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Railers run into an above-normal team

[MAY 7, 2002]  Normal Community’s varsity baseball record was 12-9 coming into its game with Lincoln on Monday. Thanks to eight runs in its last three at-bats, Normal played an above-normal game and handed the Railers an 11-7 defeat.

After two innings, Normal had scored three runs, while Lincoln put just six batters at the plate in the same two frames. Senior Andy Knopp helped to open the Railer bats when he led off the third inning with a home-run blast over a deep center-field fence. Ryan Williams led off the fourth inning with a single and a stolen second base; and after two outs, Knopp lined a shot up the middle to bring Williams home.

[Blake Schoonover smacks his second hit (a double) to right-center field.]

In the fifth inning, the Railers exploded with five more runs. Normal’s sophomore hurler, Shawn McElyea, developed some control problems and granted four free passes and a single before being replaced by a pitcher who threw a couple of wild pitches that allowed three Railers to score. Senior Blake Schoonover added to the score with an RBI line-drive single to center field. After that Railer at-bat, Lincoln held a 7-6 edge.

Unfortunately, that was the last scoring that Lincoln would do. Lincoln left two runners on base in the sixth inning and two more in the seventh.

[to top of second column in this article]

Three Railers had two hits in the game: Andy Knopp (home run and RBI single), Blake Schoonover (RBI single and double) and Matt Boyer (two singles). Jeremy Ohmart, Mitch Sheley and Ryan Williams had the other hits for Lincoln.

Junior Ryne Komnick took the pitching loss. After 4 1/2 innings, Komnick had allowed seven hits and six runs (earned) but still held a 7-6 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, he quickly recorded two outs on two pitches. But then back-to-back doubles produced the tying run for Normal. In the sixth inning, the top of Normal’s batting order opened the frame with a home run and two doubles. Lincoln’s Chris Gosda then took the mound but yielded an RBI double before finishing the inning with a strikeout and two ground outs. The four runs, however, were sufficient to seal the victory.

[Andy Knopp is ready to take another cut. Knopp had a home run and an RBI single.]

In spite of the loss, the Railers hit the ball well and played an errorless game. They hope to get back on the winning track as they pick up their conference schedule against Jacksonville this Tuesday and Thursday.

[Rich Knopp]

[MAY 7, 2002]

Olympia vs. Monticello

Game 1

Monticello            100 000 00 — 1-5-1

Olympia               000 100 01 — 2-8-0

Battery: J. Shay and A. Lessen

Game 2

Monticello            000 01 — 1-5-2

Olympia               011 1x — 3-8-0

Battery: A. Wilson and K. Tucker

Okaw Valley Conference Meet

[MAY 7, 2002]  In team totals, Warrensburg-Latham boys placed fourth with 74 points; Warrensburg Latham girls placed eighth with 21 points.

Individual results

Boys

100 meters — 1. A. Kronshagen

400 meters — 1. A. Kronshagen

110 high hurdles — 1. A. Poppe

Girls

No results available

[MAY 6, 2002]  The mayor of Washington, Ill., may have to officially declare Saturday, May 4, 2002, as Lincoln Illinois Day or maybe Logan County Day in his town.  [New pictures added Tuesday, May 7]

For while 12 excellent teams were assigned to come to his town on Saturday for the 2002 IESA Girls and Boys Track Sectionals, two teams, the Wolverines of West Lincoln Broadwell and the Panthers of Chester East Lincoln, left with most all of the major hardware and a ton of state qualifiers. Hartsburg-Emden was strong in the Boys 8^th Grade Division.

[West-Lincoln Broadwell -- First place in
Girls 8^th Grade Division]

The Wolverines came home with first place in the Girls 8^th Grade Division, second place in the Girls 7^th Grade Division and second place in the Boys 7^th Grade Division. The Panthers, not to be outdone by their friendly crosstown rivals, brought home a first place in the Girls 7^th Grade Division, third place in the Girls 8^th Grade Division and first place in the Boys 7^th Grade Division.

The Hartsburg-Emden eighth-grade boys carried home the third-place plaque and had numerous state qualifiers in several events. Lincoln’s Carroll Catholic also had several state qualifiers.

Click here for a list of all the qualifiers.

[Jamie McFadden -- First place in
seventh-grade high jump]

Seventh-grade girls

The closest team title race was among the seventh-grade girls, where the final point spread was a narrow three points. CEL narrowly defeated WLB by a final score of 78-75. Both CEL and WLB had strong and deep seventh-grade teams, garnering not only first- and second-place victories but also those all-important team points in third through sixth places.

Ashley Bonaparte led the way for CEL, while Melissa Ramlow and Natalie Boward were leaders for the WLB squad. Notable first-place finishers among Logan County seventh-grade girls were Jordan Gallagher (CEL, 100-meter hurdles); Ashley Bonaparte (CEL, 100-meter and 200-meter); Jamie McFadden (CEL, high jump); and Melissa Ramlow (WLB, long jump). WLB’s 4x100 relay team, consisting of Natalie Boward, Katelyn Atteberry, Leslie Curry and Kylie Sparks, was first in their event. The CEL 4x200 relay team also brought home a first.

[Christine Presswood from WLB in 4x400 relay]

Melissa Ramlow had two additional second-place victories, in both the 100-meter dash and the 100-meter low hurdles. Natalie Boward (WLB) had two-second place wins, in the 200-meter dash and the long jump. Also, the 4x200 relay team from Carroll Catholic ran to a second-place victory. In the discus throw and the shot put, Hartem’s Abby Olson qualified for state with second-place throws.

