NORTHEAST

Sophia Diaz, Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.)

In a showdown of two nationally-ranked teams featuring a bevy of Division I commits, it was an uncommitted senior who made the difference for Bayport-Blue Point. Diaz, a first-year starter in goal, was rock-solid for the Phantoms in a 15-9 win over previously undefeated Nyack (N.Y.) in a NYS Class C regional final on Saturday. Diaz made 10 saves, including two at the end of the first half — one on an 8-meter attempt — to prevent the RedHawks from tying the score as Bayport-Blue Point overcame a slow start to reach the final four.

Also notable: Kaitlin Bogucki, Columbia (N.Y.); Michaela Fay, Suffern (N.Y.); Arcangela Haffner, Garden City (N.Y.); Gabby Lauretani, Ridgefield (Conn.); Maia Pronti, Victor (N.Y.); Elizabeth Smith, Cicero-North Syracuse (N.Y.)

— Dylan Butler 

MID-ATLANTIC

Annie Dignazio, Strath Haven (Pa.)

Dignazio has helped carry Strath Haven to a historic season. The senior midfielder had five goals and four assists, as Strath Haven roared to life for an 18-4 win over District 12 runner-up Archbishop Wood in the 2A state tournament opener. She followed that up with a hat trick, three assists, four draw controls, four caused turnovers and seven ground balls in a 17-9 quarterfinal win over Crestwood (Pa.). 

Dignazio scored her 200th career goal the week before, as Strath Haven won its first district championship ever. Dignazio, whose younger sister Tessa is a freshman on the team, is committed to Brown.

Also notable: Katie Adams, Ridgewood (N.J.); Bianca Antonacci, Conestoga (Pa.); Riley Austin, Haddonfield (N.J.); Devon Bush, Pleasant Valley (Pa.); Ashlyn Carpenter, Chatham (N.J.); Lyla Clark, Cherokee (N.J.); Stella D’Ambro, Bishop Shanahan (Pa.); Molly Davies, Summit (N.J.); Morgan Davis, Abington Heights (Pa.); Chiara Donohue, Trinity Hall (N.J.); Kate Fox, Strath Haven (Pa.); Adyson Griffin, Southern (N.J.); Maddie Kane, Springfield-Delco (Pa.); Ellie Kaplan, Twin Valley (Pa.); Mae Murphy, Moorestown (N.J.); Liv Parmer, Manheim Township (Pa.); Chloe Stevens, Manasquan (N.J.); Moira Sweeney, Sparta (N.J.); Sophia Tray, Villa Maria Academy (Pa.); Marleigh White, Allentown (N.J.); Tatum Woods, Cherry Hill West (N.J.)

— Justin Feil 

MIDWEST

Corinna Hilmas, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio)

It doesn’t get much better than scoring the game-winner in double overtime of the state championship game. Not that anyone was surprised when Corinna Hilmas provided the game-winner against Upper Arlington. Hilmas is Liberty’s all-time leading scorer, after all, with 261 goals, including 111 this season, despite playing her freshman season with the Golden Bears. Hilmas tallied a whopping 19 goals in the Patriots’ five postseason games; had a game-high five draw controls in the state title game; and was not just an explosive scorer but a remarkably efficient one all season.

Also notable: Madi Brinkman, Park of Cottage Grove (Minn.); Mia Darr, University School of Milwaukee (Wisc.); Abby Grove, Prior Lake (Minn.); Campbell Heald, St. Francis DeSales (Ohio); Laine Lewis, Hudson (Ohio); Emerson Mattox, Prior Lake (Minn.); Emily Morgan, Hathaway Brown (Ohio); Ella Parker-Briones, Hinsdale Central (Ill.); Madeline Pohmer, Olentangy Liberty (Ohio); Berkeley Thomas, Upper Arlington (Ohio)

— Jonah Rosenblum

Wyoming Shrine Bowl Football Game: Practice for the Shrine Bowl Football Game in Casper is underway and players from Sheridan County High Schools are trying to do their part to contribute to the North team.

Both teams are having 2-a-day practices, but with only one week to prepare for the game, that limits the amount of time that players have to develop some kind of playbook.

Bridger Peldo of Sheridan says he’s grateful that the coaching staff knows what they’re doing.

Will Taylor of Big Horn says don’t expect the North to try much out of the ordinary, when it comes to play calling and that his team-mates have the talent to get the job done.

Quarterback Ty Gilbertson of Sheridan says the North players need to stay disciplined this week in practice. 

There has been one change to the roster.

Avon Barney of Big Horn has elected not to play in the game and has been replaced with Ram team-mate Owen Petty.

The 52nd annual Wyoming Shrine Bowl football game will kickoff at 2pm this Saturday from Natrona County High School.

Sheridan Troopers Legion Baseball: The Sheridan Troopers lost both ends of their conference opening double-header yesterday, at defending state champ Cheyenne Post 6.

Scores were 12-2 and 6-4.

The Troopers are back in action today in Cheyenne again, as they take on the Hawks in a conference double-header, beginning at 11am and 1pm.

On Sunday, Sheridan is at home for a conference double-header against Casper.

