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[MAY 14, 2002]

At Mason City

Porta                        010 000 3 — 4-8-3

Illini Central              002 100 0 — 3-5-0

For Illini Central:  Josh McDaniel (4-2) and Travis Scott.

Outstanding hitter:  Bryce Cunningham, 2 hits.

At Delavan Regional

Hartsburg-Emden         000 102 0 — 3-5-0

Delavan                        010 000 0 — 1-6-0

For Hartsburg-Emden:  Matt Gleason (6-2) and Drew Olsen.

Outstanding hitters:  Ryan Anderson, 1 hit, 1 RBI; Olsen, 1 hit, 1 RBI.

Outstanding pitcher:  Gleason, 7 innings, 13 strikeouts.

[MAY 14, 2002]

Deer-Creek Mackinaw Regional

Hartsburg-Emden         011 030 1 — 6-9-1

Tremont                       010 000 0 — 1-3-7

For Hartsburg-Emden:  Nikki Chapman and Alyssa Moehring.

Outstanding hitters:  A. Moehring, 2 hits, 3 RBIs; Jaci Cross, 2 hits; N. Chapman, 2 hits.

[MAY 14, 2002]  Local teams at the Capital Area Classic tournament in Springfield included Illini Central boys and Lincoln girls.

Boys

3,200 relay — 4. Illini Central, 8:32.4

Girls

100 meters — 4. Patricial Dorsey (Lincoln), 13.2

200 meters — 5. Dorsey (Lincoln), 26.9

400 meters — 3. Brooklyn Robbins (Lincoln), 1:03

Pole vault — 1. (tie) Jennifer Whalen (Lincoln), 8-0

400 relay — 5. Lincoln, 53.1

800 relay — 3. Lincoln, 1:51.2

1,600 relay — 5. Lincoln, 4:26

3,200 relay — 5. Lincoln, 10:42.7

[MAY 14, 2002]  The Illinois Elementary School Association tournament was held Monday at noon in East Peoria.  Many participants in both the boys and girls tournaments were from local schools.

West Lincoln-Broadwell took first place in team results with 43 points in the girls 8A tournament.  Chester-East Lincoln tied for fourth place with 24 points in the girls 7A tournament.

Click here to view results

Lincoln takes another game
from Jacksonville

[MAY 13, 2002]  Lincoln’s varsity baseball team continued on a winning track Friday as it handed Jacksonville a second loss in as many days, 8-2. Lincoln was helped by an error-plagued Crimsons ballclub that committed seven errors. Nonetheless, the Railers got the job done and moved their conference record to 7-5.

Senior Blake Schoonover began the mound duties for Lincoln and went 2 2/3 innings. Schoonover walked two in the first inning and gave up back-to-back singles that plated two runs. But Jacksonville’s at-bat came to a close with an unassisted double play by sophomore Mitch Sheley. Sheley nabbed a line drive and touched third before the runner had a chance to tag. Those two runs were the only ones scored by Jacksonville. Schoonover ended up with two strikeouts, four walks, and he gave up two hits.

[Ryan Williams takes the sign from catcher John Peters.]

Senior Ryan Williams, who relieved Schoonover, went 3 1/3 innings. His first assignment was to get out of a two-on, two-out situation, and he struck out his first batter to do so. Williams surrendered just one hit, struck out two and walked two. He was helped by two double plays by his defense. In the third inning, a Crimson batter lined to Blake Schoonover at short, who threw out a first-base runner who couldn’t get back to the base in time. In the sixth inning, an error by Andy Knopp at second allowed a leadoff runner on, but he rebounded by turning a double play on a ground ball hit to Schoonover. The Railers, who seemed to have few double-play opportunities earlier in the season, have now created seven in the last four games.

Senior Mike Martin threw the final inning for Lincoln. Although Martin put himself in a bases-loaded jam (with two singles and a walk), he struck out the last batter to finalize the Railer win.

