careers in college. . .
one Class of 2008 athlete has made a verbal commitment to accept college scholarships- Amanda Bilina (Eastern Illinois). . . with a fifth-place finish in the ASA Chicago Metro tournament, the Sparks extended
their streak of top five finishes to nine in tournaments in which they've competed (dating to 1991). |
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No. |
Player |
High School |
Pos. |
College |
1 |
Kiley Lythberg |
Prospect '07 |
P / OF |
Central College (Ia) |
2 |
Christina Roesel |
Morris '07 |
SS / OF / 2B |
Louisville |
3 |
Nicole Guska |
Carl Sandburg '07 |
C / 1B / OF |
Michigan |
7 |
Kaitlyn Bolanowski |
Lowell, Ind. '08 |
P / RF / 2B |
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8 |
Cassie Walisiak |
Lockport '08 |
OF |
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9 |
Lauren Dehnert |
Boone Grove, Ind. '07 |
P / 1B |
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10 |
Mary Ostman |
Glenbrook North '07 |
OF / 3B |
Penn State Univ. |
11 |
Allison Gage |
Lyons Township '07 |
P / 1B |
Boston College |
12 |
Amanda Bilina |
Andrew '08 |
1B / 3B |
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14 |
Kelly Cummings |
Prospect '07 |
IF/OF |
Univ. of Buffalo |
15 |
Tracey Walsh |
Marian Catholic '08 |
1B / OF |
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16 |
Crystal Amendola |
Marian Catholic '07 |
2B / 3B |
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17 |
Brittany Arrington |
Richards '07 |
3B / 1B / C |
St. Francis |
18 |
Brianna Nordstrom |
ECS '08 |
C / 3B /1B |
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21 |
Kara Walsh |
Marian Catholic '08 |
C / 3B |
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22 |
Linnea Lones |
Lincoln-Way-East '08 |
OF |
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24 |
Lindsey Major |
Joliet Catholic '07 |
C / 3B |
Univ. of Iowa |
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Date(s) |
Opponent/Tournament |
Time/Result |
Thu, June 7 |
Sparks 5, Homer Hawks 1 |
1-0 |
June 9-10 |
Elgin Invitational |
1st Place |
Sat, June 9 |
Illinois Thunder- Powers 5, Sparks 0 |
1-1 |
Sat, June 9 |
Sparks 8, East Peoria Express 0 |
2-1 |
Sat, June 9 |
Sparks 3, Mt. Prospect Power 2 |
3-1 |
Sun, June 10 |
Sparks 2, Illinois Typhoons 1 |
4-1 |
Sun, June 10 |
Sparks 3, Elgin Heat 2 (8 inn.) |
5-1 |
Sun, June 10 |
Sparks 8, Kenosha Cyclones 1 |
6-1 |
Sun, June 10 |
Sparks 3, Aurora Raiders 2 (title) |
7-1 |
Wed, June 13 |
Sparks 5-12, Illinois Angels 1-0 (2nd game, 6 inn.) |
9-1 |
June 15-17 |
Minneapolis (Minn.) National Qualifier |
2nd Place |
Fri, June 15 |
Sparks 7, Minnesota Sting 88 0 (forfeit) |
10-1 |
Sat, June 16 |
Sparks 2, Minnesota Irish 1 |
11-1 |
Sat, June 16 |
Sparks 4, Berwyn-Cicero Bash 0 |
12-1 |
Sat, June 16 |
Illinois Outlaws 5, Sparks 2 |
12-2 |
Sun, June 17 |
Sparks 3, St. Paul Rookies 1 |
13-2 |
Sun, June 17 |
Sparks 8, Minnesota Irish 2 |
14-2 |
Sun, June 17 |
Sparks 6, Minnesota Sting 88 3 |
15-2 |
Sun, June 17 |
Sparks 2, Illinois Outlaws 0 |
16-2 |
Sun, June 17 |
Sparks 2, Minnesota Peppers 0 |
17-2 |
Sun, June 17 |
Minnesota Blizzard 2, Sparks 0 (title) |
17-3 |
Wed, June 20 |
Stone City Sharks 7-3, Sparks 1-2 |
17-5 |
June 22-24 |
Springfield ASA National Qualifier |
5th Place |
Fri, June 22 |
Sparks 8, Cyclones 0 (6 inn.) |
18-5 |
Fri, June 22 |
Sparks 1, Tennessee Xplosion 0 |
19-5 |
Sun, June 24 |
Sparks 3, Lexington Legacy 0 |
20-5 |
Sun, June 24 |
Sparks 3, Crete Quest 1 |
21-5 |
Sun, June 24 |
Illinois Outlaws 4, Sparks 3 (8 inn.) |
21-6 |
Sun, June 24 |
Lemont Rockers-TO 4, Sparks 1 |
21-7 |
Mon, June 25 |
Arizona Suncats 8, Sparks 2 |
21-8 |
Mon, June 25 |
Calif. Corona Angels-Marty 6, Sparks 4 |
21-9 |
Mon, June 25 |
Texas Storm 9, Sparks 0 |
21-10 |
Tue, June 26 |
Richmond Diamonds 2, Sparks 0 |
21-11 |
Tue, June 26 |
Minnesota Blizzard 4, Sparks 3 |
21-12 |
Jn 25-July 1 |
Boulder (Colo.) Independence Day Tournament |
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Wed, Jn 27 |
Sparks 6, Tampa Mustangs 1 |
22-12 |
Wed, Jn 27 |
Sparks 7, Calif. Strike Zone 6 |
