'A' is for Andrew and for the Letter Grade on T-Bolts' College Signing List

Nine student athletes made their college choices official during a signing-day ceremony Wednesday at Andrew High School.

Division I men's and women's basektball. Check and check. Big Ten baseball and softball. Check and check. The list of Andrew students making their college plans official during a signing-day ceremony Wednesday at school read like a Who's Who of area high school athletics. 1. Jubril Adekoya (basektball), Valparaiso. 2. Lauren Bialas (soccer), Wisconsin-Parkside. 3. Kelly Christner (softball), Michigan. 4. Nicole Dominguez (soccer), Lewis. 5. Dan Durkin (baseball), Michigan State. 6. Tiana Karopulos (basketball), Loyola. 7. Jenna Lenza (softball), Grand Valley State. 8. Megan Ricketts (softball), Purdue North Central. 9. Austin Stariha (soccer), Lewis.

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UPDATE: Oak Forest's Skirha Gets the Biggest Roar from the Crowd

Oak Forest softball standout Jourdan Skirha came up big n the Bengals' drive to win the South Suburban Blue championship. She also came up big in Patch's MVP ballot, outpolling 10 others to become eligible for May Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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The Sports Report

Bestwina Helps Andrew Enjoy the Best of Times on the Softball Diamond

Senior left fielder Dani Bestwina is swinging a hot bat at the right time for the Andrew softball team. The Thunderbolts next move on to play in the championship game of the Class 4A Andrew Regional on Saturday.

Dani Bestwina bats in the No. 2 slot for the Andrew softball team because she has a good eye. She can bunt. And she can run. Bestwina, a senior left fielder, can jump-start the T-Bolts’ offense, too. She had three hits in Andrew’s 10-0 five-inning victory over Thornwood in a Class 4A regional semifinal game on Tuesday afternoon in Tinley Park. She walked, stole second and scored the first run for the Thunderbolts in the bottom of the first. And she went on to pace a 13-hit attack for Andrew (31-5) by collecting three singles. Her timing was right on the mark right from the get-go. Her teammates were slower to come around against Thornwood pitcher Kai Pettigrew. Bestwina knew they would come around, though. Andrew has scored 20 runs in its …

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Softball: Hofer's Gem Gives Andrew Bats Time to Warm Up in 4A Playoff Opener

Andrew 10, Thornwood 0: Brooke Hofer took a perfect game into the fourth inning, and the T-Bolts' bats came to life in a five-inning rout of the Thunderbirds on Tuesday in Tinley Park.

Touching All the Bases: On the first trip through the batting order, Andrew’s hitters appeared anxious and a little off on their timing in a 10-0 five-inning regional semifinal softball victory over Thornwood Tuesday afternoon in Tinley Park. Brooke Hofer had their collective backs covered. Hofer (23-5) took a perfect game into the top of the fourth. She ended up teaming with Katie Christner on a no-hitter. And the Thunderbolts erupted for eight runs in the last two innings to finish off the Thunderbirds in the opening round of the IHSA playoffs on their home field. Dani Bestwina led a 13-hit attack with three hits—all singles. She also walked and scored two runs. The victory was Andrew’s third this season over Thornwood. The first two …

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UPDATE: Andrew's Lenza Gets the Biggest Roar from the Crowd

Andrew softball standout Jenna Lenza outpolled 10 others in Patch's weekly MVP poll. She is now eligible for April Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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UPDATE: Oak Forest's Naegele Gets the Biggest Roar from the Crowd

Oak Forest softball standout Emily Naegele outpolled 10 others in Patch's weekly MVP voting. She is now eligible for April Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Softball: L-W East Bats Torch Andrew

Lincoln-Way East 12, Andrew 4: Sam Stewart and Nicolle Miskowicz each had three hits as the Griffins remained red hot even as the temperature plummeted on Thursday afternoon in Tinley Park.

Touching All the Bases: The wind turned completely around. The temperature dropped 20 degrees. And by the time Lincoln-Way East put the finishing touches on a 12-4 softball victory over Andrew, Griffins coach Elizabeth Pawlicki said she was freezing. Her team’s bats remained red hot on Tuesday in Tinley Park. East pounded around two Andrew pitchers—Brooke Hofer and Katie Christner—for 13 hits and took advantage of some uncharacteristic fielding lapses by the Thunderbolts to pull away in the late innings. Sam Stewart and Nicolle Miskowicz each had three hits to top the East batting barrage. Alexis Huss blasted a three-run homer into the teeth of the wind in straightaway center, and the Griffins scored eight or more runs for the seventh time…

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UPDATE: L-W North's McFarland Gets the Biggest Roar from the Crowd

Lincoln-Way North volleyball standout Ryan McFarland outpolled 11 others in Patch's weeklly MVP balloting. He is now eligible for March Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Andrew Signing Ceremony Has the Feel of a 'Rich' Experience

Andrew athletic director Rich Piatchek served as the emcee during a brief signing-day ceremony in the school's media center on Wednesday. Twelve T-Bolts announced plans to continue their academic and athletic careers on the next level.

During a college signing-day ceremony Wednesday morning at Andrew High School, athletic director Rich Piatchek made like a proud parent. He served as emcee and staff photographer for the T-Bolt shindig. He introduced 12 Andrew standouts who announced plans to continue their academic and athletic careers in college next school year. He snapped photos of the athletes with their coaches and family members. And he asked principal Robert Nolting to say a few words. “This IS a great day,” Nolting said. “It’s all about you guys. Congratulations.” T-Bolt softball standout and three-year starter Katie Christner was the headliner in the group of signees—and not only because of her work on the field. She is top-ranked in her senior class out of 560 …

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Andrew Softball Standout Christner Headed to Michigan

T-Bolt junior Kelly Christner has committed to play softball for Big Ten power Michigan.

After she earned all-area honors as a freshman and a sophomore year, Kelly Christner started to draw the attention of college recruiters for her work on the softball field. No surprise there. With a handful of top-flight schools on her short list, Christner finally chose to take her talents to perennial powerhouse Michigan.  Michigan won the national championship in 2005, and the Wolverines are a threat to compete for the Big Ten title every year. Last spring, Christner helped lead Andrew to a Southwest Suburban Red Conference title and a 28-10 record. She sizzled at the plate, batting .431 with four home runs and 32 RBIs.  Christner’s older sister, Katie, a senior at Andrew, has committed to play for Big Ten rival Wisconsin. The first …

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