Eighth-grade girls

Among the eighth-grade girls, WLB dominated the field with 104 points. CEL was third with 57 points. WLB’s Kylie Courtwright and Christine Presswood led WLB to victory with all-around performances in both track and field events.

[Curt Courtwright  of CEL in the 100- meter dash]

[to top of second column in this article]

[Melissa Ramlow of WLB in the 100-meter hurdles]

Courtwright had first-place wins in the 200-meter dash and the high jump. She also won a first with the WLB 4x100 relay team consisting of Melissa Ramlow, Chelsay Browning and Hilary Hobler. She was also second in the 100-meter dash.

Presswood was dominating in the 1,600- and 800-meter runs, jumped to second place in the long jump and was part of the winning WLB 4x400 relay team consisting of Rachel Clarke, Natalie Boward and Stacy Elliott.

Other first-place victories among the eighth-grade girls went to Shanan McLaughlin of Carroll Catholic in the 110-meter low hurdles and Katelyn Beavers (CEL) in the shot put.

[Ashley Bonaparte (CEL) and Natalie Boward (WLB) in the  seventh-grade 200-meter photo finish.]

Seventh-grade boys

CEL ran to a 20-point victory over second- place WLB.

Standouts for Logan County teams were Clark Schoonover (CEL), first in 110 hurdles and long jump; Wes Umphyres (HE), first in 100-meter dash and high jump; Justin Ritchhart (CC), first in the shot put, second in high jump; Brandon Farmer (WLB), first in the 1,600-meter and pole vault; Matt Schick (CC), first in 400-meter dash; and Jon Toft (CEL), first in the 200-meter and second in the 100-meter. The WLB 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams each won first place in their event. CEL’s 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 teams racked up second-place finishes in each of these events.

Ryan Sanders (WLB) was second in the discus throw, while Josh Conrady (HE) brought home a second in the 800-meter run.

[CEL seventh-grade girls receive their first-place trophy]

Eighth-grade boys

Among the eighth-grade boys, Hartsburg-Emden outdistanced all other Logan County teams with a third-place finish. Hartem had a first-place finish by their 4x200 relay team. Hartem also had second-place finishes by Billy Detmers (400 meters), Curtis Conrady (800 meters) and Scott Ubbenga (discus throw). They also brought in a third-place win and a state qualifier in Jacob Moehring in the 200-meter dash.

CEL’s strong finish was dominated by the performances of Curt Courtwright. Courtwright won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash and the long jump. CEL also got third-place wins and state qualifiers in the 800-meter run by Andrew McQuellan and in the 4x200 relay.

Carroll Catholic was victorious in the high jump, where Jeff Oller jumped 5 feet, 7 inches to take first place.

[Kylie Courtwright of WLB took first place in eighth-grade high jump.]

WLB was able to pull out a second-place victory in the 4x400 relay.

And while Saturday was a beautiful, sunny day in Washington, Ill., the athletic performances of many fine young women and men and the glow on parental faces outshone even the weather. The event was characterized by the event coordinator, St. Patrick’s coach "D," as undoubtedly one of the premier Class A sectionals in Illinois Illinois this year. And if times set, distances jumped and thrown, heights cleared and state qualifiers declared are any indication of quality, then it appears coach "D" was right.

The IESA Class A state finals will be this Friday and Saturday at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.

[Rick Hobler]

High jump — Courtwright (WLB)

Long jump — Presswood (WLB)

Shot put — Beavers (CEL); McLaughlin (CC)

100 hurdles — McLaughlin (CC); Fitzpatrick (CEL)

100 — Courtwright (WLB)

200 — Courtwright (WLB); Sparks (WLB)

800 — Presswood (WLB); Clark (WLB)

1,600 — Presswood (WLB)

4x100 relay — WLB (Ramlow, Hobler, Browning and Courtwright)

4x200 relay — CEL

4x400 relay — WLB (Presswood, Clark, Boward and Elliott); CEL

High jump — McFadden (CEL)

Long jump — Ramlow (WLB); Boward (WLB); Bonaparte (CEL)

Shot put — Olson (HE); Schonauer (CC)

Discus — Olson (HE)

100 hurdles — Gallagher (CEL); Ramlow (WLB)

100 — Bonaparte (CEL); Ramlow (WLB); Hyde (CEL); Hobler (WLB); Rankin (HE)

200 — Bonaparte (CEL); Boward (WLB)

4x100 relay — WLB (Boward, Curry, Sparks, Atteberry)

4x200 relay — CEL; Carroll Catholic

[to top of second column in this section]

High jump — Oller (CC)

Long jump — Courtwright (CEL)

Discus — Ubbenga (HE)

100 — Courtwright (CEL)

200 — Courtwright (CEL); Moehring (HE)

400 — Detmers (HE)

800 — Conrady (HE); McQuellon (CEL)

4x200 relay — HE; CEL

4x400 relay — WLB

Pole vault — Farmer (WLB)

High jump — Umphryes (HE); Ritchhart (CC)

Long jump — Schoonover (CEL)

Shot put — Ritchhart (CC)

Discus — Sanders (WLB)

110 hurdles — Schoonover (CEL)

100 — Umphryes (HE); Toft (CEL)

200 — Toft (CEL)

400 — Schick (CC); Umphryes (HE)

800 — Conrady (HE)

1,600 — Farmer (WLB)

4x100 relay — WLB; CEL

4x200 relay — HE; CEL

4x400 relay — WLB; CEL

[MAY 6, 2002]  Last Saturday was a particularly special day for 10 Railer baseball seniors and their families. Prior to the doubleheader with Washington, the seniors were introduced along with their parents in a fitting tribute to years of dedication and investment. As one of those parents, I must confess that the occasion was filled with joy and simultaneous sadness. It seems like just a couple of years ago that I and as many as seven other of the seniors’ dads were coaching these "little boys" in Little League. Without doubt, among my most cherished memories will be those that I’ve shared with the other dads, moms and siblings of this wonderful bunch of seniors.

