Top Stories
June 19, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — Nolan Murphy’s opportunity to finish alone atop the boys 14-15 division of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships was derailed before it ever got started. Mother Nature has a way of making that happen. Heavy rains overnight and in the early hours Wednesday forced the organizers of the 52nd annual junior golf event…
Read Full Article June 19, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. MACOMB, Ill. — Braden Holthaus figured basketball was his future. Then college football coaches came calling.…
Read Full Article June 19, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PHILADELPHIA, Mo. — If it involves math, Joey Lagemann is all about it. “I’ve always loved…
Read Full Article June 19, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. SHELBINA, Mo. — Belle Roush and Callie McWilliams will get one more chance to play basketball…
Read Full Article June 18, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — Ashton O’Kola’s golf odyssey began with a trip far away from his homeland of Barbados. The first tournament O’Kola, now 9 years old, ever played in was the 2019 Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships when he was 3. O’Kola has played in every Pepsi Little People’s since then, and while he does not…
Read Full Article June 17, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
Click here to visit the SmugMug page to purchase digital copies of Muddy River Sports photos QUINCY — The 52nd annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships teed off Tuesday at Westview Golf Course and Spring Lake Country Club with plenty of memorable shots, incredible moments between parents and golfers, and good weather for most of…
Read Full Article June 17, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. KAHOKA, Mo. — Harrison Parker openly admits his golf game isn’t up to par. “I’m no…
Read Full Article June 17, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Abram Wiewel’s Tuesday couldn’t have gone much better. Not only did the recent Quincy Notre Dame graduate catch a foul ball while attending a game at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., but he became the third QND baseball player in the past four years named to the Illinois High School Baseball…
Read Full Article June 17, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
UPDATE: Rain has washed out tonight’s Hell Tour show. We will let you know when it is rescheduled. QUINCY — The DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour storms into Quincy Raceways on Wednesday night. Muddy River Sports racing writer Steve Eighinger and Muddy River News Publisher Bob Gough break down what to expect, the size of…
Read Full Article June 17, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger
QUINCY — When the DIRTCar Summer Nationals Hell Tour motors into Quincy on Wednesday night, the names to watch will be familiar ones. Jason Feger, Dennis Erb Jr., Drake Troutman and Brian Shirley have been the steadiest drivers through the first week of the 40th annual, 31-races-in-34-nights marathon that will criss-cross nine states from early…
Read Full Article June 17, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. MEMPHIS, Mo. — A lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan, Vince Dale grew up emulating Cardinals great…
Read Full Article June 16, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — What a difference a year makes. Now in his second year as the organizer for the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, Mark Christensen feels more comfortable this time around. “Everybody here says my blood pressure is much lower this year than it was last year,” Christensen said. “It’s amazing what a little bit…
Read Full Article June 16, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. CANTON, Mo. — Bryson Brewer doesn’t need to follow in his older brother’s footsteps. He needs…
Read Full Article June 16, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PALMYRA, Mo. — Sydney Compton hasn’t taken a college course yet, but she’s already redefined her…
Read Full Article June 16, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. HAMILTON, Ill. — DeeDee Church aims to provide John Wood Community College basketball fans with plenty…
Read Full Article June 16, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — Skylar Graham was not going to be denied. “As soon as I saw he hit it and it got through, the last thing on my mind was getting thrown out at home,” Graham said. “I was there all the way.” Quincy Doggy Paddlers manager and third base coach Brad Gyorkos made up his…
Read Full Article June 15, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — The confidence the Club Four Volleyball Club’s 14 Boost players gained from a successful showing at the 2024 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship at the 13U level has helped them earn to a return trip to nationals this year. All but one of the players on this year’s roster was on the…
Read Full Article June 15, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. LEWISTOWN, Mo. — Having grown up on a farm, Ellie Goehl got a taste of what…
Read Full Article June 15, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers waisted no time jumping on the O’Fallon Hoots on Saturday, and the bullpen was able to thwart a Hoots rally. Quincy scored 10 runs in the first inning, and three relievers combined to shutout the Hoots over the final 5 ⅓ innings in a 13-4 Doggy Paddlers victory in…
