Both DeKalb and Sycamore are going into Friday’s Castle Challenge at Huskies Stadium with records of 2-0.  The Spartans got their second-straight lopsided victory last week, 42-16 over Burlington Central. Head Coach Joe Ryan says that gives DeKalb an advantage.  "I think they're physical defensively up-front, they play the run very well, they can big play you, and they know how to win a close game," says Ryan. "We haven't been in one of those, so that's kind of scary. They've done some really good things, and we better be ready to go."  The Barbs beat Hampshire 20-14 last week. Head Coach Marty Sanders says they’re excited to begin conference play, and he says they’ll be doing it against a strong Sycamore program.  "That's kind of been a blueprint for where we'd like to be in the near, near future," says Sanders. "They're a very physical defense, very fast, and so we're certainly going to have to take care of our responsibilities."  Castle Challenge activities begin at 4:30 [ ... ]

Ryan Raburn and Jhonny Peralta each plated two runs to back eight strong innings by Rick Porcello as the Tigers doubled up the White Sox, 6-3, Thursday in the finale of a four-game set in Detroit.   Alex Rios clubbed a two-run homer in the fourth frame and Paul Konerko scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to account for Chicago's offense in defeat.   Gavin Floyd allowed six runs, five earned, on 13 hits through six innings of work to absorb the loss.  The ChiSox are on a three-game slide and now sit six games back of the idle Minnesota Twins atop the AL Central standings.   Porcello gave up all three runs on four hits with three strikeouts to improve to 9-and-11 on the season.  Ryan Perry worked a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down his second save.  Johnny Damon also knocked in a run for Detroit, which has won three games in-a-row.   Chicago returns home to kick off a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals starting Friday night.  Mark Buehrle starts opposite Bruce Chen in [ ... ]

The Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday signed center Ryan Potulny to a one-year contract.   Potulny had a career year for the Oilers last season, recording 15 goals and 17 assists over 64 regular-season games.   The 87th overall pick of the Flyers in the 2003 draft, Potulny has registered 22 goals and 27 assists in 116 career contests over parts of five seasons with Philadelphia and Edmonton.   

Jeremy Bonderman pitched eight brilliant innings and Alex Avila hit a key two-run double, as the Tigers topped the White Sox, 5-1, Wednesday night in the continuation of a four-game series in Detroit.   John Danks took the loss after allowing five runs, two earned, in six innings.  He gave up eight hits and walked three to fall to 13-and-10 on the season.   Omar Vizquel homered to provide the lone run for the White Sox.   Bonderman turned in perhaps his best start of the season to register his eighth win.  He matched a season high in innings pitched and struck out eight, while allowing just one run on three hits and a walk.   Avila's double came in a four-run fourth inning, during which Brandon Inge hit a two-run single.  Ryan Raburn added two hits and scored twice for the Tigers, who have won the last two games in the set after dropping Monday's opener.   Gavin Floyd gets the start opposite Rick Porcello in Thursday afternoon's finale.   

Hunter Pence homered and Brett Myers combined with four relievers on a five-hitter as the Astros shut out the Cubs 4-0 Wednesday night in the deciding game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.   Tyler Colvin's double was the only extra-base hit for Chicago.   Myers struck out eight while allowing just three hits and a walk over seven scoreless frames to up his mark to 11-and-7.  Randy Wells gave up nine hits and all four runs in six innings of duty to drop to 6-and-13 with the loss.   Humberto Quintero singled in a run in the first, Pence hit his 23rd homer of the season in the third, Chris Johnson had an RBI single in the fifth and Jeff Keppinger's groundout plated a run in the sixth for Houston.   The Northsiders head to Milwaukee to kick off a three-game set against the Brewers starting Friday night.  Carlos Zambrano will start opposite Dave Bush in the opener.   

