Illinois
Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters: Class 8A School Pts 1. Lincoln-Way East (7) 95 2. Loyola (2) 91 3. Glenbard West 79 4. Bolingbrook 75 5. Gurnee Warren 63 6. Naperville Neuqua Valley (1) 54 7. Maine South…
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Here is the Muddy River Sports preview of the 15 high school football teams in our coverage area. For mobile users, click on “Friday Night Lights” below to open the PDF.
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AUGUSTA, Ill. — An opportunity to watch an NCAA Division I women’s volleyball program play an exhibition match presented itself to the Southeastern volleyball players and heightened the Suns’ anticipation for their own season opener. “It was like I had an adrenalin rush,” said Summer Ramsey, a 5-foot-6 outside hitter. “I don’t even know why.…
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QUINCY — Looking back, Tanner Klingele will readily admit there are some feature finishes he would like to have the opportunity for a do over. Specifically, two finishes. Only twice this year has the 27-year-old sport mod driver wound up outside the top 10 in the series’ 15 main events at Adams County Speedway. And…
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PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield boys golf team took advantage of playing on its home course Saturday, posting three scores in the 80s to capture the team championship of the Pittsfield Invitational at Old Orchard Country Club. The Saukees shot a 345, followed by Illini West at 351 and Rushville-Industry at 381. Illini West’s Nolan…
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QUINCY — Here are this week’s Adams County Speedway statistics: Money Earned Late models: Denny Woodworth $6,025, Tommy Elston $4,425, Sam Halstead $4,125, Darin Weisinger Jr., $3,675. Modifieds: Austen Becerra $7,290, Dave Wietholder $5,780, Kenny Wallace $4,275, Mike Vanderiet Jr. $2,575, Mark Burgtorf $2,200. Sport mods: Adam Birck $4,715, Logan Cumby $4,545, Tanner Klingele $3,495. Street stocks: Rudy Zaragoza…
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QUINCY — Some dirt-track reflections as the inaugural Adams County Speedway season begins to wind down … Here is one observer’s thoughts about the frontrunners for some awards that we’ll be monitoring quite closely over the final two weeks of points racing the final overall six weeks of competition: Driver of the Year Austen Becerra’s…
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PEORIA, Ill. — The Macomb boys golf team seems to be finding a groove. The Bombers finished third back-to-back days in invitationals in Peoria and Normal. Macomb posted a 304 on Monday in the Peoria Notre Dame Invitational at Kellogg Golf Course to take third, while Quincy Notre Dame finished fifth with a 309. Connor…
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QUINCY — In all likelihood, a year from now Jeffrey DeLonjay will be well into his rookie season behind the wheel of a crate late model. Before that, however, he hopes to close the book on his stay in the 4-Cylinder division with his first track championship at Adams County Speedway. The 21-year-old DeLonjay moved…
Read Full Article DIRT TRACK STATS Money Earned Late models: Denny Woodworth $5,600, Sam Halstead $3,825, Tommy Elston $3,425, Darin Weisinger Jr. $3,400, Chase Osterhoff $3,100. Modifieds: Austen Becerra $7,290, Dave Wietholder $5,780, Kenny Wallace $4,275, Mike Vanderiet Jr. $2,575, Mark Burgtorf $2,200. Sport mods: Logan Cumby $4,470, Adam Birck $4,215, Tanner Klingele $3,295, Shane Paris $2,760, Reed Wolfmeyer $2,110, A.J.…
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QUINCY — I’ve been covering dirt-track racing at 8000 Broadway for almost a quarter of a century. I have not missed a night of racing at Adams County Speedway in more than 15 years, and less than five total since 1999. The only reason I mention this is I feel I have at least a…
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QUINCY — Above all else, Logan Cumby was able to remain patient. Cumby sat tantalizingly close to the lead in the sport mod feature Sunday night at Adams County Speedway, but instead of trying to be proactive he chose to be reactive. That was a wise decision. He sensed there would be trouble between race…
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ROXANA, Del. — An incredible run came to an abrupt end late Friday night. A nearly unhittable pitcher is why. The Illinois District 17 softball team, which finished atop its pool at the Senior League Softball World Series, was limited to one hit by Curacao right-hander J’Dah Girigorie in a 2-0 loss in the quarterfinals…
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QUINCY — Adams County Speedway returns to action Sunday night following last week’s scheduled break before the home stretch of points racing begins. There are just four Sunday nights remaining prior to track champs being crowned August 28. Here’s all you need to know, numerically speaking, when the cars return to the dirt, starting at…
Read Full Article ROXANA, Del. — The comeback kids nearly made it two rallies in a row. One day after a walk-off single in the eighth inning kept the Illinois District 17 softball undefeated in pool play at the Senior League Softball World Series, the Land of Lincolners found themselves in a late-inning hole again Thursday. The Central…
