LDN - Sports / Sports Stories

[click on the titles below to view that section of the Sports Page]

Lincoln’s wooden bat team extends record to 7-1

[OCT. 12, 2000] Lincoln’s wooden bat high school team continued its winning ways last Sunday, taking a doubleheader, 1-0 and 7-2, from the Normal-based MacDonald All-Star team in games at Lincoln College. The All-Stars had players from Normal Community, Bloomington High School, Quincy, Galesburg, Streator and Prairie Central. The Lincoln team now stands at 7-1 in its fall season. In weather more fitting for winter football, the team faced nature’s elements in extraordinary fashion.

The mid-40 degree temperature was matched by the coldness Lincoln pitchers forced on Normal’s hitters. It was not until the last inning of the second game that a Normal player crossed the plate. In fact, it wasn’t until that last inning that a Normal batter got a hit.

Four Lincoln pitchers threw a combined no-hitter in the first game: Chris Phillips, Ryan Williams, Jamison Sheley and Blake Schoonover. Even so, the game was on the line every inning. Lincoln’s only score came in the third inning, after Justin Dedman reached first on an error, stole second and was driven home on a single by Williams. Lincoln’s one-run lead was most tenuous in the fourth inning. With two out and two on, Normal Community’s Craig Bough lined a shot to the left of Lincoln shortstop Andy Knopp, who stabbed it and suddenly dashed the scoring threat.

In the second game, Lincoln’s bats warmed up, producing seven runs on 10 hits from nine different batters. The first five runs came in the third inning.

Sheley started off with a triple and scored on an errant relay from the shortstop. After a walk to Aaron Matson, Dedman whacked an RBI triple and was pushed home on a single by Schoonover. With runners on first and second, Knopp sent a long drive to right field. The play resulted in a chaotic base-running frenzy. Knopp’s slice was aided both by wind and sun, prompting the right fielder to misjudge the ball that flew over his reach. As Knopp approached second base, he encountered teammate John Peters just ahead of him. Peters was waiting for Schoonover, who was tagging at second base on the play, to move on. Schoonover did score on the play, but Peters was tagged out at third. While Normal’s defense was catching its breath, Knopp noticed that no one was covering third, so he discreetly took the base. He then scored on a single to left by Phillips.

[to top of second column in this article]

Lincoln’s two other runs came in the sixth, after singles by Peters and Knopp and a sacrifice fly by Andrew Bartman.

As with game one, Lincoln used four different pitchers in the second game: Dedman, Josh McDaniel, Sheley and Matt Boyer. They combined for 11 strikeouts while giving up nine walks. Normal was scoreless until three walks in the seventh inning set the stage for a two-out, two-RBI double by Streator’s Kevin Kuntz off Boyer. It was Normal’s first and only hit of the day.

Lincoln also had solid pitching and defense in a doubleheader sweep of Quincy, 4-3 and 5-4, the previous week. Lincoln plays a doubleheader against Rochester in East Peoria on Sunday.

[Rich Knopp]

Click below for statistics.

Box scores for Game 1 on Oct. 8

Box scores for Game 2 on Oct 8

Lincoln season stats

Think You're Pregnant?

WE CAN HELP.

(217) 735-4838

Free and Confidential:
Pregnancy Testing. Information and Counseling. Supportive Services.

"A CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER"
#5 Arcade Building, Lincoln

Claire's Needleworks
and Frame Shop
"We Frame It All"
On the square
in downtown Lincoln
217-732-8811
M-F 10-5 Sat 10-4
cmstitches@aol.com

Gossett's Cleaners
will soon be closing to move into our brand new facilities at 621 Woodlawn.

Please pick up any overdue orders. We regret any inconvenience to our customers.

Volleyball: LCHS vs. Jacksonville

[OCT. 11, 2000] Lincoln Community High School’s ladies volleyball team hosted Jacksonville yesterday, here in town. Jacksonville beat Lincoln 15-1 and 15-8.

