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High school baseball

LCHS varsity baseball vs. Peoria Richwoods

[APRIL 16, 2001]  Saturday was a beautiful day for a doubleheader. It was even prettier because the Lincoln hosts took both non-conference games from Peoria Richwoods. The first game was a solid 6-1 win. The second game was—well, not pretty, but it was exciting. Lincoln had to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to record their 10th win of the season—as many as the team had all last year.

Sophomore Ryne Komnick started on the hill in the first game, going six innings, striking out four, walking none, and giving up just four hits and one earned run. He was helped out of the first inning by a 6-4-3 double play involving Blake Schoonover, Matt Aper and Chris Phillips. Junior Andy Knopp tallied the save, taking the pitching duty in the seventh, the first time Knopp had been to the mound this year. He walked two but allowed no one past second, thanks in part to catcher Andrew Bartman, who started a game-ending 2-5-4 tag out on Richwood’s Kevin English, who had started toward third but was caught halfway.

Lincoln scored three in the third after hits by Phillips and Danny Schick. Another run came in the fifth when Derek Schrader scored on an RBI single by Schick. Two more insurance runs developed in the seventh when senior Nick Bay sent a two-RBI single to right, scoring Matt Aper and Schoonover, who had both walked. Of Lincoln’s six hits, Phillips and Schick had two each.

The final score of the second game resembled a football game: Lincoln won 13-12. And with 10 errors (seven of which were Lincoln’s), it would have been cut from any baseball instructional videos for the uninitiated. It began with both teams batting through their lineups in the first inning. Richwoods’ nine scored five on one hit, and Lincoln’s nine scored four on two hits (by Phillips and Justin Dedman).

Jamison Sheley started for the Railers and went three innings. Of the seven Richwoods runs scored during his watch, only two were earned. Sheley struck out four, walked two and gave up five hits. Justin Dedman took the mound in the fourth, gave up three hits and saw four Richwood runners cross home. However, none of Dedman’s runs were earned, due to an inning with two Lincoln errors. Ryan Williams was handed the ball for the final three innings. Williams, who eventually claimed the win, walked three but allowed no hits and only one run.

Down 11-4 going to the bottom of the fourth, the never-give-up Railers shifted into a higher gear. Nick Bay and Andy Knopp started with singles, and Schrader walked to load the bases. Phillips hit an RBI single, Komnick and Dedman were awarded RBIs with walks, and Aaron Matson got an RBI for letting a pitch find his body. Lincoln’s fifth run of the inning, scored by Phillips, came on a two-out errant throw to first by the Richwoods third baseman.

[to top of second column in this article]

[Ryne Komnick brushes back Jason Williams of Richwoods.]

[Blake Schoonover ducks under a pitch. Matt Aper and coach Hake are at third base.]

Nevertheless, at the end of 6½ innings, Richwoods held a 12-10 lead. Lincoln needed to shift to overdrive. Schrader moved the shifter by starting off with a left-center gapper for a double. Phillips, who was the first to face the fourth senior Richwoods hurler (Mike Bowman), sent a full-count RBI single to right—his fourth hit and fourth RBI of the game. Komnick then drew a walk, and pinch-hitter Matt Boyer knocked a first-pitch single into right center to load the bases.

With no outs, senior Aaron Matson lofted a fly ball deep enough into right to prompt Michael Aper, who was pinch running for Phillips, to tag at third and head for home. A strong throw made the play close, but Aper’s slide and Matson’s sacrifice tied the score at 12-12. With runners at first and second, John Peters took a low ball in the dirt that sent Matt Aper, who was pinch running for Komnick, toward third base. The catcher recovered the ball and tried to nail Aper at third. However, his throw flew past the third baseman, and Aper scampered home for the winning run. It was one of the prettiest, ugly plays Lincoln fans have seen for a while. The Railers didn’t play particularly well—at least on defense—but they still managed to outscore the competition.

Eight Railers contributed to Lincoln’s 12 hits (Phillips had four and Knopp had two). Phillips’ four RBIs led the way, but Matson and Dedman also had two RBIs each. Phillips had an incredible day at the plate: He got six hits in six attempts and got hit twice himself. Kevin English led Richwoods on the day with four hits and four RBIs.

