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[APRIL 1, 2002]   Over the weekend Lincoln’s varsity baseball team proved it could win close games and come from behind. Lincoln edged out Decatur MacArthur 3-2 and overcame a four-run deficit to defeat Decatur Eisenhower 6-5 in extra innings. The wins moved the Railers to 3-3 on the season.

Senior Matt Boyer went the distance in the first game of the Decatur round robin, holding MacArthur to six hits and just one earned run. The game was tied 2-2 after two innings and remained without any more score until the sixth inning, when Lincoln scored its final run. MacArthur threatened to tie the score again in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff double to left-center field. However, Boyer ended the game with six more pitches — all strikes: a ground ball back to the mound, a line drive to right field and a fly out to center field.

[Photos provided by Rich Knopp]
[Danny Schick was one of five Railers who were tagged out trying for home.]

The low scoring was not simply due to Lincoln having no runners on base. The Railers had four runners tagged out going for home during the game — one on Andy Knopp, two on Danny Schick and one on Ryne Komnick. Lincoln’s first two runs were scored in the second by Blake Schoonover and Boyer, who had reached base on fielder’s choices and crossed the plate on a passed ball and a pitcher’s throwing error. The winning run was scored in the sixth by Josh Gallagher who was pinch running for Knopp, who led off the inning with a walk. Gallagher moved to second on a single by Schick and to third on a sacrifice bunt by Schoonover. Boyer brought Gallagher home on a single to right center, contributing directly to his own first win of the season.

The second game against Decatur Eisenhower began with an unkind welcome to varsity pitching for junior Chris Gosda. Gosda’s first outing began with a walk, two singles, a walk and a single — with the first four hitters all scoring. (It happens, Chris. Forget it and come back strong next time.) Left-hander Michael Martin relieved Gosda and went five scoreless innings, giving up just two hits.

The Railers had just two hits through the first five innings, and their first run came in the fourth inning without a hit. Schrader drew an opening walk, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Schick. Unfortunately, Eisenhower scored another run in the sixth when Komnick came to the mound. Komnick walked his second batter, who then stole second and scored on an RBI single. Nonetheless, Komnick threw three strong innings, taking the Railers into an extra frame and earning his first win of the season. Komnick struck out four and allowed just two hits.

[to top of second column in this article]

The Railers’ incredible comeback started in the sixth inning, as they scored three runs — all after two outs had already been recorded. Schrader and Knopp both walked, Schick plated Schrader with a single to left, and Komnick sliced a pop fly that found fair territory down first-base line for a two-RBI double. After six innings, Eisenhower still led 5-4.

In the seventh, however, Lincoln forced extra innings. Ryan Williams singled with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gallagher. Jeremy Ohmart then lined an RBI single to right center field, scoring Williams’ tying run. It was an exciting comeback. But the Railers weren’t done yet.

[Matt Boyer pitched a complete game and had the game-winning RBI for Lincoln.]

In the bottom of the eighth, Derek Schrader led off by beating out an infield hit to the shortstop. On the next pitch, Andy Knopp turned on a fastball and lined it over the left fielder’s head to the fence. Schrader turned on the speed and won the race to home. The comeback was complete. Game over.

The win was a team effort. Freshman Neil Rohrer was called into service for both games, with Lincoln’s starting catcher, John Peters, out of town for a family trip. Rohrer seemed in solid control defensively. Three Railers had two-out RBI hits: Schick, Komnick and Ohmart. The sacrifice fly by Schick and the sacrifice bunt by Gallagher were critical. The pitching by Martin and Komnick yielded only one run over seven innings. Schrader scored three times. And the game-winning double by Knopp was the perfect ending to an exciting win.

This week the Railers will open their conference season with a Tuesday 4:30 home game against Sacred Heart Griffin. They will host Mount Zion at 4 on Wednesday and travel to Sacred Heart on Thursday.