Four of Lincoln’s players each had two service points: Kari McFadden, Darcy White, Danielle Peifer and Christina Xamis. In addition to her service points, Danielle Peifer made four kills. Kristina Cook blocked two balls, and Kelli Gleason assisted nine times.

Michelle Lynch of Jacksonville was all over the court with seven kills, seven blocks and nine assists. Lindsay Powell also served up nine points for Jacksonville.

Lincoln’s new record is 18-7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Central State Eight Conference. Jacksonville stands at 25-3 for the season and 4-0 in the C.S.E. Conference.

Jacksonville’s junior varsity volleyball team also beat Lincoln’s junior varsity girls, 15-2 and 15-7.

Volleyball: Hartsburg-Emden vs. Greenview

[OCT. 11, 2000] Hartsburg-Emden’s ladies volleyball team demolished Greenview on home ground yesterday, 15-0 and 15-0. This brings Hartsburg’s record to 17-7.

Amanda Cheatham of Hartsburg-Emden served up 10 points. Tasha Williams made six kills. Carrie Rayburn also made six kills, and she blocked three balls. Beth Guy assisted her teammates 14 times.

The junior varsity matches were closer, 15-13 and 15-5, but Hartsburg still defeated Greenview.

Volleyball: Mount Pulaski vs. Rochester

[OCT. 11, 2000] Mount Pulaski defeated Rochester High School’s ladies volleyball team during an away match yesterday. The scores were 15-10 and 15-5.

Lindsay Clements led Mount Pulaski’s team with nine service points, four kills, and three blocks. Mary Olson also helped her team with four kills and three blocks. Sarah Stratton made four kills. Tiffany Conaway assisted 14 times.

Mount Pulaski’s record is now 18-4, and Rochester’s is 15-11.

Mount Pulaski’s junior varsity team smashed Rochester’s junior varsity girls 15-2 and 15-2.

Volleyball: Olympia vs. U-High

[OCT. 11, 2000] Olympia High School’s ladies volleyball team met University High in Stanford yesterday. University High won 15-12 and 15-4.

Laura Doornbos served up four points for Olympia and blocked three balls. Megan Gale made five kills, and Mindy Bachman assisted 19 times.

Ann Taulbee of U-High led her team with eight service points, 12 kills and two blocks. Anne Butts was also a great asset to her team with eight service points, two blocks and 31 assists. Njideka Nnamani made 12 kills during the match.

Olympia’s record is 17-11 overall and 4-3 in the Corn Belt Conference. U-High is now 25-1 for the season and 8-0 in the C.B. Conference.

The Olympia and U-High’s sophomore and freshmen teams also competed yesterday. Olympia’s sophomore team defeated U-High’s sophomores 15-5, 10-15, 15-4. U-High’s freshmen team, however, defeated Olympia’s freshmen 15-8 and 15-10.

LCHS golfer participates in sectional

[OCT. 11, 2000] Amber Wright of Lincoln Community High School participated in the individual competition at the Schlarman Sectional in Danville yesterday. The high school ladies golf competition was held at the par-72 Turtle Run Golf Club.

Amber was one swing over advancing to the individual state competition, with a score of 99. Congratulations, Amber, for advancing as far as you did.

Olympic golfers narrowly miss advancing to state

[OCT. 11, 2000] Olympia High School’s men’s golf team missed advancing to the state competition by only two points. Twelve teams met at St. Anne Kankakee Elks’ for the Bishop McNamara Sectional. Only the top three teams advance to the state competition.

Olympia’s golfers scored as follows: Jeff Denny, 81; John Bennet, 81; Matt Hawkins, 84; Cullen Hayes, 86, Cam Cheek, 91; and Eric Whitmer, 93. Their combined team score was 332.

University High, with a score of 312, Kankakee McNamara 317, and Illiana Christian 330, will progress to the state competition.

