Central's Drew Stover (#5) throws to first after tagging out Sycamore's Matt Godinsky (#14) during the second inning at Burlington Central High School in Burlington, Ill., on Tuesday, March 23, 2010. Andrew A. Nelles | For The Courier-News
Burlington Central's Zack Ranney delivers during Tuesday's game agaisnt visiting Sycamore.
Chicago Fire Department firefighters respond to a car fire on Metra railroad tracks alongside I-90 just west of N. Kostner Ave. early on Monday, March 22, 2010. Firefighters responded to the scene at approximately 12:30am, extinguishing the fire before 1:00am. Chicago Police officials on the scene stated no occupants were found in the vehicle, which was abandoned on the tracks, and that the cause of the fire was unknown.
Ray Lichter, 19, the first player to sign with the recently started Roosevelt University basketball team, practices at the Niles Fitness Center in Niles, Ill., on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. Roosevelt is returning to competitive athletics after a nearly two decade break. (Andrew A. Nelles/ For The Chicago Tribune)
Bartlett's Larry Whitaker passes around Waukegan's Jereme Richmond during the first quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin on Tuesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
LEFT:Bartlett's Mike Banks exits the court during a time out as the team trails to Waukegan in the fourth quarter at Elgin High School in Elgin on Tuesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Femi Oyewole (from left), Hector Reyes, and Matt Chaltin, react during the final moments of Waukegans victory at Elgin High School in Elgin on Tuesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Luke Labedzki celebrates with fans after they defeated Rockford Boylan at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Mike Banks hugs teammate Luke Labedzki (44) after they defeated Rockford Boylan at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Mike Banks is overcome with emotion after they defeated Rockford Boylan at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's head coach Jim Wolfsmith holds their plaque after they defeated Rockford Boylan at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Frankie Cleope (#5) shoots past Jefferson's Patrick Welsh(#33) during the fourth quarter at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford, Ill., on Wednesday, March 10, 2010. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Frankie Cleope (5) advances through Jefferson's Marquise Morgan (50) and Mike Chisamore (44) during the second quarter at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford on Wednesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett senior Mike Banks came through with a season-best 22 points during Wednesday night's sectional semifinal win against Rockford Jefferson. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Larry Whitaker (21) celebrates in the final moments of the fourth quarter at Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford on Wednesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Mike Banks (left) shoots over South Elgin's Tommy Childs during the first quarter at Bartlett High School in Bartlett on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
LEFT IMAGE - Bartlett's Mike Banks (center) shoots thorugh South Elgin's Jacob Maestranzi (left) and Samuel Jordt (right) during the first quarter at Bartlett High School in Bartlett on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Femi Oyewole (33) is held up by fans after their victory at Bartlett High School in Bartlett on Friday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Jarrett Payton, who is the son of the Bears' running back Walter Payton, is currently playing indoor-league football with the Chicago Slaughter. (Andrew A. Nelles for RedEye)
Bartlett junior Jacki Gulczynski goes to the basket against Proviso West during Tuesday night's Lake Park Class 4A Sectional semifinal game in Roselle. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Proviso West's Ashley Segers (#15) fouls Bartlett's Kristin Conniff (#25) during the third quarter at Lake Park High School in Roselle, Ill., on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Bartlett's Haley Videckis (#22) hugs teammate Lisa Palmer (#41, rear) after their victory at Lake Park High School in Roselle, Ill., on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Billy Corgan at LaSalle Power Co. (Tribune photo by Andrew A. Nelles / February 18, 2010)
Billy Corgan at LaSalle Power Co. (Tribune photo by Andrew A. Nelles / February 18, 2010)
Karin Friberg, of the St. Paul club, climbs up the hill before a jump during the 105th annual Ski Jump Tournament at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, Ill., on Sunday, January 31, 2010. Friberg finished second in the Open Women Class. (Andrew A. Nelles / Photo for Red Eye)
Adam Loomis, of the Flying Eagles club, launches off the ski jump during the 105th annual Ski Jump Tournament at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, Ill., on Sunday, January 31, 2010. Loomis finished in second place in the J1 Class. (Andrew A. Nelles / Photo for Red Eye)
Jessie Taylor, of the Iola club, flies to the landing zone during the 105th annual Ski Jump Tournament at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, Ill., on Sunday, January 31, 2010. Dozens of ski jumpers participated in Sunday's tournament. (Andrew A. Nelles / Photo for Red Eye)
Mika Kulmala, of the Lahti Ski Club, approaches the landing zone during the 105th annual Ski Jump Tournament at the Norge Ski Club in Fox River Grove, Ill., on Sunday, January 31, 2010. Kulmala finished in 2nd place in the A Class. (Andrew A. Nelles / Photo for Red Eye)
Oswego East's Wesley Brooks (12) pushes past Plainfield Central's Jon Dubose (4) during the fourth quarter at the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Oswego East's Auston Keys (34) shoots over Plainfield Central's Alonzo Morgan (20) during the second quarter at the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Oswego East's Wesley Brooks (12) advances past Plainfield Central's Teo Ervin (21, left) and Dan Gage (22, right) during the second quarter at the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Oswego East's Darius Williams (10) celebrates with teammates after their victory at the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
One of my favorite images from October took 3rd place is sports for the regional NPPA clip contest. Little late on the results, but still welcome news.
South Elgin's Amanda Behles (#21, left) and Sarah Havemann (#4, right) celebrate after their victory at South Elgin High School in South Elgin, Ill., on Saturday, January 23, 2010. (Andrew A. Nelles / Photo for The Courier-News)
Dotti Cutlip, left, and Patti Vande Hey attend an Alpha Omicron Pi murder mystery night in Schaumburg. The sorority helped out one member financially when she faced foreclosure on her house. (Photo for the Tribune by Andrew A. Nelles / January 13, 2010)
St. Charles North's David Johnson (#11) shoots past Larkin's Brian Cooks (#25) during the first quarter at Larkin High School in Elgin, Ill., on Thursday, January 21, 2010. (Andrew A. Nelles / Photo for The Courier-News)
Jake Miller, in the role of "Plaque Man," performs during a dental hygiene presentation Tuesday at Creekside Elementary School in Elgin. The theatrical program, called "The Land of Smiles," is sponsored by Delta Dental of Illinois. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
Kindergardner Victoria Luna (center,) 5, reacts during a dental hygiene presentation Tuesday at Creekside Elementary School in Elgin. The theatrical program, called "The Land of Smiles," is sponsored by Delta Dental of Illinois. (Andrew A. Nelles/For Sun-Times Media)
