Sports News,  Sports Talk,  Schedules,  Announcements

Sports News Elsewhere  (fresh daily from the Web)

Pony baseball results

[MAY 31, 2002]  In a closely fought ballgame in the Pony League Thursday evening, the Dodgers’ Mason Coons drove home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the Phillies 4-3.

The Phillies duo of David Williams and Justin Mason combined to throw a four-hitter, only to be outdone by the brilliant pitching of Aaron Altman for the Dodgers. Altman threw a one-hit complete game, registering 19 strikeouts.

[Provided by Jim Stone]

Lincoln plays tough but receives
tough loss in sectional playoffs

[MAY 31, 2002]  Thursday night the Lincoln varsity baseball team had another shot at the defending AA state champions, Bradley-Bourbonnais. Early in the year, the Railers lost 6-7 to Bradley-Bourbonnais in the first game of a doubleheader, although they were ahead by two runs going to the seventh inning. Especially with the way the senior-led Railers have played recently (winning nine of their last 12 games), most people rightly believed that they had what it takes to make it even further in the state tournament. (It’s been 11 years since the Railers got this far in the tournament.)


[Photos provided by Rich Knopp]
[Illinois Wesleyan provided a beautiful setting for the sectional game.]

The game was played the way you’d expect top caliber-state teams to play: strong pitching, solid defense, and aggressive hitting and base running. The downside for the Railers is that Bradley did them all just a little better and handed Lincoln a season-ending 4-1 defeat.

Lincoln senior Matt Boyer went the full game on the mound, walking three, striking out two and granting six hits. The first Bradley run came in the first inning, after a walk and an RBI triple by Dan Haley to the right-field fence. Haley also scored in the first on a wild pitch. As it turned out, the two-run inning would have been all that Bradley needed for the win. But Boyer pitched the next three innings without a score and, with a Railer run in the fourth inning, kept Lincoln within one run.

 

Bradley’s fifth inning, however, included another opposite-field hard-hit ball by Haley. Haley sliced one down the right-field line that had the Lincoln fans praying for a foul ball. But the ball stayed fair and the two-run homer put Bradley up 4-1.

Lincoln had only four hits in the game but hit the ball hard a number of other times. They didn’t seem to get on track until the fourth inning, sending only nine hitters to the plate in the first three innings. In Lincoln’s fourth, Jeremy Ohmart led off with a walk and a stolen base. Sophomore Mitch Sheley moved him to third on a grounder to short. And senior Andy Knopp lined a one-out single to right field to bring in Lincoln’s only run of the game. Senior Ryan Williams followed Knopp with another single, but both were stranded on base in the inning.

One of the more significant plays of the game came in Lincoln’s fifth inning. With one out, junior Ryne Komnick drew a walk, and pinch runner Josh Gallagher was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Martin. Ohmart then picked up his second walk of the game to put runners at first and second with two outs. All-conference performer Mitch Sheley, who has an over .400 batting average with runners in scoring position this season, was at the plate. With a 2-2 count, speedster Gallagher was given the green light to steal third, but the throw beat him, the tag was made and the inning ended.

 

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Lincoln’s sixth inning tested Bradley’s center fielder, Tyler Grace, who had all three put-outs in that inning. One of them was a blast off Knopp’s bat to dead-center field that, after several turns by Grace, was finally hauled in at the base of the 380-foot fence. In that inning Grace also chased down fly balls by Mitch Sheley and Ryan Williams.

A base hit by Blake Schoonover in Lincoln’s seventh provided a little spark to the Railers, who were down 4-1 at that point. But Schoonover was unable to get beyond first.

Several Railers performed particularly well during Lincoln’s three IHSA tournament games. Andy Knopp, who is headed to Division I Western Illinois University, batted .625 for the tournament, with five hits (including a home run) and six RBIs. Jeremy Ohmart hit .429; and Blake Schoonover, who’s headed to Kankakee Community College to play baseball, and Mitch Sheley both hit at a .333 pace for the state tournament games. Michael Martin, who’s headed to Springfield College to play baseball, played a solid right field for the Railers.

