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Twins’ Sanchez just misses teammate’s bat swingon September 5, 2022 at 2:03 am

CHICAGOMinnesota Twins catcher Gary Sanchez was feeling fortunate Sunday after he nearly walked into a major injury.

Sanchez was almost struck in the head by a full swing by teammate Gilberto Celestino during Minnesota’s 5-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox.

The incident occurred when Chicago brought in Kendall Graveman to face Sanchez with two outs in the eighth inning. Sanchez was heading back to the dugout to learn more about the reliever when he was almost hit by Celestino in the on-deck circle.

Celestino missed Sanchez’s face by mere inches.

“I had a few minutes to go and ask a couple questions about that pitcher,” Sanchez said through an interpreter. “I saw his bat was on his shoulder just standing there in the on-deck circle and so I went back to the dugout and I didn’t notice he was swinging.”

Sanchez lowered his head after the bat passed, and Celestino leaned back with an incredulous look on his face.

“He almost hit me, but thank God, nothing happened,” Sanchez said. “It’s just an accident. It’s fine.”

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Albert Pujols — in final at-bat against Cubs — crushes homer No. 695; Cardinals win 2-0

ST. LOUIS — It’s not easy to lose a game in unforgettable fashion when you’re 22 games under .500 and the season is winding down, but that’s what the Cubs did Sunday. After the sting wears off, they might even look back on it as having been kind of cool.

And if they don’t, it doesn’t even matter — because what Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols did on the final swing of his career against the Cubs was nothing short of legendary.

Pinch-hitting in the eighth inning of a scoreless game, Pujols obliterated a fastball from reliever Brandon Hughes for a two-run homer — his 695th — that would’ve been more dramatic only if it had been a walk-off. Busch Stadium erupted, and the Cardinals went on to complete a three-game sweep with a 2-0 victory.

“It’s pretty special, obviously, but what is special is that we came out with a win,” said Pujols, who needs one homer to catch Alex Rodriguez for fourth place on the all-time list and five more — with just 28 games to go — to join Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth in the 700 club.

With a runner on second and one out, Cubs manager David Ross elected to pitch to Pujols rather than put him on first base. With the crowd electric as Pujols walked from the on-deck circle to the plate, Ross visited the mound — drawing boos — and told rookie Hughes to attack with his best stuff. Two pitches later, Hughes was No. 451 on the list of pitchers Pujols has homered against.

“It’s a game-losing home run,” Hughes said, not appreciating the momentousness of the occasion one bit. “I’m the losing pitcher. It’s a home run.”

Should Ross have opted for a free pass instead? Not with Paul Goldschmidt, a lock for National League MVP, lurking two batters behind, was the manager’s thinking.

Before the game, according to Pujols, Cardinals broadcaster Rick Horton told him he was going to hit a pinch-hit homer to win it. After sending the ball over the bullpen in left — a 429-foot blast — Pujols couldn’t wipe the ear-to-ear smile from his face as he circled the bases.

“That was the last thing playing in my mind,” he said, “and I couldn’t believe it happened.”

Even before it did, the game was outstanding thanks to starting pitchers Miles Mikolas and Marcus Stroman. Mikolas mowed down the Cubs for eight shutout innings. Stroman held serve through seven on a season-high 98 pitches.

Stroman got some defensive help with an usual double play in the second inning. After an error on a soft bouncer by Christopher Morel at third put Corey Dickerson on, Morel was unable to snag a on-hop smash off the bat of Nolan Gorman that went for a hit. But with runners on the corners and one out, Morel charged an Andrew Knizer dribbler and — with Dickerson about to break for home — threw across his body to first baseman Alfonso Rivas, who then delivered a dart to catcher P.J. Higgins for a bang-bang out.

Stroman was terrific from there. Mikolas may have been even better. Then Pujols came along and blew their performances out of the water.

“He’s one of the legends of this game,” Stroman said. “He has surpassed generations.”

The Cardinals are cruising toward 90-plus wins and a division title, and not even Pujols’ quest for 700 means more than what this team might be able to accomplish after that.