Read Full Article June 15, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is looking for volunteer citizen scientists to assist with wild turkey brood surveys to aid biologists in monitoring turkey population trends and reproductive success. Summertime is when young turkeys are hatching, and by counting them and adult females, biologists can assess trends in reproductive success and…
Read Full Article June 14, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. MONROE CITY, Mo. — For Grant Yager and his two brothers, Cole and Blake, woodworking is…
Read Full Article June 13, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Dick Klimstra has a few options to consider for what belongs at the top of his bucket list. Seeing the New York Yankees win another World Series championship probably rises to No. 1. “If the Yankees win the pennant, that’d be fantastic,” Klimstra said. “I’m a big Yankees fan.” He’s a diehard Quincy…
Read Full Article June 13, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. WARSAW, Ill. — The serenity of sitting in a boat on a lake waiting for the…
Read Full Article June 13, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — The summer of Beau keeps rolling right along. Beau Eftink, who will be a senior at Quincy Notre Dame, opened the Junior PGA Championship qualifier at Gateway National Golf Links earlier this week by making birdies on the first three holes of the 36-hole event. The birdies kept falling. Eftink made 10 birdies…
Read Full Article June 13, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Griffin Kirn picked up a trio of postseason honors to cap his collegiate pitching career. The Quincy Notre Dame graduate was named a third-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after leading the West Virginia baseball team to a 44-16 record and an NCAA Division I super regional berth. The left-hander,…
Read Full Article June 13, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers dug themselves too big of a hole Thursday to have the same late-inning magic they experienced Wednesday. A day after rallying multiple times to win in walk-off fashion over the Alton River Dragons, Quincy trailed the Burlington Bees 14-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning of Thursday’s Prospect…
Read Full Article June 12, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Camp Point Central senior second baseman Karly Peters made it nearly impossible for opposing pitchers to keep her off the basepaths. Meanwhile, Pleasant Hill senior Ava Wombles didn’t allow her full-time move to the pitcher’s circle impact her offensive numbers in any way. It’s how the two area softball standouts ended up earning…
Read Full Article June 12, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PHILADELPHIA, Mo. — The ferocity with which Riley Holt plays on the basketball court has left…
Read Full Article June 12, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — The best ice water bath of Krew Bond’s life came courtesy of one his teammates after he delivered the biggest swing of the season for the Quincy Doggy Paddlers. Bond’s walk-off two-run home run leading off the bottom of the 11th inning on Wednesday punctuated a 13-11 Doggy Paddlers victory over the Alton…
Read Full Article June 11, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Kelly Koetters is returning to where the journey began. The John Wood Community College alumnus and former Trail Blazers assistant coach has been named JWCC’s new women’s basketball coach. Koetters replaces Ali Schwagmeyer-Belger, who also returned to her alma mater when she became the head coach at Quincy University at the end of…
Read Full Article June 11, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. CAMP POINT, Ill. — Mason Miller’s decision to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point…
Read Full Article June 11, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. CAMP POINT, Ill. — Elijah Genenbacher has an exhausting day planned. The Camp Point Central multi-sport…
Read Full Article June 11, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
PALMYRA, Mo. — Left-handed pitcher Jacob Kroeger is climbing a rung on the Atlanta Braves organizational ladder. The Palmyra native was assigned Tuesday to the Rome Emperors, the Braves’ High-A affiliate in the South Athletic League. He spent the first two months of the 2025 season pitching for the Augusta GreenJackets, the Single-A affiliate in…
Read Full Article June 11, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
BURLINGTON, Iowa — Harry Oden collected four hits and the Quincy Doggy Paddlers’ offense erupted for 14 hits overall and five extra-base knocks in Tuesday night’s 10-7 victory over the Burlington Bees at Community Field. The Doggy Paddlers grabbed the lead with a five-run second inning. Brayden Roberts led off by getting hit by a…
Read Full Article June 10, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. CANTON, Mo. — Macy Glasgow’s personality and approach to life make nursing the perfect career choice.…
Read Full Article June 10, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. MEMPHIS, Mo. — Kwyn Hamlin signed a letter of intent for more than just herself. By…
Read Full Article June 9, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — Several Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School girls soccer players earned postseason awards from the Illinois HIgh School Soccer Coaches Association. The Raiders, who won a Class 1A sectional championship this spring, had three players receive all-sectional honors — senior forward Makayla Patton, senior midfielder Sage Stratton and sophomore center back Sierra…
