Kayla Bishton, Lake Central softball

Lake Central's right fielder Kayla Bishton will play in Saturday's North-South All-Star game in Indianapolis. She is one of six area players to compete in the games at Carmel's Cherry Tree Hill Softball Complex.

Oilmen

Lexington Snipes' Jared Hendren steals second in the fourth inning as Oilmen's Leiff Clarkson during the Oilmen's home game opener in Whiting on Wednesday.

Oilmen

Oilmen's short stop Leiff Clarkson throws out a Lexington Snipes' runner during the Oilmen's home game opener in Whiting, Indiana, on Wednesday.

Oilmen

Oilmen's Joe Houlihan singles against the Lexington Snipes during the second inning of the Oilmen's home opener in Whiting on Wednesday.

Bishop Noll's Larry Crisler

Bishop Noll's Larry Crisler scores against Adams Central during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's third baseman Matthew Sandoval

Bishop Noll's third baseman Matthew Sandoval and Adams Central's Dalton watches the ball get away in the first inning during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's Julian Guerrero

Bishop Noll's Julian Guerrero reacts to a called strike during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's Angel Figueroa

Bishop Noll's Angel Figueroa returns safely to first base after an Adams Centrall pickoff attempt during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's Anthony Fundukian

Bishop Noll's Anthony Fundukian singles against Adams Central during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's third baseman Matthew Sandoval

Bishop Noll's third baseman Matthew Sandoval handles an Adams Central grounder during the Class 2A regional baseball finals in Whiting. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's Anthony Fundukian

Bishop Noll's Anthony Fundukian scores against Adams Central during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Bishop Noll's starting pitcher Chad Mateja

Bishop Noll's starting pitcher Chad Mateja throws against Adams Central during the Class 2A Whiting Regional championship. Bishop Noll lost to Adams Central 12-9.

Whiting Oilmen's starting pitcher Joshua Negele

Northwest Indiana Oilmen starting pitcher Josh Negele throws against the DuPage County Hounds in the Midwest Collegiate League playoffs last season. Negele, a Crown Point grad, is one of the team's local players returning this summer.

Brianna Baez

Whiting's No. 2 singles player Brianna Baez returns a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday in Highland.

Grace Huss

Whiting's No. 1 singles player Grace Huss returns a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday in Highland.

Jessica Rooth

Munster's No. 1 singles player Jessica Rooth returns a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday in Highland.

Alivia Jakubowski

Whiting's Alivia Jakubowski (right) reaches to return a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday in Highland.

Anisha Vavilala

Munster's Anisha Vavilala serves during a tennis match on Wednesday.

Munster's No. 2 doubles team

Munster's No. 2 doubles team, Anisha Vavilala (back) and Mariana Rogers (front) during a tennis match on Wednesday.

Kaylyn Anderson

Whiting's Kaylyn Anderson returns a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday in Highland.

Paige Heuer

Munster's No. 1 doubles player Paige Heuer waits to return a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday in Highland.

Mariana Rogers

Munster's Mariana Rogers returns a shot during a tennis match on Wednesday.

Nikki Heiniger

Munster's No. 1 doubles player Nikki Heiniger serves during a tennis match on Wednesday.

Munster's No. 2 doubles team

Munster's No. 2 doubles team, Mariana Rogers, left, and Anisha Vavilala congratulate each other during their Highland Regional match Wednesday.

T.F. North's starting pitcher Sara Daw

T.F. North's starting pitcher Sara Daw has been a workhorse for the Meteors, who play T.F. South Monday for the third time this year.

Bishop Noll's Trost returning home to Salt Lake City

Bishop Noll coach Drew Trost accepted a job on Thursday at Juan Diego Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, which is his home. Trost was 129-57 in eight years at Noll and he took the Warriors to the Class 2A state championship game in 2011.

Natalie Pascual, T.F. South

T.F. South's Natalie Pascual throws against T.F. North late in the game on Tuesday. The Rebels won 19-3 in five innings.

Cori Reynolds, T.F. South

T.F. South's Cori Reynolds races for home as she hit an inside-the-park homer Tuesday against T.F. North. It was Reynolds' second homer in as many days.

