QND
QUINCY — The number of strokes Beau Eftink needed to get up and down from behind the 18th green was going to determine just how pleased he would be with his final score. The moment he hit his chip shot from above the green’s collar, the Quincy Notre Dame sophomore golfer felt a twinge of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Beau Eftink went low, the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team took advantage of playing on its home course and three teams that had been in the mix all season advanced to the Class 1A Auburn Sectional at Edgewood Golf Course. It turned out to be a remarkable day at Westview Golf Course.…
Read Full Article ASHLAND, Mo. — The kind of victory the Quincy Notre Dame football team desperately needed, the kind that alleviates the pressure to be perfect, was within the Raiders’ grasp. In fact, it was only 72 seconds away. That’s when disaster devastated QND. Southern Boone’s Brady Dapkus returned a kickoff 83 yards for a touchdown and…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team continued to build a resume that likely will earn the Raiders the No. 1 regional seed with Tuesday night’s 25-16, 25-14 victory over Hannibal at The Pit. Sophomore middle Eva Breckenkamp led the Raiders with eight kills, while senior outside hitter Emma Hoing had seven kills and…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The situation was less than ideal. The response to it was more than fitting. Now, the Quincy Notre Dame football players can exhale and breathe a little easier. A dominant defensive effort Saturday in which the Raiders forced three turnovers and blocked a punt propelled QND to a 20-6 victory over state-ranked Lift…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Nothing could wash away the good vibes the Quincy Notre Dame football team generated Saturday, not even a postgame thunderstorm. The Raiders finished off a 20-6 victory over Lift for Life Academy on Saturday afternoon at Advance Physical Therapy Field before the rain fell, giving QND its first victory of the season and…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The John Burroughs boys soccer team presented another challenge in what already has been a tasking schedule for Quincy Notre Dame, and the Raiders put the Bombers on their heels in the first half Thursday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Leo Cann and Nolan Heck scored in the final 15 minutes of…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Coming off a second-place finish at the Lincoln Tournament in which it went 4-1 against Class 3A and 4A competition, the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team returned home Wednesday for a West Central Conference matchup with Payson Seymour. A balanced attack that featured three hitters leading the way with five kills apiece led…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Abigail Genenbacher’s final run through South Park proved to be one she could enjoy. The Quincy Notre Dame senior cross country runner dashed her way to a fourth place individual finish Tuesday in the Running Raider Classic, clocking a time of 21 minutes, 17 seconds. “I felt a lot of really great energy,”…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Olivia Schuering set the pace and her teammates followed suit. The Quincy High School senior cross country runner won the individual title Tuesday at the Running Raider Classic at South Park, posting a time of 19 minutes, 55 seconds to catapult the Blue Devils to the team title with 30 points. Quincy Notre…
Read Full Article JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Playing ina steady rain proved to be challenging. Stopping either team’s attack turned out to be tougher. The Quincy Notre Dame and Chatham Glenwood boys soccer teams — both coming off state title game appearances a year ago — played to a 4-4 draw Monday at Illinois College with the Titans erasing…
Read Full Article QUINCY — For 60 minutes, the Quincy High School boys soccer team played with the poise and passion that could make it a regional contender. The final 20 minutes, however, included miscues that resulted in another loss. O’Fallon scored twice in the closing stretch Saturday, pulling away for a 3-1 victory at Flinn Stadium. The…
Read Full Article QUINCY — There may be brighter days ahead for the Quincy Notre Dame football team, but Raiders coach Jack Cornell didn’t mince words when reflecting on his team’s winless start to the season. “Losing is never fun,” Cornell said. Mahomet-Seymour held QND scoreless in the second half and scored the final 28 points en route…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Leo Cann has played at Flinn Stadium only once each season throughout his high school soccer career. Yet, two of his most memorable moments happened on his rival’s home turf. As a sophomore, Cann scored the lone goal in the second half of the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s 1-0 victory against…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The rivalry continues to be as strong as ever, and the passionate play proved that. The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer teams met for the 103rd time in their intra-city rivalry on Thursday night at Flinn Stadium, with the Raiders scoring three second-half goals to earn a 4-2 victory.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Freelance videographer Frank Cann captured the intensity and passion of the Quincy High School vs. Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer rivalry during Thursday night’s series renewal at Flinn Stadium. The Raiders won 4-2 and are 9-1-2 against the Blue Devils in the last 12 meetings. QHS leads the all-time series 50-48-5.