Read Full Article June 9, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers flexed some muscle Sunday, while the Burlington Bees pitching staff was stingy, resulting in a Prospect League doubleheader split at QU Stadium. The Doggy Paddlers hit two home runs in winning the first game 5-2, while three Bees combined to shut out Quincy 1-0 in the second game. In…
Read Full Article June 8, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — Brown County girls basketball coach Dave Phelps sometimes has to give his two-time all-state scoring sensation Kenzie Kassing a friendly reminder during summer games. “She wants to win, win, win all the time, and keeping her from getting frustrated with herself in the summer is important because this is her opportunity to be…
Read Full Article June 8, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PALMYRA, Mo. — It’s only fitting that Mason Smith’s final game representing the Palmyra boys basketball…
Read Full Article June 8, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PAYSON, Ill. — Like most children, Ella Archer had visions of grandeur. Now, those lofty dreams…
Read Full Article Opportunity to play Torrey Pines awaits QND's Eftink after playoff victory in Junior World qualifier
June 7, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Beau Eftink described his history of playing in the Junior World Championships qualifiers as “kind of a grind.” It felt more like a matter of bad luck. A year ago, playing in the Gateway PGA Junior Tour qualifier in St. Louis, the Quincy Notre Dame golfer held the lead through 16 holes, although…
Read Full Article June 7, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PALMYRA, Mo. — The pressure of being a champion at showing goats is quite different than…
Read Full Article Waterfowl blind drawings set for July 20 at Twin Oaks Sportsman's Club and IDNR office in Pittsfield
June 7, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Drawings for waterfowl blinds along the Mississippi River in Adams and Pike County will take place July 20 and for Meredosia Lake on July 27. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, blinds in Mississippi River Pools 21 and 22 in Adams County and Pool 24 in Pike County will be…
Read Full Article June 7, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp’s refusal to go down quietly was Quincy Doggy Paddlers’ kryptonite on Friday. The Pistol Shrimp scored seven of their eight runs and had all 10 of their hits with two outs as they pulled away from the Doggy Paddlers late in an 8-3 victory at QU Stadium. The…
Read Full Article June 6, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. BARRY, Ill. — Casen Tobias is not fond of sitting in a classroom or an office.…
Read Full Article June 6, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
BURLINGTON, Iowa — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers rallied to force extra innings Thursday night. Once there, the comeback ended. The Burlington Bees took advantage of the extra-inning rule of placing a runner at second base at the start of the inning, using a sacrifice fly and a single to plate the winning run in a…
Read Full Article June 5, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Cleaning out the notebook with the curtain closed on the school year … If a pair of transfers come to fruition, the Rock Island boys basketball team will be expected to be the frontrunner in the Western Big 6 Conference next winter. Arthur Abbey, the jitterbug-quick guard who started as a sophomore at…
Read Full Article June 5, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger
QUINCY — Admittedly, Jeff DeLonjay says his first season as owner of Quincy Raceways has been a learning experience. DeLonjay, who with his wife, Renee, bought the track shortly before the end of the 2024 season, said the first year of ownership has been a combination of enjoyable, demanding and learning to expect the unexpected.…
Read Full Article June 5, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CANTON, Mo. — Delaney Straus has earned the chance to claim the title of “world’s greatest athlete.” The Culver-Stockton College junior and Marion County High School graduate has qualified to represent the United States at the second annual Women’s Decathlon World Championships, taking place Aug. 16-17 at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. The 2024 event…
Read Full Article June 5, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. QUINCY — Alex Dance understands the commitment, work ethic and time management it takes to succeed…
Read Full Article June 5, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John WoodCommunity College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. MENDON, Ill. — Less than a year ago, Chloe Shaffer had no intention of playing a college sport.…
Read Full Article June 5, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
O’FALLON, Mo. — Bend but don’t break. The Quincy Doggy Paddlers adopted that mentality in rallying twice to beat the O’Fallon Hoots 4-3 Wednesday night at CarShield Field following a two-hour weather delay. Quincy trailed 2-0 entering the top of the seventh inning. General Schofield’s RBI double got the Doggy Paddlers within a run. After…
Read Full Article June 3, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
WARSAW, Ill. — What transpired on the water in Mississippi River Pool 13 the day before the Illinois bass fishing sectional didn’t leave either Gavin Grothaus or Jess Scott very confident. Getting skunked will do that. “We didn’t catch a single fish,” Grothaus said. “We were going into the tournament like, ‘Oh, boy, this is…
Read Full Article June 3, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John WoodCommunity College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. CANTON, Mo. — Tyler Frazier’s final season on the Canton boys basketball team will be one he will…