Jeremy Ohmart, Mike Martin, Danny Schick, Ryan Williams, Blake Schoonover, Matt Boyer, Adam Schonauer, Michael Aper, Andy Knopp and manager Brian Boyer — a great group of guys. Head coach Pat Hake elected to start all of them in the first game against Washington, and they responded with an 11-8 win.

[Senior Ryan Williams and his parents, Don and Marla, symbolize the involvement of families. Moms were given flowers, and dads received a displayable baseball with signatures from all the seniors.]

[Seniors and their parents line up for recognition.]

Four of these seniors had two-hit games: Mike Martin (two stolen bases), Danny Schick (triple, two RBIs, three stolen bases), Blake Schoonover (double, three RBIs) and Andy Knopp (one RBI). Adam Schonauer and Ryan Williams also had a hit and an RBI each. And Matt Boyer had an RBI.

Ryan Williams had the starting role on the mound and went 5 1/3 innings while striking out three, walking three and allowing seven hits and just two earned runs. Mike Martin got a brief relief appearance to finish the sixth inning, recorded two outs and left two runners on base. Blake Schoonover finished the game in the seventh inning, giving up a couple of hits and a walk, but two runners were stranded when he struck out the final hitter.

Both Washington and Lincoln had 10 hits in game one, but the Railers refused to let Washington take control.

[to top of second column in this article]

Game two ended as a five-inning mercy-rule game, with the Railers dominating in an 11-1 lopsided win. In this contest, five Railers had multiple hit games. Andy Knopp was 2-2 with an RBI double; Steve Shanle was 2-2 with two RBIs; Luke Welchel was 2-3 with a double and an RBI; Josh Gallagher was 2-3; and Derek Schrader went 3-4 with four RBIs. Mitch Sheley contributed a two-RBI triple.

[Senior Andy Knopp readies himself at the plate. Knopp was 4-6 on "senior day."]

Junior Chris Gosda pitched the five-inning game, surrendering 11 hits but only one run (earned). Gosda struck out two and walked none. Nine Washington runners were left standing on base during the five-inning game. Gosda helped his own cause by initiating two double plays. In the third and fourth innings, Washington loaded the bases with fewer than two outs. In both frames, the next batter grounded back to Gosda, who threw to catcher John Peters for a force out, and Peters then threw to first for a second out. Peters also set the base-running tone for Washington when he threw out the first hitter of the game as the player attempted to steal second after a leadoff single. The Railers played a perfect defensive game behind Gosda, committing no errors.

The victories moved the Railer record to 13-13 on the season. This week, Lincoln has four days of games scheduled: Monday at Normal Community, Tuesday and Thursday against Jacksonville (Tuesday at home), and a Saturday home doubleheader against Olympia.

[Rich Knopp]

[MAY 6, 2002]

Olympia vs. Central Catholic

Central Catholic    100 120 0 — 4-8-1

Olympia                123 205 x — 13-14-2

Battery: C. Cheek (W 3-0), S. Raleigh (7), and R. Olson

Outstanding hitters: Darnall (4 hits), Raleigh (2 hits), Olson (2 hits), C. Hayes (2 hits), Darnall (3 RBIs), R. Kendrick (2 RBIs), T. Haning (2 RBIs)

[MAY 6, 2002]

Olympia vs. Hartsburg-Emden

Game 1

Olympia 000 400 0 — 4-6-1

Hartem 000 000 0 — 0-4-2

Battery: J. Shay (W, 14-2) and A. Lessen

Outstanding hitters: T. Prager (2 hits, RBI)

Game 2

Olympia 000 012 1 — 4-9-0

Hartem 000 000 0 — 0-1-0

Battery: A. Wilson (W, 8-1) and K. Tucker

Outstanding hitters: B. Hieser (2 hits, RBI), T. Prager (2 hits, RBI), A. Darnall (2 hits, RBI)

LCHS vs. East Peoria

Lincoln           101 000 0 — 2-4-1

East Peoria     006 100 x — 7-9-3

Battery: Goodman, Carmichael (5) and Wilkerson

Lincoln College baseball in tournament play

[MAY 6, 2002]  QUINCY — Lincoln College stayed alive in the Region 24 baseball tournament here Saturday by defeating Springfield College 9-6 after losing the first game, on Saturday, 8-4, to John Wood. The Lynx were scheduled to play John Wood at noon Sunday. A win for Lincoln would force a second game against John Wood. A loss to John Wood in either game would end the Lynx season.  

Lincoln College scored three times in the opening inning against Springfield and was never headed.  The Lynx built a 9-2 lead before Springfield closed the gap to 9-6 on a grand slam homer by Skip Clayton.

Zach Rinaberger led the Lynx with three hits in four trips to the plate, with three runs scored. Jake VanDyke, Dan Dunn and Kenny VanHouten each had a pair of hits for coach Tony Thomas, now 15-29 for the season.

Kyle Eastman was credited with the victory, working the first 7 1/3 innings, giving up seven hits and three earned runs. Eastman struck out four and issued seven walks. Josh Becker finished the eighth, and VanHouten struck out two in the ninth to earn the save.

John Wood scored four times in the first three innings of the first game Saturday and put the game out of reach with three runs in the fifth.  Dunn took the loss for the Lynx, giving up nine hits, seven runs, two walks and four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Rinaberger and Tim May each had a pair of hits for Lincoln College.

