HHS wins 10-0 in five innings

Red Raiders post shutout victory

HUNTLEY – Huntley girls soccer squad secured the third victory of the season with a shutout 4-0 win over Rockford East April 16 in cold but dry conditions.

Huntley sophomore Gabriella Farraj tallied two goals, giving her three for the week. Her first took place in the opening minutes of the second half and she completed the scoring in the final five minutes. In between, junior Karen Reyes Villaneuva and freshman Madison Cummings also tallied.

“We have not had very favorable weather conditions at home, so it was good to play without snow,” Farraj said, “We changed our mentality as a team in the second half.

HHS boys tennis secures 3 wins

HUNTLEY – The Huntley boys tennis team is off to a good start this season as they secured victories in each of their first three dual matches.

Huntley downed Rockton Hononegah 4-2 April 16 after beating McHenry on April 12 and St. Charles East both by 6-1 tallies.

“The win over Hononegah was a good match against a very well-coached team,” Huntley boys tennis coach Barry Wells said.

The Red Raiders used a sweep in doubles matches to carry the day April 16 against the visiting Indians.

Electoral Board rules Colatorti to stay on ballot

HUNTLEY – Antonio “Tony” Colatorti will remain on the Republican primary ballot June 28 for McHenry County Sheriff.

Colatorti will face current McHenry County Undersheriff Robb Tadelman.

In a marathon hearing, the McHenry County Electoral Board voted three to zero to deny objections filed by William Brogan and Joel Brumik both of McHenry. The objectors sought to have Colatorti’s name removed from the ballot.

Electoral Board members Chairman Samuel J.H. Weyers; Steven Cuda and Lisle A. Stalter issued their findings April 14 at a McHenry County Administrative Building hearing.

HHS softball returns home for wins

HUNTLEY – A greeting committee of Red Raiders softball players gathered at home plate for teammate Zoe Doherty’s arrival.

The HHS senior just clubbed her first career home run over the center field fence at the Red Raiders’ diamond in a 16-0 four-inning takedown of Prairie Ridge April 12.

“It’s here and there,” Doherty said of her power. “I prepare all winter, spring and summer for the season. We faced some good caliber pitchers in the early going. Coach (Mark) Petryniec does a good job preparing us for conference.”

Tribute, shutout win presented by HHS soccer

HUNTLEY – Huntley girls soccer team members all donned purple t-shirts all with the name “Evitts” and a number 10 on the back on April 5 at Marian Central.

“We started to wear them last season,” HHS junior Grace Helzer said, referring to the late Hannah Evitts. “We all knew her or played soccer with her.”

Red Raider coach Mat Lewandowski said Evitts played through the ranks of the Huntley girls youth soccer program.

“We appreciate Marian Central mentioning Hannah in the pre-game prayer,” the coach said, “It was very generous.”

Bakes’ diamond dedication sets HHS tone

HUNTLEY – Huntley juniors brothers Ryan and Brayden Bakes set the tone for the Red Raiders offense of each game.

Ryan Bakes is lead-off and hits right while Brayden Bakes, a left-handed batter, hits next. Both have come through for a HHS team which is off to a 8-1 start, 3-0 in Fox Valley Conference clashes.

“I feel pretty confident at the plate,” Ryan Bakes said.

The duo has shown some power in their at-bats, as Ryan Bakes poked two home runs in an 8-4 win over Crystal Lake Central April 6 and followed that with a two-RBI hit in a close 7-5 win at McHenry April 9.

Red Raiders League start proves strong

HUNTLEY – After a break due to wet spring conditions, the Huntley baseball team started the defense of last season’s Fox Valley Conference championship.

The Red Raiders used all aspects in a 5-0 shutout at Crystal Lake Central April 4 for a 6-1 overall mark,1-0 in the FVC.

Senor Harout Meyer and junior Ryan Bakes led the offense with home runs and Ryan Bakes added another RBI.

Senior Adam Guazzo led a double-digit strikeout game with seven whiffs followed by Parker Schuring and Mike Vitttellaro, who raised the total to 11.