[Freshman Neil Rohrer gave a solid performance behind the plate.]

[Rich Knopp]

[APRIL 1, 2002]   Lincoln High School won a pair of sophomore baseball games against Limestone Saturday afternoon in Bartonville. The Railers won the first game 5-2 and took the nightcap 2-1. The victories even the Railer record at 2-2. Lincoln hosts Sacred Heart Griffin on Tuesday.

Lincoln scored two runs in the first inning of the opener; however, Limestone came back to knot the score with a run in the first and one in the sixth. Lincoln then pushed across three runs in the top of the seventh for the win.

Mitch Sheley had a pair of hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Trent Kavelman had one hit, a two-run single in the seventh. Chris Matson, Miles Musick and Scott Lee each had hits for Lincoln. Musick and Lee each scored a run, as did Brandon Babbs. Jason Williams had an RBI. Williams worked the first 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, one earned run, no walks and one strikeout. Kavelman came on in relief and picked up the victory with one strikeout.

Chance Berger picked up the victory in the second game, working 6 1/3 innings, permitting seven hits, two walks, two strikeouts and one run, one earned. Kavelman again came on in relief and picked up the save, fanning one of the two batters he faced.

Williams and Sheley each had a pair of hits in the second game, with Williams scoring a run and Sheley collecting an RBI. Kavelman, Matson, Sean Ferguson and Corey Stoltzenburg each had one hit for Lincoln.

[Bill Martinie]

[APRIL 1, 2002]   The Lincoln High School freshman baseball team split its season-opening doubleheader Saturday at Mike Curry Field, losing the opener 8-0 and winning the nightcap 6-5 against Sacred Heart Griffin.

Sacred Heart took a 5-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning of the second game; however, Lincoln pushed across five runs to pull out the victory. Kevin Carroll had a bases-loaded double to knot the score at 5-5, and Jaron Harnacke connected for a single to score Carroll with the winning run. Paul Phillips, Andrew Gilmore and Alex Dahm all had hits for the Railers in the seventh inning. Mike McMullum had the only other Lincoln hit in the contest.

Harnacke picked up the victory in relief of Paul Phillips. Harnacke worked the final two innings. Anderson was the losing pitcher.

Bobby Maestas hurled five shutout innings in the first game before giving way to Kevin Carroll. Maestas had a pair of hits while Gilmore and Kaleb Olson each had one hit. Maestas fanned seven batters in his five innings of work. Carroll took the loss.

[Bill Martinie]

[MARCH 30, 2002]   NORMAL — Illinois State head football coach Denver Johnson was pleased with his team after the second day of spring practice, saying it had high spirits for the duration of the afternoon and has already built on the previous day.

"We made a few offensive changes," Johnson said. "The team really picked up on it and have responded well. We will just continue to build a winning team and take the time this spring to concentrate on strengthening our strong points and eliminating our weaknesses."

A couple of players Johnson said have looked to be contributors early are freshman running back T.J. Watts and returning star Quincy Washington. He is encouraged about their potential as well as about tight end Steve Statz.

"I have liked what I have seen from both T.J. and Quincy," Johnson said. "Steve has had a good couple of days, and on the defensive end (defensive back) Brandon Allen is physically ready for us to get our pads on. It is hard to measure our defense without pads on, so we will get to see more tomorrow."

The team returns to Hancock Stadium for day three of practice at 3:30 p.m. Friday, when the Redbirds will practice in pads for the first time this spring.

[Heather Henning, Illinois State University
athletics media relations]

[MARCH 29, 2002]   Lincoln’s varsity baseball team chalked up its first season win on Thursday, defeating visiting Bloomington 10-6.  Tied 4-4 after four innings, the Railer bats exploded for six runs in the fifth inning to provide sufficient cushion for the victory.