It’s also Little League Night as teams and players will be recognized and get to run the bases in between games.

Tomorrow and Friday, the team will host its annual Baseball Camp and Whiffleball Tournament for those ages 7-14.

Events run from 9am until 12-noon at Thorne Rider Stadium.

You can visit the Sheridan Legion Baseball Facebook page to register.

Colorado Rockies Baseball: The Colorado Rockies gave up 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning last night and lost at home vs. San Francisco 6-5.

Ryan McMahon and Kyle Farmer each hit solo home runs for the Rocks, but the bullpen wasted those efforts.

Game 2 of the 3-game series is today starting at 6:40pm.

BOX SCORE

The Cubs entered Tuesday looking to cleanse their palette after rare, back-to-back losses.

Ian Happ and the Cubs strong offense helped do that. The Cubs beat the Phillies 8-4 on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park to even the three-game set ahead of Wednesday’s series finale.

The Cubs (41-26) rallied twice in the victory and hit four home runs. Here are three takeaways from the win:

Happ-y night

The Cubs offense has been the story of the season so far – that’s what happens when you’ve scored the second-most runs scored in baseball. But that doesn’t mean everyone has been tearing the seams off the baseball.

Ian Happ entered Tuesday’s contest with a .706 OPS, 73 points below his career mark.

A two-homer game helps in boosting that number.

The switch-hitting outfielder went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two walks. That performance boosted his OPS 36 points to .742. He’s had a solid road trip – he’s slashing .281/.361/.688 (1.049 OPS) with four home runs and eight RBI.

The improvement at the plate is important for the Cubs’ leadoff hitter. He’s the prototypical modern-day leadoff hitter. He gets on base and has some pop to go with it. That’s why it’s so important to get him going – having Happ going stron at the top of the lineup should lead to only more success for those two big poppers behind him – ahead of Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki.

Reese’s pieces (Part I)

The Cubs received contributions up and down the lineup Tuesday night. Eight of their nine starters reached base. And, while they won by four runs, this game was close through much of it.

The Cubs’ backup catcher helped create separation with a pair of big moments. We’ll get to the second one in a bit.

Reese McGuire hit a groundball to second with one out in the sixth inning. It appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but McGuire hustled and beat out the throw, extending the frame. Happ hit his second home run of the game a batter later, giving the Cubs the 5-4 lead.

The Cubs’ hustle on the basepaths has been a key team dynamic this season. They’ve hustled to beat out double plays and groundouts and that’s led to extra opportunities, added runs and more wins.

It helped again on Tuesday night, and it was done by a guy who joined the team just last month. But these aren’t principles that were instituted in mid-March when the team opened the season in Japan. No, this was emphasized in early February when the team first reported for spring training and when McGuire was first in the organization.

Reese’s pieces (Part II)

McGuire wasn’t done making major contributions. He had an RBI double two innings later to add the first of three insurance runs in the eighth.

The 30-year-old backstop has been a solid addition in the catcher corps after Miguel Amaya’s oblique injury. He’s hitting .269 with an .807 OPS in 7 games for the Cubs.

The Cubs’ catching tandem of Carson Kelly and Amaya was a strength to start the season. So, when Amaya went down, there were understandably concerns about how that would affect that position group.

But this is a former first-round pick and a former top-100 prospect playing a position that can often take some time to develop. McGuire has helped quell any queries for now as a fill-in for Amaya.

The Sun-Times’ high school basketball Mount Rushmore project highlights the sport’s biggest names and greatest stars.

With the prep career as the criteria’s centerpiece — with a sprinkling of post-high school success and overall stature used as a separator — we’ve created a Mount Rushmore for 10 geographical regions throughout the Chicago area.

In many cases, these 40 influential and legendary players defined the history of high school basketball in their respective areas — and often the sport itself. Their rare talents and achievements, which have had a lasting legacy and impact, provide a glimpse into what makes many of these players timeless in the eyes of high school basketball fans.

There will be debate. There should be debate. Any conversation regarding any Mount Rushmore in the sports world is supposed to spark an argument or two. This is ours to dissect and wrangle over with fellow basketball fans.

When trying to absorb a century’s worth of high school basketball stars, you’re reminded how special the sport truly is throughout the Chicago area. The cover features our ultimate Mount Rushmore, the four best players ever from across the area. The talent is arguably greater here than in any other metropolitan area in the country. So choosing just one Mount Rushmore is a tall task.

As you would imagine, the subjective nature of the assignment left us with one repeated question: “How can you leave off (fill in a handful of different names)?”

There were certainly deserving legends left off. But that’s kind of the point. The reverence surrounding this Mount Rushmore is real. And leaving off any of the final four that were chosen would create debate in and of itself.

These four players were impactful in unique ways, inspiring future generations of players. From their elite production and success to their extraordinary stature and never-to-be-forgotten games, the distinct imprint these four left led us to our Chicago-area Mount Rushmore. The best of the best are Thornton’s Quinn Buckner, Simeon’s Derrick Rose, Carver’s Cazzie Russell and St. Joseph’s Isiah Thomas.