Read Full Article LINCOLN, Ill. — Left proved to be the best way for the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team to go Saturday. The Raiders scored four left-footed goals in a 5-0 victory over Lincoln, shut out their second straight opponent and gave themselves a boost going into a tough week. The lone right-footed goal gave QND…
Read Full Article RICHMOND, Ill. — Everything Quincy Notre Dame football coach Jack Cornell and his staff saw in practice has them convinced better days lie ahead. The effort the Raiders put into Friday night’s trip north backed that up. QND limited Richmond-Burton to to six points in the second half, proved it could move the ball against…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal boys soccer team won every statistical category against Quincy Notre Dame in its home opener except one. The scoreboard. Senior forward Leo Cann scored off a Brody Jones corner kick 5 minutes, 48 seconds into the game and goalkeeper Max Frericks recorded 10 saves to enable the Raiders to withstand…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The inaugural Hannibal Lady Pirate Invitational, played Monday at Norwoods Golf Course, resulted in a tie for medalist honors and a pair of area teams placing in the top three. The Hannibal girls golf team finished second in its own event, fashioning a team score of 368, while Quincy Notre Dame finished…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Courtney Kvitle missed an effort that echoed what she preaches. Put the pressure on the opponent. Meanwhile, the Quincy High School volleyball team put forth an effort that echoed everything the Blue Devils are trying to be. Tough, scrappy and unrelenting. It made for an entertaining tournament with a crossdown showdown for the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame volleyball teams swept through pool play and won their semifinal matches in the QHS Early Bird Tournament on Saturday to set up a crossdown showdown for the title. The Raiders won 25-10, 25-19, but both walked away with confidence. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read Full Article QUINCY — First, the heat. Then, the rain. Finally, Lindbergh. Those three proved unbeatable during the Quincy Recycle/QND Tournament at Advance Physical Therapy Field. The Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer team’s early-season event was scheduled to begin Thursday night and continue Friday afternoon, but the soaring heat forced the schedule to be altered and condensed.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Eventually, Rico Clay will remember how everything transpired. In the aftermath of the Quincy High School football team’s season-opening 55-12 victory Friday night over Quincy Notre Dame, the details of Clay’s first career interception and the return that took him to the end zone for his first career touchdown seemed fuzzy. “It sort…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It turned out to be a season opener unlike any other in recent memory, complete with fans waving fans, heat sending an official to the locker room and a pair of Quincy High School juniors showcasing their burgeoning talents Friday night at Flinn Stadium. Tykell Hammers scored three touchdowns, Rico Clay intercepted two…
Read Full Article QUINCY — As often as Kourtney Keck sprawled out in an attempt to dig up every shot that came her way, she was bound to leave The Pit on Thursday night with some floor burns. “A couple,” the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team’s junior libero said. She shrugged that off. “That’s not unusual,” she said.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball team finished off back-to-back victories on back-to-back nights with back-to-back sweeps. The Raiders beat West Hancock 25-8, 25-11 on Thursday night at The Pit to open the season 2-0. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was at The Pit and put together this photo gallery:
Read Full Article QUINCY — Experience has taught Matt McClelland to always err on the side of caution. That explains why the Quincy High School boys soccer team’s season opener Tuesday night against Jacksonville was postponed. No makeup date has been set yet, but the Blue Devils and Crimsons intend to play the game once this heat wave…
Read Full Article PEORIA, Ill. — The final score might have been a little more lopsided than expected, but Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer coach Greg Reis knew there’d be some growing pains in Monday’s season opener. “I don’t know if the result was much different than what I was anticipating,” Reis said after the Raiders suffered a…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Gabriel Gold’s birdie-birdie finish, Konnor Craven’s quality ball-striking, Ty Novosel’s debut and the Quincy High School boys golf team’s third-place finish highlighted the 74th annual Quincy Invitational, played Saturday at Westview Golf Course. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the day on the fairways and in the rough collecting images for this…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The hype began before the first practice took place. So the Quincy Notre Dame boys soccer players know what’s coming. The Raiders’ season opens Monday with an epic matchup — defending Class 1A state champion QND traveling to Peoria to face defending Class 2A state champion Peoria Notre Dame. The Irish have dubbed…