Lincoln College        010 000 201 — 4-8-0

John Wood              211 031 00x — 8-12-2

Dunn (L), Cave (5), Whetstone (6) & Bartman; Whicker (W) & Missen.

Lincoln College          310 122 000 — 9-12-0

Springfield College     002 000 040 — 6- 8-2

Eastman (W), Becker (8), VanHouten (9-S) & Pesce; Alvey, Rowe, Gray, Davis & Badman.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College
sports information director]

[MAY 4, 2002]  Lincoln High School scored nine times on ten hits but it wasn't enough as Bloomington scored 11 times on 13 hits in posting an 11-9 victory.   The loss drops the LCHS mark to 9-9 for the season.   Lincoln is scheduled to play at Taylorville Monday afternoon

Neil Rohrer and Jason Williams led the Lincoln attack with three hits each while Mitch Sheley had a pair of hits.   Sheley scored four times and had a triple along with two walks.  Williams had a pair of doubles, a single, three RBI and scored two runs.   Rohrer had three singles, scored two runs and had an RBI.  Jason Melton and Trent Kavelman each had one hit and one RBI for the Railers.

Paul Phillips was the starting and losing pitcher for Lincoln, hurling 2 1/3 innings, giving up nine hit and nine runs, five earned.  Trent Kavelman pitched the final  3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and four hits.

Score by innings

Lincoln             410 210 1 —   9-10-3

Bloomington     252 021 x — 11-13-2

Phillips (L), Kavelman (3) & Melton; Haywood (W), Shatlick (4), Floyd (5-S) & Lambertz.

[Bill Martinie]

[MAY 4, 2002]

At Hartsburg

Illini Bluffs                    324 40x — 13-13-0

Hartsburg-Emden         101 00x —   2-  9-5

For Hartsburg-Emden:

Pitching and catching: Matt Gleason (5-1), Kent Leesman (3) and Drew Olson.

Outstanding hitters:  D. Olson, 3 hits; Ryan Anderson, 3 hits.

Corn Belt Conference Tournament

At Bloomington

Central Catholic         001 000 0 — 1-3-6

Prairie Central            201 050 x — 8-9-2

For Prairie Central:

Pitching and catching: Aaron Ifft (3-0), Dylan Ward (7) and Jordan Roy.

Outstanding hitters:  Justin Peters, 2 hits, 2 RBI; David Harms, 2 hits.

[MAY 4, 2002]

At Emden

Illini Bluffs                     000 014 2 — 7-9-0

Hartsburg-Emden          000 000 0 — 0-6-3

For Hartsburg-Emden:

Pitching and catching: Nikki Chapman (7-5) and Alisa Moehring.

Outstanding hitter: Danielle Bergman, 2 hits.

At Lincoln Tournament

East Peoria                 000 200 0 — 2-6-0

Lincoln                       000 000 1 — 1-6-3

Raider Relays, Bloomington

[MAY 4, 2002]  In team totals, Lincoln boys placed seventh with 22 points against Bloomington, Champaign Central, Normal Community, Normal West, Rantoul, Springfield and Urbana.

Event scores

Pole vault – 4. Lincoln, 15-6

Shot put – 3. Lincoln, 124-7

Discus – 2. Lincoln, 360-1

440 int. hurdles – 4. Lincoln, 1:06.7

Clinton Carnival

[MAY 4, 2002]  Warrensburg-Latham and Mount Pulaski boys competed at Clinton.

Team scores

1. St. Joseph-Ogden, 118; 2. University High, 79; 3. Monticello, 55; 4. Warrensburg-Latham, 48; 5. Meridian, 35; 6. Central Catholic, 31; 7. Deland-Weldon, 30; 8. Clinton, 30; 9. Tolono Unity, 26; 10. Lexington, 25; 11. Blue Ridge, 16; 12. Tri-Valley, 14; 13. Mount Pulaski, 10; 14. LeRoy, 3; 15. Decatur St. Teresa, 2; 16. East Central, 1; 17. Niantic-Harristown, 0.

Roger Washburn Invitational, Eureka

[MAY 4, 2002]  In team totals, Olympia boys placed first with 120 points; Illini Central boys placed seventh with 19 points; Olympia girls placed second with 121.5 points; Illini Central girls placed eleventh with 11 points.  The teams competed against Bureau Valley, Delevan, Dunlap, El Paso, Eureka, Farmington, Henry, Illini Bluffs, Lewistown, Lowpoint-Wasburn, Midwest Central, Ridgeview and Tremont.

Boys events

100 meters – 2. Dillenburg (Olympia)

400 meters – Scott Joyce (O); 6. Brand (O)

800 meters – 1. Brandon Grimsley (Illini Central), 2:04.3; 3. Raes (O)

110 high hurdles – 1. Brandon Sholty (O), 15.6

300 int. hurdles – 5. Scott Van Etten (IC); 6. Ayers (O)

High jump – 3. Raes (O); 5. Clint Wells (IC)

Triple jump – 4. Canopy (O)

Pole vault – 5. Slager (O)

Shot put – 2. Schultz (O), 51-4 1/2

Discus – 1. Schultz (O); 2. Heironymus (O); 6. Josh Hayes (IC)

400 relay – 1. Olympia, 44.4

800 relay – 1. Olympia, 1:35.0

1,600 relay – 1. Olympia; 4. Illini Central

3,200 – 3. Olympia, 8:33.9; 5. Illini Central, 8:43.9

Pole vault – 4. Lincoln, 15-6

Shot put – 3. Lincoln, 124-7

Discus – 2. Lincoln, 360-1

440 int. hurdles – 4. Lincoln, 1:06.7

[to top of second column in this article]