While the Crimsons scored two to open the game, Lincoln came back with four in the bottom of the first. Mitch Sheley singled, followed by an RBI double by Ryan Williams and RBI singles by Blake Schoonover and Andy Knopp. In the second inning, Michael Aper scored after a walk, a stolen base, a sacrifice bunt by Jeremy Ohmart and a sacrifice fly by Sheley.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Mitch Sheley (left) and Andy Knopp had two hits each.]

Three more Railer runs came across in the fourth. Knopp singled and stole second. When Matt Boyer squared around to bunt and the third baseman charged the plate, Knopp took off for third with no one covering the bag. Boyer pulled back on the bunt, and the catcher made an errant throw to the shortstop, who was trying to beat Knopp to third, which allowed the Railer to score on the play. Boyer eventually walked, and then Jeremy Ohmart reached base on an error followed by an RBI single by Sheley and an RBI triple by Derek Schrader.

The Railer record now stands at 15-14. Seven Railers are still hitting over .300 for the season, with the lowest at .333. Jeremy Ohmart was especially hot earlier in the year; and for the last 16 games, Mitch Sheley has batted .421, Andy Knopp has hit at a .455 clip, and Blake Schoonover has hit at a .465 pace. With the bats making contact, the defense beginning to click, and the effective pitching by Matt Boyer, Blake Schoonover and Ryan Williams, the Railers are justifiably hoping to finish the season strong. The last two conference games will be played against Southeast on Monday (at home) and again on Thursday.

[Jacob Green, a potential future Railer,
looks ready to help out the team already.]

[Rich Knopp]

[MAY 13, 2002]  A number of area girls who participated in Class A high school track-and-field sectional meets have qualified for state competition.

At Monticello

100 hurdles — Hish (Olympia), 17.0

300 hurdles — Hentzen (Olympia), 49.2

Discus — Cook (Olympia), 99-2

800 medley relay — Bennett, Hish, Prater, Crawford (Olympia), 1:54.1

3,200 relay — Boone, Floyd, Westerfield, Freshour (Olympia), 9:57.1

At Lewistown

100 meters — J. McDanald (Illini Central), 13.8

[MAY 11, 2002]

At Mason City

Olympia                   103 000 1 — 5-7-2

Illini Central              000 100 0 — 1-5-3

For Olympia:  Tyler Thornton (6-0), Steve Raleigh (7) and Rush Olson.

Outstanding hitter:  Chris Frank, 3 hits, 2 RBI.

Outstanding pitcher:  Thornton, 6 strikeouts, 0 walks.

For Illini Central:  Jason Thomas and Travis Scott.

Outstanding hitter:  Josh McDaniel, 2 hits.

LCHS sophomore baseball vs. Jacksonville

[MAY 11, 2002] 

JACKSONVILLE — The Lincoln High School sophomore baseball team was beaten 7-2 by Jacksonville here Thursday afternoon, dropping the Railer record to 9-10 before another meeting of the same two teams Friday afternoon at Lindstrom Field in Lincoln.

Lincoln scored a run in the second inning on a walk to Jason Melton, a single by Miles Musick and a double by Chance Berger. The final Lincoln run came in the seventh when Sean Ferguson was hit by a pitch and moved to second on an infield single off the bat of Trent Kavelman. Ferguson was then picked off second but managed to slide safely into third ahead of the throw. With Kavelman heading for second, Ferguson broke for the plate and again beat the tag.

Berger had two of the five Lincoln hits. Brandon Babbs, Musick and Kavelman had one hit each. Berger was the starting and losing pitcher for the Railers. Evans, a left-hander, struck out 11 Lincoln batters to gain the victory.

Score by innings

Lincoln             010 000 1 — 2-5-2

Jacksonville      202 030 x — 7-7-2

Berger (L), Matson (5) & Melton; Evans (W) & Seymour.