Read Full Article QUINCY — George Santayana is credited with saying it. Courtney Kvitle is echoing it. And the Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players are embracing it. So what is the mantra the early 20th century philosopher popularized that rings true today? Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. The Raiders clearly haven’t forgotten.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The lid-lifter on the high school boys golf season took place Thursday at Westview Golf Course with a mix of what area coaches expected — quality shots, wayward bounces and the ups and downs associated with any round on the prep scene. Illini West senior Nick Bruns took medalist honors, shooting a 2-over…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Knights of Columbus grounds, 700 S. 36th Street, will be the site for the inaugural Hog-N-Dog, a fundraiser for the Quincy Notre Dame football program. A variety of activities and events are planned. The day will begin with a volleyball tournament beginning at 8 a.m. Entry is limited to the first 16…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Missouri S&T pitching coach Shane Herschelman made Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Jake Schisler a recruiting priority last year, liking the way Schisler attacked hitters and how his pitches had natural movement. After the spring Schisler had, Miners head coach Todd DeGraffenreid might have to consider using Schisler as a two-way talent. Schisler was…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Caitlin Bunte led a trio of area softball players who earned first-team all-state honors from the Illinois Coaches Association. Eight others received second- or third-team honors. Bunte, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, was named to the Class 2A first team, while Pleasant Hill junior pitcher McKinley Lowe and Brown…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Mark McDowell did what he needed to do in order to get the job done. He adjusted. To kick off the pep rally welcoming home the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team following its third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament, the QND principal planned to begin his opening remarks by playing the…
Read Full Article PEORIA, Ill. — Tyler Dance didn’t like it, but he didn’t fret over it. He simply worked through it. That’s what an ace does. Staked to a one-run lead following the top of the first inning of Saturday’s Class 2A third-place game at Dozer Park, the Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander saw the DePaul College…
Read Full Article PEORIA, Ill. — This historic season had a fitting ending. The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team played and won on the final day of the season and came home with a trophy. The Raiders beat DePaul College Prep 7-2 on Saturday to take third place at the Class 2A state tournament at Dozer Park. The…
Read Full Article PEORIA, Ill. — For one inning, T.J. Schlageter was immaculate. Five other innings, he was unhittable. That’s a scenario the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team hadn’t faced this season. Schlageter, the Joliet Catholic left-hander who has signed with the University of Louisville, handcuffed the Raiders for seven innings Friday night, allowing just three hits in…
Read Full Article PEORIA, Ill. — Playing in the Class 2A state final four for the first time since 2004, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team enjoyed the support of a large, vocal crowd Friday night at Dozer Park. It sparked a fifth-inning rally that pulled the Raiders within two runs of defending state champion Joliet Catholic. However,…
Read Full Article DECATUR, Ill. — The cardiac queens were at it agaIn. Facing a four-run deficit heading to the bottom of the fifth inning — the second time the Quincy Notre Dame softball team had trailed this deep in a game this postseason and the third straight game in which late-inning runs were needed to advance —…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In the moments after the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players decided they’d play Monday’s Class 2A super-sectional as planned, senior designated hitter Alex Connoyer stood in front of Tyler Dance, leaned in so they were nearly nose-to-nose and delivered a strong message. “Use all the emotion,” Connoyer told his teammate. “Let it…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball players decided Sunday morning to play Monday’s Class 2A Springfield Super-Sectional against Bloomington Central Catholic because Tucker Tollerton would have wanted them to play. Tollerton, the senior starting center fielder and No. 2 hole hitter, was killed in a single-vehicle accident Saturday night just outside of Hannibal,…
Read Full Article DECATUR, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team once again refused to go down without a fight. Trailing by three or more runs twice during Monday’s Class 2A Decatur Super-Sectional against Effingham St. Anthony, the Raiders rallied. They erased a three-run deficit in the first inning and nearly squashed a four-run deficit before the…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Jack Linenfelser planted his right foot hard deep in the hole at shortstop and whistled a throw across the diamond, gunning down Gillespie’s Bryan Jubelt for the second out in the third inning of Saturday’s Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional championship. Had the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s senior shortstop paused to…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team moved another step closer to reaching the state final four for just the third time in program history, beating previously undefeated Gillespie 5-0 to win the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional championship. The Raiders will face Bloomington Central Catholic at 5 p.m. Monday at Lincoln Land…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team won its 30th consecutive game Wednesday, beating Shelbyville 2-0 in the semifinals of the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional at Lincoln Land Community College’s Claude Kracik Field. The Raiders (33-1) will face Gillespie (32-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday in the sectional title game. Muddy River Sports…