Girls events

100 meters – 2. Prater (Olympia), 13.20; 5. Bennett (O), 13.45

200 meters – 2. Prater (O), 26.8

400 meters – 5. Crawford (O), 1:02.78; 6. Freshour (O), 1:03.30

800 meters – 4. Westerfield (O), 2:32.83

1,600 – 3. Floyd (O), 5:44.05

3,200 – 3. Floyd (O), 12:43.30

100 hurdles – 1. Hentzen (O), 16.94; 3. Hish (O), 17.32

300 hurdles – 3. Fredericks (O), 49.25; 4. Hentzen (O), 51.78

Lincoln College defeats Springfield College

[MAY 4, 2002]  Lincoln College scored three times in the seventh inning to defeat Springfield College 5-2 in opening round action of the Region 24 tourney Friday here.   Lincoln will play John Wood at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Jeff Harris drew a walk and stole second to start the winning rally.  Zach Rinaberger dropped down a sacrifice bunt and ended up at second on an error with Harris scoring the lead run.  Tim May drew a walk and Dan Dunn singled to load the bases.  Jeff VanHouten then doubled in two runs for Coach Tony Thomas.

May finished the game with two hits, including a solo homer in the first, and scored a pair of runs.  VanHouten had a pair of double and Matt Mifflin collected a pair of singles.

Lincoln College is now 14-28 overall.

Score by innings

Springfield College       100 010 000 — 2-8-6

Lincoln College            100 100 30x — 5-9-0

Hopkins (L) & Badman; Hoffert, Deakin (W-6), King (9) & Pesce.

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College
sports information director]

Railers rap conference-leading Taylorville

[MAY 3, 2002]  Two days ago, the Railers were nipped by Taylorville 4-3 at home. On Thursday, the Railers left no doubt when they left Taylorville that they were not intimidated by the current conference leaders. Lincoln controlled the game throughout, taking the rematch game 6-2 and giving the Tornados their second conference loss. Unlike the previous game, when it seemed that every Railer batted ball found a Taylorville glove, this game showed that well-hit balls will eventually find the safety of the turf.

Lincoln had a masterful pitching performance from senior Matt Boyer, who went the distance. Boyer struck out three, walked just one and granted seven hits in his seven innings. Boyer went five innings without allowing a Tornado to score. Three of his allowed hits came in the sixth inning — the only inning that Taylorville scored. In every inning except the sixth, Boyer faced just four batters.

Lincoln played solid defense behind Boyer. The only Railer error came in the seventh inning when there were two outs, and the error proved insignificant when the following batter grounded out to end the game with the four-run Railer lead.

The Railer offensive attack was led by three seniors who accounted for eight of the Railers’ 12 hits. Blake Schoonover went 3-4, had two stolen bases and scored twice; Ryan Williams was 3-4 with a double, a run and two RBIs; and Andy Knopp was 2-3, allowing Michael Aper, who replaced him in the sixth inning, to score.

[to top of second column in this article]

Other Railers also played key roles in the Railer runs. Ryne Komnick had a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning. Michael Martin reached on a bunt single in the sixth and pushed Aper to third on the play, which set up a sacrifice fly by John Peters. Martin also scored when pinch-hitter Adam Schonauer directed an RBI single between third and short for the Railers’ sixth run of the game.

The victory evened Lincoln’s conference record at 5-5 (11-13 overall). The expected potential of this Railer team has been showing itself more consistently in recent games. With a strong showing the rest of the way, Lincoln could still have an excellent season and be primed for a run during the state playoffs.

This Saturday, the Railers will host Washington for a doubleheader starting at 10. Ten seniors will be honored during a special ceremony. It would be a great opportunity to see the home team and give them an extra boost as they make their final push toward a strong finish to their season.

[Rich Knopp]

[MAY 3, 2002]

At Mount Pulaski

Illini Bluffs                    302 207 — 14-11-3

Mount Pulaski              000 000 —   0-  0-0

For Mount Pulaski:

Pitching and catching: J. Foley and N. Tierney (4), J. Blaum (6), and C. Erlenbush, C. McClellan.

At Mason City

Illini Central              100 080 2 — 8-5-0

Pleasant Plains          000 050 0 — 5-5-3

For Illini Central:

Pitching and catching: B. Cunningham and T. Scott.

Outstanding hitters:  B.Cunningham, 2 hits, 3 RBI; M. Brayfield , 2 hits, 2 RBI.

At Hartsburg

Heyworth                  010 000 —   1-3-1

Hartsburg-Emden      522 011 — 11-9-0

For Hartsburg-Emden:

Pitching and catching: K. Hoerbert and M. Gleason.

Outstanding hitter:  R. Anderson, 4 hits, double, home run, 3 RBI.

[to top of second column in this article]

Corn Belt Conference Tournament

At Bloomington (Horenberger Field)

Pontiac                      001 000 0 — 1-5-3

Olympia                     100 012 x — 4-6-0

For Olympia:

Pitching and catching: T. Thornton and Rush Olson.

Outstanding hitter:  C. Cheek, 2 hits; Olson, homerun (one on in sixth), 2 RBI.

University High           100 000 1 — 2-5-1

Olympia                     120 101 x — 5-7-0

For Olympia:

Pitching and catching: R. Kendrick and Olson.

Outstanding hitter:  C. Frank, RBI; S. Raleigh, RBI; C. Hayes, RBI; C. Horner, 2 hits, RBI.

[MAY 3, 2002]

At Stanford

Prairie Central         000 000 0 — 0-2-0

Olympia                  001 000 x — 1-4-0

For Olympia:

Pitching and catching: Amanda Wilson (7-1) and Amber Lessen.

