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Olympia bringing home their first state tourney

softball trophy

[JUNE 1, 2001]

Class A state Tournament at Eastside Centre

Olympia vs. Johnston City

Jessie Shay (26 wins, 5 losses) kept her streak of scoreless wins going one game out from the state title. With catcher Alicia Flessner, the two led the teams defense to a 3 - 0 win over Johnston City in a game that was moved up two hours to 5:30 p.m. to avoid the ensuing storm headed for Peoria.

Tricia Gaither and Rebecca Alberts each made double base hits. Alberts starred in the day driving in two runners on base with her double in the second inning for the first points of the game. Nicole Prager stacked the deck with one more run brought in by Gaither off her hit in the fifth inning.

Score by innings

Olympia           020 010 0 -- 3-5-1

Johnston City   000 000 0 -- 0-2-2

Olympia record is now 33-7-1. The Lady Spartans go up against long-standing rival Casey-Westfield (35-1) in state semifinals at noon on Saturday. That team has knocked them out at quarterfinals the last two years. Olympia girls summer team beat them in a game this last summer, though.

Good luck Lady Spartan's!

Hockey

Local youths bring home championship hockey trophy

[JUNE 1, 2001]  Seven-year-old Haylen Sampson and 6-year-old Dylan Miller, both Lincolnites, traveled with their team, the Springfield Kings, this past Sunday for the Mite A Division of the Chicago Cup Showdown in Bensonville. The team won the championship by beating a team from Littleton, Colo. They brought home a big trophy for the showcase at the Nelson Center in Springfield.

High school softball

Olympia’s Lady Spartans claim
third consecutive sectional title

[MAY 31, 2001]  Olympia faced Dwight in the Class A Central Catholic Sectional Championship at Bloomington.

The Lady Spartans smoked the Lady Trojans as each team strived to attain their 32^nd win, both with pitchers coming out of semifinal rounds that were hitless. Jessie Shay (26 wins and only four losses) pitched the winning 4-0 game. Alicia Flessner was catcher.

Score by innings

Olympia    100 002 1 – 4-9-0

Dwight      000 000 0 – 0-4-1

Coach Al Toliver takes his team to Eastside Centre in East Peoria to engage Johnson City Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Olympia’s record is 37-7-1. Johnson City's  record is 33-6.

[LDN]

Lincoln JV Legion baseball

Lincoln vs. Rochester in doubleheader

[MAY 31, 2001]  Fourteen was the magic number in the opening doubleheader for the Lincoln Cobra JV Legion baseball team Wednesday night at the Lincoln Rec Center. Lincoln defeated Rochester 14-0 in the first game and came from behind to win the second game 14-11.

Since Lincoln plays in the Rochester Invitational Saturday and Sunday, the Cobras will play Rochester again at 9 a.m. in their first game at the tourney.

In Wednesday's first game Bryce Cunningham picked up the pitching victory, working the first two innings. Trent Kavelman followed with two innings, and Blaen Fletcher hurled the final inning.

A leader in the 14-hit attack was Matt Brayfield, with two hits, a double, three runs batted in and one run scored. Jason Williams had a pair of hits with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Chris Matson also had two singles, scored twice and drove in a run. Those collecting one hit each were Mitch Sheley, Bobby Ward, Cunningham, Fletcher, Justin Deters, Chris Gosda, John Peters and Ryan Purcell.

In the second game, Rochester jumped out to an 11-3 lead before Lincoln started a strong comeback. Lincoln plated four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth before winning the game with five runs in the sixth. Ryan Purcell had the big blow for the Cobras, a bases-loaded triple. Purcell circled the bases when the throw to the plate got by the catcher.  

[to top of second column in this article]

Purcell finished with a pair of hits and four runs batted in. Cunningham had a pair of hits, as did Sheley. Brayfield, Peters and Fletcher each had one hit for Lincoln. Brayfield picked up the victory with three strong innings of relief. The left-hander struck out seven and walked one while permitting no hits.

Rochester            000 00 – 0 - 3 - 0

Lincoln Cobras    815 0x – 14-14- 0

Eagan (L), Anderson (1), Cannon (3) & Berecz. Cunningham (W), Kavelman (3), Fletcher (5) & Pat Conroy, Peters (3).

Rochester            142 400 0 – 11 - 8 - 3

Lincoln Cobras    021 425 x – 14 - 9 - 8

Bonner, Martin (3), Cannon (5-L) & Roth. Chris Gosda, Jason Williams (3), Blaen Fletcher (4), Matt Brayfield (5) & Jason Bednarko, Peters (3).