 


[Ten Railer seniors will move on next year. (From R to L): Ryan Williams, Michael Martin, Adam Schonauer, Danny Schick, Jeremy Ohmart, Matt Boyer, Blake Schoonover, Michael Aper, Brian Boyer and Andy Knopp]

It was a down-and-up season for the Railers. At one point they were 10-13, but they finished at 18-16 and placed third in the Central State Eight Conference. Four Railers earned all-conference honors: sophomore Mitch Sheley and seniors Matt Boyer, Blake Schoonover and Andy Knopp. Schoonover was also named to a Springfield area all-star squad as a pitcher.

Head coach Pat Hake, in his second year at the helm of the Railers, and assistant coach Brad Shaw are to be congratulated for taking the Railers further in postseason play than they’ve been for over a decade. The coaches have had a great group of guys to work with, and they all pulled it together at the right time.

Thanks, Railers, for a great season. And thanks for putting Lincoln baseball back on the state map.

[Rich Knopp]

Stats:

LC volleyball recruit

[MAY 31, 2002]  Lincoln College has announced the signing of a letter of intent from Jessica Livezey to play volleyball next season for coach Mark Tippett. Livezey, a graduate of Chenoa High School, was a four-year letter-winner and captain of the volleyball team.

Livezey was named to the all-conference team three years in a row and was selected for honorable mention as a Pantagraph scholar-athlete. She is a versatile middle and outside hitter. Livezey plans to purse a degree in nursing at Lincoln College.

"I am very pleased Jessica chose LC to begin her college career," coach Tippett said. "She is an aggressive player and a team leader.  I am confident she will help us offensively as both an outside hitter and a middle blocker."

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College
sports information director]

Pony baseball results

[MAY 30, 2002]  The opening baseball game for the Lincoln Rec Center’s Pony Division season was on May 28, pitting the Row Motor Athletics versus the Knights of Columbus Phillies. The Phillies won the game 10-0 in seven innings.

The pitching for the Phillies was led by Justin Mason, Seth Laurence and Brian Willmert. They combined for 11 strikeouts, allowed only two walks and surrendered only two singles, by John Eigenbrod. Offensively the Phillies were led by Troy Tolin with a double and a single, and singles were recorded by Jeremy Moore and Joey Heidbreder.

The pitchers for the Athletics combined for a total of 13 strikeouts.

[Provided by Duane Moore]

 

Lincoln wins regional championship

[MAY 28, 2002]  After its Saturday win over Champaign Centennial in Champaign, the Lincoln Railer baseball team brought home a regional trophy for the first time since 1991. The boys in red and green once again came ready to play, got on top early, and held on for their 18th win of the year (with 15 losses). The Railers got strong pitching from senior Matt Boyer, banged out 11 hits and made several extraordinary defensive plays in their 7-3 win.

Playing as the visitors, the Centennial Chargers drew first blood in the top of the first inning, scoring one run after a single to Kevin Ealy and a double to opposing pitcher Mike Nelson. But Lincoln nearly drained the blood from the Chargers in the bottom of the first, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring five times.

Leadoff and designated hitter Jeremy Ohmart started his three-hit day with a double to right-center field and scored on Mitch Sheley’s RBI single to center. Andy Knopp drove in Sheley with a liner to right-center, and Danny Schick had an RBI single down the right-field line that brought Knopp on in. Blake Schoonover continued the barrage with an infield single that prompted two Centennial errors that allowed Schick to score. Schoonover stole second and third and then crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

 


[Photos provided by Rich Knopp]
[Big offensive games were played by Blake Schoonover (single, 2B, run), Andy Knopp (two RBI singles, run) and Jeremy Ohmart (2B, two singles, two runs).]

Jeremy Ohmart scored a sixth Railer run in the second inning after being hit by a pitch and stealing second to get into scoring position. Mitch Sheley moved Ohmart to third with a grounder to second. And Andy Knopp ripped a two-out line-drive single between short and third, which scored Ohmart.