Outstanding hitter: Becky Hieser, 2 hits.

Outstanding pitcher:  Wilson, 7 IP, 2 hits, no runs, 6 strikeouts.

At Mount Pulaski

Tremont                 000 00 —   0-  1-6

Mount Pulaski        143 3x — 11-10-0

For Mount Pulaski:

Pitching and catching: Becky Tobias (6-11) and CC Hudson.

Outstanding hitters:  Tobias, 2 hits; Molly Gleason, 2 hits.

Corn Belt Conference track meet at Fairbury

[MAY 3, 2002]  Olympia's freshman-sophomore teams competed at the Corn Belt Conference meet.

Boys

1. Mahomet-Seymour, 140; 2. University High, 105; 3. Pontiac, 100; 4. Olympia, 93; 5. Prairie Central, 77.5; 6. Central Catholic, 23.5.

Girls

1. Mahomet-Seymour, 167; 2. University High, 110; 3. Central Catholic, 86; 4. Pontiac, 82;  5. Olympia, 72; 6.  Prairie Central, 44.

Illini fans offered extension on Missouri game tickets

[MAY 2, 2002]  The University of Illinois has obtained additional tickets for the Illinois-Missouri football game scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Illinois originally had 10,000 tickets for sale. Due to the great demand by Illini fans, the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics has obtained additional tickets for the game and extended the purchase deadline until Friday, May 17. There are tickets available in the $30-$35 price range. People can buy tickets in person at the UI Athletics Ticket Office at the Assembly Hall or call toll-free, 866-Illini-1.

[Kent Brown, University of Illinois sports information director]

[MAY 2, 2002]  PARK RIDGE — Illinois’ Bill Self and Northwestern’s June Olkowski will serve as the head coaches for the 2002 Big Ten Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Foreign Tour teams this summer. The women will head overseas first, competing in Belgium and Holland June 14-24, before the men make their trip with games in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands Aug. 8-18.

In 2001, both the men’s and women’s teams posted unblemished records. The men went 6-0 in England and Ireland to post their first undefeated trip since 1995, while the women were a perfect 5-0 in France and Switzerland.

Both teams will be making their 11th trip overseas this summer, as the men’s tour began in 1991 and has traveled every year since with the exception of 2000. The women’s team started a year later, in 1992, and will be making its 11th consecutive tour in 2002.

Self’s and Olkowski’s rosters will be solidified next month, and the teams will gather for training camps in Champaign and Evanston, respectively, prior to departure.

In two seasons at Illinois, Self has led the Fighting Illini to a share of back-to-back Big Ten titles for the first time since the 1951-52 campaigns. He is just the second coach in conference history to win titles in each of his first two years. Wisconsin’s Walter Meanwell accomplished the feat in 1912-13. Self is the first coach in Illinois history to collect 50 wins in his first two seasons, as he has posted a record of 53-17 (.757). In 2001-02, Illinois won a Big Ten-best 26 games and advanced to the third round of the NCAA championship. In his first season, Self guided the squad to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1989 while recording 27 victories, the second-highest total in school history.

The Oklahoma native began his head coaching career at Oral Roberts (1993-97) before taking over at Tulsa (1997-2000), leading the Golden Hurricane to 32 wins and an Elite Eight appearance in 2000.

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Olkowski, who recently completed her third season with the Wildcats, will be leading a Big Ten foreign tour for the first time in her career. Her coaching pedigree includes stints at Maryland, Arizona, Auburn and Butler. When she was named head coach of Arizona in 1987, she was the youngest head coach in the history of the NCAA. Prior to coaching at Northwestern, Olkowski led Butler to five consecutive winning seasons and the 1998 Midwestern Collegiate Conference title. Charged with rebuilding the Wildcat program, she has drawn a strong corps of talent to Evanston, including 2002

Big Ten All-Freshman Team member Sarah Kwasinski.

The Big Ten Conference foreign tours have given more than 220 student-athletes the opportunity to travel abroad, as the men have toured such places as Japan, France, Italy, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, England and Ireland, while the women have traveled to New Zealand, Hungary, England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden, Slovakia, France and Switzerland. In 10 years, the men’s teams have posted a 42-28 record while the women’s teams have gone 37-18.

[Scott Chipman, associate director of communications, Big Ten Conference]

[MAY 1, 2002]  The Railer varsity baseball team scored three runs in the second inning against visiting Taylorville Tuesday but was unable to score in any other innings. As a result, the game was tied 3-3 from the second inning until the seventh, and Taylorville scored the winning run in that last inning. Taylorville’s conference record moved to 8-1, while Lincoln’s record in the Central State Eight went to 4-5.

Once again, Lincoln had a good outing by the starting pitcher — in this case senior Blake Schoonover. Schoonover went 5 2/3 innings, struck out nine, yielded six hits and two walks, hit three batters, and allowed only two earned runs. While the Railers committed four errors in the game, none of the errors led to Taylorville runs.

Taylorville scored two in the first inning with hit batter, a fielder’s choice, a passed ball and a couple of singles. And they scored a run again in the second inning, with a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single. In the third inning, the first two Taylorville hitters reached base with no outs, but Schoonover proceeded to strike out the next three to squelch the scoring threat.

[Photos provided by Rich Knopp]
[Blake Schoonover struck out nine against Taylorville.]

In the sixth inning (with the score 3-3), Taylorville loaded the bases with two outs: The first runner reached on a dropped third strike, and two runners were walked. With the second walk and after 127 pitches, junior Ryne Komnick was called to the mound and faced an 2-0 existing count. Komnick worked to a full count but got the hitter out with a fly ball to right field, and no runs were scored.