Read Full Article June 3, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John WoodCommunity College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. HAMILTON, Ill. — Lewis Siegfried and Gavin Grothaus’ fishing trips won’t have to stop now. This fall, the…
Read Full Article June 3, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John WoodCommunity College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. SHELBINA, Mo. — The explosiveness Callie McWilliams showed on the track and on the triplle jump runway translated…
Read Full Article June 3, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John WoodCommunity College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. PAYSON, Ill. — Blake Schwartz’s accomplishments on the basketball court could have pushed him to follow his hoops…
Read Full Article June 1, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CLEMSON, S.C. — When Griffin Kirn was pulled from Friday’s NCAA regional opener after throwing 118 pitches, there was enough left in his tank if he was needed for an inning of relief the remainder of the weekend. Well, the West Virginia baseball team needed him. And Kirn delivered on cue. The Quincy Notre Dame…
Read Full Article June 1, 2025 | By Don Crim, Senior Columnist
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — You can usually find Curt Garber sitting in his assigned seat along the first turn at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway long before most fans arrive. Attending the Indianapolis 500 has become a tradition for the 71-year-old 1971 Quincy High School graduate who now lives in Springfield. He has seen many of the…
Read Full Article June 1, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
ALTON, Ill. — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers ended a tough first week on a high note. A complete-game effort from Hayden Steelman and a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by Brady Kindhart’s two-run home run, propelled the Doggy Paddlers to an 11-1, seven-inning victory over the Alton River Dragons in Prospect League play Sunday. The Doggy…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
VIRDEN, Ill. — Makayla Patton, Sage Stratton and the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s state dreams were dashed one victory shy of the final four on Saturday, but the sting of a 6-1 loss to Columbia in the Class 1A North Mac Super-Sectional did not hurt as bad as it could have, thanks in…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
The fourth annual Muddy River Showcase takes place June 21 at John WoodCommunity College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game will tip at 2 p.m.with the boys game to follow at 4 p.m. General admission is $10. CARTHAGE, Ill. — Reagan Reed had her college plans set. Then came a curveball. John Wood Community College…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CHARLESTON, Ill. — Three area athletes enjoyed solid finishes at the Class 1A boys track and field state championships after qualifying for Saturday’s finals. West Hancock senior Nolan Gooding wrapped up his high school career with his second state medal, finishing 10th in the triple jump. Gooding posted a jump of 13.05 meters (42 feet,…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Jacob Kroeger’s success out of the bullpen for the Class A Augusta GreenJackets finally earned him a start, and the left-hander seized the moment. The Palmyra native threw five innings with just one run allowed in a 6-2 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on May 28. Kroeger struck out six, allowed five…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Hannibal boys track and field team brought home two more state medals after the final round of competition Saturday in the Class 4 state championships at Jefferson City High School’s Adkins Stadium. Pirates junior Landyn Essig finished seventh in the long jump with a leap of 6.76 meters (22 feet,…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — One of the most highly touted players in the state silenced the Quincy High School baseball team’s bats Saturday. By doing so, Edwardsville’s Joe Chiarodo ended the Blue Devils’ season. The senior right-hander limited Quincy to just three singles — two days after the Blue Devils had 25 hits in the regional…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
ALTON, Ill. — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers’ three-run lead was gone in one fell swoop. Quincy led 3-0 entering the bottom of the third inning on Saturday against the Alton River Dragons before Alton scored 10 runs in that frame and never looked back in a 15-5 victory in seven innings. A pair of RBI…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
CONCORD, Ill. — Chandler John did not let one inning define the Liberty softball team’s season. Instead, John and the Eagles intend to use it as fuel for an even deeper postseason run in 2026. Liberty led Havana 5-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning of Friday’s Class 1A Triopia Sectional championship game before…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CONCORD, Ill. — The Liberty softball team’s season came to an end with a 7-5 loss to Havana in Friday’s Class 1A Triopia Sectional championship game. The Eagles led 5-1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Ducks rallied for six runs in that frame to take the lead and held on to…
