High School Postseason HQ: Andrew Earns Boys Tennis Sectional Title

In girls soccer, Andrew captured its regional title, and Tinley Park beat Oak Forest, to advance to the sectional.

It's postseason time for high school spring sports, and we want to keep you updated on the progress of our local student-athletes. Here's a quick and easy way to track the teams for Andrew, Tinley Park and Lincoln-Way North high schools. You can also help us by sharing photos from games and meets, and also updating scores in the comments section below. Follow a certain team? You can also post photos and updates to our Local Voices section. Tinley Park: The team tied for 67th at the state final at East Illinois University. SOURCE: Illinois High School Association - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Two Ways to Stay Connected to Tinley Park Patch:

• Photos (1)

Running 'Boston Strong' in the First Midwest Half Marathon (Photos)

About 2,000 runners—some of them from Tinley Park—raced more than 13 miles on Route 83 on Sunday morning for the 6th annual First Midwest Half Marathon.

The sixth First Midwest Half Marathon was held Sunday in Palos Heights, with about 2,000 participants joining the run. READ: Tinley Teen Pushes Limits to Run First Midwest Half Marathon for Boston Security was heightened since the Boston Marathon, but it didn't lessen the mood, with sunny weather and smiles around the combined start/finish line. The first finishers completed the 13-plus mile run in just more than an hour. READ: Tinley 5K Race The half marathon raised $5,000 each for the American Cancer Society, the South West Special Recreation Association and Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens. Check out the media gallery in this article for photos and a video from the half marathon. YOUR TURN: Did you participate in the …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (94)
• Videos (2)

Teen Pushes Limits to Run First Midwest Half Marathon for Boston

Annalyn Parks, 13, trained to run eight miles of the First Midwest Half Marathon on Sunday, but after the Boston Marathon attack, she decided to run the full race.

Jamie Parks was sure his daughter Annalyn was ready to run just over 13 miles in one run. She had been preparing in a way for the last five years. Annalyn, 13, has run at least one mile every day since she was 8. There was one time when it was about 15 minutes to midnight and she still hadn’t run, but will power prevailed. “A couple of times, I thought of quitting the streak,” Annalyn said, at her Tinley Park home. “But inside my heart and my brain, I just can't quit now. I've gone so far.” Jamie is an avid runner as well. He is on a streak of running at least a mile a day himself, only his streak goes back for about the last 21 years. Jamie has run the First Midwest Half Marathon almost every year since it began. He runs while pushing his…

•  16 Comments
• Photos (2)
• Videos (1)

Tinley Park Bulldogs Open Season With a Parade (Photos)

The baseball and softball league began its 2013 season with the cry of 'Play ball!' on Sunday, April 21. Check out photos of the winning float from the Bulldogs' downtown parade and share your own.

The Tinley Park Bulldogs began its 2013 season for its baseball and softball teams this past weekend with its traditional Opening Day festivities. And for the Bulldogs, Opening Day doesn't just mean first games of the season. It also means a parade along Oak Park Avenue. Reader Jaime Ormond sent in these photos of winning overall float in this year's parade, which was Sunday, April 21. It belongs to the Pinto Boston Red Sox team. As float winners, the 7- and 8-year-olds on this team have earned a $300 party at Odyssey Fun World. Ormond said the following people deserve special thanks for their work on the float: Marc McCarey, Tom Ciolkosz, Aaron Ormond, Dan Spano, Bob Johnson and Mike Simmons. While Opening Day was sunny, the weather for …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (4)

Over 200 People Run in Solidarity for Boston

Running for Kicks in Palos Heights hosted a run in honor of Boston Monday evening, and saw a turnout that store owner Mel Diab, who ran in the Boston Marathon, described as “amazing.”

The run started with a Facebook event and about 50 people signed up. By Monday night, the number quadrupled when over 200 people showed at Running for Kicks in Palos Heights to participate in their Runners for Boston Solidarity Run. “When I see this big turnout, it’s pretty emotional for me,” said store owner Mel Diab, who ran in the Boston Marathon. “Runners are so communal, we get along with everybody. We have no political agenda. We’re pretty tough guys and girls. We get up on our off day and run 26 miles. This is a blessing. It’s just amazing.” Diab was among about 20 runners from the local Yankee Runners group who ran in Boston last week. Members from the group who also traveled to Boston included James Bruce, Amy Bugala, Christine …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (10)
• Videos (1)

DON'T FORGET: Opening Day for Tinley Park Bulldogs

The season for this league's baseball and softball teams begins with a parade down Oak Park Avenue and then the shout of 'Play ball!" Find out more details about Opening Day for the Bulldogs.

Southland Faces at the White Sox Home Opener 2013

Take a look at images from U.S. Cellular Field as the Chicago White Sox kicked off the 2013 season, and see if you recognize a neighbor or two.

The smell of brats cooking on grills made its way through parking lot C off Shields Avenue. By 11 a.m. the beer was flowing. It was opening day on the southside. YOUR TURN: Show Us How You Spent Opening Day for a Chance to Win Chicago White Sox baseball is deep in traditions for southside families. With a growing number of baby bears in the south suburbs, it wasn't hard to find Sox fans from the North side. "I've been a lifelong Sox fan," says Dan Kochevar from Glen Ellyn. Brothers Tim and Dan Bergin from Chicago Heights hold a lifelong love for the Chicago White Sox. "We have been coming to the park since 1967," said Tim Bergin. "Of course it was Old Comiskey across the street. We have had some great memories. Remembering the 2005 season …

• Photos (35)

Step Up to the Plate With Patch's Guide to Baseball's Opening Day

What do the White Sox, Cubs, snow flurries, Bill Murray and a chance to win free stuff for watching a baseball game? They're all part of Major League Baseball's Opening Day, past and present, and we've got the details.

The thermometer might only reach the upper 30s, but that's not going to stop Major League Baseball's Opening Day, which is Monday, April 1. (No, Patch does not call the game played Sunday night Opening Day. Or Opening Night. Or anything that can be shared in polite company.) It's that most cherished of days in a baseball season, the one where even the Cubs haven't been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention yet (but they're close). Patch helps you get the most out this big day in a few different ways. First, however, we'll get you started with what you need to know about what Chicago's teams are doing today. Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Where: U.S. Cellular Field When: 3:10 p.m. TV: Comcast SportsNet Weather: The …

• Videos (2)

Andrew Grad Helps UW-Whitewater's Championship Gymnastics Team

Sophomore Jennifer McKiernan performed on the uneven bars in the Warhawks' second consecutive victory at the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship, which was held March 22-23.

Andrew High School grad and Tinley Park native Jennifer McKiernan was part of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater team that won the National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Championship, according to a press release. McKiernan, a sophomore, scored 9.175 on the uneven parallel bars and placed 18th overall in that category. This is the Warhawks' second consecutive title, the release stated. The team tied for first in the 2012 competition. The final standings were: The Warhawks also set a team record in the competition with a 48.00 on the vault. The championship was held March 22-23 at Kachel Gym in Whitewater, Wis.   Two Ways to Stay Connected to Tinley Park Patch:

• Photos (1)