In the seventh inning, however, Komnick granted a double, a single to left field and an RBI bunt hit. Although Komnick was able to get out of another subsequent bases-loaded, two-out jam, that one run proved enough for the Taylorville win.

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Lincoln couldn’t quite get its bats going in the game. Taylorville senior Zach Hennings (now 5-0) spread out six hits to six different Railers. The only Lincoln scoring came in the second inning. Danny Schick singled and then came home on a Blake Schoonover single that was errantly played by Taylorville’s left fielder. Andy Knopp bunted and reached first when the pitcher unsuccessfully tried to get an out at third. Schoonover scored on a bunt out by Michael Aper; and Knopp stole second, moved to third on a Mike Aper ground out and scored on a hit to right field by Jeremy Ohmart.

[Ryne Komnick warms up in relief of Blake Schoonover. Other Railers pictured (left to right) are Schoonover, Mitch Sheley, Andy Knopp and Ryan Williams.]

In the sixth inning, the Railers had runners at first and second (Williams with a single and Schoonover with a walk) with one out. Knopp hit a hard shot to left field, but it was grabbed for an out. Komnick walked to load the bases, and Matt Boyer then grounded out to third to end the inning. (The two other Railers with hits in the game were Derek Schrader and Mitch Sheley.)

On Thursday, Lincoln will have another opportunity against the Taylorville team that has made a major conference turnaround since last year. This Saturday, the Senior Recognition Ceremony (rained out last Saturday) will be presented during a home doubleheader against Washington.

[Rich Knopp]

[MAY 1, 2002]

At Hartsburg

Central Catholic           000 000 2 — 2-3-1

Hartsburg-Emden        000 000 0 — 0-3-1

For Hartsburg-Emden:

Pitching and catching: Blaen Fletcher and Matt Gleason.

Record: 11-5

At Williamsville

Illini Central              000 001 0 — 1-4-0

Williamsville              000 030 x — 3-4-1

For Illini Central:

Pitching and catching: Josh McDaniel (4-1) and Travis Scott.

Record: 15-3

[MAY 1, 2002]  Lincoln High School scored five times in the first inning and went on to post a 13-4 win over Taylorville in Central State Eight sophomore baseball action at Lincoln Tuesday afternoon. The victory raises the LCHS record to 9-8 while Taylorville falls to 11-4.

Bob Maestas opened the first inning with a single. After an infield out, three straight walks produced one run. Miles Musick then lined a single to left-center to drive in a pair of runs. Sean Ferguson followed with another single, driving in the final two runs of the inning.

In the second Scott Lee led off with a walk and moved up on a walk to Neil Rohrer. Jason Williams singled to load the bases, and Jason Melton followed with a two-run single. Williams scored the third run of the inning on an error.

The Railers added a run in the fourth on an error and a run-scoring single by Musick. In the fifth Maestas led off with a double and scored on a double by Williams. Musick hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Williams, who had moved to third on a passed ball.

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The final two runs crossed the plate in the sixth inning. Corey Stoltzenburg reached base after being hit by a pitch, and Rohrer reached on another hit-by-pitch. Williams then tripled both runners home.

Maestas worked the first six innings, giving up five hits and four runs, three earned. The right-hander fanned eight and walked five. Paul Phillips hurled the final inning.

Musick, Maestas and Williams all finished the game with three hits. Maestas had a double and scored two runs; Musick scored a run and had four RBIs; while Williams had a double and triple, scored four times, and drove in three runs.

Score by innings

Taylorville 102 001 0 — 4- 6-1

Lincoln 530 122 x — 3-11-2

Ebbs (L), Walker (2), Moore (3), Keel (5) & Lively; Maestas (W), Phillips (7) & Melton.

[Bill Martinie]

[MAY 1, 2002]

At Emden

Heyworth                000    0 0 —   0-  4-2

Hartsburg-Emden    201 (11)x — 14-13-0

For Hartsburg-Emden:

Pitching and catching: Nikki Chapman (7-4), Jenna Leesman (5) and Alyssa Moehring..

Outstanding hitters: Sarah Struebing, 2 hits; Valerie Tillman, 2 hits; Jaci Cross, 2 hits.

Record: 10-4.

At Normal - Fairview Park

Olympia                 101 000 2 — 4-7-0

U High                   000 000 0 — 0-2-2

For Olympia:

Pitching and catching: Jessie Shay (13-2) and Amber Lessen.

Record: 20-3.

Coed track meet at Stanford

[MAY 1, 2002]  In team totals, Olympia boys placed first with 179 points; Lincoln placed seventh with 54 points.  The teams competed against Canton, Clinton, El Paso, Eureka, Flanagan, Metamora, Pontiac, Prairie Central, University High.

Individual events

Boys 1,600 – 5. Dudgeon (Oly), 4:35.0

Girls 1,600 – 1. Floyd (Oly), 5:42.4

Pole vault – 2. Slager (Oly), 10-0

Boys relays

400 meters – 1. Olympia (Sholty, Dillenberg, Weaver, Joyce), 44.4; 6. Lincoln, 48.1

