Clearing out the notebook …

Northside vs. Southside: The majority of the best teams in the Chicago Public League will be on display this Saturday, April 17 at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s baseball complex. The inaugural Chicago Public League Baseball Coaches Association’s North vs. South Challenge is a five-game showcase tournament pitting the southside schools against the northside. Kind of like the Sox vs. the Cubs.

The North vs. South Challenge begins at 9 a.m. The game schedule:

Jones vs. Von Steuben, 9 a.m.

Simeon vs. Lane Tech, 11:30 a.m.

Harlan vs. Clemente, 2 p.m.

Kenwood vs. Mather, 4:30 p.m.

Morgan Park vs. Payton, 7 p.m.

Admittance is $5.

New kid on the Block:  In only its fourth year of varsity athletics, Plainfield North is making quite a splash on the baseball scene. Last year, the Tigers finished in the top 20 of the state rankings with a 27-7 record. Plainfield North is off and running again this season. Coach John Darlington’s squad is now currently ranked No. 7 in the state with a 9-1 mark as of Monday.

The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Scott Vachon is a big reason why the Tigers are flourishing this season. Vachon missed his junior season with a knee injury that he sustained during the basketball season. The St. Xavier University recruit is making up for lost time this spring. Last week, Vachon helped Plainfield North go 4-0 by hitting three home runs, including a grand slam and a double. Overall, he went 9-for-15 for the week, and the right-hander also earned a victory on the mound by throwing five scoreless inning of two-hit ball.

By no means, however, is Vachon doing it alone. Hard-throwing junior RHP Sean Renzi has been strong this season. Senior 1B Jeff Paulson, catcher Zac Pacanowski, 3B/RHP Alex Molek and several others have made big contributions this season as well.  

Commitments: Michael Chiaro, a RHP from Benet Academy, has committed to DePauw University. Chiaro pitched six innings and struck out nine to earn a victory over defending state champion New Trier on Saturday. He also went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and a walk.

Two more Heartland CC players are moving on. Right-handed pitchers Alex Zarate (Sandburg HS) and Ryan Wachholder (Maine South HS) have signed with Western Illinois. Zarate and Wachholder mark the 11^th Heartland player to commit this season.

Miscellany: Herscher first baseman Tyler Evans had a breakout week at the plate, going 10-for-14 with five home runs and 13 RBI to lead Herscher to a 4-0 week. Against Beecher, he hit three home runs. … Warren RHP/SS Patrick Kenney, who’s one of the top sophomores in the state, is enjoying a breakout season on varsity. Already the 6-foot-3, 185-pound athlete has six home runs. Kenney also features an 84-87 mph fastball and a hard splitter. …Junior LHP/OF Kyle Wood has been the muscle behind St. Laurence’s hot start. The Vikings (12-1), who are ranked seventh in the state, have a lot of offensive weapons, as they displayed Monday in their 10-9 victory over No. 6 St. Rita. Wood has made the biggest impact. The left-handed hitting Purdue recruit is hitting .625 with eight doubles, two triples, four home runs and 20 RBI. Wood’s also getting it done on the mound, going 3-0. … Providence junior 3B Sam Travis is leading the Celtics in hitting with a .529 BA, and delivered the game-winning home run to defeat Lincoln-Way Central. …

Defending Class 3A champion Joliet Catholic Academy was on a six-game losing streak heading into Sunday before the Hilltoppers won two straight. Coach Jared Voss’ squads aren’t accustomed to losing. But before people begin to write off the 4-6 Hilltoppers, consider who they have beaten: St. Rita, Mount Carmel, Lemont and Minooka. All four teams were ranked in the preseason top 30. When they beat St. Rita, the Mustangs were No. 2 in the state, and their win over Minooka on Monday, the Indians were also ranked second in the state. JCA may have played the toughest schedule in the state so far, along with Providence, which incidentally beat the Hilltoppers on a seventh-inning homer by Joe Houlihan last week.

Have some newsworthy items? Email [email protected]