Sports
North Shore Roundup: Baseball Overcomes Small Roster With Conference Lead
Both the girls and boys track teams hope several athletes will be able to qualify for the state championships.
Baseball: After winning a conference championship and making a strong run through the state playoffs last season, North Shore head baseball coach Martin Freeman was surprised when he had trouble filling his roster with varsity-level participants this spring.
But through the team’s first seven games, the smaller roster hasn’t seemed to be an issue for North Shore. Behind the steady pitching of staff ace Jake Gordon, the Raiders are 5-2 and tied for first in the Independent School League at 3-1.
“I actually have players that play multiple positions so four out of five position players can also pitch,” Freeman said. “I have had the luxury of being able to move guys around as well. Because of the personnel, I’ve been lucky.”
Because of weather cancellations, Gordon has been the starting pitcher in four of the team’s seven contests. He tossed a no-hitter against Latin.
Freeman thinks this team has what it takes to make another deep run in the playoffs. North Shore’s already helped by Westminster Christian’s move from 1A to 2A this season. Westminster Christian knocked the Raiders out in the regional final and won last year’s state championship.
“Every game we’re getting a little better and bridging that gap and it’s starting to show,” Freeman said.
Girls Track: Led by junior Annie Roge, who has already run a state qualifying time for the 3200m in 12:10, North Shore is seeking to compete for a conference championship this week.
At their most recent meet, North Shore’s girls took fifth place at the Luther North Invite. Montini was the invitational champion on April 30.
“There girls team has a core group of girls who have been involved in track for a number of years,” coach Patrick McHugh.
Roge, who is ranked as the 11th best 3200 runner in Class 1A, has broken the school records in both the 1600 and 3200. She is joined by veteran senior Nora Philbin to lead a girls group that should score well in the middle and long distances.
Eleena Dobel is the returning 300 hurdles champion in the conference and Rachel Mabie is the defending conference champion in the high jump.
Boys Track: Although the boys team might not have the same depth as the girls, there are state contenders within the roster.
Senior Adam Griffin is looking to contend as a top 800 runner in both the conference and sectional meets. Griffin has run a 2:05 this season and will look to get under 2:00 and qualify for state.
“We’re pretty young on the boys side with some holes that we have to fill,” McHugh said. We have to bring them along a bit before we’re going to be at the top of our conference.”
The ISL conference meet is this Friday and McHugh is still trying to figure out the lineup that will help the Raiders score in as many events as possible.
Girls Soccer: North Shore’s defense – led by Tess Weiner, Alissa Nolan, Alex Barker and Haley March – has paced the Raiders this season.
In their most recent win over Morgan Park, Katherine Chandler scored two goals and Kim Khanwieler had three goals – all in the second half – in North Shore’s 5-1 victory. The Raiders lost, 3-0, to Latin on April 28.