Lincoln will try to improve on its 10-4 record when it hosts conference foe Springfield on Tuesday and travels back to Springfield on Thursday.

[Rich Knopp]

[Box score and stats for first game.]

[Box score and stats for second game.]

LCHS frosh vs. Peoria Richwoods

[APRIL 16, 2001]  The Lincoln High School freshman baseball team handed Peoria Richwoods a double setback at the Lincoln Recreation Center baseball complex Saturday afternoon. The Railers won the first game 14-9 and took the nightcap 16-6 in five innings.

Lincoln scored in every inning of the first game, while collecting 14 hits. Leading the way for LCHS were Chris Matson and Jason Williams with four hits each. Matson drove in four runs and scored twice, while Williams had three RBIs and a pair of doubles. Mitch Sheley had two hits for LCHS. Miles Musick worked the first three innings for Lincoln, with Bobby Ward gaining the victory, going three innings. Williams worked the final inning for the save.

In the second game, Trent Kavelman went the distance on the mound, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Kavelman fanned five and walked one. Matson continued his hot hitting with 2-for-3, one RBI and one run scored. Corey Stoltzenburg collected a pair of hits and drove in two runs.

The doubleheader victory raises the LCHS record to 4-4 for the season.

Richwoods     000 801 0 - 9-5-3

Lincoln          322 124 x -14-14-3

Lewis (L), Marjorovich (5) & Russell; Musick (Ward (4-W), Williams (7) & Melton.

Richwoods     100 14   - 6-4-2

Lincoln          0(10)0 33 - 16-10-5

Russell (L), Ross (2) & Ringham; Kavelman (W) & Charron.

[Bill Martinie]

High school boys track and field

Olympia at Peoria Relays

[APRIL 16, 2001]  Eleven high school boys track-and-field teams gathered in Peoria Stadium on Saturday for an invitational. Olympia’s boys earned fifth place with 28.5 points. Individual achievements were not available.

High school girls track and field

LCHS at Southeast Invitational

[APRIL 16, 2001]  Twelve high school girl’s track teams gathered in Memorial Stadium for a girl’s track and field invitational. Lincoln Community High School’s girls placed sixth with 52 points.

The events in which Lincoln’s girls placed are as follows:

Long jump—2^nd place: Dawson, 18-5

Discus—3^rd place: Hahn, 110-0

Shot put—6^th place: Coons, 31-8

High jump—4^th place: Humbert, 4-10; 6^th place: Conklen, 4-8

400 meters—5^th place: Conklen, 1:02.16; 8^th place: Maestas, 1:05.30

1,600 meters—8^th place: Johnson, 6:36.77

100 meters—3^rd place: Dawson, 12.36

800 medley—4^th place: 1:55.28

400 relay—3^rd place: 51.83

200 meters—7^th place: Marstas, 28.05

[LDN]

College baseball

Lincoln College vs. Parkland College

[APRIL 16, 2001]  Lincoln College traveled to Champaign this weekend to play Parkland College in a doubleheader. Prior to Saturday, the Lynx’s record was 11 wins and 19 losses. Parkland College had 26 wins with only 7 losses. Lincoln won the first game 8-5 and the second game 5-3.

Hoffert pitched for Lincoln College, with Ri. Sherren replacing him in the sixth inning and Knepper taking over in the seventh. Robert Sherren was the team’s catcher.

Brad Bone hit three out of four balls, made one run and batted in one of the Lynx’s runners. Eric Rich made a hit each of the three times he went to bat, plus he batted in a runner. Robert Sherren hit two out of three balls and batted in one runner.

Diroli (4-L) pitched the first game for Parkland, with Farmer also pitching. Habrew was the team’s catcher.

Game 1

Score by innings

Lincoln College     000 512 0 – 8-10-0

Parkland College   000 302 0 – 5-10-3

[to top of second column in this article]

McLane began pitching for Lincoln in the second game, Deakin replaced him in the fifth inning, King pitched the sixth inning, and Ri. Sherren pitched the seventh inning. Robert Sherren was Lincoln’s catcher.

Lynx players Ahmad Richie and Gary Ryan each made two hits in the three times they went to bat. Both players also hit home runs in the sixth inning.

Sulzberger pitched for Parkland, and Habrew was the catcher.