Read Full Article May 31, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — The man who hit the first home run in Quincy Doggy Paddlers history also caught the final out of the franchise’s first victory. Doggy Paddlers reliever Noah Wilder inherited runners on first and second with Quincy leading the Alton River Dragons 10-7 and two outs in the top of the eighth on Friday…
Read Full Article May 30, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
PALATINE, Ill. — Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong made a name for themselves as they walked off the high school tennis stage. Quincy Notre Dame’s No. 1 doubles team was one of the last 16 duos remaining in the Class 1A boys state tennis tournament bracket. They earned all-state honors after winning their first match…
Read Full Article May 30, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The strength, size and athleticism that is making Tre Hoskins an NCAA Division I football recruit is giving him an edge in track and field, too. The Hannibal junior enjoyed his best throw in the shot put on his first attempt Friday and finished third at the Class 4 boys state…
Read Full Article May 30, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
PALATINE, Ill. — Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong are making their return to the Class 1A boys tennis state tournament last as long as possible. The Quincy Notre Dame No. 1 doubles team won two of its three matches Thursday and are one of 24 duos still alive heading into the second day of the…
Read Full Article May 30, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — Brady Kindhart forever made himself the answer to a trivia question. Who hit the first home run in the history of the Quincy Doggy Paddlers? The Quincy Notre Dame graduate and Maryville University sophomore cracked the first round-tripper of the Prospect League team’s inaugural season Thursday night, belting a full-count pitch over the…
Read Full Article May 30, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CHARLESTON, Ill. — A trio of area athletes qualified for the finals of the Class 1A boys state track and field championships at O’Brien Stadium on the Eastern Illinois University campus. West Hancock senior Nolan Gooding took sixth in the preliminaries of the triple jump with a leap of 13.05 meters (42 feet, 9.75 inches).…
Read Full Article May 29, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The adage that hitting is contagious rang true with the Quincy High School baseball team on Thursday. Every batter in the Blue Devils’ lineup had two or more hits as they collected 25 knocks overall in an 18-4 victory over Belleville West in the semifinals of the Class 4A Belleville West Regional.…
Read Full Article May 29, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Every step Griffin Kirn has taken in his development as a front-line left-handed starter has led to this opportunity. Friday, the Quincy Notre Dame graduate is tasked with getting the West Virginia baseball team’s pursuit of a spot in the College World Series off on the right foot. Admittedly, there is…
Read Full Article May 29, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
QUINCY — As Wednesday’s first pitch drew near, Quincy Doggy Paddlers general manager Brendan Saak could feel the gravity of the moment grow stronger. “We had a nice, sunny afternoon, and about 3:30, 4 p.m., it was like, ‘OK, let’s go. What do we have to do?’” Saak said. “Once people started to filter in,…
Read Full Article May 29, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers made their home debut Wednesday night, bringing Prospect League baseball back to QU Stadium. Struggles offensively led to an 11-0, seven-inning loss to the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, but it only slightly dampened the enthusiasm created by the return of summer baseball. Olivia Kindt created this photo gallery from…
Read Full Article May 29, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger
QUINCY — It’s almost time. The UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals — a.k.a. the “Hell Tour” — unfolds next week, featuring 31 races in 34 days that will include stops in nine states, including Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, Arkansas, Michigan and Ohio. The Hell Tour super late models will be making their annual pilgrimage…
Read Full Article May 28, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE, Ill. — For how much beating Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin means to the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team, look no further than Sierra and Alena Thomas’ thoughts on that subject. “Sometimes I feel like our team wants to beat them more than we want to beat (Quincy High School), honestly,” said Sierra Thomas, a…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
MACOMB, Ill. — The outcome came down to one crucial difference. The Williamsville softball team put two hits together in the same inning to plate a run. Quincy Notre Dame didn’t. With scoring chances limited as QND’s Caitlin Bunte and Williamsville’s Izzy Nowack engaged in a pitchers’ duel, one run loomed large as the Bullets…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
CONCORD, Ill. — It was fitting that the last ball put into play during Tuesday’s Class 1A sectional semifinal softball game was handled flawlessly by Liberty shortstop Ava Heming. Every time a big play was needed, Heming came through. Heming flawlessly fielded two grounders in the seventh, helped turn a double play in the fifth…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
QUINCY — Tasked with building a roster that will help reintroduce summer baseball to the Gem City, Quincy Doggy Paddlers field manager Brad Gyorkos knew what he needed. It wasn’t players from high-profile NCAA Division I programs. It was players hungry for at-bats, innings and the chance to enhance their game. “We want people to…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