Read Full Article ROXANA, Del. — Emma Henry couldn’t let her twin sister have all the fun. One day after Grace Henry jacked a grand slam as part of a nine-run inning that propelled the Illinois District 17 team to a victory in its opening game of the Senior League Softball World Series, Emma Henry followed suit with…
Read Full Article FRANKFORD, Del. — The Illinois District 17 softball team packed the lumber for the long road trip. In the opening game of pool play at the Senior League Softball World Series at Bruce Layton Field, the Land of Lincolners scored 12 runs in the first two innings and pounded out 18 hits in a 17-13…
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QUINCY — There will be no racing Sunday night at Adams County Speedway — hey, we all deserve a week off now and then — so it’s a good time to examine the five weekly series as they head toward the final four weeks of points racing. The track champs will be crowned Aug. 28,…
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BYRON CENTER, Mich. — A loss in the opening game of the Senior League Softball Central Regional didn’t put the Illinois District 17 players on their heels. It motivated them. The Illinois crew rebounded to win four consecutive games and the regional championship, culminating the run with a 6-3 victory Tuesday night over the Michigan…
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QUINCY — This may have been Austen Becerra’s signature victory at Adams County Speedway. The 28-year-old driver from Carthage, who already has two track titles to his credit in the old sport compact class and appears headed toward a third in this year’s loaded modified division, literally brought most of the Sunday night crowd to…
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QUINCY — It’s never too early to start planning for 2023 if you are Blake Dotson, the director of racing at Adams County Speedway. Since the weatherman was unkind last weekend when some heavier-than-expected overnight showers washed out Sunday’s program, Dotson had some extra time to look down the road with an eye toward not…
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent Saturday night at Clemens Field as the eighth Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star baseball game unfolded. Here is a gallery of the images he collected both on the field and in the stands:
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HANNIBAL, Mo. — Like nearly every other big event during the summer of 2020, the Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star baseball game fell victim to a global pandemic. But Kevin and Aaron Peters, the Monroe City father-son duo who are the braintrust and the legs behind this event, never lost faith the game could return in…
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QUINCY — Here is a look at this week’s Muddy River Sports Leaderboard for drivers competing at Adams County Speedway: Muddy River Sports Performance Points Points are awarded on a 25-20-15-12-10-8-6-4 for top eight finishers in feature, 3-2-1 in heats. Late Models: Denny Woodworth 189, Sam Halstead 113, Darin Weisinger Jr. 86, Tommy Elston 70.…
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QUINCY — We’re a little past the midway point of the dirt-track racing season at Adams County Speedway, and it’s safe to say there is one name that stands out when it comes to breakout drivers of 2022. Reed Wolfmeyer has emerged as a legitimate threat in an already-loaded sport mod series. At times, Wolfmeyer,…
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QUINCY — So long, frustration. See ya later, winless streak. Hello, checkered flag! Adam Birck bid adieu to two months of sport mod exasperation Sunday night when he won his first feature since May 8 and did so in exclamation-point fashion. Birck spent the first 17 circuits of the 20-lap main event in pursuit of…
Read Full Article Here is the Muddy River Sports Leaderboard for the first week of July: Muddy River Sports Performance Points Points are awarded on a 25-20-15-12-10-8-6-4 for top eight finishers in feature, 3-2-1 in heats. Late Models: Denny Woodworth 171, Sam Halstead 99, Darin Weisinger Jr. 83, Tommy Elston 70. Modifieds: Austen Becerra 175, Dave Wietholder 167,…
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QUINCY — Jimmy Lieurance says Sunday night’s starting time at Adams County Speedway is a matter of “splitting the difference.” The first-year promoter will be trying for a starting time around 6:30 p.m. That decision follows last week’s scheduled 7:30 p.m. start, which combined with a delay caused by a power outage midway through the…
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QUINCY — The sport mods arguably have been the most competitive class this season at Adams County Speedway. Sunday night — and early Monday morning — helped cement that claim. Tanner Klingele and Dakota Girard collected sport mod feature victories before an appreciative July 4 weekend gathering that saw six classes and a whopping 103…
Read Full Article QUINCY — So far, so good. That more or less sums up the first half of the dirt-track season at Adams County Speedway. “I think we’ve probably already exceeded all expectations in the first year back,” race director Blake Dotson said. The track set vacant and overgrown for two years before promoter Jim Lieurance and…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Here is a look at this week’s Muddy River motorsports leaderboards: Stevie Dirt DIRTY THIRTY Rankings Sport Mods 1. Adam Birck: No. 112 has not collected a checkered flag since May 8 … can you say overdue? 2. Shane Paris: He leads the series with three feature victories. 3. Logan Cumby: Have you…