23-12 |
Thu, Jn 28 |
Sparks 1, Arizona Outlaws Gold 0 |
24-12 |
Thu, Jn 28 |
Sparks 2, Colorado Stars-Hayner 2 |
24-12-1 |
Fri, Jn 29 |
Sparks 8, Texas Mystixx 2 (5 inn.) |
25-12-1 |
Fri, Jn 29 |
SoCal Breakers 6, Sparks 3 |
25-13-1 |
Sat, Jn 30 |
Virginia Shamrocks 8, Sparks 4 |
25-14-1 |
July 6-8 |
Cincinnati (Ohio) ASA Regional/National Qualifier |
1st Place |
Fri, July 6 |
Sparks 10, Indy Crush-Mattox 1 (5 inn.) |
26-14-1 |
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Sparks 10, So. Indiana RBIs 1 (5 inn.) |
27-14-1 |
Sat, July 7 |
Sparks 3, Indiana Chaos 1 |
28-14-1 |
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Sparks 8, Indy Crush-Taylor 2 |
29-14-1 |
Sun, July 8 |
Sparks 1, Central Kentucky Edge 0 |
30-14-1 |
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Sparks 5, Central Kentucky Edge 0 (title) |
31-14-1 |
Wed, July 11 |
Illinois Outlaws at Thornwood (2) |
Cancelled |
July 12-15 |
Chicago ASA Metro in Lemont (photos) |
5th place |
Fri, July 13 |
Sparks 5, Bulls-Sox Academy 0 |
32-14-1 |
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Sparks 4, Downers Grove Outlaws 0 |
33-14-1 |
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Sparks 8, Oak Lawn Ice 2 |
34-14-1 |
Sat, July 14 |
Downers Rebels 7, Sparks 3 |
34-15-1 |
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Sparks 5, Joliet Dirt Devils 0 |
35-15-1 |
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Sparks 5, Homer Hawks-Ali 2 |
36-15-1 |
Sun, July 15 |
Sparks 6, Glenside Raiders 3 |
37-15-1 |
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Sparks 4, New Lenox Lightning 2 |
38-15-1 |
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Illinois Outlaws 8, Sparks 0 (5th place) |
38-16-1 |
July 19-22 |
Orland Park Invitational |
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Thu, July 19 |
Sparks 8, Gurnee Storm 0 |
39-16-1 |
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Wisconsin Velocity 2, Sparks 1 |
39-17-1 |
Fri, July 20 |
Sparks 0, Barrington Hurricanes 0 (8 inn.) |
39-17-2 |
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Sparks 3, Lake County Liberty 0 |
40-17-2 |
Sat, July 21 |
Sparks 8, Indiana Chaos 0 (6 inn.) |
41-17-2 |
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Sparks 7, Illinois Bandits 0 (forfeit) |
42-17-2 |
Sun, July 22 |
St. Louis Chaos 3, Sparks 1 |
42-18-2 |
July 29-Aug 5 |
ASA Class A Nationals in College Station, Texas |
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Mon, July 30 |
Maryland Heartbreakers 3, Sparks 1 |
42-19-2 |
Tue, July 31 |
Sparks 5, Ohio Jaguars 2 |
43-19-2 |
Wed, Aug. 1 |
Oklahoma Attack 3, Sparks 1 |
43-20-2 |
Thu, Aug. 2 |
Sparks 13, Texas Ragdolls 5 |
44-20-2 |
Thu, Aug. 2 |
Heartland (IL) Havoc 3, Sparks 2 |
44-21-2 |
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2006 season: 42-18-3 overall record.
33rd Place- ASA Class A Nationals.
1st Place- Ann Arbor Invitational.
Class of 2006 to college:
Lauren Dortwegt, Lipscomb University
Trina Fields, Farleigh Dickinson
Nicole Fletcher, St. Xavier University
Katie Ivancich, Buffalo University
Kara Kristoff, St. Joseph College
Allison Parker, Northern Illinois University
Jenna Prieto, North Central College
Julia Sears, Northwestern University
Kate Welsh, Northern Illinois University
Notes (2006):
The
Sparks played 37 games- or 60 percent of their schedule- against teams that qualified for ASA National Tournaments. . . all nine Class of 2006 athletes advanced to continue their softball careers in college.
. . eight Class of 2007 athletes have made verbal commitments to accept college scholarships- Brittany Arrington (St. Francis), Allison Gage (Boston College), Lindsey Major (Iowa), Mary Ostman (Penn State),
Christina Roesel (Louisville), Nicole Guska (Michigan), Kelly Cummings (Buffalo) and Kiley Lythberg (Central College, Iowa). . . with a third-place finish in the ASA Chicago Metro tournament, the Sparks
extended their streak of top three finishes to eight in tournaments in which they've competed (dating to 1991). |
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