The Railers failed to score again until the sixth inning, although Blake Schoonover doubled in the third inning with one out and was left stranded there. The Railer sixth inning began with a single by Matt Boyer that prompted a pitching change by the Centennial coach. The new pitcher, Evan Rasso, could not stifle another Railer run. Pinch runner Michael Aper stole second and then scored on a single by Ryne Komnick down the third-base line.

Matt Boyer (now 8-2) pitched a strong six innings for Lincoln, giving up eight hits, walking two and striking out three. Behind 6-1 in the second inning, the Chargers made a charge. Kevin Ealy smacked a double to right, and with two outs, Centennial hitters lined three straight singles up the middle, scoring two runs and putting runners at first and second. A ground out to Andy Knopp at second finally ended the inning.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Senior Ryan Williams provided another defensive highlight in the fifth inning. Kevin Ealy smacked a shot to left field, which appeared to be a leadoff single for Centennial. But Williams did a stretch-out dive and grabbed it for the inning’s first out. The play seemed to squelch the hopes of the Chargers, and they finished the inning with two ground outs to Blake Schoonover at short.

In the Charger sixth inning, another great Railer defensive play prevented at least one more Centennial run. The inning began with a single and walk. With one out, a hard-hit grounder between first and second looked like it was going to be an RBI single. But second baseman Andy Knopp dove to his left, nabbed the ball and was able to throw out the runner at first. While the runners advanced a base on the play, Boyer elicited a fly ball to Schick in center to end the inning without a score.

Blake Schoonover pitched the seventh inning for the Railers. Schoonover struck out his first batter, and after a walk, he prompted two Chargers in a row to fly out to Mike Martin in right field, wrapping up the Railer win.

It was an excellent team win for the Railers, with a few "play-of-the-week" defensive highlights.

 


[The Railers have not brought this home since 1991.]

The next game in the sectional will be at Illinois Wesleyan in Normal this Thursday at 6 p.m. It will be against defending AA state champions Bradley-Bourbonnais. Lincoln played a doubleheader against Bradley-Bourbonnais in the second outing this season. The Railers lost the first game 7-6 on a bottom-of-the-seventh three-run comeback, and they lost the second game 5-0. There’s no question that the Railers have a solid shot at knocking off the defending state champs this time around and moving even further in the state playoffs.

[Rich Knopp]

Area high school baseball results

[MAY 28, 2002]

At Paxton

First game

Olympia         000 010 0 —   1-  2-4

Paxton            120 304 x — 10-11-1

For Olympia: Frank (0-1) and White.

Second game

Olympia           100 10 —   2-  3-2

Paxton              365 1x — 14-17-0

For Olympia: Lacefield (0-1), Frank (4) and White.

At Normal

Illini Central      001 000 0 — 1-5-4

Olympia           200 100 x — 3-4-0

For Illini Central: Jason Thomas (3-3) and Travis Scott.

Outstanding hitter:  Josh McDaniel, 2 hits, RBI

For Olympia:  Cam Cheek (5-0) and Rush Olson.

Outstanding pitcher:  Cheek, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks.

Area high school softball results

[MAY 28, 2002]

At Bloomington

Olympia             432 40 — 13-15-0

Prairie Central    000 00 —   0-  3-4

For Olympia: Amanda Wilson (13-1), Jessie Shay (5) and Amber Lessen.

Outstanding hitters:  Tricia Gaither, 4 hits, RBI; Tiffany Prager, 3 hits, 2 RBIs.

New baseball stadium a hit with the fans

By Jeff Mayfield

[MAY 28, 2002]  I was surprised when my wife informed me that her family was not staying for the whole holiday weekend and that we were going to a baseball game with some friends. I knew that the Cardinals were out of town, and I wasn’t sure whether the Sox or the Cubbies were home or not. She then informed me that we weren’t going to any of those places — that we were going to the new stadium in good ol’ Peoria, Illinois. None other than the new O’Brien Field right downtown across the street from the Caterpillar building. As you drive past the Civic Center you can begin to whiff those unmistakable smells of hot dogs and peanuts luring you right inside.