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CINCINNATI — Evan McGaughey’s passport reveals quite a story. In the five years since his graduation from Quincy University, the Carthage native’s 4.5 x 3.5 inch booklet has been stamped enough times to allow him entrance into 15 countries on two different continents as he pursued a professional basketball career. “I got to see a…
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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Blake Arnold seemed to take it all in stride. “It felt like just another tournament,” he said. However, not every tournament ends in a three-hole playoff. The Liberty golfer saw his lead in the boys 16-17 division of the State Farm Youth Classic dwindle to a single stroke on the back nine…
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QUINCY — Kenny Wallace has long had a love affair with Quincy in general and Adams County Speedway in particular. That relationship was never more evident than Sunday night. Not long after he had outdueled four-time modified track champion Dave Wietholder for a hard-earned checkered flag in an 18-lap midseason championship feature, Wallace wanted the…
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QUINCY — Delaney Straus felt insulted. As the Missouri girls were milling around John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center ahead of Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase, the Marion County standout overheard a conversation in which a tongue-in-cheek prediction about the boys game was made. However, she thought the prediction of a 24-point Illinois victory was…
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QUINCY — The spirited battles Jeremiah and Joshua Talton have engaged in either on the family basketball court or during open gyms at John Wood Community College moved to a much more public and brighter stage Saturday. That didn’t mitigate Jeremiah’s height advantage. “Let me get to be about 6-foot-7 and then it would be…
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QUINCY — A family showdown. A preview of things to come for the John Wood Community College men’s basketball program. A last hurrah for two storied senior classes. The start of a new summer basketball tradition. The Muddy River Showcase boys basketball all-star game had it all. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the…
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QUINCY — By the time she finally had a chance to sit and relax for a moment, Caydee Kirkham felt the aftereffects of spending 39 of the 40 minutes in the inaugural Muddy River Showcase girls basketball game on the floor. “My legs are cramping a lot,” she said. “But it was fun, so that’s…
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QUINCY — The inaugural Muddy River Showcase got off to a rousing start as the Illinois girls all-stars overcome diminished depth to outrun Missouri and post a 67-55 victory Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the intensity, camaraderie and enjoyment of the players and coaches…
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QUINCY — Greg Altmix floated the idea. The Muddy River Showcase organizing committee became enamored with it. And Brock Edris signed off on it. Right then, another level of intrigue was added to the Illinois vs. Missouri all-star basketball event. Quincy High School all-stater Jeremiah Talton originally declined his invitation to play in the boys…
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QUINCY — After running up and down the court for the better part of an hour Thursday night, the Illinois girls all-stars wrapped up their final practice before Saturday’s inaugural Muddy River Showcase. They weren’t quite done, though. Hallie Ray and Abbie Johnson, teammates at Illini West, asked if they could stick around John Wood…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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QUINCY — It’s only fitting the final two area baseball teams left standing in the Land of Lincoln were honored with spots on the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. Brown County senior center fielder/pitcher Gabe Blakeley and Quincy Notre Dame junior first baseman/pitcher Dalton Miller were named to the Class 1A and…
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QUINCY — Despite a shoulder injury that now has her prepping for surgery, Eryn Cornwell remained a force in the middle of the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s lineup. Her production resulted in receiving Class 2A first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. QND freshman Caitlin Bunte was a second-team selection, while five area…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
Read Full Article QUNCY — We’ve reached the equivalent of the one-third mark in the dirt-track season at Adams County Speedway. With no racing scheduled Sunday — the track is off to allow race fans to attend the Grand Prix of Karting at South Park — it’s a good time to sit back and reflect. Here’s one man’s…
