Barda just warming up; Wheaton N. opens some eyes.(Sports) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Dave Miller

Can I have a drum roll please?

The Illinois High School Association released regional and sectional assignments this week.

In Class AA:

West Aurora regional - Batavia, East Aurora, Illinois Math & Science, Oswego, Rosary, Waubonsie Valley, West Aurora and West Chicago.

Hinsdale South regional - Benet, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Glenbard East, Glenbard South, Glenbard West, Hinsdale South, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South.

Lockport regional - Bolingbrook, Lemont, Lockport, Mt. Assisi, Naperville Central, Naperville North, Plainfield and Romeoville.

Providence regional - Crete-Monee, Joliet, Joliet Catholic, Lincoln-Way, Providence, Rich East and Rich South.

(The above regionals feed into the East Aurora sectional.)

Fenton regional - Addison Trail, Elk Grove, Fenton, Leyden, Maine East, Maine West, Maine South and Willowbrook.

Lyons Township regional - Hinsdale Central, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lyons Township, Nazareth, Proviso East, Proviso West, Riverside-Brookfield andYork.

Schaumburg regional - Conant, Elgin, Glenbard North, Hoffman Estates, Lake Park, Larkin, Schaumburg, St. Charles and Streamwood.

Niles West regional - Evanston, Glenbrook South, Good Counsel, Loyola, Niles North, Niles West, Regina Dominican and Resurrection.

(The Fenton, Lyons Township, Schaumburg and Niles West regionals feed into the St. Charles sectional.)

In Class A:

Aurora Central regional - Aurora Central, Aurora Christian, Coal City, Gardner-South Wilmington, Lisle, Newark, Plano, Reed Custer, St. Francis, Wheaton Academy, Wilmington and Yorkville.

Illiana Christian regional - Chicago Christian, Evergreen Park, F.W. Parker, Holy Trinity, Illiana Christian, Josephinum, Latin School, Luther East, Luther South, Seton Academy and St. Frances de Sales.

Marengo regional - Burlington Central, Elgin Academy, Hampshire, Harvard, Huntley, Kaneland, Marengo, Marian, Richmond-Burton, St. Edward and Woodlands Academy.

Westmont regional - Driscoll, Immaculate Conception, Luther North, Madonna, Montini, Ridgewood, St. Benedict, St. Gregory, St. Scholastica, Timothy Christian, Walther Lutheran and Westmont.

(The above Class A regionals feed into the Reed Custer sectional.)

* * *

There is no slowing down Hinsdale South's Maria Barda.

After breaking the state record for career strikeouts Saturday, the Michigan-bound flame-thrower fired a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts in a 6-0 triumph at Hinsdale Central Wednesday.

'She was throwing hard today,' Hinsdale South coach Brenda Whitesell said. 'I wouldn't want to catch her. She's pretty amazing.'

Barda's up-to-date career totals:

No-hitters - 15

Shutouts - 35

Wins - 62

Strikeouts - 1,084

* * *

Wheaton North turned some heads when it won its first game in four tries by upsetting Glenbard North 6-2 on Monday.

Somebody even called our office Tuesday wondering if the score was right.

'I'm so glad it happened early in the season because I think that's exactly what the kids needed,' Wheaton North first-year coach Sharon Kennedy said. 'They've been working really hard and now it supplies the little bit of confidence that we needed to push us over the edge.

'Glenbard North is a good team with a lot of varsity experience and I think we surprised them. I think they expected to see the old Wheaton North, so it was a fun game.'

Winning pitcher Carrie Sikorski scattered 3 hits and recorded 10 strikeouts against the Panthers, which finished third in Class AA last year.

Jenny Hyneman, Jen Uhen and Jodie Baker delivered RBI singles during a 4-run fourth inning that broke a scoreless tie and sent the Falcons flying to victory.

'(Tuesday's) practice was a little bit different,' Kennedy said. 'Practices were going well before but now it's now like we're practicing with a purpose. Now we know we can compete with anybody.'

The Falcons made it two straight with a 3-2 victory against Glenbard East Wednesday.

* * *

The schedule for the Larkin Slugfest '97 tournament to be held Saturday at the Elgin Sports Complex:

At 10 a.m. (in bracket order) - Fenwick vs. Herscher, Glenbard South vs. Larkin, Lake Park vs. Maria, Harlem vs. Schaumburg, and Glenbard North vs. Hoffman Estates.

Round 2 is schedules for 12:15 p.m. with Round 3, including the title game, set for 2:30 p.m.