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JOHNSBURG - You could call it luck, or you could call it good fortune. Probably, though, it's the sign of a good team. Johnsburg's girls' softball team didn't play very well on a frigid Wednesday afternoon, but it didn't matter. The Skyhawks were still able to hold off Grayslake in a Northwest Suburban Conference battle, 11- 6, upping the Skyhawks league mark to 3-1, 6-1 overall. It was Johnsburg's third straight triumph. "We didn't play too well," said JHS coach Todd Lewison, "but it's still always nice to win." Johnsburg jumped out early with four runs in each of the first two innings, followed by a two- run third and a one-run fourth, and cruised to & relatively easy triumph. "It was a little cold out there," said Lewison. "Not as cold as the McHenry game, but almost." The chilly conditions may have helped the Skyhawks in the early going, as the Rams' pit­ cher was having trouble finding the strike zone. Walks and wild pitches led to numerous John­ sburg runs. The Skyhawks had nine hits in the game, while Grayslake could manage eight. Cindy Swartzloff won her sixth ame of the year against one lefeat, as she walked just one Grayslake player. The SOD! only more than one. "We were aggressive of- NWSC Softball fensively," said Lewison, "but we made some defensive miscues. I hope we got those out of the way Wednesday. "We're being very aggressive at the plate, yet patient. I like to use the bunt. It can make our offense more effective," Lewison added. /'The bunt against playe sophomore also had two hits, the ly Johnsburg player with presents more opportunities for us to score, and can make the defense have some problems. We've done it pretty well. I was very happy with how we moved our runners around Grayslake." Johnsburg will need an ex­ tremely effective offense - and defense, for that matter - next week, when the Skyhawks take on the NWSC's top two teams, Lake Zurich on Monday and Marengo on Wednesday, both on the road. Marengo handed Johnsburg its only loss of the season, a a 16-1 thrashing. Prior tch-ups,» Friday. "Next week will be a tough week," said Lewison. "It willbe a real big week for us." Is the coach surprised at his team's showing thus far? "Yeah, I'm a little surprised. I didn't think we'd be 6-1 at this point, more like .500 or little better. We've been playing a lot better, hitting a lot better, since the Round Lake game. We were very passive in that game. Since then, we've been a much more aggressive team." dng. 1 to those key match-ups, JHS will host Wauconda Friday. Weather halts match, Warriors lead 2-0 Plaindealer-HeraM photo by Chris Juzwik Johnsburg's Kelly Quintan beats out an infield single during the Skyhawks' 11-6 win Wednesday over Grayslake. Johnsburg is now 3-1 in the Northwest Suburban, 6-1 overall. CARY - McHenry's Fox Valley Conference tennis match against Cary-Grove Tuesday was halted by rain with the Warriors holding a 2-0 lead. The match will be resumed Friday afternoon when McHenry will return to Cary. McHenry snared two singles points in the match with the On the Sideline Dick Rabbitt Twenty years of Relays? Alreedy? It just doesn't seem possible. It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since then- McHenry track coach Don Seaton talked to his assistants - Bill Hutchinson and myself - about holding a McHenry Relays. The first Relays were held on a Saturday with Dundee, Cary- Grove and the Warriors the only participants. From those humble beginnings, the Relays grew and grew, with some of the finest track teams in this part of the state taking part on the last Friday in April. In the 1970's, the meet was dominated by Kaneland under the guidance of now-retired Bruce Peterson. 