The Cubs, meanwhile, can only be relieved the season series is over. The Cardinals won it 13-6, their best record against the Cubs since 1985, when they went 14-4 en route to the World Series. The Cubs — who lost the last six games at Busch Stadium this year — haven’t gotten the better of their rivals head-to-head since 2017.

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Enigmatic DE Robert Quinn finds his fit amid Bears’ rebuild

Robert Quinn is unconventional, and understanding him requires you to abandon any assumptions. He isn’t going to fit neatly inside any typical framework.

He lives peacefully amid the tension of various contradictions.

As a defensive end, Quinn is one of his generation’s elite pass rushers and set the Bears’ single-season record with 18.5 sacks last season. But his style defies fundamentals. Quinn is known for bending his body almost parallel to the ground as his legs churn around a blocker, earning the nickname Gumby for his rubbery flexibility. It can’t be taught, nor should it be.

He is fervent about his work, but his tone is understated. He’s chasing the Hall of Fame, but that ambition is balanced by the fact that he’s just happy to be alive — something he often mentions — after doctors told him at 17 that he had a brain tumor that would take his life in a week.

There are many more paradoxes within Quinn, but the most perplexing thing about him at the moment is that he’s still here.

With the Bears opening the season Sunday against the 49ers, Quinn seemed certain to have been traded by now. He is the most accomplished, most expensive player on the roster at a salary-cap hit of $17.1 million and could bring in a nice return.

Furthermore, it’s perplexing that he wants to stay. Why would a 12-year veteran want to stick around for a season that everyone expects to be a grueling first step of the rebuild when he could press the team to trade him to a contender?

Quinn can’t answer that because he rejects the premise. As usual, he doesn’t see this the way everyone else does. He values stability. And he doesn’t buy the commentary that this is a bad team.

“It seems like we’re the underdogs this year, but don’t count us out just yet,” he told the Sun-Times. “We’ve still got 17 games to play and we’ll see what happens… We’ve got pieces. Will we be gelled together like we should when the season comes? I sure hope so.

“And I play football with the guys in this locker room, but I also have a family. You’ve gotta find happiness in the middle somewhere. I’m in one spot and I know my family is settled — it’s just peace of mind knowing where you’re gonna be and what to expect when you walk in the building.”

Quinn craves consistency, and it has been hard to find. Including the Rams moving from St. Louis to Los Angeles, he called five cities home from 2015 through his arrival with the Bears in 2020.

Ah, 2020. That was a tough year for everyone, Quinn included. He loves routine and togetherness, and the pandemic brought the opposite of both. He eventually dreaded going to Halas Hall, but said that probably would’ve been the case anywhere.

That first season with the Bears, fresh off signing a five-year, $70 million contract, was a downer. His inability to produce — a career-low two sacks in 548 snaps — compounded his gloom.

Last season was much closer to normal, and Quinn played more like he normally has. He made his third Pro Bowl and finished second in the NFL in sacks. He put up 13 in the final 10 games without Khalil Mack.

Speaking of Mack, there were so many veterans of Quinn’s caliber when he joined the Bears. It was “definitely shocking” to see veterans like him, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Kyle Fuller and Allen Robinson exit.

“There’s been a few guys where you look at them like, ‘How do you let them go?'” Quinn said. “But again, that’s the beast of this game. Nothing is really promised to anyone.

“I’m not gonna change who I am regardless of how the locker room is shaped. I just try to lead by example and be myself, and if people like it, I love them. And if they don’t, oh well, I’m gonna be myself regardless and try to make fun and happiness in the locker room. Any of us can be gone at any time, so we might as well try to enjoy it as best as possible while we’re here.”

In many aspects, this season should be in Quinn’s comfort zone.

The NFL rolled back coronavirus-related restrictions. Coach Matt Eberflus shifted the Bears to a 4-3 defense, meaning Quinn will play his natural position after two seasons at outside linebacker. And he still has a friend in young defensive end Trevis Gipson.

Gipson is an upstart from Tulsa who aspires to climb to Quinn’s stature, and getting to be his understudy has been huge.

“He has so much experience and knowledge,” Gipson said. “We trust what he says. It reflects in what he does on the field. It’s hard to [ignore] what a guy says when he shows you results also. It’s credibility, mentorship, leadership.”

