Eight Is Great For JCA

Did you know that Joe Benson is the eighth former Joliet Catholic Academy baseball player to reach the major leagues?

That list, according to JCA baseball coach Jared Voss, features the following:

• Jack Perconte, Class of 1972.
• Bill Gullickson, Class of 1977.
• Mark Grant, Class of 1981.
• Mike Grace, Class of 1988.
• Sean Bergman, Class of 1988.
• Chris Michalak, Class of 1989.
• Kevin Cameron, Class of 1998.
• Joe Benson, Class of 2006.

“It has to be a record somewhere for high schools,” said Voss, who added Benson, a Plainfield native, is the first position player since Perconte to reach the big leagues. Gullickson, Grant, Grace, Bergman, Michalak and Cameron are all pitchers.

GIRLS GOLF: Claire O’Connor shot a 48 and Carmella Bolin added a 49 as JCA recorded a 215 in an East Suburban Catholic Conference triangular Wednesday. Providence shot a 187 and Nazareth a 189.

“We were a little shorthanded and didn’t shoot particularly well,” JCA coach Kathy Major said. “It will be important for the girls to bounce back at Friday’s match and learn how to overcome adversity.”

GIRLS TENNIS: Last Saturday, the frosh-soph team won the Reavis Invitational. Liz Minarich and Brittany Cunnea placed second at first doubles, while Alex Legg and Claire Schmig placed first at second doubles. Mary Bui and Alex Pettenuzzo placed first at third doubles and Katie Payne placed first at first singles.