Lincoln hosts three-way swim meet

[OCT. 11, 2000] University High and Pekin traveled to Lincoln yesterday for a three-way ladies swimming meet. The final scores were University High 136, Pekin 123 and Lincoln 58. Individual and relay winners are listed below.

200-yard medley relay – U-High: Carol Hermes, Suzanne Almeida, Lindsay McReynolds, Allie Angesen; 2:00.26

200 freestyle – Pekin: Ortega; 2:11.43

200 individual medley – U-High: Lindsay McReynolds; 2:17.93

50 freestyle – Lincoln: A. Couch; :26.60

Diving – Pekin: Baldes

100 butterfly – U-High: Lindsay McReynolds; 1:04.05

100 freestyle – Lincoln: A. Couch; :58.29

500 freestyle – Pekin: Ortega; 5:52.40

200 freestyle relay – Pekin: Wiekert, Walters, Baldes, Eitenmiller; 1: 48.61

100 backstroke – Pekin: Wickert; 1:03.96

100 breaststroke – U-High: Suzanne Almeida; 1:09.96

400 freestyle relay – U-High: Clemens, Allie Angesen, Lindsay McReynolds, Carol Hermes; 3:55.26

Olympia swimmers vs. Limestone

[OCT. 11, 2000] Olympia’s ladies swim team competed against Limestone at Stanford yesterday. Olympia clearly won, 141-37.

200-yard medley relay – Olympia: Ashley Mahaffey, Deanna Fluty, Rebecca Alberts, Jennifer Bell; 2:28.76

200 freestyle – Olympia: Emily Melick; 2:09.59

200 intermediate medley – Limestone: Nation; 2:25.74

50 freestyle – Olympia: Deanna Fluty; :30.68

1-meter diving – Olympia: Rebecca Alberts, 135.45

100 butterfly – Limestone: Nation; 1:30.52

100 freestyle – Olympia: Gina Rawlins; :58.82

500 freestyle – Olympia: Ashley Mahaffey; 7:03.87

200 freestyle relay – Olympia: Laci Smith, Dare, Erin Canopy, Katie Hentzen; 2:01.71

100 backstroke – Olympia: Emily Melick; 1:10.67

100 breaststroke – Olympia: Gina Rawlins; 1:24.44

400 freestyle relay – Olympia: Katie Fraher, Rebecca Alberts, Gina Rawlins, Emily Melick; 4:18.94

Volleyball results: Olympia vs. Normal

[OCT. 10, 2000] Olympia High School’s women’s varsity volleyball team defeated Normal Community High School in Normal yesterday afternoon. The final scores were 15-9, 6-15, 15-10.

Megan Gale of Olympia served up nine points. Laura Doornbos really helped her team with 16 kills and five blocks. Mindy Bachman cooperated with her teammates in 30 assists.

Normal Community’s Allison Buss had 10 service points. Allison Buss and Mandy Moorberg each made 11 kills. Sarah Starnes and Stephanie Roof each blocked two balls. Krystal Majernick aided her team with 24 assists.

Olympia’s varsity team is now 17-10. Normal Community’s record is 18-8.

Both schools’ junior varsity and freshman teams also competed yesterday afternoon. Normal’s junior varsity girls narrowly beat Olympia 15-11, 13-15, 16-14. Normal’s freshman team also beat Olympia’s freshman team, 15-8, 15-11.

LCHS lady golfers compete in regional

[OCT. 9, 2000] Lincoln Community High School lady golfers competed in the regional tournament in Pana on Friday, Oct. 6. The tournament was at the Oak Terrace Golf Course, par 72.

Lincoln, with a score of 452, just missed advancing to the sectionals as a team. They were fifth, and only the top four teams continue to sectionals: Maroa-Forsyth 334, Decatur Eisenhower 349, Rochester 404, and LeRoy/Tri-Valley 424.

Amber Wright, of LCHS, did qualify for the individual sectionals. She scored a 90, and was seventh among all the players. Congratulations, Amber!