[to top of second column in this article]

LINCOLN — After losing to Jacksonville, 7-2 Thursday night, the Lincoln High School sophomore baseball team came back with a convincing 16-0 victory Friday at Lindstrom Field.  The victory gets the Railers back to the .500 mark (10-10) for the season.

Leading the Railers to victory with three hits, three runs scored and two runs batted in was Jason Melton. Two of his hits were doubles. Neil Rohrer also contributed three singles and scored a pair of runs. Sean Ferguson had a pair of hits, one a triple, and drove in three runs while scoring two. Corey Stoltzenburg had a pair of hits, including a triple, scored twice and drove in one run.

Bob Maestas, who went the distance on the mound, had a pair of hits, two RBIs and scored a run. Miles Musick had a bases-clearing double and scored twice, while Jason Williams had a single, scored twice and drove in one run. Kyle Atteberry completed the hitting for the Railers with a single and a sacrifice fly for two RBIs. Maestas allowed only one hit while striking out seven and walking three.

Score by innings

Jacksonville      00  0   00 —   0-  1-3

Lincoln             03(11) 2x — 16-15-2

Lagergren (L), Scott (3) & Seymour, J. Tobin (4); Maestas (W) & Rohrer.

[Bill Martinie]

LCHS freshman baseball vs. St. Teresa

[MAY 11, 2002]  Lincoln High School defeated St. Teresa 4-2 and 8-4 in freshman baseball action at Lincoln Thursday afternoon. 

Mike McCullen picked up the victory in the first game, working the first three innings and striking out two. Paul Phillips hurled the final four innings with a pair of strikeouts and earned the save. Phillips and Andrew Gilmore had a pair of hits for the Railers and each scored a run. Neil Rohrer, Kevin Carroll, Alex Dahm, Jaron Harnacke, Chris Boward and Casper each had one hit for Lincoln.

In the second game, Harnacke picked up the win with three innings of work and a pair of strikeouts. Dahm earned the save with two innings (it was a five-inning game) and one strikeout. McCullen collected a triple and scored a run, while Boward also collected a triple with a run scored. Phillips connected for a triple and a single with a run scored, while Rohrer had a pair of singles. Harnacke, Adye and Olson each had one hit for the Railers.

[Bill Martinie]

[MAY 11, 2002]

At Washington

Olympia                202 001 0 — 5-6-1

Washington           060 000 x — 6-9-3

For Olympia:  Jessie Shay (16-3), Amanda Wilson (4) and Amber Lessen.

Outstanding hitters:  Becky Hieser, 2 hits; Tiffany Prager, 2 RBI.

High school track:  Class A sectional

[MAY 11, 2002]  Olympia, Mount Pulaski and Warrensburg-Latham competed in the Class A girls sectional at Monticello yesterday.  This tournament was to determine which teams advanced to state.  In most events, the top two places advanced; although in some, there were more advancing.  In team totals, Olympia placed third with 83 points; Mount Pulaski placed ninth with 17 points; and Warrensburg-Latham placed 16th with 1 point.  They competed against Argenta-Oreana, Blue Ridge, Central Catholic, Clinton, Heyworth, LeRoy, Lexington, Monticello, Prairie Central, Ridgeview, Tri-Valley, University High and Williamsville.

Individual results

(* indicates advancement to state)

200 meters — 3. Prater (O), 27.1

400 meters — 4. Freshour (O), 1:03.3

800 meters — 4. Rader (O), 2:31.2

1,600 — 6. Floyd (O), 5:39.7

100 hurdles — 2. Hish* (O), 17.0; 6. Hentzen (O), 17.8

300 hurdles — 2. Hentzen* (O), 49.2

Long jump — 4. Naylor (MP), 15-1

High jump — 4. Crawford (O), 4-10

Shot put — 4. Sanders (MP), 32-1

Discus — 2. Cook* (O), 99-2

Pole vault — 3. Hentzen (O), 7-0

400 relay — 4. Mount Pulaski, 53.9; 5. Olympia, 54.5

800 relay — 3. Olympia 1:53.3

800 medley relay — 1. Olympia* (Bennett, Hish, Prater, Crawford)1:54.1

1,600 relay — 4. Olympia* (Boone, Hentzen, Crawford, Freshour), 4:13.8

3,200 relay — 1. Olympia* (Boone, Floyd, Westerfield, Freshour), 9:57.1

[MAY 10, 2002]  Go to the Illinois Elementary School Association website for a complete list of qualifiers: http://www.iesa.org/activities/tr/2002/qualifiers_a.asp