And that, in addition to Quinn still being a world-class pass rusher, is a big reason general manager Ryan Poles hasn’t wanted to trade him. Cap space and draft assets are valuable, but so is Quinn.

“He brings one of those examples of what Matt wants to see out of his defense in being relentless,” Poles said. “Another leader in the room that can show the young guys the way. And he’s been doing a really great job at that.

“There’s this misconception: ‘Tear this down and rebuild it all.’ It’s not that. There’s also a feel for the room. How can you stay productive and win ballgames? He helps us with that.”

It also helps that Quinn, 32, keeps striving. He has 101 sacks and $100 million in earnings, but he’s looking for more.

If there’s one thing he cares about in terms of stardom, it’s his legacy. He spoke reverently of Bears great Richard Dent when he broke his sack record and measures himself against Hall of Famers.

“I want to play at a high level as long as I’m playing,” Quinn said. “I could be home just living life, but if I’m going to sacrifice that to play this game, I might as well make it worthwhile.

“I love what I do. I want to make sure I have a strong career like some of the Hall of Famers. They gave me something to reach for. Now I’m just trying … to get to the numbers of Hall of Famers. That means I’m doing something right.”

He is 35th all-time in sacks, ahead of a handful of Hall of Famers already, and if he hits double digits again this season, it’d be the sixth time in his career and likely would propel him into the top 25.

He’s not in the conversation for Canton yet, but a late-career charge would make it interesting.

Quinn, of course, might have to do that somewhere else. He knows he might not stay with the Bears all season, but said he isn’t stressed about that possibility. He hopes his production persuades Poles to keep him, but that’s also what entices other teams to call.

He’d love longevity with the Bears, and the $35.5 million in cap hits over 2023 and ’24 would be well worth it for them if he plays like he did last season. That’d be perfectly enigmatic for Quinn — a player nobody thought would fit, but inexplicably he does.

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Cubs’ Wade Miley to start Tuesday against the Reds, his first outing in nearly three months

ST. LOUIS — Cubs starting pitcher Wade Miley said a little over a week ago that he had “no choice” but to keep trying to get back on the mound this season — and that prolonging his major league career beyond 2022 hinged on “[proving] to people that I’m not broke.”

It has been a complicated comeback for the lefty, who hasn’t pitched for the Cubs since June 10 — and estimates he hasn’t pitched pain-free in five years — but Miley will get the ball Tuesday for the series opener against the Reds, his former team, at Wrigley Field. It will be just the fifth start of the year for the 35-year-old, whom the Cubs claimed off waivers last November, picking up his $10 million option for 2022.

“A lot of ups and downs, a lot of throwing and hoping things feel better,” Miley said Sunday before the Cubs took on the Cardinals. “Just a longer road than we hoped. Hopefully, we’re here now and can finish out the year strong.”

Miley missed the first month of the season with inflammation in his elbow. After his May 22 start, he went on the 15-day injured list with a shoulder strain. On June 10 at Yankee Stadium, in his first start off the injured list, he was pulled after three shutout innings due to soreness in the shoulder. There have been several rehab starts since then — most recently at Single-A South Bend on Wednesday, when he threw 55 pitches — but recovering from those starts has been difficult.

“A lot of setbacks,” manager David Ross said.

The Cubs went in expecting Miley — 98-92 with a 4.15 ERA for his career — to be a key contributor. Instead, he has only 19 innings under his belt. He was unaware of a pitch limit for Tuesday but expected the Cubs will be cautious with his comeback.

“I miss being out there,” he said. “I miss that one day I get to compete.”

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The Chicago Fire battle Columbus Crew to 0-0 draw

The Chicago Fire Tie Columbus Crew, Most Likely Ending Their Playoff Hopes

The last time the Chicago Fire faced the Columbus Crew they came out flying, racking up a 2 – 0 lead in the first half.  Unfortunately the final 45 minutes of that match saw the Fire give up 3 goals while providing the Crew’s new Designated Player Cucho Hernandez a game winning goal and an electrifying start to his MLS career. That match has been cited by supporters and players alike as the lowest point in what has been an extremely challenging season for the Chicago Fire Football Club.