Lincoln found itself down early, trailing 3-1 after the first inning. In the first frame, starting pitcher Andy Knopp gave up three of the six hits he allowed in five innings pitched.  The three first-inning runs were the only earned runs Knopp surrendered. He struck out five, walked two and left the game with a 10-5 lead, thanks to the fifth-inning outburst by the Railer offense.

[Andy Knopp faces Bloomington’s Justin Harrison. Knopp recorded Lincoln’s first win of the season.]
[Photos provided by Rich Knopp]

Blake Schoonover went the final two innings, and fortunately he kept the Railer lead intact to the finish. (In two of the Railers’ first three games, a two-run lead going into the last inning has not been enough.) Schoonover struck out three and allowed four hits and one run in his two innings.

The Railer defense struggled in the game, committing five errors in the first five innings. Nevertheless, one notable defensive play came in the fifth inning. After an unearned Bloomington run had scored and with two on and two out, right fielder Mike Martin made a great diving catch in front of him to end the inning.

[to top of second column in this article]

Martin scored the first Railer run in the first inning after drawing a walk, stealing a base, and advancing on a shortstop error. Ryne Komnick led off the second inning with a left-field solo home run. Two more Railer runs crossed the plate in the fourth inning. Matt Boyer led off with a single to right, but his pinch runner, after stealing second, was picked off.  Ryan Williams was awarded first after he was hit by a pitch. (In the second inning, Williams was also hit by a pitch, but the umpire ruled that he did not make a sufficient effort to avoid it, so he just called it a ball.)  Martin then sent a line drive to left field — a hit that went to the fence (scored a triple) after the fielder unsuccessfully tried a diving catch. Jeremy Ohmart followed up with an RBI single.

[Left to right: Mike Martin, Derek Schrader and
Jeremy Ohmart walk away from home plate after
Schrader’s home run.]

The bottom of the fifth was decisive for the Railers.  The inning included singles by Danny Schick and Schoonover, a pitcher’s throwing error to first, a double by Komnick, a single by Ohmart, and the BIG hit of the inning — a three-run homer by Derek Schrader. The leadoff hitter, Martin, scored three times on the day.  Ohmart, Komnick, Schick and Schrader had two hits each.

The Railers are now 1-3 on the year. Their next games are in Decatur this coming weekend against Eisenhower and Macarthur. Their next home game, against Sacred Heart-Griffin on Tuesday, April 2, is also their first conference game.

[Rich Knopp]

[MARCH 29, 2002]   NORMAL — As the sun went down behind Hancock Stadium on Wednesday, the first day of Illinois State’s spring football practice felt more like October than late March.

But while the mercury was dropping, the optimism for the 2002 season continued to rise, particularly at the offensive line position. The O-Birds will look to replace a couple of cornerstones in Andy King and Teddy Wulf, but newcomers Mike Stegeman, Stafford Davis and Jeremy Melville looked primed for the competition.

"The offensive line bunch is going to be a fun group to watch develop," head coach Denver Johnson said. "We’re going to have depth there, and there will be some great competition for those jobs. Stegeman, Davis, Melville and several of those young guys look like they’re ready to make a challenge."

In addition to the offensive line, Johnson was impressed with the conditioning of wide receiver Justin Frierson and the running back position. Frierson, who played an important role on the Redbird offense in 2000, never really got involved last season.

"Frierson was heavy and out of shape last season, but he has his weight down, and he really caught my eye out there today," Johnson said. "At running back, both Quincy (Washington) and T.J. Watts looked pretty good. That running back crew is going to be fun to watch as well."

[to top of second column in this article]

On the defensive side, Johnson was pleased with T.J. Jackson, the senior transfer from Virginia Tech.

"T.J. Jackson sure looks like a good football player," Johnson said. "Without pads on it’s tough to tell, but right now T.J. looks like he’ll be a good player for us."

Overall, the primary focus of the first practice was the installation of both the offense and defense, as well as personnel recognition on both sides of the ball. The practice was upbeat and spirited by the players as well as the coaches.

