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By Jeff Vorva
Correspondent
Three players from the area were selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, which took place July 14-16.
Pitcher Ryan Smith, who graduated from Nazareth in 2021 and ended up at Illinois-Chicago, was taken by Houston in the ninth round of the draft. Smith, who underwent Tommy John surgery while at UIC, signed right away.
St. Rita graduate Sir Jamison Jones went to Washington in the 15th round. Jones, who had committed to playing college baseball at Oklahoma State, planned on signing with the Nationals this week.
Nazareth graduate Cooper Malamazian was selected in the 17th round by Milwaukee. Malamazian is an infielder who helped the Roadrunners to back-to-back Class 3A state titles in 2022 and 2023.
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Nazareth’s Cooper Malamazian, shown in the state tournament in 2023, was drafted by Milwaukee. Photo by Jeff Vorva
RedHawks honors
The Marist boys volleyball team won multiple local and state honors after winning the IHSA state championship in June, and picked up some national honors as well.
Junior hitters Christian Teresi and Nathen Toth were named to volleyballmag.com’s All-American first team.
Coach Jordan Vidovic was named National High School Coach of the Year. He also won the honor in 2019. He owns a career record of 285-43-1 in nine seasons with the boys programs.
Another reward was scheduled to come on July 23, when the RedHawks were invited to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field before the Cubs host the Milwaukee Brewers.
Heading to the Olympics … again
Evita Griskenas of Orland Park will compete in her second Olympics, representing the United States in rhythmic gymnastics in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Griskenas, a Sandburg graduate, qualified in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and finished 12 in the qualifying round in the individual all-around. She will be the only rhythmic gymnast to compete for the United States.
Sports bits
• Alek Thomas, a Mount Carmel graduate, doubled in one game and homered in another in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ wins over the Cubs July 19 and 20 at Wrigley Field.
• St. Laurence graduate Jack Tumpane was the second base umpire at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 16 in Arlington, Texas.
• Evergreen Park junior wrestler Chance Woods qualified for the U.S. Marine Corps 16U Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
• The Chicago Hounds won their first Major League Rugby playoff game with a 45-21 road victory at New Orleans on July 21. The Hounds take on New England July 27 in the Eastern Conference finals, with the winner advancing to the 2024 league championship game. The MLR championship will be played August 4 at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.