Coach Wilson said, "Our goal is to win the conference this season. It is a lofty goal, as the conference looks to be very balanced. We also play a tough non-conference schedule. Four of the teams we play (John Wood, Morton Cicero, Kankakee and Lakeland are all ranked in the preseason polls. Last season we were in a lot of games; however, we didn't take care of the ball very well, and that cost us. We recruited a lot of guards to handle the ball, and we also have a lot more quickness with the new players.

 "I feel if we take care of the ball, work on our shot selection and make good choices on the court, we will be a greatly improved squad. We have been working hard in practice, and our defense has been improving. We feel that is one area where the quickness will help; we should be able to pressure the ball a lot better. We also brought in recruits from winning programs, and these young ladies don't want to lose. Three of our recruits played in the state tournament in high school last year, so they know what it takes to win."

 Returning from last year's squad is Tameeka Dawson, leading scorer and rebounder with 15.3 and 10.2 stats respectively. Wilson said, "Tameeka was all-conference and all-region last season. We are certainly looking for her to improve and help our inside game. Candace Sheley is a returnee vying for play at the guard spot. We have a lot of depth at the guard spot, and playing time will be very competitive. Candace has the quickness to step in and help us at this position. 

 "Christine Lott is our tallest player, and she will probably be defending the opponents’ tallest post player. She does a good job on the board, and she needs to improve on finishing once she gets the ball inside. Jessica Trainer was very good at guard for us last season; however, she had to carry the load alone. That shouldn't be the case this year. Jessica sees the court very well and led us in assists. We look for her to continue, and she is capable of playing inside. If we play an opponent that is not overly tall, we could play three guards. She was also an all-conference selection last season.

 Promising newcomers on the squad are Ronni Beebe, Katie Skaggs, Jenny Story, Sarah McLaughlin and Tammy Bausley. Beebe played at Lewiston High School, which finished second in the state. "She is very quick, and her ball handling is excellent," Wilson said. "She should help put defensive pressure on the ball. Skaggs is a very good three-point shooter. She made 51 three-point shots in high school last year, and we only made 61 as a team last season. We are looking for her to improve our three-point shooting.

"The two Lincoln girls, Story and McLaughlin, will both see playing time at guard. That was one of our weak points last season, so we recruited a lot of guards to go with our post players who were returning.  These two should help our quickness and our outside shooting. Bausley is an excellent defensive player and will be looked at to help in that area."

Others on the squad who should help include Heather Dobey, Jackie Seiner, Lisa Knecht, Kim Massenburg, Heidi Weil, Shaquia Humphrey and Jesse Dullard.

"The fact that we have so much depth and so many options available should be a strong point," Wilson said. "We will be a very versatile team with a lot of possible combinations. If our opponents go big, we can do the same; however, if they are small, we can use three guards and a lot of quickness. We should be able to wear our opponents down with all of the depth."

In Lincoln’s five-run fifth inning in the first game, Pekin sophomore Joseph Howard, who eventually threw a complete seven-inning game of 170 pitches, gave up two hits, walked four and hit a batter. Even so, it was Justin Dedman’s two-out single that drove in the final two runs that proved to be the difference. Jamison Sheley was credited with the win, although he and other Lincoln pitchers (Matt Boyer, Ryan Williams and Justin Dedman) held Pekin to just three hits. While playing right field, Sheley’s arm was also used to cut down a Pekin runner who attempted to score on a possible sacrifice fly in the second inning.

[Senior Jamison Sheley delivers a pitch.]

RBI leaders, with two each, were Justin Dedman, Sheley and Aaron Matson. Williams and Matson, who was celebrating his 18^th birthday, had two hits in the game, while Chris Phillips had three.

Lincoln’s second win was a tight 3-2 squeaker. While tied at 2-2, Lincoln scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Andy Knopp smacked a single to left field. Ryan Williams, on a hit-and-run, followed with a single to right field, sending Knopp to third. In an attempt to get Knopp, the right fielder made an errant throw, and Knopp scampered home for the tie-breaking and game-winning score.

Chris Phillips, who allowed no runs in innings six and seven, picked up the win, although he and Josh McDaniel, Blake Schoonover and Jamison Sheley held Pekin to only one hit. Lincoln’s seven hits in the game came from Williams (2), Phillips (2), Schoonover, Dedman and Knopp.

One critical defensive play for Lincoln occurred in the fourth inning. With two outs and a 2-1 Lincoln lead, Pekin runners were at second and third. A ground ball was hit to Lincoln’s third baseman, who misjudged the hop and allowed the ball to get through. The runner on third scored, and the runner on second attempted to register the go-ahead run on the play. However, shortstop Knopp tracked the ball down and threw out Pekin senior Brad Schlenz at the plate to terminate the inning.

The pitching duties were typically spread around. Seldom did any pitcher throw more than three innings at a time. Often, Lincoln used four pitchers in a game. Seven different pitchers threw between 10 and 21 innings during the season, with each pitcher claiming at least one win. Four pitchers had perfect records—Williams with three wins, Phillips with two, Boyer with two and McDaniel with two. Both Phillips and McDaniel had ERA’s under .70. Phillips also led the team with 31 strikeouts and only five walks in 20.3 total innings.

Phillips ended the season batting .455, with a team-leading 17 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .519. Dedman, Knopp and Williams hit over .300; and Knopp, Schoonover and Williams had on-base percentages over .450.

It was Lincoln’s first experience with wooden bats, at least since metal bats became the standard for amateur play. Some players felt what it’s like for a bat to break with one swing, and they discovered that the bat’s trademark is placed where it is for a reason. It was a great season against solid competition with good exposure around midstate Illinois. That’s what the team hoped for, and that’s what it got.

[Seniors Justin Dedman and Chris Phillips were leaders at the plate and on the mound.]

Congratulations to the dedicated players, the faithful fans and the constructive coaches—Don Williams and Marc Schoonover. Lincoln High School’s new varsity baseball coach, Pat Hake, has reason to be excited about the coming spring season.

Click below for statistics:

Box scores for Lincoln vs. Pekin games 

Final season batting stats 

Final season pitching stats