[Bill Martinie]

College baseball

[MAY 31, 2001]  Lincoln College baseball coach Tony Thomas has announced the signing of Chris Phillips to a baseball scholarship.  Phillips recently completed his senior season at Lincoln High School and joins teammate Andrew Bartman as a baseball recruit for the Lynx.

Phillips, a 6-1, 213-pounder from New Holland, is the son of Brad and Lorraine Phillips.  He has two brothers, Paul and Matthew.   Phillips was born in Washington, Pa., and moved to the New Holland area as a youngster.  He played grade school ball at NH-M and high school in Lincoln.

As a senior Phillips hit .392 with a team-leading 33 RBI.   He connected for 12 doubles, two triples and three home runs.  He fanned just 11 times in 118 at bats.  He had an on-base percentage of .504. As a pitcher, Phillips compiled a record of 7-5 with 86 1/3 innings, a new LCHS record.  The right-hander threw 11 complete games, had three shutouts and walked just 17 while striking out 86.   Phillips compiled a 2.19 ERA and opponents hit .234.

LCHS coach Pat Hake said: "It was a pleasure to coach him. Although he pitched a lot of innings, he always had his normal rest between starts.  He always pitched the big games against the best opposition. He will be an asset to the Lincoln College program, and I am extremely happy for him that he is getting this opportunity.  I think he is being counted on heavily to pitch for the college; however, I think he can contribute offensively."

[to top of second column in this article]

Phillips said: "I considered Kankakee and Springfield College before settling on Lincoln College. I think the fact that my parent will be able to see me play here probably had as much to do with my decision as anything else.  LC has a good program, and the fact that coach Thomas indicated I would have an opportunity to both pitch and play in the field contributed to my decision.   I hope to do well enough at Lincoln College to continue my baseball career at a four-year college."

Coach Thomas said: "I am elated to get a player of Chris' potential.  I think pitching will be his ticket to the next level; however, I think he proved in high school that he can play other positions. We will give him the opportunity at first base or as a DH. His knowledge of pitching is outstanding, and he certainly understands the game. I believe he has the opportunity to be an outstanding pitcher at our level.  He had a great high school season, and I felt like Pat (Hake) used him well, not overworking him, and letting him get his normal rest between starts."

[Bill Martinie,
Lincoln College sports information director]

Bronco League

Graue Pharmacy vs. Waterstreet Catering

[MAY 30, 2001]  Graue Pharmacy 13, Waterstreet Catering 10

Graue Pharmacy came from behind in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a three-run lead into the top of the sixth.  Matt Schick struck out the first two batters he faced.  The third reached on an error, and he struck out the fourth to preserve his first win (1-0).

Graue was led by Justin Mason, with three hits and six RBIs. His biggest hit came in the third inning on an inside-the-park grand slam.  Matt Schick helped himself out with three hits and four RBIs.  Josh Edwards had two hits and one RBI. Andrew Uhlry and Lincoln Moore had one hit and one RBI each.

[to top of second column in this article]

Waterstreet Catering scored five runs in the first inning and again in the second.  Waterstreet was led by Zach Langley with three hits, one RBI and one run scored.  Matt Xamis had one hit and two runs scored.  Zach Eimer had one hit and one run scored.  Tyler Schleder scored two runs.  Matt Leslie, Dustin Eimer, Mitch Adolphson and Kavet Olson each scored one run

The Graue win brings their record to 3-0. Waterstreet Catering is 1-3.

Graue Pharmacy (3-0) meets Bright Idea (3-0) at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 31.

[News release]

High school track and field

Olympia’s Brian DeLoriea second at state

[MAY 29, 2001]  Tying his career high, Brian DeLoriea took second in pole vaulting at the boys Class A state track meet at Charleston this past Saturday. DeLoriea’s 15-0 vault was topped with only 3 inches more by defending champ Josh Wakey of Herscher.

Congratulations, Brian, on a great season!

[LDN]

Bronco League

Graue Pharmacy vs. Bloomington Marlins

[MAY 29, 2001]  Graue Pharmacy 8, Bloomington Marlins 5

Graue Pharmacy scored eight runs on six hits and was led by Chris McGlasson with two hits (single and triple) and two runs scored.  Lincoln Moore, Josh Edward, Tyler Jones and James Lercher each had a hit, one run scored and one RBI each.  Joe Heidbreder added two runs scored for Graue Pharmacy.  James Lercher recorded his first win  (1-0) and Chris McGlasson got the save.

Bloomington Marlins made five runs on six hits.