Tonight the Fire once again faced the Crew but this time in Columbus at the gleaming, and raucous, Lower.com field. While the two sides had roughly the same number of wins going into the match their seasons could not be in more different positions.  The Crew, at 9-6-14 ,had only lost once in the last 15 matches while Chicago, 8 -13 – 9, have been winless in their last four and have all but disappeared from the playoff discussion.

The Crew controlled this game early on but things began to even out as the match wore on. Despite being out possessed by Columbus 62% – 38% the Fire seemed their feet and had Columbus on their heels for numerous periods of play. While things were going well the Fire’s plans had to change when in the 33rd minute the Chicago’s Brian Gutiérrez went off injured and was replaced by the promising young Columbian star Johan Durán.

Bringing on Durán forced coach Ezra Hendrickson to switch to a 4-4-2 formation, a first for the season.  Despite this tactical change and being forced to play with a depleted lineup a structured and disciplined Chicago defense held their own against the home side, yet on offense the Chicago Fire struggled to find much creativity and were not able finish off their chances. The Columbus Crew were not without their own opportunities in the first 45 minutes but were held scoreless thanks to some key saves from Chelsea FC’s Gaga Slonina that ensured that the half ended  level at 0-0.

The second half saw the Crew come out desperate for a goal that would secure them three points and keep their playoff hopes alive.  Their pressure was clearly straining a Chicago squad that had been snuffing out attacks all night long.  Luckily it was once again the young Slonina who kept the Fire in the game with 9 saves.

Hoping to steal a win coach Hendrickson sent on the Fire’s highly paid, and largely uninspiring, designated player Xherdan Sahqiri in the 68th minute.  While  Shaq did manage a few dangerous passes as the game headed towards its conclusion his presence did little to change the game as the Chicago Fire held on against a persistent Columbus attack to draw 0-0.

There were several flashes of quality in this game, none more than that of of Gaga Slonina, but In the end the match ended up reflecting what has been an extremely disappointing season for the Fire. Just like 2022 the Fire had moments of quality and excitement that ultimately led to nothing.  The Fire have the 5th highest payroll in MLS and one of the highest paid players in league history in Shaqiri yet will once again miss the playoffs and finish towards the bottom of the East.  It is perhaps even more telling that tonight’s match was the best performance the team has produced over their last 5, a game when they were forced to play in a new formation and none of their three highly paid Designated Players started.

On a final note, Zee Soccer Pod star and fan favorite Fabian Herbers put in a strong shift.  Herbers was all over the pitch illustrating that a player who wants to play and win will always outperform one looking to cash checks and take it easy.

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High school football: Four Downs, news and notes from Week 2

Mount Carmel and Loyola were the talk of the opening week of the season. Lincoln-Way East, the third team in the area’s top tier, had to wait a little longer for the spotlight.

The Griffins delivered in Week 2, dominating Batavia early and winning 31-16. It was an impressive display in Frankfort and it appears very little separates the top three teams at this early point in the season.

Lincoln-Way East returned nearly everyone from last season’s team, but there were some questions about breakout threats on offense. Those questions are being answered.

Braden Tischer, a junior making his second start at quarterback, ripped off a 55-yard run in the first quarter for the Griffins.

Tischer also threw two touchdown passes. One was to senior Jayden Cook, Lincoln-Way East’s other offensive star. He had five catches for 99 yards.

The Griffins led 31-0 at halftime, a score that sent shockwaves around the area on Friday.

Big numbers in Mount Prospect

Prospect quarterback Brad Vierneisel set a school record in Week 1, throwing from 452 yards and six touchdowns in a lopsided win at home against Sandburg.

The senior didn’t let up in Week 2, finishing with 376 yards passing and five touchdowns in a 52-20 home win against Barrington.

Northwestern recruit Frank Covey, one of the top players in the area, is a favorite target.

The Knights host Evanston on Friday and have a massive game in Park Ridge against Maine South in Week 5.

Quarterback injury woes

Two traditional powers suffered quarterback injuries in Week 2.