Johnny Damon belted a two-run homer and Brandon Inge added a three-run shot as the Tigers trounced the White Sox 9-1 Tuesday night in the second of a four-game series in Detroit.   Omar Vizquel's RBI single in the third produced the lone White Sox run.  Freddy Garcia allowed three hits and two runs before leaving in the third inning with a stiff lower back.  He fell to 11-and-6 with the loss.   Chicago had its seven-game winning streak snapped and fell four-and-a-half back in the AL Central.   Jhonny Peralta went 3-for-4 with a two-run double for Detroit, which benefited from two errors in a four-run third inning to bust the game open.  Justin Verlander scattered five hits over seven innings, giving up just one run and fanning seven to improve to 15-and-8.   Game three is Wednesday night with 13-game winner John Danks likely to get the starting nod for the Southsiders.  With his next win, Danks will set a personal best for wins in a season.  Coverage of Wednesday night's [ ... ]

Jeff Keppinger's RBI single snapped a 3-all tie in the fifth inning and the Astros went on to beat the Cubs 7-3 Tuesday night in the second of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.   Carlos Silva surrendered nine hits and six runs in five frames to fall to 10-and-6 for Chicago.  Tyler Colvin went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Marlon Byrd plated a run for the Cubs.   Keppinger finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and Michael Bourn had three hits, three RBI, stole a base and scored twice for Houston.  Brett Wallace added a solo homer for the 'Stros.  Nelson Figueroa pitched five innings of three-run ball for the win.   Before the game the Cubs added Justin Berg, Jeff Samardzija, Sam Fuld, Bobby Scales, and Brad Snyder from Triple-A Iowa.   The series concludes Thursday night as the Cubbies send Randy Wells to the bump.  Wells is 6-and-12 with a 4.56 ERA.  Houston counters with 10-game winner Brett Meyers.  First pitch is 7:05.   

A.J. Pierzynski singled home Alejandro De Aza with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning as the White Sox beat the Tigers, 5-4, Monday in the opener of a four-game set in Detroit.   Pierzynski finished with two hits and three RBI while Manny Ramirez had three hits and scored once.  Edwin Jackson allowed four runs over seven-and-a-third innings as Chris Sale picked up his first major league win after going two-and-two-thirds perfect frames.  He fanned three as the Sox won their seventh-straight.   Game two is Tuesday night with Freddy Garcia scheduled to start for the Southsiders.  Garcia is 11-and-5 on the campaign, but 18-and-6 for his career against Detroit.   Coverage of the game begins, in progress, at seven o'clock Tuesday night on 1360 WLBK, following the Sycamore Speedway Race Report at six.   

Geovany Soto belted a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Cubbies erased a 4-0 deficit to beat the Astros, 5-4, Monday in the first of three from Wrigley Field.   Blake DeWitt had and RBI single in the third before Marlon Byrd hit a two-run homer.  Jeff Baker's RBI double in the fifth tied the game.   Andrew Cashner pitched an inning in relief to pick up his second win.  Carlos Marmol earned his 28th save.  The Northsiders have won five of seven.   The series continues Tuesday night as Carlos Silva makes his first start since August 1st.  Silva went on the shelf with an abnormal heart rate and has since undergone a corrective procedure and made a rehab start.  First pitch is at 7:05.   

Sycamore, DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston and Kaneland all improve their records to 2-0 with wins Friday night.  Sycamore beat Burlington Central 42-16. DeKalb beat Hampshire 20-14. Genoa-Kingston got its second-straight shutout with a 24-0 win over Iroquois West. Kaneland beat Huntley 20-12.  Hiawatha fell to 0-2 with a 20-0 loss to Alden Hebron.  

The WLBK Game of the Week is Sycamore hosting Burlington Central.  Spartans Head Coach Joe Ryan likes what he saw in his teams 57-14 win over North Lawndale in Chicago, including over 400-yards rushing across multiple running backs.  "We have great depth, and if we need breaks or if something happens, we have kids that are able to stick their foot in the ground and get that change in direction," says Ryan. "I wasn't sure we had that, but after watching Saturday, I think we do."  Ryan says special teams played aggressively. The Spartans did work on tackling this week, and Ryan says being discipline on defense will be key against Burlington Central Friday night.  Coverage from Engh Field begins around 7:05 on 1360 WLBK and here on 1360wlbk.com.  DeKalb’s home opener is against Hampshire Friday night. All of the Barbs home games, except next week’s Castle Challenge, are at the high school this year.  "I think we need to start some home field traditions; hopefully, start some� [ ... ]

Demarcus Grady was picked as Northern Illinois' starting quarterback, but he was kept scoreless in the first half of the Huskies 27-10 season-opening loss at Iowa State Thursday night.  Alexander Robinson ran for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns carried the ball 19 times for the Cyclones, while quarterback Austen Arnaud added a TD run of his own. Arnaud managed to convert 27-of-36 passing for 265 yards, but he was picked off twice to keep the game from being a blowout.  The Huskies had trouble moving the ball in the season opener, gaining 156 yards on the ground and a fmere 93 yards through the air. Demarcus Grady converted a mere 14-of-29 passing and was picked off three times.  The only points of the first quartercame on a two-yard TD run by Arnaud, giving the hosts a 7-0 advantage. In the second Robinson tacked on a 63-yard scoring run and kicker Grant Mahoney knocked through a 41-yard field goal to provide ISU with a 17-0 edge at the break.  In the second half NIU final [ ... ]