[News release]

[APRIL 27, 2001]  This week's LDN Sports Talk takes on a different look than ever before. Since I couldn't get the LDN powers-to-be to send me out to Colorado Springs to do this interview, Race and I struggled together by e-mailing. I spent a Saturday coming up with a list of 20 to 25 questions and finally just told him to answer them when he could. He did that while going to class, studying for a test, practicing and, I think, writing a paper. It is very easy for a sports writer like me to have nothing but admiration for young men like Race Steinfort. I'm glad people like him are protecting Payne at night while he sleeps (or keeps his parents up). I hope you loyal LDN fans will enjoy Race's written response to my list of questions as much as I did! On behalf of the LDN, thank you, Race. We all wish you nothing but the best!

Response from Race Steinfort

[click here for Part 1]

I am majoring in aeronautical engineering as well as getting my math minor. I’d like to someday go into airplane design. However, once I graduate, I will go off to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) where I will be trained for approximately one year to fly jets. Following UPT, I will have a 10-year commitment to the Air Force in which I hope to fly F-15s and/or A-10s.

[Race Steinfort]

I have been swimming competitively for about 16 years now, and yes, it has prepared me for swimming here. College is a whole new game, though. Instead of swimming every event possible, I now specialize in two to three events: the 100/200 back and the 1,650 (mile) free.

As for people I should thank, there are far too many to list. I think the main contributors were a man named Fred Plesé and my parents.

Mr. Plesé has been a huge inspiration in my life. This man, through rain, dark, snow, and hail, managed to show up at 5:30 in the morning at least three times a week and get into the water to swim with my father and me. He started from barely being able to swim for five minutes to swimming for an hour-plus and getting out hardly even breathing hard, with a giant grin on his face like he had just conquered the world (or at least the pool). To this day he still swims with my father every other morning. His dedication to swimming, his job and a giant family, and more importantly, his ability to, day after day, show up at 5:30 a.m. ready to jump in a cold pool with a giant smile on his face has made me believe that no matter how cold the water is or what lies ahead, the only way to go is just smile and jump in.

[to top of second column in this section]

I also have to thank my parents for all their support and love. They were there when I needed prodding and they were there to pick me up when I fell. They’ve been there through everything, and I know for sure that I wouldn’t be who and where I am today if it weren’t for them.

The only advice I have to give is to never underestimate yourself or your abilities and never take the easy way out. Some people believe that they can’t get anywhere because they were never given an opportunity. No one is ever given an opportunity; you have to make one for yourself, whether it’s in a pool, on a court or in a classroom.

The key is to take the harder path. Sometimes it takes giving up some things such as time and freedom, but in the end, it’s just like an investment. That which you gave up will turn into something much better. For me, the time and freedom and other things that I have given up in the past have allowed me to swim Division I and attend a great college; and the freedom and regular college life that I’m giving up right now will allow me to fly a $30 million aircraft at two times the speed of sound. You cannot give up everything, but unless you make some sacrifices, you will not be able to achieve your goals.

Yes, I would recommend the Air Force Academy and I am glad I came, but I would have to add one thing. It is not for everyone. It is a different life. I already told you a little about freshman year for me. It wasn’t easy and it was rarely fun. The academy offers a great education, great friendships, and I get paid to go to school, but in return I have pledged to give my life in the defense of our nation. I owe at least five years to the Air Force after I graduate and 10 years if I become a pilot.

It is something that must be well thought through before the decision is made. But I’d have to say jumping out of airplanes and flying fighters is an excellent way to spend a summer!

[APRIL 26, 2001]  This week's LDN Sports Talk takes on a different look than ever before. Since I couldn't get the LDN powers-to-be to send me out to Colorado Springs to do this interview, Race and I struggled together by e-mailing. I spent a Saturday coming up with a list of 20 to 25 questions and finally just told him to answer them when he could. He did that while going to class, studying for a test, practicing and, I think, writing a paper. It is very easy for a sports writer like me to have nothing but admiration for young men like Race Steinfort. I'm glad people like him are protecting Payne at night while he sleeps (or keeps his parents up). I hope you loyal LDN fans will enjoy Race's written response to my list of questions as much as I did! On behalf of the LDN, thank you, Race. We all wish you nothing but the best!

Response from Race Steinfort

I’ve been at the USAF Academy for almost three years now. I am currently a Second Class Cadet (junior) and I am still happy with my decision to come, though during my Fourth Class year (freshman) I wasn’t so sure about that one.

[Marshal Haylett and Lincolnite Race Steinfort, teammates on the U.S. Air Force Academy swim team, the Falcons, pose on a crisp-looking day in the Colorado Rockies.]