Mark Mennecke, Neuqua Valley’s dynamic quarterback, was injured in the first half of the Wildcats’ overtime loss to Wheaton-Warrenville South. It could be very difficult for Neuqua Valley to replace Mennecke, whose swashbuckling style is the key to the team’s offense.

Maine South quarterback Ryan Leyden was injured in the second quarter of the Hawks’ loss to Warren. Junior Jack DeFillipis filled in admirably.

South Side tussle

Brother Rice vs. St. Rita matched up in Week 2. It was the first game between the South Side rivals since 2018.

The host Mustangs won 17-12, a solid rebound from the rough loss at Mount Carmel in Week 1.

There were a ton of questions surrounding the Crusaders this season. Brother Rice has a new coach, Casey Quedenfeld, and basically an entirely new team.

The Crusaders, led by defensive lineman Roderick Pierce, dominated Hillcrest in Week 1 and a competitive showing on the road against St. Rita is a solid sign of progress for the young team. Ryan Hartz has taken over as quarterback for 2022 Sun-Times Player of the Year Jack Lausch, who is now at Northwestern.

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High school football: Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings for Week 3

Week 2 was a tremendous amount of fun. The crowds have been great at every game I’ve been to this season.

Marian Catholic brought out a nice student section on Thursday. Obviously, the Notre Dame vs. St. Patrick rivalry was packed and raucous.

Kudos to Bolingbrook fans for making the trip to Gately Stadium on Saturday. Simeon always has a nice crowd but the Raiders’ big turnout made the game feel special.

What a win it was for the Wolverines. After some hemming and hawing, I went ahead and put Simeon in the top 10. That’s quite a jump from unranked but it seems warranted, especially after Wheaton-Warrenville South, the team the Wolverines beat in Week 1, knocked off Neuqua Valley.

Warren jumps into the top five after knocking off Maine South. But the Hawks don’t far too far for the loss. I do my best not to penalize teams all that much for losing close games to good teams. That’s one of my basic rankings beliefs.

The toughest part this week was deciding which new teams to add at the bottom. There were a lot of contenders (St. Francis, IC Catholic, Morgan Park, South Elgin, York) and not a lot separated them.

In the end, I decided to go with a pair of Mid-Suburban League teams, Palatine and Hersey.

Week 3’s Super 25With record and last week’s ranking

1. Mount Carmel (2-0) 1Friday at No. 20 Notre Dame

2. Loyola (2-0) 2Friday at No. 13 St. Rita

3. Lincoln-Way East (2-0) 3Friday at Stagg

4. Warren (2-0) 7Friday at Libertyville

5. Glenbard West (2-0) 6Saturday vs. Oak Park

6. Naperville North (2-0) 13Saturday vs. Detroit St. Mary’s

7. Batavia (1-1) 4Friday at Wheaton North

8. Simeon (2-0) NRSaturday vs. Young at Lane

9. Maine South (1-1) 9Friday at Barrington

10. Prairie Ridge (2-0) 10Friday vs. Huntley

11. Marist (1-1) 11Friday at No. 19 Nazareth

12. Prospect (2-0) 14Friday vs. Evanston

13. St. Rita (1-1) 12Friday vs. No. 2 Loyola

14. Lockport (2-0) 15Friday at Bradley-Bourbonnais

15. Lemont (2-0) 24Friday vs. Oak Forest

16. Joliet Catholic (2-0) 19Friday at De La Salle

17. Bolingbrook (1-1) 5Friday at Lincoln-Way West

18. Glenbard North (1-1) 16Friday at Geneva

19. Nazareth (1-1) 17Friday vs. No. 11 Marist

20. Notre Dame (2-0) 20Friday vs No. 1 Mount Carmel

21. Kankakee (1-1) 21Friday at Thornridge

22. Jacobs (2-0) 23Friday at McHenry

23. Palatine (2-0) NRFriday vs. New Trier

24. Wheaton-Warrenville South (1-1) NRFriday at St. Charles North

25. Hersey (2-0) NRFriday vs. Deerfield

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Illinois high school football schedule: Week 3

Please send corrections or additions to [email protected].