Phil Dawson's 36-yard field goal in the final seconds lifted the Browns over the Bears, 13-10, Thursday night in Cleveland in the final preseason game for both teams.   Todd Collins was 10-of-15 for 139 yards and a TD pass for the Bears.  Rashied Davis led Chicago receivers with three catches for 65 yards, while Greg Olsen's 15-yarder produced the lone TD as the Bears went winless in exhibition play for the first time since 1998.   Coverage of Chicago hosting the Detroit Lions to open the regular seasons begins at 11:30 Sunday morning, September 12th on 1360 WLBK.  

Northern Illinois opens its season Thursday night at Iowa State.  Head Coach Jerry Kill says a lot of the Huskies’ success this season hinges on the early part of their schedule. Four of the first five games are on the road and three of those are against BCS-teams, including the Cyclones.  "I feel good about our football team. They've worked hard, but you still got to go play," says Kill. "We've got to keep our kids grounded and mentally focused because our schedule is difficult. If we can survive that early schedule, and keep our kids headed in the right direction and not get too far down, we'll have a shot."  Who will be leading the Huskies isn’t known yet. Kill isn’t revealing his starting quarterback until game time to keep that information from Iowa State. All he would say this week on Inside Huskie Football on WLBK is what he’s looking for in his starting QB.  "I think the big thing is capturing a team and being a leader," says Kill. "The quarterbacks that I've c [ ... ]

Paul Konerko's three-run homer in a four-run eighth put the White Sox ahead for good as they beat the Indians 6-4 Wednesday in Cleveland.   Manny Ramirez was 1-for-3 with a strikeout as he played his first game for Chicago after being claimed off waivers from the Dodgers earlier in the week.  Alexei Ramirez and Alex Rios hit solo shots for the Pale Hose, who swept the three-game set.   Sox starter Freddy Garcia left the game after four innings with lower back tightness.  Tony Pena got the win while Chris Sale recorded his first major league save.   The White Sox are off Thursday.  They'll begin a three-game series with the Red Sox in Boston on Friday.   

Kosuke Fukudome went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and an RBI to lead the Cubs past the Pirates, 5-3, Wednesday afternoon in the deciding game of a three-game set at Wrigley Field.   Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny left the game in the top of the third inning after being struck with a line drive off the bat of Jose Tabata.  He was relieved by Thomas Diamond, who picked up his first major-league win after one-and-two-thirds-innings of relief.  Carlos Marmol threw a scoreless ninth to earn his 25th save.   The Cubs are off Thursday.  They'll begin a three-game series with the Mets Friday afternoon.   

Multiple reports in both cities report the San Jose Sharks are set to sign former Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Antti Niemi to a one-year, $2-million deal.   The salary cap-strapped Blackhawks let Niemi walk rather than pay an arbitrator's decision to award the Finn a reported $2.75-million contract for the 2010-11 season.  The 27-year-old Niemi became an unrestricted free agent less than three months after leading the 'Hawks to their first Stanley Cup since 1961.   

A.J. Pierzynski belted a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to propel the White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Indians Tuesday night in Cleveland.   Edwin Jackson struck out 11 over eight-and-two-thirds innings of three-run ball to move to 3-and-0 with Chicago.  Bobby Jenks picked up his 25th save.  The Southsiders have won four of their last six games.   Shelley Duncan's solo shot in the seventh gave Cleveland a 1-0 lead, but Mark Teahen singled in a run in the eighth to tie it for the Sox.  Jason Donald's two-run single in the ninth chased Jackson, but Bobby Jenks came on to get the final out.  Joe Smith took the loss for the Tribe.   Outfielder Manny Ramirez joined the Sox before Tuesday's game.  However, Ramirez was not in the starting lineup.  The Sox acquired Ramirez through a waiver claim from the Los Angeles Dodgers.   The series in Cleveland wraps up Wednesday as Freddy Garcia looks to improve his 11-and-5 record for the Sox.  Garcia won his last out [ ... ]

Just one day after being hammered by the Cubs, the Pirates returned the favor, taking the middle game of three, 14-7, Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.   Koyie Hill went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run for the Northsiders.  The Cubs did score five runs in the eighth inning on three singles, a double and a ground out.   Ryan Dempster was tagged for seven runs on seven hits with three walks in just three innings as he fell to 12-and-9.  The Cubs lost for the third time in five games.   The series concludes Wednesday afternoon as seven-game winner Tom Gorzelanny starts for the Northsiders.  The left-hander suffered through a 1-and-3 August, including giving up six runs to the Reds in his last start.  First pitch is at 1:20.   