Railers rip Jacksonville
for conference victory

[MAY 10, 2002]  The Lincoln varsity baseball team was not kind to the Crimsons on their Senior Day at Jacksonville. After a nice introductory ceremony for their baseball graduates, Jacksonville witnessed an 11-5 defeat at the hands of the Railers, who moved their conference record to 6-5 and their season record to 14-14.

Lincoln got on the scoreboard in the first inning with two runs. Derek Schrader and Ryan Williams reached base (on a fielder’s choice and a walk) and scored on a two-out fly ball by Danny Schick that popped out of the center fielder’s glove. Lincoln didn’t score for three more innings, but when they did, it was big.

In the fourth inning the Railers exploded with seven runs on only three hits, aided by four Jacksonville errors. Mitch Sheley bunt-hit the bases loaded after Matt Boyer and Jeremy Ohmart got on base on an error and a walk. Derek Schrader grounded to short, but a throwing error to second base scored Boyer and Ohmart. Ryan Williams smacked a two-RBI double to right-center field, which brought in Sheley and Schrader. After a Mike Martin walk, Williams scored on a fielder’s-choice error off the bat of Blake Schoonover. And both Martin and Schoonover scored on a two-RBI single by Andy Knopp.

[Photos provided by Rich Knopp]
[Matt Boyer delivers his pitch. Mitch Sheley is shown at third.]

Two more Railer runs came across in the sixth inning. Blake Schoonover pulled a one-out double down the third baseline, and Mike Aper later drew a walk. With two outs, Matt Boyer further helped his own pitching win by locating a two-RBI single to left field.

The only early scoring for Jacksonville was from the bat of center fielder Chuck Gullant. Gullant hit two home runs in his first two at-bats, but that was the only Crimson scoring until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Matt Boyer started on the mound for Lincoln and yielded only three hits in addition to the home runs by Gullant. Boyer struck out seven and walked three. His effort was helped by a fifth-inning double play turned by Blake Schoonover, Andy Knopp and Ryan Williams. Boyer stranded three Crimsons on base in the sixth inning, after giving up a single and two walks. Boyer pitched extremely well, and the defense played another game without an error.

[to top of second column in this article]

In the seventh inning, junior Chris Gosda took over the pitching duties for Lincoln. Gosda discovered that Jacksonville was not ready to roll over and play dead. The first three batters whacked two doubles and a single. After a walk, a single and a hit batter, and with the score 11-5 with the bases juiced, coach Pat Hake made the Crimsons see a left-hander. Ryan Williams got the call to the mound and struck out the two batters he faced to finalize the conference victory.

[Ryan Williams (left) and Matt Boyer were very effective on the mound for the Railers. Boyer went six innings for the win.]

Although the overall Railer record just stands at .500, many from the Lincoln team are having excellent individual conference performances. Based on Central State Eight conference stats provided last week, seven Lincoln Railers are among the top 21 hitters in the conference. Ranging from .362 to .344 in conference play are Andy Knopp, Blake Schoonover, Danny Schick, Jeremy Ohmart, Mitch Sheley, Derek Schrader and Ryan Williams. That’s a pretty deep lineup! And Blake Schoonover, Matt Boyer, and Ryan Williams are among the top 20 conference pitchers in ERA.

Lincoln will get another shot at improving their conference record as they serve as hosts to Jacksonville on Friday, May 10. On Saturday, Lincoln will host a doubleheader against a very successful Olympia team, beginning at 10 a.m.