'Pete' was a familiar sight fet the Relays. With a hooded jacket, big cigar and wide smile, the popular coach took home five titles in a row. Hie Warriors of Wally Scott broke the Knights' string, and ith larger schools competing, we saw St. Charles, Hoffman states, Schaumburg and Elk Grove all compete for the championship. Changes have been made over the years. Four team members Nnpeted in the field events, but the pole vault sometimes took until a after 10 p.m. to be completed. Now the pole vault is its own individual event, three members Dmpete for a team in the field events, we still have the hurdle buttle relays, and the sprint medley relays. My favorite is the four-mile relay, which begins at 6 p.m. You an bet I'll be on hand to observe that one. Meet directors Joe Schlender and Warrior coach Dan Boland have lined up an impressive 10-school field for the 20th McHenry Relays. Along with the host Warriors, teams competing are: Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove, Hoffman Estates, Kaneland, Lake Forest, Lake Park, Mundelein, Schaumburg and Woodstock. Years ago there was a field of up to 19 schools entered. It was a nice evening for some schools, who followed the McHenry event with a Saturday meet, giving them two big meets in a weekend. I'm sure that the cinder track at McCracken Field has been the reason some schools refuse to participate. The different types o of spikes needed on a cinder track as opposed to an all- weather track is a main reason. Also, there arc bigger track meets in the suburban area on Saturday, where there is a little more prestige at stake, and probably other rejsons. Warrior officials are hoping for some fine weather Friday night. If you recall last year, a rainstorm hit McCracken Field midway in the meet, and the track was little more than a lake. Schaumburg, who was the leader at the time, had to cancel out on Saturday because of a previously-scheduled event, ahd the Saxons wound up sixth in the field of nine. Hie Warriors were third behind Hoffman Estates, and were barely nosed out by Kaneland for second place, 79-78. If you want to see a well-run track meet, nere it is. The Relays have always been run on schedule, and have included some fine athletes and plenty of excitement.. Just journey out to Mc­ Cracken Field tonight - you won't be sorry. Relays. ' * • * • '£iL ' ? Where: McHenry's Mc FVC Tennis Trojans befote the rain fell. Senior No. 1 singles player Ganr Strom copped a 7-5, 6-4 decision t from Cary's Gary Stone, while third singles player, junior Tom Wrona, handed Cary's Chris Johnson his first FVC loss, 6-4, 6-4. Sophomore Scott Smith, the Warriors' No. 2 man, toj When: Field events fcgio a t ' 3:30p.m. Friday, withother events to follow. RABBITT--Page 16 Plalndealer-Herald photo by Chris Juzwik Chris Creutz races down the stretch for and his Warrior teammates will host the McHenry during the 3200 meter relay last McHenry Relays at McCracken Field, beginn- Saturday at the McHenry County Meet. Creutz ing at 3:30p.m. Friday. Cary's Troy Pawelko in the first set, 6-4, and trailed in the second 6-5 (love-30) before the rain delay. Randy Weidemann and Tom Wynveen were .trailing Cary's Jeff Young and Eric Jones 2-6,6- 6 (4-4 in the tiebreaker), while Warriors Tim Gray and Bill Etheridge had split sets with Paul Hietter and Jim Alterdorf, but trailed in the third, 5-2. McHenry hosted Dundee- Crown Thursday. Warriors give Eagles first loss All things must come to an end. For Jacobs' girls' softball team, a perfect season went down the tubes Wednesday afternoon at West Campus, as McHenry handed the Golden Eagles their first loss in eight outings, 4-3. Jacobs scored all three of its runs in the first, while the Warriors tallied their four in the fifth, and hung on for an exciting FVC Softball Fox Valley Conference win. The Warriors are now 3-5 in the league and in fourth place. Jacobs is 7-1,'good for second. "We wanted to start a nice winning streak," said McHenry coach Pat Wirtz. "I figured if we could take Jacobs, we could win six or so in a row." Jacobs had shut the Warriors out 5-0 Monday in Algonquin. Senior Chris Carlson was the winning pitcher on the chilly day, tossing seven innings, ana allowing just four Jacobs hits. Carlson walked six and struck out two, including the final Jacobs batter, who fanned with the bases loaded. "We started in typical fashion," laughed Wirtz. "They (the Eagles) got a walk, sacrifice, a couple errors and one hit, and we were down 3-0 right away." But Carlson shut the Golden Eagles down - and out - the rest of the way. McHenry waited until the fifth to score, but it proved to be enough. McHENRY--Page 15 Movin'on... What, Johnsburg worry? 'Hawks batter Rams, 11-6 SECTION2 - PAGE 18- PLAIINDEALER-HERALD. FKIDA1. APRIL 26.1985