Manny Ramirez is headed to the Chicago White Sox.   The Sox were awarded the 38-year-old outfielder on Monday after claiming him off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers.   The team says the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays also had claims on Ramirez, but the Sox receive the 12-time All-Star by virtue of a weaker record.   The White Sox moved pitcher Jake Peavy from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL to make room on their 40-man roster.   Ramirez has played for the Cleveland Indians, Red Sox and Dodgers over his 18-year career.  He's a .313 lifetime hitter with 554 home runs 1,828 RBI.   

Brent Lillibridge hit a solo homer to ignite a four-run top of the 11th as the White Sox outlasted the Indians 10-6 Monday night to open a three-game series in Cleveland.   Omar Vizquel and Alex Rios each had RBI doubles and Paul Konerko singled in a run for Chicago, which banged out 21 hits in all to snap a two-game losing streak.  Rios finished 5-for-6 with a home run and four RBI for the Sox.  Lillibridge's throwing error in the ninth helped Cleveland score three times to tie the game and force extra innings.  Scott Linebrink picked up the win in relief.   Rafael Perez took the loss for Cleveland.  Travis Hafner went 4-for-5 with an RBI and Jayson Nix homered for the Indians.   Edwin Jackson starts opposite Justin Masterson in Tuesday night's second installment.   Sox second baseman Gordon Beckham left Monday's game with a bruised right hand.  X-rays on the hand came back negative and Beckham is listed as day-to-day.   

Carlos Zambrano pitched into the sixth inning for the win and also hit a two-run homer to lead an 18-hit attack as the Cubs pounded the Pirates 14-2 Monday night in the first-of-three at Wrigley Field.   Zambrano struck out seven while allowing just four hits and an unearned run over five-and-a-third innings to even his record at 6-and-6.  Aramis Ramirez went 2-for-3 with four RBI, and Marlon Byrd and Jeff Baker added two hits and two RBI each for Chicago, which is 5-and-2 under interim skipper Mike Quade.   Pedro Alvarez and Ryan Doumit each drove in a run for Pittsburgh, which has lost four straight.  Paul Maholm fell to 7-and-13 with the loss.   The series continues Tuesday night with Ryan Dempster starting for the Northsiders.  Dempster is 12-and-8, including a perfect 4-and-0 in August.  First pitch is slated for 7:05.   

As the preseason winds down, the club made a trio of roster moves yesterday.   The Bears cut defensive lineman Maurice Evans, quarterback Matt Gutierrez, and wide receiver Zeke Markshausen.   Linebacker Nick Roach remains questionable for the start of the regular season.   Chicago wraps up its exhibition schedule Thursday night in Cleveland.  Kick off is at seven o'clock.   

Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez is expected to become a member of the White Sox on Monday.   Manny will reportedly go from LA to Chicago in a straight waiver claim, with the Sox assuming $4.3-million in remaining salary.   The 38-year-old was ejected as a pinch-hitter on Sunday.   

Marcus Thames belted a solo homer to back a strong outing from rookie Ivan Nova as the Yankees edged the White Sox 2-1 Sunday in the deciding game of a three-game series in Chicago.   Juan Pierre laced an RBI single for the White Sox, who have dropped nine of their last 14 games.  Gavin Floyd permitted two runs over six-and-two-thirds innings to fall to 9-and-11.   Nova struck out seven over five-and-two-thirds innings of one-run ball to pick up his first win in only his second big league start.  Mariano Rivera earned his 27th save.  Brett Gardner singled home a run for the Yankees in the win.   The Sox travel to Cleveland Monday night and begin a three-game series with the Indians.  Mark Buehrle start against Mitch Talbot.  Coverage begins, in progress, at seven o'clock Monday night on 1360 WLBK, following the Sycamore Speedway Race Report at six.