Game 2

Score by innings

Lincoln College     000 202 1 – 5-7-0

Parkland College   000 111 0 – 3-8-2

Lincoln College’s new record is 13-19, and Parkland’s record is 26-9.

[LDN]

College softball

Lady Lynx at Wabash Valley tourney

[APRIL 16, 2001]  It was a long day for the Lincoln College softball team at the Wabash Valley tourney, as the Lady Lynx dropped all three games, failing to score a run in any of the games.

Wabash Valley scored nine times in the first inning on their way to a 13-0 trouncing in the first game. Lincoln College was able to get just two hits.

In the second game Lincoln College failed to get any hits, as Grisham threw a no-hitter and won 13-0. The winners pounded out 13 hits and scored in every inning but the first.

In the final game of the day Lincoln College managed five hits on the way to a 3-0 loss to Parkland. Parkland scored all of its runs in the first inning.

Game one

Wabash Valley           901 03 - 13- 6-0

Lincoln College          000 00 -  0- 2-5

Meyers (W) & Smith; Barnes (L) & Green.

Shawnee                    026 14 - 13-13-0

Lincoln College          000 00 -   0-0-6

Grisham (W) & Eudy; Dobey (L) & Green.

Lincoln College           000 000 0 - 0-5-4

Parkland                     300 000 x - 3-5-0

Barnes (L) & Green; Herberger (W) & Koets.

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

High school baseball

LCHS frosh baseball

[APRIL 14, 2001]  The Lincoln High School freshman baseball team took an early lead only to allow U. High to come back and knot the score at 10-10, before scoring a run in the top of the eighth to gain their second victory of the season Friday afternoon.

Mitch Sheley started the winning rally with a single, moved to second on a single by Kyle Charron and to third on a walk to Mike Curry. Sheley then scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Brad Reinhart had three hits, scored a run and drove in a pair of runs. Mitch Sheley also had three hits with one run scored and one RBI. Collecting two hits each for Lincoln were Miles Musick, Jason Melton and Kyle Charron.

Sheley worked the final three innings and gained the victory with one hit allowed, three strikeouts and one walk. Jason Williams started for Lincoln and worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, six runs, two earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts. Chris Matson hurled 1 2/3 innings giving up two hits, four runs, four earned runs, one strikeout and five walks.

Score by innings 

Lincoln             151 300 01 - 11 - 16 - 2 

U. High             013 240 00 - 10 - 5 - 5 

Williams, Matson (4), Sheley (6-W) & Charron; Berry, Watts (5-L) & Williams.

[Bill Martinie]

Area high school baseball games

[APRIL 14, 2001]  

Olympia vs. Washington 

Olympia whopped Washington 6-1. Pitching for Olympia was Brandon Gale (W, 4-0) with Rush Olson catching. Jeff Darnall hit a homer (solo) in the first inning. Nick Heiser and Ryan Kendrick each had two hits and an RBI. Olympia is 11-2. Washington is 7-4.

[LDN]

College softball

Lincoln College vs. Lake Land

[APRIL 14, 2001]  Lincoln College failed to score in a doubleheader softball game against Lake Land here Thursday afternoon dropping the season record to 3-17. Lincoln lost the first game 6-0 and the second contest 10-0.

 Maggie Green had a pair of hits for Lincoln College in the first game as the Lady Lynx connected safely five times. Brandi Barnes was the losing pitcher for coach Jen Ciaccio.

The second game was halted after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Lincoln was able to collect just three hits in the second game. Heather Dobey was charged with the pitching loss.

First game 

Lincoln College     000 000 0 - 0 - 5 - 2 

Lake Land            310 011 x - 6 - 7 - 0 

Brandi Barnes (L) & Beth Gajdik; Koss (W) & Perrine.

Second game 

Lincoln College     000 00 - 0 - 3 - 2 

Lake Land            122 5x -10-10- 2 

Heather Dobey (L), Barnes (4) & Gajdik; Schroeder (W) & Meyer.

[Bill Martinie]

College baseball

Lincoln College vs. St. Charles

[APRIL 14, 2001]  Lincoln College ran into a red hot St. Charles baseball team Friday afternoon and dropped a doubleheader at Galen Shirley Memorial Field. St. Charles won the first game 13-3 and took the nightcap by a 10-2 margin.