Read Full Article Here is the Muddy River Sports Leaderboard for the second week of June: Stevie Dirt DIRTY THIRTY rankings Sport Mods 1. Adam Birck: He’s established himself as the steadiest driver in the series. He leads in both track points and Muddy River Performance Points. 2. Tanner Klingele: There are two sport mod drivers with five…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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QUINCY — So, how in the world did Austen Becerra win that race? Becerra, with his modified trailored for the night after a series of mechanical issues earlier Sunday evening, asked a friend if he could borrow his ride for the feature at Adams County Speedway. But Becerra wasn’t just asking to borrow another modified.…
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PEORIA, Ill. — These weren’t Texas leaguers, nubbers or Punch-and-Judy pokes coming off the bats of the Brown County baseball players. “There weren’t a lot of balls hit soft,” first baseman Mason Henry said. “Every ball was hit on the screws.” Too often, though, they were within the reach of the Louisville North Clay outfielders.…
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PEORIA, Ill. — The traffic along Highway 24 between Peoria and Mount Sterling was steady late Saturday afternoon. After all, most of Mount Sterling made the trek to River City in order to watch the Brown County baseball team play for the Class 1A state championship. Although the Hornets lost 12-4 to Louisville North Clay…
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PEORIA, Ill. — The tension gripping the Brown County baseball team’s dugout and its legion of fans in the stands apparently wasn’t being felt by those on the field. “I was calm the entire time,” shortstop Colby Wort said. “I had my whole belief in our pitchers and our fielders.” Hornets center fielder Gabe Blakeley’s…
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PEORIA, Ill. — After a bunt single loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning, Ottawa Marquette freshman center fielder Julian Alexander thought the Crusaders had put Brown County in a precarious spot. He even told Hornets shortstop Colby Wort so. “I thought it was pretty funny,” Wort said. “He’s…
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PEORIA, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team snared the lead in the first inning, extended it in the third inning and never relinquished it in beating Ottawa Marquette 2-1 in the Class 1A state semifinals Friday at Dozer Park. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the atmosphere and action on and off the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The most fascinating accomplishments in the long and storied history of Adams County Speedway? That, of course, is a topic that might earn a hundred different answers from a hundred different dirt-track fans — myself included. While you contemplate your own responses, here are a few of mine from the 24-plus years I…
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MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team will be making the program’s first appearance in the state final four Friday when it faces Ottawa Marquette at 10 a.m. at Peoria’s Dozer Park in the Class 1A state semifinals. Hornets coach Jared Hoots sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for an…
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MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — A slow drive down Main Street on Wednesday night — the way the posted speed limit intends it — allowed onlookers and gawkers to witness what community spirit truly is. Outside Hagel 1891, a modern American cuisine restaurant located next to Dorothy’s Market in the historic Hagel building, had green and…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Everyone in the Brown County baseball team’s dugout and those on the field could see Carrollton’s Grant Pohlman looming in the on-deck circle and casting a rather sizable shadow over the Claude Kracik Field grass. “We knew he was coming up and we knew what he had done to us,” Hornets catcher…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots struggled a little to come up with an apt description for Colby Wort’s effort. “He is a competitive animal,” Hoot said. “Whatever adjective you want to use, go for it. The slang would be a dog. Some people say a competitive fire. I don’t know what…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team made history Monday, beating Carrollton 4-3 in the Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional at Lincoln Land Community College’s Claude Kracik Field to advance to the state final four for the first time ever. The Hornets are guaranteed to bring home the first state trophy in school history. Muddy…
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QUINCY — The streak lives. Robert Cottom continued his early season domination at Adams County Speedway with a scintillating Sunday night street stock feature win. Cottom claimed his fourth straight main-event victory, fueled by a last-lap pass of Jake Powers. Cottom had been the pursuer the first 17 laps of the feature before turning the…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — The Brown County Hornets advance to the Lincoln Land Super Sectional with an 11-1 win Concord Triopia in the Class 1A Sectional final at Alumni Field. Mason Henry was the star for the Hornets. He scattered five hits over six innings with just one earned run allowed and five strikeouts. He also…