There are probably some cheaper tickets out there and coupons to redeem, but lawn seating is only $5 for adults and they let the toddlers in for free! The kids did extremely well, but we left after 8, with the Peoria Chiefs clinging to a 14-4 lead built on some long home runs, including the first-ever grand slam homer in the new park!

The park is not only fan friendly, but it is also extremely family friendly. As we entered the park we set out our blankets on the lawn at a slight incline in left-center field. We had a couple of picnic tables at our disposal as well.

To our left, right behind the massive wall in center field, was a great playground for the kids. We attended the game with Lincoln residents Scott and Michelle Fulk and their kids, Jordan and Sophie. Sophie didn’t really care, but Jordan and our son, Payne, could have stayed in the playground all night long!

They also had a moon walk and a moon-walk slide setup that the older kids were really enjoying.

After some exhausting time of play, the parents needed some refreshment. Besides the usual ballpark peanuts, dogs and nachos, we were thrilled to discover that Famous Dave’s barbecue was also selling some of their entrees in the stadium. We chowed on some brisket and pulled pork sandwiches. Later the ladies had to go back for pretzels and cotton candy, because no trip to the yard is complete without them.

 

 

[to top of second column in this article]

The stadium itself reminds one of the new park designs that you might see in Louisville or in Indianapolis. They didn’t leave out any details. The sound system rocks, and there is a great replay and highlight screen on the giant scoreboard in center field. They do have club and box seats close to the action and some reserved seats a little farther away.

There are lots of concession stands loaded with time-tested favorites. The bathrooms are big and clean. And of course they have a mascot, Rally, whom all the kids especially really got excited about.

On top of all that, the Chiefs are playing some pretty good ball.

In addition, if you’re there on the right night, you might just catch a member of the St. Louis Cardinals making a rehab start!

If you think that taking the family out for a night like this is too expensive and you don’t want to pay those high concessionary prices, don’t park in the lot, park for free and walk a few extra blocks. Pack your cooler full of sandwiches and buy some peanuts at Wal-Mart or Sam’s, and don’t forget to bring some Kool-Aid! There is also a great Fanzone merchandise store, and my son especially enjoyed the fireworks that went up after every Chiefs home run. He was a little upset that there weren’t more fireworks!

If you’re looking for a fun-filled family outing that won’t cost you the farm, I strongly suggest that you take in the Peoria Chiefs in beautiful, new O’Brien Field!

[Jeff Mayfield]

Announcements

Summer coed track-and-field program

[MAY 2, 2002]  Starting this summer, the Lincoln Area YMCA will offer a coed track-and-field program for youth 5 to 12 years old and teens 13 to 18 years old. Participants will learn the fundamentals of track and field, as well as stretching, warm-up and cool-down.

LCHS track-and-field coach Michelle Aeilts, along with other volunteers, will teach participants the benefits of building a strong body, mind and spirit through running.

This new program will be offered in two six-week sessions. Session A, June 3-July 8, is for teens, and Session B, July 15-Aug. 19, is for youth. The program will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the LCHS track.

For more information, call 735-3915 or (800) 252-3520.

Central Illinois Select soccer tryouts

[APRIL 17, 2002]  Central Illinois Select Soccer Club will have open tryouts for all interested players May 13-17, May 20-24, and June 17 and 19. Tryout dates and times for specific age groups are shown at www.cis-soccer.org/Tryouts/Tryouts.htm.   

All tryouts will be at Nord Field, located on Six Points Road, two miles west of Morris Avenue in Bloomington. More detailed directions are available at www.cis-soccer.org/Clubfolder/Facilities.htm. 

For more information about tryouts and CIS traveling soccer, visit the club’s website, www.cis-soccer.org.; e-mail Steve Berry, director of coaching and player development, at cissocceracademy@hotmail.com; or call (309) 378-4699.

Back to top

 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Letters to the Editor