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 2007 Season           2008 Roster            Schedule

No.

Player

High School

Pos.

College

1

Alexandra Seplak

Waubonsie Valley '09

OF/IN

 

4

Emma Jarrell

Carl Sandburg '10

3B / SS / OF

 

7

Kaitlyn Bolanowski

Lowell '08

P / RF / 2B

U. of Indianapolis

8

Cassie Walisiak

Lockport '08

OF

Cornell

10

Caity Niemczyk

Lincoln-Way East '09

1B / P

 

12

Amanda Bilina

Andrew '08

1B / 3B

Eastern Illinois

13

Katie Healy

Marian Catholic '08

OF/2B

Lewis Univ.

15

Tracey Walsh

Marian Catholic '08

1B / OF

Benedictine (bkb)

18

Brianna Nordstrom

ECS '08

C / 3B /1B

SIU-Carbondale

20

Julia Katsaros

Hinsdale South '09

OF

 

21

Kara Walsh

Marian Catholic '08

C / 3B

Benedictine Univ.

22

Megan Bolanowski

Lowell '10

SS / 3B

 

23

Natalie Wunderlich

Naperville Central '09

P

 

25

Stephanie Becker

West Aurora '09

P/1B

Mississippi St.

26

Katherine Allert

Lowell '09

C / OF

Indiana Univ.

Manager: Joe Tholl
Coaches:
Kevin Kelly, Christy Sikora, Jenna Gesiakowski

The 2008 Sparks will seek a bid to the 2008 ASA Nationals when the compete in a Qualifier in Owensboro, Kent. on June 13-15

Sparks go 3-0 in washed out Oak Lawn Tourney

   OAK LAWN- The Orland Park Sparks 18-Under posted a 3-0 record and won their pool, but saw elimination play in the Oak Lawn Invitational washed out on Sunday. The Sparks (6-1-1) will travel to the Owensboro, Kent. ASA National Qualifier next weekend.
    Sparks 5, No. Illinois Thunder 0- Stephanie Becker and Natalie Wunderlich (combined 11 strikeouts) hooked up on a two-hit effort, while the offense was paced by Brianna Nordstrom (1-for-3, two RBI), Katie Healy (run, steal) and Kara Walsh (1-for-1, sacrifice fly).
   Sparks 13, Synergy 0- Tracey Walsh was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three runs to ignite the offense, while Amanda Bilina belted a two-run triple to support winning hurler Wunderlich (3-0). Megan Bolanowski knocked in two runs, while Healy and Kaitlyn Bolanowski also added RBI.
   Sparks 6, Aurora Raiders 1- Kaitlyn Bolanowski and Becker combined on a one-hitter, while Megan Bolanowski doubled and knocked in two runs to spark the offense. Alexandra Seplak added a triple, Healy was 2-for-3 with a steal, Kara Walsh knocked in two runs and Bilina added an RBI and two stolen bases.

2008 Summer Schedule

Date(s)

Opponent/Tournament

Time/Result

May 31-June 1

                  Elgin Bluesfest Invitational (3-1-1)

2nd Place

Sat, May 31

Sparks 5, Naperville Diamonds 2

1-0

Sat, May 31

Sparks 2, Lemont Rockers 0

2-0

Sun, June 1

Sparks 0, Downers Grove Outlaws 0 (7 inn.)

2-0-1

Sun, June 1

Sparks 2, Downers Grove Outlaws 1 (10 inn.)

3-0-1

Sun, June 1

Lemont Rockers 4, Sparks 2 (title)

3-1-1

June 6-8

                    Oak Lawn Invitational (3-0)

Rained out

Fri, June 6

Sparks 5, Illinois Thunder 0

4-1-1

Fri, June 6

Sparks 13, Synergy 0

5-1-1

Sat, June 7

Sparks 6, Aurora Raiders 1

6-1-1

June 13-15

       Owensboro, Kent. ASA Qualifier

 

Fri, June 13

vs. Louisville Sluggers (pool play)

7:30 p.m.

June 20-22

Indianapolis ASA Qualifier

TBA

June 27-29

Elgin Invitational

 

Fri, June 27

vs. Homer Hawks

1:45 p.m.

Sat, June 28

vs. Downers Grove Rebels

10:15 a.m.

Sat, June 28

vs. Synergy

12 p.m.

Sat, June 28

vs. Elmhurst Edge

5:15 p.m.

Sun, June 29

Elimination begins

TBA

June 30-July 6

             Boulder Independence Day Tourney

TBA

Wed, July 2

Arizona Desert Storm

3 p.m.

Wed, July 2

SoCal Choppers

6:45 p.m.

Thu, July 3

Missouri Chaos

8 a.m.

Thu, July 3

Calif. Victory USA

9:45 a.m.

Fri, July 4

Georgia Elite

3 p.m.

Fri, July 4

Texas Eclipse Gold

6:45 p.m.

July 11-13

Chicago ASA Metro, Bourbonnais

TBA

July 17-20

Elgin Tournament

TBA

July 27-Aug. 3

ASA Class A Nationals, Moline

TBA

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 to 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).