Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
May 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
ST. LOUIS — Three outs away from winning a second round game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel was surprisingly relaxed. “I was probably the calmest person in the ballpark,” Schissel said. The rest of the QU dugout was on pins and needles. “I can’t lie to you,”…
Read Full Article May 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
ST. LOUIS — Everything had to work in unison to allow the Quincy University baseball team to turn near disaster into a defining moment. With two outs in the seventh inning Friday afternoon and the bases loaded, Hawks right-handed reliever Alex Pribyl uncorked a wild pitch that bounced over catcher Luke Napleton, went to the…
Read Full Article May 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The first comeback showcased the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s resiliency. The second rally never materialized. Facing Pearl City on Friday night at the Backyard, the Raiders answered the Wolves’ two-run top of the first inning with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. They couldn’t do the same when…
Read Full Article May 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman talks with JWCC Athletic Director/Men’s Basketball Coach about the inaugural Muddy River Showcase high school all-star basketball game.
Read Full Article May 13, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The hardware Kelsey Bockenfeld has collected in the past five weeks has made her trifecta of titles complete. State champion. National champion. World champion. That’s quite a resume. The Quincy native won an American Motocross Association ATV national championship during her days racing quads, but has since found a passion and a drive…
Read Full Article May 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — The local Aldi Grocery Store better work on restocking its shelves. After a visit from Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel and a few helpful parents of his players, the store’s supply of Gatorade is seriously diminished. Following the Hawks’ 12-3 victory Lindenwood in Thursday’s opening round of the Great Lakes…
Read Full Article May 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Anything from a 5:30 a.m. wake-up call to Thursday’s rising temperatures could have been what made Spencer Walker feel a little out of sorts. “Something felt off mindset-wise,” the Quincy University right-handed pitcher said. “It just felt a little different. I wasn’t like my usual self.” No one outside the Hawks’…
Read Full Article May 12, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Spencer Walker’s consistency and Luke Napleton’s power couldn’t be ignored. Neither could the stellar effort of Jay Hammel, the quality at-bats of Dayson Croes and the comeback effort of Alex Pribyl. Those five have played an integral part in the Quincy University baseball team rising to fourth in the latest NCAA Division II…
Read Full Article May 11, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s postseason plan is quite simple. Score early. Score often. Score as much as possible. Lia Quintero’s first two goals came just 40 seconds apart Tuesday and gave the top-seeded Raiders a two-goal lead just four minutes into the Class 1A QND Regional semifinal against eighth-seeded Springfield…
Read Full Article May 11, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — After Brady Kindhart led off the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday with a double to deep center field, Jack Linenfelser stepped to the plate with one thing in mind. “Put the ball in play,” he said. The Quincy Notre Dame middle infielder did a little more than that. Linenfelser traded places with…
Read Full Article May 11, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Mike Terry reminded the bottom four players in the Quincy High School boys tennis team’s singles lineup just how valuable their efforts could be. “I called them in and said, ‘We need these four matches,’” the veteran coach said. “I knew we’d have a rough time at Nos. 1 and 2, not because…
Read Full Article May 10, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Mason Winking’s part-time job at Farm & Home Supply afforded him the opportunity last weekend to pick up some new home run bling for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. Little did the Raiders know how significant the upgrade would be. Winking purchased — he used his employee discount, an important fact for…
Read Full Article May 10, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — A barrage of hits and runs in the first two innings of Monday night’s crossdown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams ended, and the game became a battle of zeroes until the lights went out with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Sports Editor…
Read Full Article May 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Lucas Loos went out with a bang. Three bangs in fact. The Payson Seymour product blasted three home runs during his final home doubleheader with the John Wood Community College baseball team, jacking two in the nightcap as the Trail Blazers earned a 9-4 victory over Illinois Central College in Mid-West Athletic Conference…
Read Full Article May 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team’s seed for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament wasn’t going to change with the outcome of Sunday’s regular-season finale. Only the vibe the Hawks carry into the postseason could be altered. A 12-11 loss to Missouri S&T at QU Stadium didn’t totally change that thanks to an offense…
Read Full Article May 9, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team honored its mothers and its seniors during pregame ceremonies before playing Missouri S&T in the regular-season finale Sunday at QU Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured images that helped sum up the day.