Read Full Article QUINCY — One scored early and often, the other rallied late. Now, they’ll go head-to-head for a sectional championship. The Auburn softball team scored 11 runs in the first inning and beat Macomb 16-0 in the first semifinal Tuesday in the Class 2A QND Sectional at The Backyard. Quincy Notre Dame followed by scoring four…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Each time the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team seemed poised for a big inning Saturday, something went haywire. Pittsfield right-hander Brennan Tomhave played a role in that. The Raiders’ overaggressiveness did, too. It finally took a simple approach in consecutive at-bats to generate enough offense to survive and advance. After the Raiders loaded…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Given the lead for a second time in Saturday’s Class 2A regional championship game, Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Jake Schisler vowed he was not giving it up. “I think those might have been my exact words,” Schisler said. He had no plans to do it alone either. “I said to myself that I…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Another chapter to the Quincy Notre Dame-Pittsfield rivalry was written Saturday as the Raiders survived the Saukees’ upset bid to win the Class 2A QND Regional championship with a 2-1 victory at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. QND’s Jake Schisler outdueled Pittsfield’s Brennan Tomhave, striking out 13 and setting down the side in…
Read Full Article CANTON, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte needed one pitch to erase a threat and one swing to start an onslaught. It all took place in a matter of minutes. “It’s what she’s done all year long. She made great adjustments in the circle and then comes up and hits a blast,” Quincy Notre Dame softball coach…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The winningest girls soccer coach in Illinois High School Association history impacted the lives of those he coached far beyond the white lines. That became abundantly clear with the reaction three decades worth of Quincy Notre Dame players had Tuesday when Mark Longo announced he was retiring following 34 years at the helm.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A West Central Illinois rivalry gets a postseason chapter added to it Saturday. The Quincy Notre Dame and Pittsfield baseball teams advanced to the championship game of the Class 2A QND Regional by winning Wednesday’s semifinals and will square off at 11 a.m. Saturday in the title game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial…
Read Full Article CANTON, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team didn’t allow Petersburg PORTA’s momentum to last long. Abbey Schreacke and Brooke Boden took care of that. After the Bluejays scored twice in the top of the fifth, reducing the Raiders’ three-run edge to one, Schreacke led off the bottom of the frame with a single…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team is proving it can overcome adversity. That’s a trait that could come in very handy in the postseason. In Saturday’s final game of the regular season, the Raiders erased a three-run deficit by scoring four times in the bottom of the fifth inning and beating Jacksonville Routt…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The reign is over, undone by the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s inability to find a consistent rhythm or flow to its season. Injuries curtailed that. Inconsistency did, too. Unable to create their own lucky bounces or breaks, the Raiders played catch-up too often, just like they did Friday during a…
Read Full Article QUINCY — In the final dual match of the regular season for both teams, the Quincy High School boys tennis squad beat Quincy Notre Dame 7-2 Tuesday in the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park. The Blue Devils swept the season series, beating the Raiders 5-4 on April 24. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Weather and scheduling conflicts forced the regular-season matchup between the Quincy Notre Dame and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin girls soccer teams to first be postponed and then shelved. Nothing will stop them from going head-to-head now. QND began the defense of its Class 1A state championship by hammering Riverton 8-0 Tuesday night in…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — For the third straight game, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team trailed heading to the fifth inning or later. Yet again, the Raiders rallied. This time, though, they did so against an NCAA Division I arm. QND tagged Macomb’s Jack Duncan, who has signed with Western Illinois University, for two runs in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Trailing by two runs heading to the seventh inning, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team scored three times with two outs