Southland Golf: Glenwoodie Undergoes $3 Million Facelift

Old course has fresh, new look following renovation project.

Gimme 5: Smile is Ample Reward for Jones Memorial Community Center Director Roop

Cheryl Roop's hard work at Chicago Heights Community Center enables children to enjoy summer camp activities.

Olympia Fields Transforms Sergeant Means Park From Cornfield to Playground

From a disc golf course to meeting rooms in a 1917 barn, this 20-acre parkland property has something that is sure to pique your interest.

Gimme 5: Washington Junior High's Howard Uses Basketball as Tool to Teach Students Right From Wrong

Chicago Heights native serves as positive role model for Washington Junior High School students.

Marian Catholic's Lilek Verbally Commits to Arizona State

The senior southpaw is considered by some to be the No. 1 prospect in the nation among the Class of 2012.

Mistakes and Missed Opportunities Cost Marian, But Summer Baseball Season Was Quite a Ride

Marian Catholic made too many baserunning blunders and couldn't deliver clutch hits during Wednesday night's 3-1 loss to Prairie Ridge in the Phil Lawler Summer Classic semifinals.

Baseball: Marian Catholic Walks Away with Season-Ending Loss

Prairie Ridge 3, Marian Catholic 1. Spartans reach base 11 times on walks, but none of those runners score in the state summer playoffs in Lisle.

Sports Photo Gallery: Future Diamond Stars Sharpen Skills at Marian Baseball Camp

Young baseball players work on their fundamentals under the direction of Marian baseball coaches and former players.

Sports Photo Gallery: Rich Central Tackles Heat During Summer Football Camp

Olympians focus on improving fundamental skills as the get set for the opening of a new season on Aug. 26 against Carver.

Goodbye 'Ping': New Style of Bats Expected to Impact High School Baseball

A new standard of baseball bat that will be used in IHSA games next season is already being tested out this summer, and many people feel it will be to the advantage of pitchers.

Oh, Baby! What a Week for Marian Baseball Coach

As if his Spartans' surprising run to the Richards Regional summer tourney title wasn't enough, Marian Catholic baseball coach Phil Wail become a father for the first time.

Baseball: Marian Catholic Continues Amazing Summer League Run

Marian Catholic 9, Mount Carmel 8. Four wins in as many days move the Spartans into the state quarterfinals.

Gimme 5: Ex-Bull Hodges Traces Success to His Mentors in the Southland

Ex-Bull and former Rich East standout has won NBA team titles and three-point shooting contests. He attributes much of his success to some great coaches.

Sports Photo Gallery: Marian Catholic Baseball Brings the Heat

The Spartans downed Thornton Fractional South 6-4 in an IHSBCA summer league regional playoff game.

Video: Seven No Slice of Heaven on West Course in The Heights

The par-4 seventh hole at the Chicago Heights Park District West Course facility is a dogleg left that calls for accuracy off the tee and touch around the green.

Gimme 5: Park District's Mike DeButch Helps Develop Community Programs

Former minor league player also takes care of the local baseball fields.

Sports Photo Gallery: Bloom Football Campers Look to Blaze a Trail

Young men work out during football camp held at Bloom Trail.

Bloom Township Football Stands Up to the Heat of Camp

A young Blazing Trojans' team coming off a 1-8 season looks to make strides this summer.

Southland Golf: West Side Story in The Heights

Chicago Heights Park District's West Course offers country club-like golf amenities at everyman prices and rates as a diamond in the rough.

Gimme 5: Rich Central's Smith Hopes to Restore Basketball Tradition at Alma Mater

Bobby Smith, a member of 1986 state runnerup team, hopes to bring the Olympian boys basketball program back to relevance as he takes the coaching reins at Rich Central.

3-Ball in the Corner Pocket: Ex-Bull Craig Hodges Teaches Basketball Fundamentals at Rich Central

Former Rich East standout and Chicago Heights native Craig Hodges traded his old Bulls jersey in for a whistle and clipboard on Wednesday. He was the coach at a clinic, the aim to teach local players and coaches about the fundamentals of shooting the bask

Gimme 5: 'Big Lew' Trains Them to Be the Best

Chicago Heights Boxing Club trainer Pat Lewandowski offers advice on how to be effective in the gym.

New Coach Looks for Old School Ways to Spark Rich Central Basketball

Mike Curta has Olympians working hard this summer in preparation for what he hopes is a turnaround season.

Sports Photo Gallery: Olympia Terrace Blue Rocks Take Little League Baseball Title

The Olympia Terrace Youth Association Blue Rocks edged the Matteson Phillies 10-8 to win the league championship.

Summer Football Camp: Alexander's Great Goal is to Guide Rich Central Back to Playoffs

With talent returning on both sides of the ball, the Olympians' new coach is looking to get out of the gates fast.

Gimme 5: Alexander Ready to Lead Rich Central Football

Terrell Alexander had success as a player at rival Rich East and Northern Illinois University. He coached at Homewood-Flossmoor for 10 years. And now he hopes to lead Olympian program to new heights.

Local Boxer Jackson Falls in National Semifinals

Chicago Heights Boxing Club's Martez Jackson comes up just short of reaching the finals in the U.S. National Championships at Colorado Springs.

'Big Lew' Trains Olympic Boxing Hopeful in an Old Country Club Locker Room

Pat Lewandowski is considered one of the best when it comes to conditioning boxers and turning nobodies in somebodies. One of his pupils as a U.S. Olympic hopeful.

Sports Photo Gallery: Chicago Heights Park District T-Ball Excitement

The Chicago Heights Park District provides boys and girls an opportunity to jump-start their baseball careers through a T-ball league that is sure to put a smile on your face.

Gimme 5: Marian Catholic Girls Coach Lives, Eats and Sleeps Basketball

There is nothing Marian Catholic girls' basketball coach Annie Basic-Byrne would rather do than work with the Spartans.

Chicago Heights-Trained Boxer Strives to Keep Olympic Goal Intact

Martez Jackson hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London, but must first perform well at next week's National Championships in Colorado.

Summer Camp: Back to Work for Marian Catholic Girls Basketball

The Spartans lost a number of standouts to graduation, but coach Annie Basic-Byrne already is implementing a three-stage plan to keep the beat going strong.

Sports Photo Gallery: Golf Treasure in The Heights

Chicago Heights Park District's West Golf Course is a nine-hole par-36, 3,064-yard layout. The land is lush and the prices are affordable.

Gimme 5: Marian Catholic's Ferry Enjoying a Bit of Role Reversal

Spartan girls basketball standout helps at the same summer camp she attended when she was a youngster.

Marian Catholic Grads Set to Turn the Page

Spartan standouts look forward to continuing their athletic careers in the collegiate ranks.

Southland Golf: Comparing Olympia Fields' North Course With Some of the Greatest

Olympia Fields Country Club's North Course consistently makes the grade as one of the top 100 courses in America. How does it match up with some of the other elite layouts on those lists?

Video: Olympia Fields' Toughest Hole

Lessons in the third hole on the North Course at Olympia Fields Country Club.

Childers Nets Top Spring Sports Honor in Chicago Heights

Julian Childers led Marian Catholic to its first conference and sectional titles in boys tennis and a top-15 finish in the IHSA state tournament.

Athlete of the Week: Marian's Gray Earns Conference Player of Year Honor

Senior pitcher and slugger concludes a sensational career with the Spartans.

Gimme 5: 'Big Game' Jayme Helped Rich Central Baseball Make Plenty of Noise

Senior pitcher Jayme Taylor gave his all as the Olympians enjoyed a terrific season.