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CHARLESTON, Ill. — Ezra Thompson led the brigade of area athletes into the finals of the Class 1A boys state track and field championship. The Central leaper qualified for two events, finishing seventh in the long jump at 6.47 meters and eighth in the triple jump at 12.76 meters. He will compete in the finals…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Gabe Blakeley merely said out loud what the rest of the Brown County players were thinking to themselves. When the time arrives for the Hornets to leave the baseball field for the final time this spring, they want to be carrying one thing with them. “The state championship trophy,” Blakeley said. Thanks…
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QUINCY — The Reaper will always remember Quincy quite well, specifically the dirt track at 8000 Broadway. McKay “The Reaper” Wenger smiles when his No. 42 super late model approaches the flagman’s stand at Adams County Speedway. After winning a feature in Quincy in 2016, and moments after accepting the checkered flag in victory lane,…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Here is a look at this week’s Adams County Speedway leaderboards: Stevie Dirt Dirty Thirty rankings Sport Mods 1. Logan Cumby: That second dominating feature win catapulted him back to the top spot. 2. Adam Birck: He’s the only Missouri sport mod driver in the rankings. Birck also extended his string of consecutive…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Karsyn Moorman waited, then delivered. The Brown County softball team’s left-handed-hitting first baseman drilled a two-run single after Havana made a pitching change in the second inning to give the Hornets a 5-0 lead in Wednesday’s Class 1A Jacksonville Routt Sectional semifinal. The Hornets were in a position to avenge their lone…
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JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — For a fleeting few minutes, the Liberty softball team had everyone thinking its magical run might continue. With two outs in the top of the first inning Tuesday against the state’s No. 1-ranked team, the Eagles made a little noise. Larissa Neisen and Natalie Hildebrand collected back-to-back singles before a strikeout ended…
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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. Admission is $10 at the door and all seating is general…
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QUINCY — Tommy Sheppard Jr. saved his best for last. Actually, the last four laps. Sheppard dazzled Sunday night’s big turnout at Adams County Speedway with a late-race charge that admittedly stunned frontrunners Ryan Unzicker and Jason Feger. Sheppard, who had been a bottom feeder throughout the 40-lap MARS super late model special, spent most…
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CHARLESTON, Ill. — Olivia Campbell discovered twice is nice. The defending Class 1A state discus champion, the Pittsfield senior was the only thrower in the field to break the 42-meter barrier, doing it in both the preliminaries and the finals of the Class 1A girls state track and field championships. Her toss of 42.47 meters…
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MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — As usual, Taryn Moorman was in complete control. That should not have come as a surprise, considering what she had already accomplished during her junior season as the ace of the Brown County softball team. “Taryn throws strikes,” Brown County coach David Woodruff said. “She also works quickly and never gets…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — B.J. Fessler was prepared for it to happen. The Liberty softball coach had watched, time and time again this season, his team play well but lose games because of one disastrous inning. So when the Eagles took the lead in Friday afternoon’s Class 1A regional championship game with three runs in…
Read Full Article MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Mason Henry’s last day as a high school senior received the perfect punctuation. Moments after exiting Brown County High School for the last time as a student, the left-hander pitched the Hornets baseball team to a Class 1A regional championship — on his home field, no less. Henry was in complete…
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QUINCY — That friendly, almost folksy voice that permeates the grounds of Adams County Speedway is always a welcome greeting for fans and drivers alike. When the deep, baritone sounds of announcer Doug Mealy are first heard Sunday evenings, everyone knows racing is not far behind at the dirt track tucked away off the entrance…
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CHARLESTON, Ill. — Shannon O’Neil keeps going faster and faster, while Olivia Campbell keeps throwing farther and farther. Saturday, they will have the chance to make a little history. O’Neil, the Liberty senior hurdler, lowered her school-record time in the 300-meter hurdles yet again Thursday during the preliminaries at the Class 1A girls state track…
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RUSHVILLE, Ill. — The combination of springs and speed led to a historic moment Wednesday night for the Central boys track and field program. The Panthers won three individual field events and two sprint relays at the Class 1A Rushville-Industry Sectional on Wednesday. It led to Central piling up 90 team points and capturing the…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Don’t worry about Brooklynn Howell being ready to pitch come Saturday. Fortunately, the Unity sophomore right-hander will have a couple of days to recover from what was a marvelous — albeit taxing — effort Wednesday afternoon at Central High School. Howell pitched the seventh-seeded Unity softball team to a 4-0, 13-inning…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Jade Blair’s hair was a bit frazzled, and her eyes carried a look that her check-engine light was probably blinking. Still, the Liberty right-hander was able to gather her wits, weather a couple of late-inning storms and pitch the Eagles past Central 5-4 in the Class 1A Central Regional softball semifinals…