Read Full Article May 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — It hasn’t happened often when the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team goes three consecutive innings without scoring. When it happened Saturday against Hannibal, no one fretted. “This year, we’re more mature,” Raiders junior Alex Connoyer said. “We know we can put up six in an inning. We know we can do it like…
Read Full Article May 7, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Gino D’Alessio took a hack during batting practice Saturday morning and noticeably grimaced because of the pain in his back. At that moment, Kade Burns knew he better be ready. “I try to show up every day and be ready to go if anything like that ever happens,” Burns said. The Quincy University…
Read Full Article May 6, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — With each swing he took, Brady Kindhart sensed he was inching closer to where ball and barrel would meet in harmony. Once that happened, the Quincy Notre Dame junior third baseman has done nothing but string hits together. Friday, he bookended the Raiders’ 14th consecutive victory with sweet-spot connections. Kindhart delivered a run-scoring…
Read Full Article May 6, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Luke Napleton raised his right hand to ask for time and stepped backward out of the right-handed batter’s box. The home plate umpire didn’t recognize the Quincy University leadoff hitter’s request and called on a strike on a pitch thrown by Missouri S&T’s Elijah Gross. Momentarily surprised by the call, Napleton regrouped, stepped back…
Read Full Article May 5, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Keaton Scott knows his frame doesn’t fit the prototype for a catcher, especially not one planning to play at the NCAA Division II level. Experience has taught him being 5-foot-7 doesn’t matter. “It’s all about how hard you work,” the Hannibal catcher said. His work ethic is unmatched. Scott is one of…
Read Full Article May 5, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Ticket information will be released soon. PHILADELPHIA, Mo. — Izack Hively…
Read Full Article May 3, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Steve Smith became known throughout West-Central Illinois as one of the region’s most influential and impartial basketball referees. For Katie Cox, he was simply grandpa. “He truly always wanted me to be the best,” said Cox, a senior three-sport athlete at Pittsfield High School. “With everything I did, he was pushing me.…
Read Full Article May 3, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. Ticket information will be released soon. MONROE CITY, Mo. — Brock…
Read Full Article May 3, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Want to relive the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s postseason run to the Class 2A state championship? Would you want to revisit the Liberty boys basketball team’s pursuit of the highest state tournament finish in program history? Here’s your chance. Muddy River Sports has put together a pair of commemorative editions, highlighting…
Read Full Article May 2, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The inaugural Muddy River Showcase is taking place June 18 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The Illinois vs. Missouri format for senior prep basketball players will feature a girls game at 3 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 5 p.m. CARTHAGE, Ill. — Grant Surprenant took a hiatus from basketball…
Read Full Article May 2, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The last time Spencer Walker worked at least seven scoreless innings, the Quincy University baseball team’s offense put up so many runs there was no need for him to pitch the final two frames. Last Friday, even with a comfortable lead, the senior right-hander finished what he started. Walker shut out Saginaw Valley…
Read Full Article May 1, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The scene was all too familiar. The reaction was decidedly different. That enabled the Quincy University baseball team to finish the weekend with a flourish. Saginaw Valley State’s Austin Schweiger belted a three-run home run in the top of the first inning Sunday — the Cardinals’ Hayden Jatczak did the same thing Saturday…
Read Full Article May 1, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Gary Bass put himself in the crosshairs. His team then took aim at ending the spring the right way. During Saturday afternoon’s build-up to the Quincy University football program’s spring game, the Hawks’ sixth-year coach willingly climbed into a dunk tank and got dumped into the water during a tailgate party a short…
Read Full Article May 1, 2022 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
Intimidating. It seems funny to say it, but that is the most apt description for how I viewed Don Crim the first time I walked into the Quincy Herald-Whig newsroom nearly 33 years ago. The sports editor’s desk, complete with stain rings from his coffee cup and an overflowing ashtray of cigarette butts, served as…
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