The Redbirds will take the turf again, without pads, on Thursday at 3:30 p.m., and the practice will be open to the public.

[Todd Kober, Illinois State University
director of media relations]

[MARCH 27, 2002]   CHAMPAIGN — Illinois seniors Robert Archibald and Cory Bradford will still have a presence in Atlanta during the Final Four weekend. Archibald is part of the National Association of Basketball Coaches Roundball Challenge team that will face the Harlem Globetrotters on Friday, March 29, at Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Bradford is competing in the ESPN College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Basketball Championships.

Friday’s game marks the third consecutive year the Globetrotters will compete against the best the class of 2002 has to offer, as part of a partnership with the NABC. Pre-game activities, including the Slam Dunk Challenge and Hot Shot Shootout — where a Globetrotter will be teamed with a college all-star — begin at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time, and the game tips off at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. The game will not be televised.

Along with Archibald, headlining this year’s talented NABC College All-Star roster is Cincinnati guard Steve Logan, Oregon forward Freddie Jones, North Carolina forward Jason Capel, Georgia Tech point guard Tony Akins, Texas Tech center Andy Ellis, NABC National Defensive Player of the Year John Linehan of Providence, Georgia State forward Thomas Terrell, Hawaii guard Predrag Savovic, South Florida forward Altron Jackson, Southern Illinois center Rolan Roberts and Wake Forest forward Darius Songaila. Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo will pilot the talented 12-man team.

Bradford is participating in the 14th annual ESPN College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Basketball Championships, showcasing the top 3-point shooters and slam dunkers in the NCAA. The championships will be televised on ESPN at 1 p.m. Central time on Saturday, March 30.

[Kent Brown, assistant athletics director, sports information director, University of Illinois]

[MARCH 26, 2002]   NORMAL — Illinois State head football coach Denver Johnson didn’t have to look far to fill the coaching void on his staff. In fact, he just had to walk down the hall at the Kaufman Football Building to Chris Patton’s office.

After serving one season as a restricted earnings coach, Patton was promoted by Johnson on Wednesday to fill the vacancy left by Mac McDaniel, who resigned in December. Patton will continue working with the defensive line for the Redbirds.

"I’m thrilled to have this opportunity," he said. "This is the payoff on the gamble, so to speak. I set out to be a college football coach 10 years ago, and it took me awhile to even get into the high school ranks. I put myself in the position to do this, and coach Johnson was gracious enough to give me this opportunity. It was a risk and I left a great job, but I accepted a restricted earnings position at a place I love and it paid off."

For Patton it’s a happy ending, but for Johnson it’s even happier. He gets a good football coach.

"Chris Patton is a fantastic football coach," Johnson said. "We were extremely fortunate to have him on the staff this past year. He did a great job of coaching, handling his players and recruiting for us. He also adds great chemistry to this coaching staff. He’s honest and loyal, which are qualities that I very much appreciate. I’m delighted to be able to keep him on the staff and to move forward."

[to top of second column in this article]

The Chickasha, Okla., native joined the Illinois State staff after completing six years in the highly regarded Texas high school ranks. He was in the Dallas Lake Highlands High School system from 1995-00. During the 1990s, Lake Highlands was the fourth-most successful playoff program in 5A football, with three appearances in the semifinals and one in the quarterfinals.

Patton was a blue-chip high school player who was also named one of the top 10 players in Oklahoma in his senior season. He accepted a scholarship to Oklahoma State, where he played from 1980-84 as a two-year letter-winner. He was a defensive lineman in his first two seasons and an offensive lineman in his last two campaigns.

His position coach on the defensive line at OSU was current Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt. While Patton was at OSU, the Cowboys made appearances in the 1981 Independence Bowl, the 1983 Bluebonnet Bowl and the 1984 Gator Bowl.

Following his college career, Patton worked in the private sector but maintained his coaching career, including a stint with a club team in Gavle, Sweden.