[Rich Knopp]

[MAY 10, 2002]

At Bloomington

Hartsburg-Emden         110 000 0 —   2-  9-4

Tremont                        300 404 x — 11-11-1

For Hartsburg-Emden:  Matt Gleason (5-3), Kyle Hoerbert (5) and Drew Olson, Matt Gleason (5).

[MAY 10, 2002]

At Stanford

Mahomet              000 000 —   0-  1-2

Olympia                222 301 — 10-12-0

For Olympia:  Amanda Wilson (10-1), Tricia Gaither (5) and Amber Lessen, Katie Tucker (5).

Outstanding hitters:  Brandi Short, 2 hits, double; Tricia Gaither, 3 hits, 2 RBI; Jessie Shay, 3 hits.

Outstanding pitcher:  Wilson, 4 IP, 1 H, 5 strikeouts.

[MAY 9, 2002]

At Mason City

A-C Central         000 113 1 — 6-10-2

Illini Central          001 000 1 — 2-  3-0

For Illini Central:  Brandon Grimsley (4-1), Josh McDaniel (7) and Travis Scott.

[MAY 8, 2002]

At Stanford

Flanagan              010 000 —   1-  4-1

Olympia               113 402 — 11-15-2

For Olympia:  Jeff Darnall, Chris Frank (3, 1-0), Lance Leesman (5), Ryne Sherman (6) and Ryan Kendrick, Rush Olson (4).

Outstanding hitters:  Sherman, 2 hits; Frank, 3 hits; Kendrick, 2 hits; Cullen Hayes, 2 hits.

At Manito

Hartsburg-Emden        100 100 1 — 3-5-2

Midwest Central          102 002 x — 5-7-0

For Hartsburg-Emden:  Ryan Anderson (3-4) and Matt Gleason.

[MAY 8, 2002]

At Pontiac

Olympia               700 000 2 — 9-11-0

Pontiac                021 000 0 — 3-  8-1

For Olympia:  Jessie Shay (17-2), Amanda Wilson (3) and Amber Lessen.

Outstanding hitters:  Erin Canopy, 2 hits, 2 RBIs; Tricia Gaither, 2 hits; Lessen, 2 hits, 2 RBIs; Tiffany Prager, 2 hits.

At Emden

Tremont                   000 00 —   0-3-7

Hartsburg-Emden     323 02 — 10-7-0

For Hartsburg-Emden:  Nikki Chapman (8-6) and Alyssa Moehring.

Outstanding hitters:  Danielle Bergman, 2 hits, 2 RBIs; Monica Proefrock, 2 RBIs.

Corn Belt Conference track meet at Mahomet

[MAY 8, 2002]  In team totals, Olympia boys placed second with 134 points; Olympia girls placed fourth with 80 points.  The teams played against Central Catholic, Mahomet-Seymour, Pontiac, Prairie Central and University High.

Boys results

100 meters — 2. Weaver, 11.8

200 meters — 5. Garey, 24.8

400 meters — 2. Joyce, 51.7; 6. Brand, 54.5

800 meters — 6. Horton, 2:07.9

1,600 — 6. Lingle, 4:57.9

3,200 — 5. Seline, 10:56

110 high hurdles — 1. Sholty, 15.6; 6. Neisler, 17.6

300 int. hurdles — 1. Sholty, 40.7

Long jump — 6. McClure, 18-11

High jump — Raes, 6-2; 3. Neisler, 6-0

Triple jump — 5. Canopy, 34-6

Pole Vault — 3. Slager, 10-0

Shot put — 1. Schultz, 49-4; 5. Boudeman, 40-8

Discus — 1. Schultz, 148-9; 4. Hieronymus, 134-3 1/2

400 relay — 1. Olympia (Sholty, Dillenburg, Weaver, Joyce), 44.4

1,600 relay — 1. Olympia (Dillenburg, McClain, Sholty, Joyce), 3:32.4

3,200 relay — 2. Olympia, 8:31.1

[to top of second column in this article]

