Aurora Christian in Class 2A baseball and Harvest Christian of Elgin in Class 1A baseball are in the weekend State tournaments in Peoria.
Aurora Christian, 19-9-1, will play Pleasant Plains at 3 p.m. Friday and Harvest Christian will play at 10 a.m. against Marquette from Ottawa.
“We have been jumping out to big leads in all postseason games,” Aurora Christian head coach Andy Zorger said following Tuesday’s 5-2 victory over Bishop McNamara of Kankakee in the Lisle super-sectional at Benedictine University. “(That) has allowed us to be flexible with our pitchers. Our defense has been very sold, as well, but the offense has been the catalyst.” Early innings in postseason play included six runs in the first inning against Westmont, four in the first against Holy Trinity, six in the first inning against DePaul Prep, and one run in the first inning Tuesday against McNamara. By the fifth inning the Eagles led Bishop Mac, 5-0. “Our ace, Jake Kuntzendorf, pitched 5 1/3 dominant innings (Tuesday) and did not allow a hit or run with one walk and 10 strikeouts.”
• Naperville North’s girls soccer team qualified for the State tournament at North Central College in Naperville. In other State tournaments, Hinsdale Central qualified in girls lacrosse, and Hinsdale Central will play Glenbard West at 11:30 a.m. Friday in boys volleyball at Hoffman Estates.