Make Ben Modesitt this Week's Patch MVP

Evergreen Park's Ben Modesitt tossed a two-hit shutout in the Mustangs' 6-0 victory over Argo. Vote for him for this week's Patch MVP!

UPDATE: Andrew's Lenza Gets the Biggest Roar from the Crowd

Andrew softball standout Jenna Lenza outpolled 10 others in Patch's weekly MVP poll. She is now eligible for April Patch Athlete of the Month recognition.

Your Patch is a place to celebrate local high school athletes. Show your support for these prep sports MVPs—each of whom is Athlete of the Week in his or her local Patch—by cheering them on in the comments thread, sharing your own photos with the Patch community and voting in the poll. Do you think we're missing someone? Tell us in the comments and share his or her photo to the gallery above. (It's easy. Just click the Upload Photos and Videos link — learn more here.) Read more about this week's MVPs in the photo gallery, and show your support for them by: There is one more way for you to become a more interactive fan: Sign up to become a Patch sports blogger. (Learn more about blogging on Patch here).

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Athlete of the Week: Big Ben Dominates for Mustangs

Evergreen Park pitcher Ben Modesitt feeling better, which isn't good news for opposing hitters.

With the playoffs approaching for Evergreen Park’s baseball team, the Mustangs have been on a tear hitting the ball—a big turnaround from the beginning of the season. Now, the team’s pitching staff is starting to come full circle with the improved health of pitcher Ben Modesitt. Modesitt, who has been fighting wear and tear on his throwing shoulder, pitched a brilliant game last Wednesday. He worked seven innings and allowed just three hits and one walk to go with five strikeouts in Evergreen’s 6-2 win at Argo. Modesitt said he’s feeling better, and that gives Evergreen Park a healthier outlook. “I felt from the start that my curveball was working very well,” Modesitt said about his performance against Argo. With his performance, the …

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Just in Time: Evergreen Park Hitting its Stride

Mustangs are starting to exert themselves, both on offense and defense, and now they're poised to make a late-season push.

In a season defined by perseverance from Evergreen Park's baseball team, the Mustangs' ability to overcome Tuesday’s fourth inning was a microcosm of the year and their 6-5 victory over Richards was the shining light in their recent surge. Evergreen Park led Richards 3-1 entering the fourth, but the Bulldogs sent 10 batters to the plate and scored four runs. It was a frustrating inning for Evergreen Park starting pitcher Jesse McLain, but he came back with scoreless fifth and sixth innings, and Josh Venhuizen’s two-run triple in the fifth inning was the game-winner. “We just wanted to show that we’re still in the race,” Mustang right fielder and relief pitcher Dan Cronin said. “We’re not out, we’re not going to give up.” Following a 13-3 …

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Analysis: Evergreen Park Baseball Shows Signs

Mustangs take positives away from their loss to highly touted Mt. Carmel.

Despite losing 8-2 Wednesday afternoon to Mt. Carmel, Evergreen Park is on the way to doing good things, Mustangs baseball coach Mark Smyth said. Smyth was happy with the performance that starting pitcher Ben Modesitt gave him. Modesitt went four innings with six strikeouts. “Ben, I thought, pitched well,” Smyth said. However, Smyth did say that he needs more innings out of Modesitt, which Modesitt agrees. “We need to get Ben to push deeper into a game,” Smyth said. Modesitt said that on Wednesday his off-speed pitches were working well. However, he was frustrated in giving up 0-2 hits. Moving forward, he said keeping his off-speed pitches working well and getting ahead early in the count will be key. Smyth said his team’s best hitter, …

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Baseball: Mustangs Tamed by Mount Carmel

Mount Carmel 8, Evergreen Park 2. Kelly in command as Caravan roll in non-conference baseball matchup.