Girls

100 meters — 5. Prater, 13.7

200 meters — 2. Prater, 27.9; 5. Bennett, 28.9

400 meters — 5. Freshour, 1:04.2

800 meters — 6. Boone, 2:35.1

1,600 meters — 3. Floyd, 5:47.9

3,200 meters — 5. Wade, 14:13

100 hurdles — 3. Hentzen, 49.4; 6. Fredericks, 51.9

High jump — 3. Craford, 4-10

Pole vault — McNeil, 6-0

Discus, 5. Cook, 88-8

400 relay — 5. Olympia, 54.1

800 relay — 4. Olympia, 1:57.2

800 medley — 5. Olympia, 2:09.0

1,600 relay — 4. Olympia, 4:19.4

3,200 relay — 2. Olympia, 10:17.9

[MAY 13, 2002]  Just when the Cubs and Cards needed some games rained out, somehow they still got theirs in. And then the Cards go and tease their fans by making a miraculous comeback. We’ll see if either team can make any kind of move at all in the next two weeks.

Tonight’s matchup is a dandy for the purist: Chicago’s Kerry Wood and St. Louis’ Matt Morris embroiled in a pitcher’s duel. How ’bout a rainout tonight and then a spectacular doubleheader tomorrow?

•  Class A softball and baseball are nearing state, with AA not too far behind. Don’t know where the Lady Railers will be seeded. Baseball Railer coach Pat Hake has stated that his club could be numbered anywhere between fifth and 12th. Here’s hoping for the seed that will allow them to go deep. They do have the potential. I have a funny feeling that they may surprise the skeptics and have some real fun in the playoffs. Good luck to both and to all our area teams in the days ahead.

•  Blues lived up to my low expectations and died with an awful sound… or was that Funky Claude? I know it was the Red Wings, but c’mon? The last three years of pretty good hockey… and nothing to show for it?!

•  Still no word from the NCAA regarding ISU guard Tarise Bryson’s request for a sixth year of eligibility via a medical redshirt for last season. Glad I don’t work for the NCAA. They must really be busy. They’ve been sitting on this issue for months. The reality: They’re too busy counting their money! Note to the NCAA from the LDN: Give the kid a break! Or, if nothing else, let him get on with his life. What is all the suspense about? I guarantee you that if Bryson played for Duke, he’d have had a quick decision and probably would’ve been given two more years of eligibility!

[to top of second column in this article]

•  The LDN recently had the chance to speak to ISU guard Gregg Alexander, who really enjoyed his first year at the collegiate level. He thinks that the Redbirds could be even better next year! Wouldn’t it be great if ISU could be next year’s SIU and have a nice long dance?

•  With the business out at the college and with all the rain, there has been little time for golf so far this season. I did make it out the other day, and may I just say that the Elks course looks beautiful! If you’ve traveled around and played any courses in the area, please let me know your impressions of them. From time to time I’ll try to record them here or in a feature story on golfing in central Illinois. Is it just me or does it seem like there’s never enough time to play golf? If I’m ever elected king of the universe I promise to proclaim "golf days" early and often!

[Jeff Mayfield]

Announcements

[MAY 9, 2002]  There is still time to sign up for the scramble golf tournament scheduled for May 18 at the Atlanta Golf Course. Proceeds from the tournament are being used to help finance the Lincoln American Legion and the Lincoln Heat baseball teams.

Anyone interested in playing in the tournament should contact Bill Martinie at (217) 732-6951, Todd Courtwright at (217) 732-7886 or the Northgreens Golf Course at (217) 648-5500.

Cost to play in the tournament is $40 per player, which includes golf, golf cart, lunch and prizes. Prize money will be based on the number of teams participating. 

This is the first time the Legion and Heat organizations have combined for a fund-raiser. If successful, this will likely become an annual event.

[Bill Martinie]

[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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