The application process was a pretty lengthy one. It entailed sending in an application to both the academy and my congressmen, including my representative, the Illinois senators and the vice president. Any of those four government officials could give me a nomination to the academy. Rep. Dick Durbin gave me my nomination. The process for nomination consisted of a few questionnaires and an interview. The next step was to get accepted to the academy. This consisted of a physical fitness test, a very lengthy application with everything from medical history to police records to exactly why I wanted to attend the academy, an interview with an Air Force liaison officer, and an essay on why I wanted to come and what I wanted to do in the Air Force.

One of my requirements for a college was Division I swimming, with the other being aeronautical engineering. I planned on swimming here, and there’s no doubt that it has helped me make it through here. I have been one of the top backstrokers here, placing sixth in both the 100 back and 200 back at the Mountain West Conference, with a 50.02 and a 1:50.09 respectively. My best swim at that meet was in the morning, where I finally broke 1:50 in the 200 back to go a 1:49.39, my lifetime best.

We do get to travel quite a bit. We usually alternate with teams, going to their place one year and having them here the next. The main teams we always swim against are University of Washington, BYU, Utah, UNLV and Wyoming, to name a few. We also travel during Christmas break. We usually leave shortly after Christmas to go somewhere warm like California or Florida to train day in and day out for a little over a week.

[to top of second column in this section]

The question of whether or not being intercollegiate is an advantage is a pretty tough one. Yes, it has helped me a lot, but it has also made some aspects of life more difficult. The best part of being on a team here is the camaraderie and the friendships. We have a very close team here, and all the guys on the team look out for each other like brothers.

The hardest part of the academy is the loss of freedom during freshman year. You come from a high school where you are at the top of the chain, and you walk into a place where you are worth less than the dirt on the ground. It provides quite a bit of emotional stress among other things. I seriously doubted why I came, and I wasn’t sure that I wanted to stay. Everyone was always yelling at me and nothing seemed to be good enough. There was dust inside the smoke detector, a spot on the sink and my shoes were NEVER shiny enough (just a few of the things they’d pick on). The goal was to put as much stress on us as possible to weed out the people who didn’t want to be there and teach the rest of us how to deal with stress. That was pretty much all of basic training and freshman year.

This is where swimming and the team really helped me to get away and remember that I do have friends, and mainly, I wasn’t in this alone. Going down to the pool every day also helps to get away from the academic grind.

This, however, is also where sports are not so much an advantage. We, as intercollegiates, do not have a lighter academic load than anyone else here, despite the fact that we have three to four hours of our afternoon devoted to practice. This provides for many late nights and long weekends doing homework and studying. I’m taking 22.5 hours this semester as well as swimming for three hours every afternoon. Along with this, we, as cadets, have mandatory formations, In Rank Inspections (IRIs—uniform inspections) and Additional Morning Inspections (AMIs—room inspections) which we have to prepare and clean for at least twice a week and sometimes more depending on the leadership and how we did the previous week.

Traveling with the team is another bonus, in that for a weekend or at least a day or two you get to leave the academy and get away for a while. The only problem with that is that you miss classes and usually fall behind in the process, and catching up with 22 hours is not easy! Despite the disadvantages, the friends and the break from the grind for a day or two or even just a few hours in the day make being an intercollegiate well worth it in my mind.

(To be continued)

[click here for Part 2]

Announcements

ALMH golf outing planned

[MAY 29, 2001]  Teams are filling fast for the FORE-ALMH golf outing, so don’t be left out! Get your team signed up for the outing scheduled for Friday, June 29, at the Elk’s Country Club in Lincoln. The format will again be a four-person scramble, with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Your $75 entry fee includes greens fee and free cart rental, plus 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.

[ALMH news release]

Play ball with the Lincoln Park District

From Roy Logan, program coordinator

[APRIL 26, 2001]  The phase "play ball" is echoing all around the Lincoln Park District.  Teams for boys and girls have been chosen and practices are in full swing.  Registration for men's and women's softball is currently under way.  If you have not come to the office to pick up your roster and information, you will want to do so soon.

A new league offered this summer is Co-ed Over 40.  This league is strictly for the recreational player.  The season will not last as long.  Play will be at Memorial Park on Thursday nights.

The success of Lincoln's summer baseball and softball programs is directly related to the many local businesses that support the teams financially.  In these times of rising utilities and gas prices, we urge you to support the businesses whose names appear on the team shirts.  It takes not only money but volunteers as well.  Our thanks to the many people who donate their time and talent to coaching and keeping a great game on track.

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