Patton graduated from OSU in 1989 with a degree in organizational administration. He and his wife, Laura, have two daughters, Rachel, 13, and Katie, 3.

[Todd Kober,
Illinois State University director of media relations]

[APRIL 1, 2002]   It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, which makes being on vacation all the better. So, why am I taking time to write this column if I’m on vacation? Because, I’m a dedicated sports writing professional who wants to deliver the goods to our always-loyal LDN fans!

And you might be surprised. People all over the country ask us, "What in the heck is a Lincoln Daily News?" When they hear about the concept that the Youngquists and others came up with to be a cyber-only news source, they are amazed! As a loyal LDN employee, I almost wish we were publicly traded or that we had a patent on this idea. I think someday it will be the rage. For the time being we’re getting in there and mixing it up with the big boys and they don’t even know what hit them! More on that later... Let’s go back to the hoops...

Big Ten fans who have descended on Atlanta are wearing Cheshire cat-like smiles, as virtually everyone in the country dissed on the Big Ten all season long.

Who’s laughing now? If you recall, Greg and I reported on several occasions that the Big Ten was alive and well and that there were just more good teams than usual! Now, I wouldn’t have picked IU to be our league’s representative, but I’ve got more history to deal with there than the average LDN reader has to put up with! I am happy to say that I picked Maryland from opening day to be the team to beat, and here they are. However, if they get a striped crew like the other night and if the Big Ten champs shoot the ball like they did against the Illini, they could win a fantasy title. Wouldn’t that be special?

This year’s Final Four has had an almost magical atmosphere. I got here two days before my former assistant coach (and former Lincoln resident) Craig Zastrow arrived in Atlanta. So I registered for the coaching convention and went on inside. I didn’t think I would get too close to the action this year, but immediately I was thrust into the sports interviewer mode. I met up with Gonzaga coach Mark Few. What a nice guy! If we ever lose coach Self, this might be a dude to keep our eyes on. I congratulated him on an awesome year and commiserated with him on how the NCAA totally hosed him and his Bulldogs!

Mark told the LDN, "I can’t tell you how disappointed we were. What message were they trying to send us? They asked us to play tougher non-league opponents. So, we entered one of the sanctioned tournaments and went on the road to play tough teams like the Illini in Illinois. We thought we did everything they asked us to do, and we were rewarded with a No. 6 seed. What’s that all about?"

Sadly, the LDN and I were not much comfort to coach Few, who was still visibly shaken two weeks after the fact. It is a typical NCAA thing. If the NCAA or the NABC are involved in it, you know that there is only one consideration: How much money can they make? I will probably get investigated for even saying this, but I don’t care. Those two august institutions have showed the world their true colors. And here’s the real trap: None of us can go to a competitor because they’re the only game in town and they know it.

So, do you think they care what a has-been coach turned sports writer in Lincoln, Ill., thinks about their respective organizations? Fat what? Fat chance! IF I didn’t love basketball so much, I’d turn on them in an instant.

And if you really want to know what they’re like, you ought to see how they abuse small college and high school coaches! If I wanted to become an investigative reporter, I’m sure that there are some stories there! But here’s the rub. I operate out of this one fallacy. Call me crazy, but I think people read sports pages because they want to read about sports! They want the stats and the facts, and anytime you can give them an inside glance that’s a bonus!

They don’t want to read about greed and corruption. Those things are slated to be found in the entertainment, business and front pages. I think people want to hear from the players and the coaches, not from some front-running prognosticators who change their opinions of teams in the middle of the actual games!

At the LDN we’re committed to bringing you sports coverage. If you want soap opera coverage, may I suggest "All My Children." Sorry! I guess I shouldn’t get this worked up while I’m working while I’m on vacation!