St. Charles raised its season record to 27-4 while Lincoln College drops to 11-19. Lincoln plays a doubleheader against Parkland Saturday.

Lincoln College managed nine hits in the first game and had just five in the second game. Jake VanDyke had a pair of hits in three trips with an RBI. Chris Ackman was also 2 for 3 at the plate. In the second game, Brad Bone had an RBI double in the third for the Lynx.

St. Charles collected 18 hits in the opening game and came back with 12 hits in the nightcap.

First game 

St. Charles              301 120 6 - 13 - 18 - 0 

Lincoln College        000 300 0 - 3 - 9 - 1 

Becks (W) & Shadow; Cave (L), Deaken (6), Ri. Sherren (6), Eastman (7), Barker (7) & Ro. Sherren. 

Second game 

St. Charles            120 302 2 - 10 -12 - 1 

Lincoln College        000 200 0 - 2 - 5 - 1 

Sherman (W) & Meyer; Whetstone (L), King (5), Knepper &6), Langworthy (7) & Ryan.

[Bill Martinie]

High school baseball

Lincoln varsity baseball vs. SH-G

[APRIL 13, 2001]  Lincoln’s varsity baseball team has won twice as many games as it has lost (8-4). However, their conference record dropped to 1-3 after Thursday. Lincoln hosted an unusual conference doubleheader with Sacred Heart-Griffin due to an earlier rainout. Although the scenery getting there was different, both games ended the same way — with a 7-4 loss.

The Railers couldn’t get much of an offense going in the first game, not scoring until the fifth inning. SH-G junior Zach Cordier faced only 13 Lincoln batters through four innings. Only Matt Aper (W) and Andy Knopp (1B) reached base. With two outs in the fifth, Aaron Matson singled and was moved to third on another single by sophomore catcher John Peters. Matt Boyer then managed to get Matson home, thanks to a shortstop error.

In the sixth, with the score 5-1, Michael Aper drew a pinch-hit walk and was sent to third on a double by Chris Phillips. Sophomore Derek Schrader punched Aper home on a single, found himself in a brief rundown between first and second, but allowed some time for Phillips to score. Lincoln’s only other score was tallied in the seventh inning. Peters walked, followed by a single by Boyer. Then Ryan Williams drove in Peters on a ground-out to third. The game ended on a long fly ball from Knopp that drove back SH-G’s center fielder, Brian Sheehan. Sheehan, however, made the difficult catch as he fell backward and to the turf.

Lincoln’s hurler, Matt Boyer, went five innings, giving up 11 hits, striking out two and walking only one. Boyer was the only Railer with two hits in the first game.

[Justin Dedman delivers a fastball in game two.]

[to top of second column in this article]

Area high school baseball games

[APRIL 13, 2001]  

Illini Central vs. Delavan

Illini Central and Delevan competed in a tight baseball game in Mason City on Thursday afternoon.

Brandon Grimsley was Illini’s pitcher for the first four innings. His personal record is balanced at 1-1. Tyler Cunningham pitched the fifth inning, and Matt Harris finished the game. Luke Bohm was the team’s catcher.

Matt Mammen pitched for Delavan (nine strikeouts), and Brandon Fortney was the catcher.

Score by innings

Illini Central      210 002 0 – 5-6-?

Delavan            001 050 0 – 6-9-0

[LDN]

High school softball

[APRIL 13, 2001] 

Hartsburg-Emden vs. Tremont

The softball game in Hartsburg-Emden yesterday afternoon was a shutout. Tremont beat Hartem 8-0.

The Stags pitcher was Jenny Tuttle, with Leeann Alberts catching.

Amanda Wilson was Tremont’s pitcher (seven innings, no hits, 14 strikeouts). Her record is 7-3. Megan Schroeder was the team’s catcher.

Score by innings

Hartem     000 000 0 – 0-0-2

Tremont    203 003 0 – 8-9-1

Lincoln vs. Chatham Glenwood

Chatham Glenwood hosted Lincoln’s softball team for a game yesterday afternoon. The game was a shutout: 4-0, Chatham Glenwood.

Schweitzer pitched for Lincoln (2-5). Wilkinson was the team’s catcher.

Nicholson pitched for Chatham, and Koester was the catcher.

Lincoln’s new record is 2-9, and 0-3 in the Central State Eight.