Adilia Maldonado, T.F. North

T.F. North's left fielder Adilia Maldonado has a T.F. South fly ball go over her head during Tuesday's game in Calumet City.

Daviea Cowans, T.F. South

T.F. South's Daviea Cowans rounds third after hitting an iniside-the-park home run against T.F. North in the fourth inning on Tuesday.

Sydney Harrison, T.F. South

T.F. South's Sydney Harrison rounds second in the third inning of Tuesday's game against T.F. North. Harrison made it around the bases, but was called out for not tagging third base on her way home. She finished with five RBIs on the day.

Christin Causey, T.F. North

T.F. North's center fielder Christin Causey has a fly ball fall in front of her during Tuesday's game against T.F. South in Calumet City.

Sara Daw, T.F. North

T.F. North's starting pitcher Sara Daw throws against T.F. South during Tuesday's game in Calumet City.

Devin Pieper, T.F. South

T.F. South's starting pitcher Devin Pieper threw three innings of no-hit ball in the Rebels' 19-3, five-inning win over T.F. North on Tuesday.

Marcy Evans, T.F. South

T.F. South's Marcy Evans hits a two-run single in the third inning of the Rebels' 19-3, five-inning win over T.F. North on Tuesday.

Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Mt. Carmel golfer Ryan Hernandez, practices with teammates at Glenwoodie Golf Club in Glenwood last August. The Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau is marketing the region as a golf destination.

Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Mt. Carmel golfers Nick Murray, Ryan Hernandez and Louis Vitiritti walk the course at Glenwoodie Golf Club in Glenwood last August. Sporting events are becoming a big economic driver, according to the Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Sports is an economic driver in south suburbs

Mt. Carmel golfer Nick Murray practices putting at Glenwoodie Golf Club in Glenwood last August.

CRETE-MONEE INVITATIONAL

Bloom Township's Gina Narcisi, right, pulls away from the pack in the 3,200-meter run during the Crete-Monee Invitational on March 30. Narcisi gives the Blazing Trojans strength in the distance races as they head into today's Class 3A Homewood-Flossmoor Sectional.

T.F. South badmnton coach Bob Tengstrand has built a power

Thornton Fractional South's badminton coach Bob Tengstrand gives a pat on the back to Andriana Johnson. Tengstrand has been the coach at both T.F. North and T.F. South high schools and has been very successful.

Thornwood's Charles Howell

Thornwood's Charles Howell, right, clears a hurdle in the 110-meter semifinals at the Thornton Classic on Saturday afternoon.

Thornton's Cavion Clanton

Thornton's Cavion Clanton, left, finishes the 100 yard dash during the 27th Thornton Track Classic on Saturday.

Thornton's Maurice Buchanan

Thornton's Maurice Buchanan goes over the high jump bar at the 27th annual Thornton Track Classic on Saturday. Buchanan was second in the high jump with a jump of 6-feet, but won the long jump in a season-best 22-feet, 7-inches, and ran in the finals of the 100 meters. He also ran the third …

Thornwood's Khalil Lightbourne

Thornwood's Khalil Lightbourne finished third in the 3,200-meter run at Saturday's Thornton Classic.

Jermaine Johnson of Thornton

Jermaine Johnson of Thornton, left, beats out an Evanston runner in the 400-meter relay during the 27th annual Thornton Track Classic Invitational on Saturday.

Thornwood's head track coach Brian Evans

Thornwood's head track coach Brian Evans, left, has a few words of instruction for his runner Dwight Johnson during the 27th annual Thornton Track Classic Invitational on Saturday.

Thornwood's Patrick Bolton

Thornwood's Patrick Bolton clears the high-jump bar during Saturday's Thornton Classic.

Jermaine Johnson

Jermaine Johnson, left, finishes the 400-meter dash during Saturday's Thornton Classic. The Wildcats were second to Evanston in the team standings.

Thornton's Maurice Buchanan

Thornton's Maurice Buchanan clears the bar in the high jump event during the 27th annual Thornton Track Classic Invitational on Saturday. Buchanan was second with a jump of 6-feet.

Miranda Elish, Crown Point

Crown Point freshman pitcher Miranda Elish has followed what most expected from the Oregon recruit. She is undefeated heading into this weekend's Twin Lakes Tournament and seems to be just hitting her stride.