Railers do the unexpected

By Rick Hobler

[OCT. 7, 2000] No one expected the LCHS Railers to be beat the state-ranked Sacred Heart-Griffin Cyclones last night. Most everyone expected that the Railers would be blown away by SHG’s high powered offense and shut down by its stingy defense. Many expected the Railers to concede the game before it started after a series of deflating losses over the last several weeks. But that’s not what happened at all. Instead, the Railers did the unexpected last night.

While the Railers didn’t win, falling to SHG 42-7, they played their hearts out and played to the very last play. The Railers committed no turnovers: no intercepted passes, no fumbles and no special team breakdowns. In fact, the Railer special teams repeatedly returned kickoffs in such a way as to give the Railer offense good starting field position. The Railer defense didn’t allow any huge plays by the SHG offense. The Railer offense moved the ball, scored once and was 10 yards short on the final play of the game from scoring twice. The Railers played with emotion and intensity. And, for the first time this season, it appeared they actually did what you are supposed to do in high school athletics…the Railers appeared to have had some fun. All of which was refreshingly unexpected.

The first half saw SHG do what they have done to every opponent all year. SHG moved the ball at will and scored 35 unanswered points. The SHG defense, which has not allowed a point to be scored against it the first quarter all year, repeated that performance. SHG scored on the ground and scored in the air. They have certainly done a fine job of “recruiting” football players in all of the specialty areas. Senior quarterback Brad Sellinger ran the offense with precision. Sophomore running back Kenni Burns has to be one of the fastest and best sophomores in the CS8. All of that was expected and carried out by SHG.

But the game’s real story was the unexpected Railer performance in the second half. The Railers came back from the intermission with some intensity and grit that one would not expect from a team down by 35 points. I witnessed great running by Sam Moore, Chad Tungate, Jimmy Babbs and others. I witnessed great passing by quarterback Marty Ryan, especially to receiver Ryan Bast. On defense, I was thrilled to see the emotion filled performances and hard hitting done by Billy Barton, Sam Moore, Max Litterly, Nick Shaw, Adam Schonauer and Austin Charron, among others. I witnessed an on the field skirmish between Railer Matt Hobler and an SHG player that resulted from the intensity of both kids going all out on their blocking assignments on a kickoff return play. That skirmish seemed to put even more fire in the Railer players.

[to top of second column in this article]

I witnessed a fired up head coach, Ron Tomczak, call some special plays that surprised SHG for long gains. I witnessed that same head coach, with passion, protecting his players by pointing out the numerous mistaken calls made by the game’s officials. I saw Railer fans, bearing the winter-like cold and wind, standing and cheering when Sam Moore scored, as if the score had put the Railers in the lead. I saw Railer players on the sidelines talking it up, patting each other on the back, cheering for their teammates and anxious to get back in the game again. I saw Ryan Bast running for the goal line, with time expiring, like he was running for the winning touchdown in a tied up game. All of this, and more, at a time when the scoreboard showed that the Railers had little chance to win.

So, as expected, SHG won the game by the final score of 42-7. The Railers, on the other hand, had an unexpected victory. In spite of being winless this season and in spite of being beaten badly on the scoreboard by SHG, the Railer players had just played their hearts out, had not given up, had played hard to the very last play and had fun doing it. In the locker room, after the game, you would have thought they had won. Perhaps they did.

The Railers are on the road again next week, facing Taylorville. They will return home in two weeks for the season’s final game and Senior Night against East Peoria. GO RAILERS!

[Rick Hobler]

Back to top

A Day in the Life... | Milestones | Obituaries | Diaspora

Business & Ag | Organizations | Events | Good Neighbors | Honors & Awards

Ombudsman | Law & Courts | Rural Review

Crosswords | Games

Letters to the Editor | About LDN | Corrections | Happy Ads | Quick Coupon Clip-Outs