Score by innings

Lincoln                       000 000 0 – 0-1-1

Chatham Glenwood    000 211 x – 4-6-0

Mount Pulaski vs. Meridian

[LDN]

High school track and field

LCHS hosts three-way meet

[APRIL 13, 2001]  Lincoln hosted a three-team track-and-field meet yesterday afternoon. Bloomington made 93 points, Champaign Centennial 46 points and Lincoln 44 points.

Lincoln’s team ranked as follows in the individual events:

100 meters—2^nd place: Tommy-John Gallagher, 11.1

200 meters—4^th place: Purnham, 25.6

400 meters—4^th place: Sheley, 58.6

800 meters—4^th place: Scott Maestas, 2:17.5

1,600 meters—1^st place: Frost, 4:56.2

3,200 meters—1^st place: Michalsen, 11:35.0

100 high hurdles—3^rd place: Payne, 17.4

300 intermediate hurdles—2^nd place: Payne, 43.1

Long jump—3^rd place: Kuru, 17-5

High jump—2^nd place: Jason Meyer, 5-10

Triple jump—1^st place: Kuru, 37-5½

Pole vault—2^nd place: Frost, 8-6

Shot put—2^nd place: Murphy, 41-8½

Discus—1^st place: Fuiten, 118-10

800 relay—3^rd place: Lincoln, 1:37.9

1,600 relay—3^rd place: Lincoln, 3:40.2

3,200 relay—3^rd place: Lincoln, 9:21.0

For the junior varsity meet the scores were Bloomington 98, Lincoln 44 and Champaign Centennial 38.

[LDN]

High school baseball

Lincoln varsity baseball vs. Southeast

[APRIL 12, 2001]  The score was 6-4 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth with Lincoln trailing. Two Lincoln runs had already crossed the plate. And Derek Schrader, who had an RBI triple four innings earlier and who represented the potential tying run, was at the plate with a 3-1 count. Ryan Williams, pinch running for Chris Phillips, who had doubled in the two runs, was at second base.

[to top of second column in this article]

Box scores and stats: Lincoln vs. Southeast

High school baseball

Illini Central vs. Petersburg Porta

[APRIL 11, 2001]  The Cougars went to Petersburg for some real ball playing and they found it. Illini Central brought six runs in while Petersburg Porta brought in nine runs in seven innings.

Anthony Fletcher and Matt Harris (6, L, 4-2) pitched for the Cougars, while Luke Bohm was catching.

Illini Central outstanding hitter Fletcher had a double and two RBIs.

Illini Central is 7-3 for the season.

[LDN]

High school track

LCHS hosts four-team track meet

[APRIL 11, 2001]  Lincoln hosted Olympia, University High and Clinton at a track meet. Final scores were Olympia 107, Lincoln 62, University High 60.5 and Clinton 41.5.

Winners scoring for Lincoln and Olympia

100-meter dash — 1. Tommy-John Gallagher (L), 11.0; 2. Scott Joyce (O), 11.5; 4. Brian DeLoriea (O), 12.0; 5. Robert Springer (O), 12.1

200 dash — 1. Chris Meyer (L), 23.4; 2. DeLoriea (O), 24.7; 4. Michael Trevoert (O), 25.1; 5. Brian Eichhorn (O), 25.2

400 dash — 1. Gallagher (L), 53.3; 2. Joyce (O), 54.6; 4. Jason Wilson (O), 55.5; 5. Clint Garey (O), 55.9

800 run — 1. Sean Brand (O), 2:06.1; 3. Maistes (L), 2:11.7; 4. Jacob Slager (O), 2:13.9; 5. Nick Raes (O), 2:15.1

1,600 run — 3. Eric Seline (O), 4:55.6; 5. Vince McLain (O), 5:05.1

110 high hurdles — 1. Branden Sholty (O), 15.6; 2. Meyer (L), 16.8; 4. Payne (L), 18.0; 5. Heidbreder (L), 31.2

300 intermediate hurdles — 1. Sholty (O), 43.9; 3. Payne (L), 45.9; 5. Heidbreder (L), 48.8

High jump — 1. Raes (O), 6-0; 2. Meyer (L), 5-10

Long jump — 2. Kuro (L), 17-7

Triple jump — 2. Kuro (L), 37-6 1/2; 3. Heidbreder (L), 36-4; 4. Jared Brooks (O), 35-4 1/2

