Bronco League tournament      

[JULY 5, 2003]  Precision Products had no problem scoring runs in their past two Bronco League tournament games. In two games, they scored 36 runs on 29 hits.

 In a winner's bracket game on Thursday evening, 16 runs on 15 hits were not enough, as Mason City sent Precision Products into the loser's bracket, defeating Precision 19-16. Leading the hit attack for Precision were Ben Beavers, Tad Juilfs, Ethan Tabor, Blair Bruns, Tyson Smith and Justin Diedrich -- each with two hits.

Diedrich did his part to bring Precision back from a nine-run deficit by snagging a line drive while playing center field in the top half of the fourth inning and then doubling the Mason City runner off second base. Then with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the same inning, Diedrich drove the ball over the left-center-field fence for a grand slam. Precision mounted yet another six-run comeback in their final at-bat only to fall three runs short.

Dropping into the loser's bracket, Precision Products faced off with Print Tech Friday morning for the right to play in Monday's championship Game 1 against Mason City. In another slugfest, Precision Products prevailed 20-19. Precision had five hitters with multiple-hit games: Ben Beavers, Tad Juilfs, Ethan Tabor, Devon Sutton and Josh Mote. Tabor had a home run over the Green Monster (Bronco Field's famous left-field version of the wall in left field in Boston).
 

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Print Tech was nearly equal to the task, knocking out 17 hits themselves. Print Tech had six batters with multiple-hit games: Sturgis Lancaster, Cody McCray, Kyle Young, Reuben Bowlby, Johnathon Mangano and Dylan "Bubba" Van Cleave. Young also hit one over the Green Monster. Bubba had four hits on the day.

Precision Products and Mason City will play on Monday at 6:30 p.m., with Precision needing a win to force a second game for the Bronco League tournament championship.

[Craig Smith]

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The Sports Network honors Grigsby    

[JULY 5, 2003]  PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- After leading the nation in tackles in 2002 it probably wasn't a big surprise heading into this season, but Illinois State linebacker Boomer Grigsby was officially named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America Team.

Grigsby was a first-team selection and was the only Redbird recognized. The Gateway Football Conference placed 12 on the all-America team with five first-team selections, including Grigsby.

In all, 77 players from 12 conferences were selected to the team, along with one player from an independent program. The Big Sky Conference led all leagues with 14 players, followed by the Gateway, Atlantic 10 and Southern conferences with eight each.

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

Sports articles from the past week

Thursday:

• Mustang game goes to extra inning

• ISU's Johnson to host WJBC morning show

Wednesday:

• Brian Cook, Graue Inc. and Lincoln IGA join for LCHS fund-raiser

Tuesday:

• No new postings in this section

Monday:

• Book-signing mutterings
  By Jeff Mayfield
• Lincoln Gator Swim Club results

Saturday:

• No new postings in this section

Friday:

• Brian Cook drafted!

• Illinois men's basketball non-conference schedule announced