Touching All the Bases: Mount Carmel's Frank Kelly (1-0) started his first game Wednesday. He was in command and found the strike zone all afternoon to stymie the Evergreen Park offense in an 8-2 Caravan victory. Mustang starting pitcher Ben Modesitt went four strong innings, only allowing three runs to the Chicago Tribune’s fourth-ranked team. Often, the fundamentals eluded the Mustangs. In the fifth, the Mustangs allowed Tyler Laurisch to score when a check to first base was thrown away. That made the score 4-1. Evergreen Park closed within 4-2 when Jonathan Ottenfeld scored on a Mount Carmel error when Kyle Bock popped the ball up. However, with men on second and third, the scoring threat ended when Kelly struck out Kevin Schwer and got…

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Knight, Karstrand Top Evergreen Park List

Mustang standouts honored as all-conference performers; Baseball team falls shorts on Knight's birthday.

Evergreen Park had a very successful winter athletically, placing a number of individuals on all-conferences teams. In boys basketball, senior Dillon Knight was an all-conference pick, while in girls basketball senior Courtney Karstrand achieved the feat. Jesse McLain of the wrestling team, Sean Morrison on the boys swim team, Shannon Ogorzalek of the bowling team, and Dorothy Kalafut on the cheerleading team each earned all-conference honors, too. * The Evergreen Park softball team played Chicago Christian on Wednesday, losing 4-1. Here’s a photo gallery from the game. Junior Michelle Putlak led the Mustangs with seven innings pitched. Putlak only trailed 2-1 entering the seventh inning. “We didn’t hit, but we’ll be there,” Evergreen Park…

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Analysis: Playing Indoors Doesn't Cut it for Evergreen Park

Mustangs finally get the chance to step outside, and their winter rust showed as Chicago Christian starter Jeremy Kamp shut them down in an 11-0 baseball victory on Wednesday.

Playing baseball inside can go only so far to recreate the atmosphere of an actual game. On Wednesday afternoon, Evergreen Park found this out first-hand in an 11-0 six-inning loss to Chicago Christian. Evergreen Park coach Mark Smyth said the Mustangs' only chance to practice outside before Wednesday’s opener was a little bit on Monday and Tuesday. Mustang starting pitcher Ben Modesitt is the team's No. 1 option. He has enjoyed much better outings than Wednesday’s performance where Chicago Christian scored six runs in two innings. “It could be first-game jitters, it could be his first time being outside,” Smyth said of Modesitt’s performance. “He’s a much better pitcher than he showed. Hopefully, it was just one of the cases from the …

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Game of the Week: Chicago Christian Blasts Past Evergreen Park in Mustangs' Opener

Chicago Christian 11, Evergreen Park 0. The Knights used a dominant pitching performance from senior Jeremy Kamp to notch a shutout baseball victory.

Touching All the Bases: Chicago Christian senior starting pitcher Jeremy Kamp used a dominant fastball with a curve here and there to shut down Evergreen Park in an 11-0 baseball victory. The game was called after six innings on Wednesday because of the 10-run rule. Kamp only gave up one hit and struck out nine in five innings. On offense, junior center fielder Jon Lemmenes had four RBIs to lead the Knights. His two-run homer in the sixth inning capped off the explosive day for the Chicago Christian offense, which was able to get to Evergreen Park’s No. 1 pitcher, Ben Modesitt. He exited in the third inning. Patch’s MVP: Jon Lemmenes, Chicago Christian. The junior center fielder was only a triple away from the cycle. He finished 3-for-4 …

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Big Ben Leads Evergreen Park Quest for Big Season

Division I pitching prospect Bed Modesitt and a bevy of talented hitters hope to have the Mustangs thinking in terms of a banner year.

Around the horn with the Mustangs Coach: Mark Smyth (11 years as head coach, overall record of 162-157). Last year’s record: 19-17. Returning starters: 5. Conference affiliation: South Suburban Red Opener: March 16 vs. Chicago Christian. Quick hit: “Our season will be successful if we find some pitching depth behind Ben Modesitt,” Evergreen Park coach Mark Smyth said. Position Breakdown Infield: Brian Heisterman is a 5-11 senior who hit .441 last year with a team-high 49 hits. He returns to hold down the third base job. Kevin Schwer, a 5-9 senior who hit .277, will play shortstop. Tom Martin, a 5-9 junior who averaged .400 in summer league ball, has the early edge at second base. Josh Vanhuizen, a 6-2 senior, will play first base when he …

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