Thursday, September 8

RED CENTRAL

Woodlawn vs. Pritzker at Lane, 4:15

BLUE CENTRAL

Muchin vs. Golder at Lane, 7:15

BLUE SOUTHEAST

Fenger vs. Chicago Military at Gately, 4:15

Washington vs. DuSable at Gately, 7:15

NONCONFERENCE

Minooka at Romeoville, 7

Oswego at Joliet Central, 6:30

Oswego East at Plainfield East, 6

Plainfield North at Joliet West, 6:30

West Aurora at Plainfield Central, 7

Yorkville at Plainfield South, 7

Friday, September 9

RED CENTRAL

Hansberry at Speer, 7:15

RED NORTH-CENTRAL

Amundsen at Steinmetz, 4:15

Senn vs. Schurz at Lane, 7:15

Von Steuben vs. Mather at Winnemac, 4:15

RED SOUTH-CENTRAL

Dunbar vs. Chicago Richards at Stagg, 4:15

UP-Bronzeville at Perspectives, 7:30

RED SOUTHEAST

Comer vs. Corliss at Gately, 7:15

Vocational vs. Carver at Gately, 4:15

BLUE NORTH

Chicago Academy vs. Clemente at Lane, 4:15

Foreman at Marine, 4:15

DUKANE

Batavia at Wheaton North, 7

Glenbard North at Geneva, 7

Lake Park at St. Charles East, 7

Wheaton-Warrenville South at St. Charles North, 7

FOX VALLEY

Burlington Central at Dundee-Crown, 7

Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake Central, 7

Hampshire at Crystal Lake South, 7

Huntley at Prairie Ridge, 7

Jacobs at McHenry, 7

ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT

Coal City at Wilmington, 7

Peotone at Manteno, 7

Reed-Custer at Lisle, 7

Streator at Herscher, 7

KISHWAUKEE BLUE

Marengo at Richmond-Burton, 7

Rochelle at Johnsburg, 7

KISHWAUKEE WHITE

Kaneland at Morris, 7

LaSalle-Peru at Woodstock North, 7

Sycamore at Woodstock, 7

METRO SUBURBAN BLUE

Aurora Central at Wheaton Academy, 7:30

Elmwood Park at IC Catholic, 7

Ridgewood at Bishop McNamara, 7

METRO SUBURBAN RED

Chicago Christian at Riverside-Brookfield, 7

St. Francis at St. Edward, 7:30

NORTH SUBURBAN

Stevenson at Lake Zurich, 7

Warren at Libertyville, 7

Waukegan at Lake Forest, 7:15

Zion-Benton at Mundelein, 7

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Grayslake North at Grant, 7

Lakes at Antioch, 7

North Chicago at Grayslake Central, 7

Round Lake at Wauconda, 7

SOUTH SUBURBAN BLUE

Bremen at Tinley Park, 6

Oak Forest at Lemont, 7

TF North at TF South, 7

SOUTH SUBURBAN RED

Oak Lawn at Evergreen Park, 7

Reavis at Argo, 7

Richards at Eisenhower, 7

SOUTHLAND

Kankakee at Thornridge, 6

Rich Township at Thornwood, 6

UPSTATE EIGHT

East Aurora at Bartlett, 7

Larkin at Glenbard South, 7

South Elgin at Fenton, 7

Streamwood at Elgin, 7:30

West Chicago at Glenbard East, 7

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Addison Trail at Morton, 7:30

Leyden at Hinsdale South, 7:30

Willowbrook at Proviso East, 7:30

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Hinsdale Central at Lyons, 7