Red Raiders netters ready for season

HUNTLEY – After a first-place tie in the Fox Valley Conference tournament last year, the Huntley boys tennis team is looking to be a loop power and do well beyond in 2022.

“We want to be one of the best teams in the area and qualify for the state tournament,” Red Raiders head coach Barry Wells said.

“We have a strong lineup and good depth,” Wells said. “We graduated a large number of talented seniors last year, but we return many quality starters.

Red Raiders 9 click in early going

It’s so far, so good for the Huntley baseball squad.

The Red Raiders own a 4-1 record in non-conference contests.

“We played well in all three areas, pitching, defense and hitting,” HHS coach Andy Jakubowski said. “That’s what we preach.”

The coach described a 9-0 shutout of Schaumburg March 21 as the best baseball that the team has played.

Pitchers Peyton Barr, Harout Meyer and Josh Good combined for 14 strikeouts of Saxons.

Offensively, the mentor noted Brandon Hanley, Joe Garlin, Brayden Bakes and Josh Quinlan as players with clutch at-bats.

Huntley 9 wins in wild conditions

HUNTLEY – Huntley head baseball coach Andy Jakubowski has much to be pleased about in the season’s first handful of games and a 5-1 record. The first few weeks of the season have featured 70-degree days but also a week of cancelled games due to weather.

“I love our bullpen right now,” Jakubowski said, “They know their roles and we are pretty deep. We are still trying to get our starting pitching extended but we have struggled with the weather so that shows how valuable our bullpen is.”

Standards high for HHS softball

HUNTLEY – The Huntley Red Raiders’ softball team is led into battle by two all-state team members and two all-Fox Valley Conference selections from last season. HHS is coming off a 35-2 record and third place, a 4-3 win over Minooka, in the Class 4A state tournament last season,

Returning to the ISCA f fourth-ranked team are all-state team members senior Reese Hunkins and junior outfielder Katie Mitchell.

All-FVC members back are senior pitcher Jori Heard and junior outfielder Clara Hudgens.

Huntley nine ready for solid spring

Huntley baseball fans will probably not have to, as the saying goes, “need a scorecard to tell who is playing.”

“The Red Raiders will return 16 players from last season,” Huntley High School head coach Andy Jakubowski said.

“We have an athletic group of players who will put a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. The Red Raiders will buy into the team approach by playing to their strengths and manufacture runs.”

Leading returnees are three All-Fox Valley players who contributed to the Red Raiders’ league title,

in a 32-3 season and run to the sectional final.

Swimmer Heard recalls one special Saturday

HUNTLEY – Six years after Gavin Heard initially tried swimming, the Huntley High School senior enjoyed a special Saturday.

He was crowned champion in four events at the IHSA Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) State Meet.

One by one, from the 200 freestyle, followed by 50 freestyle, then the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, Heard captured the gold medal in Westmont. Heard, who is legally blind, has been a swimmer since he was 11.

A few weeks since his big day, Heard recalled how it all took place.

Johnson gives leadership, aims to defend title

HUNTLEY – Each day when Huntley High School students walk by the school’s east gym, they see banners which highlight recent Red Raiders’ successes.

Among those banners is one for junior Red Raider Alex Johnson. Last season she won the state Class 3A long jump championship with a PR of 5.92 meters.

Johnson brings much leadership to the 70-member squad this season, head coach Jason Monson said.

“She works at it the whole off-season because track is her specialty,” Monson said.

Senior-led Red Raiders tied most wins

HUNTLEY – A senior-led Huntley boys’ basketball team provided several highlights for fans this winter.

Huntley finished with a 27-6 record, the third team to achieve that win total, following the 2001-2002
team and the 2019-2020 squads.

“We won the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament and won the DeKalb Holiday Classic for the first
time in school history,” Huntley coach Will Benson said.

Benson commented about the contributions of the eight seniors.

Aiden Wieczorekm senior, 6-foot, 3-guard. “He was voted MVP of the DeKalb Holiday Classic.

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