Palatine advances to regional semifinals with 5-3 win over Wheeling

Luschen comes through with clutch hit for Pirates

Palatine’s Mike Luschen was 2-for-4 and drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the sixth inning. Story and Photos By: John Juettner        What seemed like a sure thing suddenly wasn’t for Palatine in Monday’s boys’ baseball IHSA regional quarterfinal against visiting Wheeling.       It was the top of the sixth inning, the Pirates had just plated their third run of the game in the bottom half of the fifth, Wheeling had not scored a run, and Palatine starter Tommy Galvan had allowed just one Wildcat hit.       In what seemed like a blink of the eye, Wheeling rattled off three hits and capitalized on a Palatine error to tie the score at three.      …

Many MSL participants qualify for state at the Palatine sectional

Palatine’s Alec Bollman wanted to make sure he had company at next week’s IHSA 3A state track finals in Charleston. So he looked back to see where teammate Tim Johnson was at in the final meters of the 1,600 run. “I knew I had it won, so I looked back in the final 50 meters,” Bollman said. “I gave Tim a little wave and he picked it up.” Bollman was easily able to win the event while Johnson held off Libertyville’s Mitch Neubaur for second place. Bollman’s first place finish and Johnson’s second place finish helped power the Pirates to 56 points and fourth place in the sectional. Bollman also anchored the Palatine’s 4 x 800 relay team. Bollman, along with Tim Meincke, Ryan McGough…

Prospect slugs its way to 13-3 win over Wheeling

Both teams take lessons for the future from the game

Prospect senior players are honored before the game as a part of Senior Day. Story and Photos By: Charlie Burroughs           In a conference finale where nothing was on the line for the Mid-Suburban League championship or postseason seedings, both Prospect and Wheeling fought different battles Wednesday evening.       Prospect coach Ross Guisti Knights’ battle in the 13-3 victory in six innings - motivation and trust.       After a draining 5-2 loss at Hersey on Monday, Guisti said the let down carried over into the game against the Wildcats. It was present in the form of bad base running.       In the first inning a Knight runner was caught trying to advance to third from…

Palatine tops Wheeling 8-3

Miramontes, Bobbit lead way for Pirates

Alex Miramontes earned the victory against Wheeling. Story and Photo By: John Juettner       Wheeling was the team with the momentum in its favor.       The Wildcats had just scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game against visiting Palatine at three.       The Pirates were able to respond, though, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth and three more in the top of the fifth to break Monday’s Mid-Suburban League crossover game open, and go on to an 8-3 road win.       “We knew they were going to do everything they could to hang with us,” Palatine coach Paul Bello said. “They’re a scrappy team. They’re just a…