Proviso West at York, 7:30

NONCONFERENCE

Andrew at Sandburg, 7

Belleville East at Metea Valley, 7

Bismarck-Henning at Watseka, 7

Bolingbrook at Lincoln-Way West, 7:30

Brother Rice at Benet, 7:30

Christ the King at Aurora Christian, 7:30

Deer Creek-Mackinaw at Ottawa Marquette, 7

Deerfield at Hersey, 7

DeKalb at Belleville West, 6

Downers Grove South at Downers Grove North, 7

Evanston at Prospect, 7:30

Glenbrook North at Conant, 7:30

Glenbrook South at Fremd, 7:30

Highland Park at Buffalo Grove, 7

Homewood-Flossmoor at Lincoln-Way Central, 7:30

Iroquois West at Georgetown, 7

Joliet Catholic at De La Salle, 7:30

Kenwood at Taft, 7:30

Lincoln-Way East at Stagg, 7

Lockport at Bradley-Bourbonnais, 7

Loyola at St. Rita, 7:30

Maine East at Wheeling, 7

Maine South at Barrington, 7:30

Maine West at Hoffman Estates, 7:30

Marist at Nazareth, 7

Milwaukee Riverside, Wis. at Naperville Central, 7

Momence at Hoopeston, 7

Montini at Marmion, 7:30

Mount Carmel at Notre Dame, 7:30

New Trier at Palatine, 7:30

Niles North at Elk Grove, 7:30

Niles West at Schaumburg, 7

O’Fallon at Waubonsie Valley, 6

Oakwood at Clifton Central, 7

Ottawa at Harvard, 7

Providence at Fenwick, 7:30

Shepard at Hillcrest, 6

St. Laurence at St. Ignatius, 7:30

St. Louis St. Mary’s, Mo. at Neuqua Valley, 7

St. Patrick at Marian Central, 7:30

St. Viator at DePaul Prep, 7:30

Vernon Hills at Rolling Meadows, 7

Westmont at Plano, 7

Westville at Dwight, 7

Saturday, September 10

RED CENTRAL

Catalyst-Maria vs. UIC Prep at Eckersall, 10 a.m.

Rauner vs. Rowe-Clark at Orr, 4

RED NORTH-CENTRAL

Lake View vs. Sullivan at Winnemac, 4

RED SOUTH-CENTRAL

Bogan vs. Hyde Park at Eckersall, 4

King vs. Ag. Science at Gately, 1

RED SOUTHEAST

Dyett vs. South Shore at Gately, 4

Julian at Goode, 2

RED WEST

Lincoln Park vs. Kennedy at Westinghouse, 10 a.m.

North Lawndale vs. Bulls Prep at Winnemac, 10 a.m.

Payton vs. Crane at Westinghouse, 4

Raby vs. Little Village at Orr, 1

BLUE CENTRAL

Johnson vs. Noble Street at Winnemac, 1

Noble Academy vs. Longwood at Gately, 10 a.m.

BLUE NORTH

Roosevelt vs. Prosser at Lane, 4

BLUE SOUTHEAST

Harlan vs. Bowen at Eckersall, 1

BLUE SOUTHWEST

Back of the Yards vs. Lindblom at Stagg, 1

Englewood STEM vs. Gage Park at Stagg, 10 a.m.

Solorio vs. Tilden at Stagg, 4

BLUE WEST

Collins at Kelly, 11 a.m.

Marshall at Orr, 10 a.m.

SOUTHLAND

Crete-Monee at Thornton, 1

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Oak Park-River Forest at Glenbard West, 1:30

NONCONFERENCE

Carmel vs. Leo at St. Rita, 7

Clark at Brooks, 4

Curie at Westinghouse, 1

Detroit St. Mary’s, Mich. at Naperville North, 1

Hope Academy at Quincy Notre Dame, 1

Hubbard at Lane, noon

Marian Catholic at Bloom, noon

Morgan Park vs. Phillips at Gately, 7

Seneca at Salt Fork, 1

Simeon vs. Young at Lane, 7:15

Walther Christian at Red Hill, 1

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High school football: After moving from Nigeria, Babanifesimi Opadele finds a home at Young

Babanifesimi Opadele figured he knew what he was getting into when he moved to the United States from Nigeria as a 10-year-old.

“At firstI thought I was going to fit in because I used to watch a lot of Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network,” said Opadele, who’s now 17 and a junior football player at Young. “I thoughtit was going to be exactly like that, but it was not.”

What took some gettingused to was American English vernacular.

“It was a culture shock at first because it was so many things, like slang words I wasn’t used to and I didn’t know what it was, and it would be awkward.”

Any uneasiness is long past, though. The outgoing Opadele has found a home at Young, both on and off thefootball field.

“He’s been branching out a lot more,” Young coach Dan Finger said. “Last year at the homecoming dance was a big one. The guys came back and were like, ‘He’s thelife of the party. He’s doing back flips on the dance floor and stufflike that.'”