I have spoken to several other coaches and sat directly in front of Dean Smith for the Easter church service we attended yesterday! Ralph Willard, who is the head coach at Holy Cross, was pretty happy with his team’s performance as was Lou Henson, our former Illini coach now laboring at New Mexico State.

Speaking of Lou-Do... The Illini will see him next season, as both teams are scheduled to play in the Top of the World Classic at Fairbanks, Alaska, next November... Plenty of good seats still available!

Also, word on the streets is that LCC’s men’s team may be playing up there the week before that tourney and the famous Great Alaska Shoot-Out!

Even though this season is about over, I’m already ready for next season!!!

[to top of second column in this section]

I felt compelled to bring our faithful LDN followers as much coverage as was possible, so I actually purchased tickets for this year’s games. Once I went from college coaching to high school coaching the before-mentioned friendly organizations kindly informed me that once you do that that they must remove your ticket privileges. Isn’t that nice of them? So, to make a long story longer, Craig and I have been attending a special showing of the games for the coaches association! It’s not all that great, but I do think it’s a little better than watching them in Lincoln.

At any rate, back to the game. It appeared that the Sooners had IU right where they wanted them. Up by seven with a few seconds before half, they somehow let Jarred Odle throw in a 3 just before half, and I think that swung the momentum back to IU. And then when Jarrod Jeffries banked in a 3 early in the second half, you could see the writing on the wall. I never really felt that Oklahoma got back in the game.

They looked stronger, faster, more athletic, better skilled, better coached, etc. They also looked like they didn’t know what happened. Did you realize that IU was 2-3 in their last five games going into the NCAAs?

Back on Jan. 1 they were 7-5. Did you see them as a legitimate title contender then or ever? They remind me of the 93-94 LCC Preachers. That team was one of the best shooting teams that I have ever seen on any level. And an overused phrase says that defense wins championships (every once in a while); good shooting overcomes a multitude of sins.

Again, if this team shoots lights out it can have Cinderella’s full dream.

You can’t believe how many people didn’t even want to see the first game, so they stayed outside until the start of this one. I’m not talking about a few dozen people. I’m talking several thousand people. They love their Jayhawks and their Terrapins. Kansas got out of the gate on a 13-2 run and even though you knew that Maryland would make a run at them, there was a feeling in the crowd that maybe Kansas had enough horses to take them out. That feeling evaporated quickly. Once the turtles went on a charge, it was Katie bar the door! They were totally awesome. Frank Dicken, a new Lincoln resident and a huge Maryland fan, just has to be beside himself! They are so strong and rugged in the post that they look like they would kill you if you even thought about going in there. With Baxter, Wilcox and a host of others to rotate at you, the only thing you can hope for is that they get into foul trouble. When that happened, even that couldn’t save Kansas.

And when you look at Maryland’s guards, Blake and Dixon you realize why they never lose! Is there a better player in the country than Juan Dixon? With the possible exception of LCC’s Matt Clark, who was just named the National Player of the Year, I sure haven’t seen him?

Although Kansas made a late charge, I felt the score could have been a lot worse than it was. Even with Gary Williams’ sideline shenanigans, nothing could stop the Terps. Fear the Turtle, but don’t be surprised if the Big Ten reps steal another one! And this sure could have been a lot more fun if the Illini had been here!!!

Hopefully you got Illinois’ Cory Bradford in the 3-point competition and Robert

Archibald in the All-Star game versus the Harlem Globetrotters. Unfortunately, the LDN was unable to attend either event.

I will have a live report from the Georgia Dome and the court of this year’s national championship game. I hope to give all you wonderful fans an inside glimpse of college basketball’s biggest stage.

I also hope to bring you a major league opening day baseball report, as the LDN has been invited to the Atlanta Braves-Philadelphia Phillies game.

I will also bring you an update on former Illini coach Lon Kruger and his work with the Atlanta Hawks. So, please catch Greg Taylor and me tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. That’s it from Hotlanta!!!

[Jeff Mayfield]

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