to rally for a 4-3 victory over Quincy High School at the QHS field and sweep in this season’s city series. Photographer Samantha Carmean captured some of the action for this photo…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The two-run lead vanished, and with it seemed to go with the momentum and the energy the Quincy Notre Dame softball team brought to The Backyard on Saturday. Mackenzie Flachs brought it all back. After Pleasant Hill’s Ava Wombles scored on Jade Peebles single in the top of the third inning to tie…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team showcased more than this ability to hit Saturday. The Raiders showed some wherewithal to overcome anything. After a nearly two-hour weather delay, the Raiders beat Hannibal 12-5 and then rallied from a seven-run deficit to knock off Macon 12-10 at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Muddy River…
Read Full Article QUINCY — With the postseason looming, a couple of regional title hopefuls went head-to-head Saturday at The Backyard as the Quincy Notre Dame softball team upended Pleasant Hill 11-2 during the QND Slam. The Raiders also beat Pittsfield 13-5. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time at The Backyard and put together this photo…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy High School girls soccer team limited Quincy Notre Dame’s opportunities Thursday night and took advantage of Taylor Routh’s goal with 17 minutes remaining in regulation to earn a 1-0 victory at Advance Physical Therapy Field and sweep the season series for the first time ever. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — Until we meet again. And there is a strong chance it will happen. With the Quincy Notre Dame and Macomb softball teams each the top seed in their respective regionals, the idea Wednesday’s game will evolve into a postseason rematch lingered, especially after the Raiders scored twice in the seventh inning to…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The shutout was a boost of confidence for the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s defense. The victory over Jacksonville was a shot in the arm for everyone. The Raiders beat the Crimsons 4-0 Wednesday at Advance Physical Therapy Field to create some needed momentum with the postseason looming. Muddy River Sports Editor…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The first of two meetings between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams in a seven-day span featured surprising power, incredible patience and lopsided outcome rarely seen in this series. The Raiders hit three home runs, capitalized on seven walks and rolled to a 16-1, four-inning victory Tuesday at Ferd…
Read Full Article QUINCY — In need of building momentum before the postseason begins, the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team had ample chances in the second half Monday against Springfield to snare the lead and pull out a victory. Instead, the Raiders got burned on a counterattack. The Senators scored with 2 minutes, 43 seconds remaining in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team did more than recognize its 10 seniors prior to Monday’s game against Brown County at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. The Raiders saw those seniors and their moms dance. The senior moms choreographed a dance, which they did on the turf infield following the introduction of the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Eric Orne isn’t shying away from putting the Quincy Notre Dame softball team in high-leverage situations before the postseason arrives. “These are championship Saturdays for us,” the veteran skipper said after the Raiders suffered a 7-6 loss to Tolono Unity on Saturday at The Backyard. “These are the kind of teams and the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team found itself trailing three times in the first six innings of Saturday’s game against Tolono Unity at The Backyard and rallied to tie it each time. The Rockets, however, scoring in the top of the seventh to secure a 7-6 victory. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team returned to Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield on Friday after being on the road for 10 games over 20 days. The Raiders won all 10 of those games, and Friday, they scored a 12-0, five-inning victory over Camp Point Central to push their winning streak to 17…
Read Full Article BURLINGTON, Iowa — Having played at home only once in the past three weeks and coming off six consecutive road games, the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team finally will return to Advance Physical Therapy Field next week. Maybe some good mojo will follow. The Raiders ended their road journey Thursday with a 4-1 victory…
Read Full Article KAHOKA, Mo. — The long road home is finally over, and the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team has no blemishes to show from its travels. The Raiders capped a string of 10 consecutive road games with Tuesday’s 12-1 victory over Clark County in which they put together a pair of five-run innings and received another…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Abbey Schreacke and Danny Stephens each received one final prep basketball honor to add to each of their illustrious careers. The Champaign News-Gazette tabbed them both as first-team all-staters. Quincy Notre Dame’s Schreacke and Southeastern’s Stephens — both are bound for Mizzou — were named respectively to the News-Gazette’s 46th all-state girls basketball…
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