Opadele, a solid 5-5 and 200 pounds, has been opening eyes on the football field as well after coming to the sport almost by accident.

“My mom originally thought it was soccer,” he said, rather than American football. “I was like, a little fat kid. This was summer [after] my eighth-grade year and my mom wanted me out of the house.”

In the Dolphins football program, Opadele found some kindred spirits.

“I started talking with some new kids and I got along really well with them,” he said. “They were all funny and they were all caring people … so I was like, I might as well stick to this.”

Opadele started lifting weights and transformed his body. He was second in a state powerlifting competition, a remarkable result considering where he started.

“The summer camp of my freshman year we would go into lift and I remember not being able to pick up anything,” he said, laughing. “It was a struggle.

“People think I just woke up and overnight I was very strong. Uh, no. I saw how the seniors were way stronger than me and [thought], ‘I can get better at this.'”

He did. His personal bests are 300 pounds for the bench press, 550 squat and 500 deadl-lift.

Opadele’s work ethic and enthusiasm made him a quick study when it came to football and he’s turned himself into a key cog for the Dolphins. Playing offensive guard on the varsity last season, he had 24 pancake blocks. This fall, he’s added defensive line duties and is starting both ways.

“He’s just a really aggressive guy and he’s built himself into that,” Finger said. “He picks up everything so quickly.”

Though he just started his junior season, Opadele has shown the potential to play beyond high school.

“His height is going to be a limiting factor, but D-III schools are going to love him,” Finger said. “His grades are good. He’s going to have opportunities to get into schools he might not otherwise have gotten into because of football.

“We’re working with him on the whole Twitter thing, helping him promote himself because that’s not who he is naturally.”

Who Opadele is, is a kid who’s found his niche in a new sport in a new country. And he can’t wait to see what comes next.

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Cat show, ZINEMercado, Batmobile, and scooters

The International Cat Association (TICA) presents Chicago: Feline Infurno, the 41st annual cat show hosted by TICA and a chance to view at least 400 registered cats ready for judging (yes, it’s usually the other way around, but at a cat show, people judge the cats). Rare breeds like the Lykoi (also known as the “werewolf cat”) and the Selkirk Rex (the curly cat) will be living in relative harmony (more accurately, being kept happy in their individual cat corners with plenty of treats) with favorites like British Shorthairs and Ragdolls. In addition to the cat competition, plenty of vendors will be on hand to sell you catnip goodies and the latest in feline fashion. It’s at the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan Ave.) from 9 AM-5 PM and registration is required for entry. Check out the TICA website to register and get more details. (SCJ)

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It’s that special time of year: when ZINEMercado takes over Comfort Station (2579 N. Milwaukee) in Logan Square. From 11 AM-5 PM, nearly 40 vendors will be selling DIY publications (zines, comics, etc.) and artwork. Styles and perspectives always run the gamut, making this a visual feast of ideas that celebrates the unique depth and diversity of Chicago’s zine community. It’s free and outside in a very walkable part of town, so why spend your Sunday doing anything else? (MC)

The Hardcore Hearse Club car enthusiasts organization presents a day of oddities in Avondale along with the help of the Alley (2620 W. Fletcher), longtime Chicago purveyors of oddities and gear for goths and friends. From noon-7 PM today, visit the store for special visits from a DC comics writer and the actual Batmobile used in the Tim Burton-directed Batman series. Stick around for giveaways and special local vendor pop-ups. More information is available at the Alley’s Facebook page. (SCJ)

Living the mod vs. rockers fantasy? Kick it up a notch and attend today’s Amplified Chicago, a scooter rally and dance party hosted by All Mod Chicago in honor of this weekend’s Slaughterhouse (a yearly scooter enthusiast gathering that invites Vespa lovers and others to Chicagoland each Labor Day weekend). DJs including All Mod Debbie and Eric from FCS Sound System will offer soul, R&B, ska, garage, and more, and drinks will be flowing from the bar. It all goes down from 2-5 PM today at Golden Dagger (2447 N. Halsted). 21+ please, and proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be requested. (SCJ)

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