Shot put — 1. James Schulz (O), 45-10; 2. Kyle Crawford (O), 44-7; 3. Murphy (L), 43-0; 4. Tobias (L), 41-0; 5. Neitzel (L), 40-5

Discus — 1. Crawford (O), 121-0 1/2; 2. Schultz (O), 117-4; 3. Josh Hieronymus (O), 117-1; 4. Fuiten (L), 115-3; 5. Neitzel (L), 102-8

Pole vault — 1. DeLoriea (O), 13-0; 2. Ryan Oehler (O), 10-0; 4. Jeff Stephens (O), 8-6; 5. Frost (L), 8-0

400 relay — Olympia, 47.1; 3. Lincoln, 48.2

800 relay – 3. Lincoln, 1:45.0

1,600 relay — 1. Olympia, 3:37.3; 3. 3:41.5

3,200 relay – 1. Olympia, 8:44.6

[LDN]

High school baseball

LCHS frosh vs. Petersburg

[APRIL 10, 2001]  Petersburg scored seven times in the first two innings and held on to defeat the Lincoln High School freshman baseball team 8-5 at Lincoln Monday afternoon. The loss drops the LCHS record to 1-4 for the season.

Miles Musick, the losing pitcher, had a pair of hits, along with Bobby Ward. Ward connected for a double and drove in three runs for the Railers. Jason Melton, Corey Stoltzenburg, Chris Matson, Jason Williams and Scott Lee all collected one hit each for Lincoln. 

Petersburg         430 100 0 – 8 - 8 - 2

Lincoln              000 001 4 – 5 - 9 - 4

Meister (W), Sronce (4), Grant (7), Bultman (7) & Heubner; Musick (L), Matson (3) & Melton.

[Bill Martinie]

High school softball

Olympia vs. Lincoln

[APRIL 10, 2001]  Olympia came to Lincoln yesterday afternoon for a girls softball game. Olympia won 2-0. Jessie Shay pitched her sixth winning game for Olympia—so far this season she has lost only one game. Alicia Flessner was Shay’s catcher.

[LDN]

College softball

Lincoln College vs. Spoon River

[APRIL 10, 2001]  Brandi Barnes threw a four-hit shutout to lead the Lincoln College softball team to a 4-0 victory over Spoon River at Lincoln Monday afternoon in the first game of a twin bill. Spoon River came back to win the nightcap 12-0.

[to top of second column in this article]

Sports Talk

[APRIL 6, 2001]  Sorry for the overused cliché. And to our loyal LDN readers, sorry for the lack of 411 the last few days. While we put a wrap on things from San Antonio, we had to deal with 24k modems that just weren’t getting the job done. In Minneapolis, overloaded phone lines prevented us from even sending our stuff. Oh well, you might be better off.

I’m STILL not even sure of what to make of what happened to the Illini in Texas. Whatever it was, it wasn’t a thing of beauty. One knowledgeable expert, who refuses to be quoted, told the LDN that if the games in Texas had been officiated like the games in Minnesota, the Illini would be sizing themselves for their rings. My ol’ buddy Craig says that "if ‘ands’ and ‘buts’ were candy and nuts, what a Merry Christmas it would be."

With all that being said, I guess you friends of LDN can pretty well figure that the Final Four was a very lonely experience without the Illinois squad being there with us. In fact, we disliked the teams that were there so much that for only the second time in the last 14 years we refused to buy tickets for the games.

BUT, the Final Four is not just an event with three big games. It’s much more of an experience than that. I hope all basketball junkies everywhere get the chance to take in some of the hoopla at some point in the future. There is so much to see and do, and believe it or not, Ed Plumier, most of it REALLY does promote a family atmosphere (other than the price of the tickets to the games…but, even at that, it’s more reasonable than the price to attend other major sporting events).

If you ever get the chance to share in the Final Four experience, here are some things that you should definitely look into.

First, on about Wednesday, the four teams arrive, and usually the press conference is something that you can take in. It’s a lot of coach speak to the purist, but the average fans would really get a charge out of it.