800 meters – 1. Olympia (Sholty, Weaver, Dillenberg, Joyce), 1:32.9

Medley – 4. Olympia, 3:54.7; 5. Lincoln, 4:05.5

1,600 meters – 2. Olympia, 3:28.9

3,200 meters – 4. Olympia, 8:37.2; Lincoln, 9:11.6

F-S 400 – 1. Olympia (Barlint, Hodge, Muerf, Brand), 47.2

F-S 800 – 1. Olympia (Brand, Garey, Hodge, Schmidgall), 1:40.5

F-S medley – 1. Olympia (Hodge, Bachman, Schmidgall, Willard), 3:58.0

F-S 1,600 – 1. Olympia, 3:43.1

F-S 3,200 – 3. Olympia, 9:09.9

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Co-ed events

Long jump – 1. Lincoln (Robbins, Whalen, Aderman, Barringer), 64-6

High jump – 1. Olympia (Neisler, Ross, Hayes, Rader), 21-0; 4. Lincoln, 20-4

Triple jump – 5. Olympia, 130-3 1/2

Shot put – 3. Olympia, 136-11; 6. Lincoln, 124-0

Discus – 6. Lincoln, 330-3

420 Hurdles team – 1. Olympia (Hish, Hentzen, Neisler, Sholty), 1:06.1; 4. Lincoln, 1:17.0

Girls relays

400 meters – 3. Lincoln, 52.4

800 meters – 3. Lincoln, 1:52.2

1,600 meters – 4. Olympia, 4:18.4

3,200 meters – 4. Olympia, 10:26.8

F-S 400 – 1. Olympia (Bennett, Baker, Hish, Prater), 53.4

F-S 800 – 2. Olympia, 1:54.7

F-S 800 medley – 6. Olympia, 2:28.9

F-S 1,600 – 2. Olympia, 4:23.6

F-S 3,200 – 3. Olympia, 10:46.4

[APRIL 30, 2002]  NORMAL — Lincoln High School started the bottom of the third inning with a 3-1 lead here Monday afternoon, but before the bottom of the third inning was completed, Normal had dented the plate 17 times as they rolled to a 19-4 win in five innings.

Normal scored 17 times on seven hits, three errors and six walks.  The inning started with an error, a bunt single and a three-run homer. Jason Williams was the starting and losing pitcher for Lincoln, with Chris Matson and Sean Ferguson also hurling.

 Offensively, Lincoln scored three times in the third on a single by Trent Kavelman, an error, a walk to Mitch Sheley, a run-scoring single by Williams and a run-scoring single by Jason Melton. The Railers scored a run in the fifth on two walks and two balks.

Lincoln, 8-8, is at home Tuesday against Taylorville in a conference game.

[Bill Martinie]

[MAY 6, 2002]  Or at least it was this past Saturday! If you ventured past the friendly confines of Lincoln Community High School this past weekend, you may not have been sure just which way to turn. There were literally sports activities everywhere you looked. The Railers were busy hosting a doubleheader against Washington. The Lady Railers were hosting a softball tournament of their own. Soccer was in full swing on the premises, and I think I saw the tennis team going somewhere.

If you’re scoring at home, here are the actual scores from this weekend’s plethora of sporting events: The Railer varsity baseball team swept Washington 11-8 and 11-1 and are quickly putting themselves in position to be dangerous during the IHSA playoffs. The Lady Railer softball team did lose to East Peoria 7-2 and a heartbreaker to Deerfield, 2-1.

My boy and I witnessed the Deerfield game and thought the girls played them especially tough. It’s good to see JoBeth Borowiak back on the mound. She got out of a tough bases-loaded jam in the fifth by inducing one girl to hit a lazy fly ball and the next to hit a harmless ground out. Unfortunately, the ladies just couldn’t muster up enough offense to support the fine pitching effort! The girls also lost to East Peoria 2-1 on Friday, but they did beat Nokomis 2-0. Perhaps they have the confidence to turn it on in the days ahead.

The Lady Railers soccer club suffered an 11-0 loss to Pleasant Plains.

These are the only scores turned in to the LDN sports desk. If you have any score or sports story that you’d like to promote, just send it to ldneditor@lincolndailynews.com, fax (217) 732-7443 or call (217) 732-7443.

I will try to give you an update tonight at 6 p.m. on the new FIX 96.3 sports call-in show!

Tonight, the St. Louis Cardinals invade Wrigley Field for the start of a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs. However, the really big question is: Does anybody care? Seriously, the winner of this series might just be able to start turning their season around; the loser just gets mired in the pack. The Cubs are coming off a shutout of the Dodgers and a pretty successful road trip. The Cardinals had another disappointing showing by having a losing homestand. This might be a good time to show up as a Cards fan, as they are probably taking volunteers from the audience to join their pitching staff! I say to the fans of both clubs: Don’t worry about it. You know that these two teams will put on an entertaining series no matter what their records say!

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•  The Blues have dug a big hole for themselves going down 0-2 in Detroit. Will this series last more than five games? I doubt it! I just wonder how the Blues would have fared had they kept Cujo between the pipes all these years. I’m also not sure if anyone can beat the Red Wings. I do have one question for NHL players: Why doesn’t Brett Hull spend more time crashing into the boards or down on the ice? It just seems to me that it’s harder to score in one of those positions than it is camped out right in front of the net!

•  The Lakers look more vulnerable to me than I thought they would look at this juncture. I did think that the Pacers gave the Nets all that they wanted and then some! If the East team beats the West representative, then you will have a pretty big story. I just don’t see that happening.

•  How many more days until Illini basketball? I’m sorry… I know a lot of you get sick of basketball while it’s in season; I just miss it when it’s gone! They could play college basketball 12 months a year as far as I’m concerned!

•  Is it just me or is NASCAR getting more popular every week?

That’s easy… I have to give my team-of-the-week award to the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital staff. They are celebrating 100 years in our community, and this semiprofessional writer has no idea what we would do without them?! So, to Mr. Woody Hester and to his entire staff, thank you from me and the LDN for everything you do on our behalf. We appreciate it!

[Jeff Mayfield]

Announcements

[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.

[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.

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