3rd/4th Graders Advance in Playoffs

The St. Joseph Knights 3rd/4th grade basketball team started its playoff run today with a quarterfinal victory over St. Richard at Hale Park.

The contest was close in the early going, but the Knights' intensity wore down the overmatched Rockets, for a score of 14-7 at the final buzzer.

The Knights advance to the semifinal bracket, where they will face the St. Daniel the Prophet Wildcats, a tall and talented team that also advanced today, with a 23-10 drubbing of the Bridgeport Catholic Academy boys team.

The Knights' semifinal game is set for Saturday, April 7, with a 3:45 p.m. tipoff.

All SJS parents, grandparents, alumni, alumni moms and dads, and other friends of the school are welcome to stop by and cheer on the Knights.

# # #

Kindergarten Soccer Team Captures 2nd Place

In soccer action today, the youngest Knights (our kindergarten squad) ended a great season by capturing second place (out of seven teams) in the St. Mary Star of the Sea indoor league.


In today's championship game, they scored first against St. Bruno, but in the end lost 3-1 to the Trailblazers in a match that was fast, aggressive and occasionally rough. St. Joe's players were on the receiving end of several hard fouls, with one starter leaving the game with an injury after being tripped.

All season long, the Knights played impressively. They were well coached and supported strongly by parents, grandparents and others who filled the stands with spirited applause and encouragement.

Congratulations, kindergarten Knights. You played with speed, skill and good sportsmanship. You have a bright future. We're proud of you!

# # #

Don't Miss It! Buy Your Tix Now For Spring Swing

Chances to win an $8,000 raffle prize, as well as bid on a wealth of interesting and valuable auction items, are still available for St. Joseph School's annual Spring Swing, set for the evening of Saturday, March 31 at European Chalet, 5445 South Harlem Avenue.

“This is one of our most enjoyable fundraisers of the year, and an important one for the boys and girls of our school,” stated St. Joseph School Principal Lawrence Manetti. “We invite all friends of the school---alumni, alumni parents, our local business community and others---to purchase tickets right now and then join us this Saturday evening for great food, lively entertainment including a Rat Pack tribute, and an exciting auction of some truly outstanding items.”

“Spring Swing will feature nearly 70 raffle baskets and 20 auction items, so it’s fair to say that just about everyone will go home with a unique and valuable prize,” he added.

Auction items include tickets to a Madonna concert, an American Girl doll, Disney “park hopper” passes, a Caribbean vacation package (St. Lucia and Antigua), a Nook color reader, a digital camera, golf clubs and golf package, a genuine Harley Davidson helmet, Panera Bread for a year, tickets to some of Chicago’s best theaters and restaurants, and more.

Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, with dinner served at 7:30 p.m.

Admission/dinner tickets are $40 each, or two for $75. A table of 10 is $375.

Grand Raffle tickets are $100 each----with only 200 being sold to maximize the odds of winning one of the prizes: $8,000 grand prize, $2,000 second prize, $1,000 third prize, and $500 fourth and fifth prizes.

Spring Swing tickets will not be available at the door, but are on sale this week on a pre-sale basis. To purchase tickets, contact the school office, 5641 South 73rd Avenue, Summit, 708-458-2927; or the St. Joseph Parish rectory, 7240 West 57^th Street, Summit, 708-458-0501.

# # #

3rd/4th Graders Sweep Hoops Doubleheader

The St. Joseph Knights 3rd/4th grade basketball team ended its regular season today by defeating not one, but two opponents on the court at Hale Park.

The first contest saw the Knights jump out to a 10-2 lead over St. Richard and then hold on for a 10-6 triumph over the outmatched Rockets.

The second game promised to be more of a challenge. The Bridgeport Catholic Academy girls' team is talented, poised and methodical, and had just finished defeating the BCA boys' team.

Yet they were no match for the Knights, who were smart and swift on offense; and on defense looked like hungry tigers on an adrenaline rush. The extremely aggressive St. Joseph defense simply overwhelmed and rattled the Blazers, taking them out of their game and forcing them to make bad passes and desperation shots.

The Knights led 8-5 at the break and poured it on in the second half for a 16-6 blowout.

The young Knights were a real crowd pleaser, with their play drawing roars of approval from the St. Joseph side of the stands and even occasional oohs and aahs from the Bridgeport parents and grandparents.

The Knights now enter the playoffs. The brackets are scheduled to be posted by March 21 at  http://infosports.com/halepark/.

# # #

  

Kindergarten Soccer Squad Rolls to Victory

In soccer action today, the youngest Knights (our kindergarten squad) ended the regular season on a high note.

They earned an impressive win, scoring early and jumping out to a 4-1 halftime lead over St. Mary Star of the Sea.

They maintained their intensity in the second half and rolled to a 7-2 victory over the Spartans.

While both teams were evenly matched in terms of speed, the Knights' effort was marked by superior skill, tenacity and goaltending.

Games are played indoors at the St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish Center, 4626 West 63rd Street.