On Thursday and Friday, you can play America’s favorite family game, "Spot the celebrities." I tried to talk to Steve Mariucci, who is the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, but couldn’t get near him. Over the years we’ve shook hands with Kevin Costner, Nick Nolte and Gregory Hinds, waved to President Clinton, walked in Seattle with Jack Nicholson and George Steinbrener, and almost got shot in Indianapolis by one of Colin Powell’s bodyguards!

Friday night you could take your family to see a fairly reasonably priced college all-star game featuring some of the nation’s top seniors playing a stellar group of Harlem Globetrotters. There is also a slam-dunk and hot-shot challenge included "free" of charge!

I forgot to mention that if 3s and dunks are your cup of tea, there is an ESPN-hosted event on Thursday, but we usually boycott it just to be difficult.

There is also a high school hoop summit, usually on Sunday, featuring some of the best U.S. high school players playing some of the best international players. It is usually the best game of the weekend by far. You will also see virtually every major coach and scout in the country at that contest.

[to top of second column in this article]

One of the biggest attractions, by far, is "Hoop City." This event used to belong to the NABC (coaches association), but they sold out to the NCAA…guess the NCAA was struggling and needed another buck or two! This is probably the best value for the dollar, especially for young families with kids not yet in high school. There are dozens of interactive games, dozens of courts to play on, celebrities and autograph sessions galore, and every piece of Final Four memorabilia that could line your closets triple-thick. Most people love this event like no other. If you have kids that love hoops and are possibly a junkie yourself, take it in the next time the Final Four is in your neighborhood.

Probably the most exciting thing you could do and should do is to take your family to the Friday practice sessions. All four teams get an hour to practice in the venue at hand, and you can take your family and sit anywhere you want to. Amazingly, it is STILL absolutely FREE. But don’t worry, once the NCAA hears about that, they’ll figure out some way to make another buck off of that too!

If you love celebrities and awards, you can shell out some cash and take your kids to the College Basketball Awards show. We boycott this affair also, as we believe that basketball is a team game, and unless we like someone who is getting an award, we don’t want to be seen there.

One of the coolest things about the Final Four is meeting people from all over the country. The LDN was denied tickets for this year’s Final Four, so we had to do all of our milling around at the convention center and at the Metro Dome. It is just great to see every fan wearing the colors of their favorite team even though most of them realize that their hometowners have already been eliminated.

The town that hosts the Final Four is decorated and spruced up with beautiful colors, and they’re giving you free stuff every time you turn around. I usually take my vacation every year to go to this crazy event just to get the free stuff…I love free stuff!

At any rate, I’m very sad that the season is over. I mourn this time of the year for several months. I wish college basketball lasted for 12 months, but since it doesn’t, bring on baseball!

And if you are ever remotely close to a Final Four venue (upcoming ones will surely be in St. Louis and in Indianapolis), do yourself and your family a favor and take in at least one day of the experience. It is one of the most exciting things that you will ever do.

And finally, I want to thank each and every loyal LDN reader for taking the college basketball ride with my staff and me this season. We tried to give you a peek inside the world of college basketball, and we had a ball bringing you all of the coverage.

Thanks also to my wonderful staff who just did a tremendous job bringing you all of the action, especially during the month of December when Payne and I were getting introduced to one another. He can’t wait for basketball season to begin.

Anyway, thanks for tuning in…I hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringin’ it to you!

[Jeff Mayfield]

Announcements

Golf outing planned

[APRIL 12, 2001]  Abraham Lincoln Healthcare Foundation has set Friday, June 29, for their seventh annual golf outing at the Elk’s Country Club in Lincoln.

The format will again be a four-person scramble with a 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. shotgun start. The $75 entry fee includes greens fee and free cart rental, along with opportunities to win prizes and awards, including Hole-in-One, Top Foursomes, Longest Putt, Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin, for both men and women. Also provided are a continental breakfast and buffet luncheon.

In addition to golfing, a variety of sponsorships are available, including Tee, Cart and Prize Sponsorships. Appropriate recognition and benefits are provided for each sponsor.

All funds raised from the golf outing support the ALMH Care-A-Van service. The Care-A-Van is a specially equipped van, custom-built to provide non-emergency transportation for individuals who are wheelchair-bound or need transportation assistance to get to necessary appointments.

For more information on player registration or sponsorship opportunities, please call Cynthia Kelley at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 405.

[News release]

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