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CAMP POINT, Ill. — Photographer Mike Pritchard found himself behind the lens of his camera for two epic softball games Wednesday in the Class 1A Central Regional with seventh-seeded Unity upsetting second-seeded Pleasant Hill 4-0 in a 13-inning marathon and fifth-seeded Liberty outlasting third-seeded Central 5-4. Here is a gallery of images Pritchard captured from…
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QUINCY — Tanner Klingele was living the high life. Literally. Normally, the 27-year-old driver prefers to work his way around the low groove at Adams County Speedway, but Sunday night saw Klingele take to the high line to eventually outlast Adam Birck, Joe Bliven and Nicholas Profeta in a dandy four-car battle for the checkered…
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QUINCY — West Central Illinois will be well represented at the Illinois girls state track and field championships next weekend at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois University campus in Charleston. Quincy High School pushed two athletes through the Class 3A Danville Sectional on Thursday, while Illini West got two through at the Class 1A…
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QUINCY — A.J. Tournear mirrors the feelings of most drivers and fans alike who have found their way back to Adams County Speedway, which in its former lifetime was known as Quincy Raceways. Tournear’s emotions can be felt through his responses. “Dirt-track racing is everything to me,” said the driver behind the wheel of the…
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LIBERTY, Ill. — Jared Schmidt’s excitement is understandable. Despite a spring in which the weather has been “absolutely atrocious,” the Liberty girls track and field team has piled up a number of school records in individual events. Now the weather is ripe for running as the Eagles head to Friday’s Class 1A Beardstown Sectional. “So…
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QUINCY — The message came through loud and clear. Whichever prep softball team wins the Class 1A Jacksonville Routt Sectional is going to have to earn it. Pleasant Hill took a pair of games from top competition at the QND Cluster, outlasting Central 6-5 after stymieing the Panthers’ rally from a six-run deficit and then…
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QUINCY — Obviously, the kid is a natural. Actually, Logan Cumby is only a “kid” in a dirt-track racing sense, but the 26-year-old is rapidly opening eyes in his sport mod rookie season at Adams County Speedway. Cumby won his first feature in just his second try at the Broadway Bullring, warding off a deep…
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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.…
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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…
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MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The ability to produce in every spot in the order is what has made the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team a 20-win season. A never-say-die attitude has done the same for Brown County. Monday, glimpses of both were evident. The Raiders sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning,…
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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…
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QUINCY — Cannen Wolf’s plan didn’t go exactly how either he or Liberty track coach Jared Schmidt envisioned. Luckily, there will be other chances to chase the school record in the 1,600-meter run. Should Wolf chase the record down, it would be the perfect catapult to an NCAA Division I track career. The Eagles senior…
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RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Ezra Thompson’s leaping ability, Jettason Rose’s speed and LaMarrio Rodgers’ strength were the highlights of the 19th Rob Garcia Invitational, which featured 17 prep track and field teams. Central’s Thompson shattered his personal best in the triple jump, winning the event with a leap of 12.45 meters. He also set a new…
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MENDON, Ill. — One swing gave Aidan Obert the memory for a lifetime. The Unity baseball team trailed Southeastern 5-1 going to the sixth inning last Friday when the Mustangs began piecing together a rally. With one out, Cody Shaffer walked, Obert was hit by a pitch and Bryson Muegge reached on an error to…
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PAYSON, Ill. — Kylie Simmons earned the ultimate sign of respect. Pitchers quit pitching to her. A senior on the Payson Seymour softball team, Simmons drew six walks in three victories last week as the Indians knocked off Unity, Griggsville-Perry and Pittsfield. The rest of the damage she did was more impressive. Simmons went 7…
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