BURLINGTON, Iowa — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers took an early lead in their first game in franchise history but couldn’t hold it. The Doggy Paddlers scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 lead, but the Burlington Bees scored in each of the next six innings to pull away…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — The O’Fallon softball team took advantage of the free bases it was given to gain separation from Quincy High School during the late innings of Tuesday’s Class 4A Edwardsville Regional semifinal and post a 6-2 victory. The Blue Devils trailed 2-1 going to the fifth inning, but they engineered a two-out rally…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
A 4-3 victory over Delavan in the semifinals of the Class 1A Concord (Triopia) Sectional on Tuesday night gave the Liberty softball team its 24th victory this season, breaking a school record for victories in a season. The Eagles will play for their first sectional championship since 2005 at 4 p.m. Friday when they meet…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE, Ill. — Sierra Thomas’ goal in the 12th minute stood up as the only goal in the Raiders’ 1-0 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in Tuesday’s Class 1A Greenville Sectional championship game. This was the Raiders’ first victory over the Cyclones since beating them 3-2 in the 2022 sectional title game on their way…
Read Full Article May 27, 2025 | By Matt Schuckman, Sports Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — A traffic jam created by the influx of Indianapolis 500 fans made things more difficult for the Northwood baseball team to exit Circle City late last Saturday afternoon. “It made our trip a little longer, but it was well worth it,” Logan Voth said. It gave the Timberwolves a little more time to…
Read Full Article May 26, 2025 | By Steve Eighinger
QUINCY — Give or take a wrong turn here or there, it takes Josh Harris and his crew about six hours to reach Quincy Raceways from their home base in Utica, Ky. So far this year, that trip back to Kentucky has been one pleasant ride. For the second time in as many weeks, Harris…
Read Full Article May 25, 2025 | By Muddy River News
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal Pickleball Club, in conjunction with Hannibal Parks and Recreation, will hold a youth pickleball camp from 9 to 11 a.m. June 9-11 at the Huckleberry Park courts. The camp is designed to teach the basics of pickleball, which will include fundamental techniques, rules of the game and strategy taught by…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CHARLESTON, Ill. — All Saylor Barry wanted to see was the white flag raised. After scratching on her final two attempts Friday in the preliminaries of the long jump at the Class 1A girls state track and field championships, the Mendon Unity junior didn’t want to endure the added pressure of scratching on any of…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Chevie Sharpe made a haul at the Missouri Class 2 girls state track and field championships. The Highland junior finished the 1,600-meter run in 5 minutes, 15.8 seconds to set a school record and bring home a state championship. She finished fourth in the 400 and 800. North Platte’s Lindsay Ramsey…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By DON CRIM, Senior Columnist
QUINCY – Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin pitcher Andy Antonacci was confident striding off the mound after striking out the side in the top of the first inning. “Some days I feel like I just get in a groove, and from there I don’t feel or hear anything. I just go out and throw,” he said. “Today…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Shane Hulsey, Sports Writer
MENDON, Ill. — Jacksonville Routt baseball coach Ryan Turner admitted the father in him came out as his son, Routt junior left-hander Brady Turner, put the finishing touches on a complete game to help the Rockets beat Brown County 7-1 on Saturday and capture their third straight Class 1A regional title. “I’m his biggest fan,”…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys tennis team finished second at the Class 2A Edwardsville Sectional after its doubles teams finished second and third, respectively. Edwardsville won the team title with the No. 1 doubles team of Schaefer Bates and Isaac Chelboun winning the championship and top-seeded Jess Hattrup winning the singles title.…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
CONCORD, Ill. — Abby Hagerbaumer and a late rally gave the Payson Seymour softball team a puncher’s chance, but Triopia’s Mylee Tracy had other plans. The two pitchers combined to give up just four hits in Saturday’s Class 1A Triopia Regional championship game, and Tracy escaped a seventh-inning jam to seal a 1-0 victory. Lucie…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
RIVERTON, Ill. — The Pittsfield baseball team couldn’t figure out how to make Pleasant Plains pitcher Seth Lowder regret making a mistake. Truth be told, Lowder rarely made a miscue. The senior right-hander handcuffed the Saukees throughout Saturday’s Class 2A Riverton Sectional championship, tossing a three-hit shutout as the Cardinals won 4-0 to repeat as…
Read Full Article May 24, 2025 | By Muddy River Sports
MACOMB, Ill. — The home-field advantage didn’t help the Macomb baseball team against the top-seeded team in the sub-sectional. Eureka scored five runs in the first inning Saturday and used a solid pitching effort from Cohen Alstat to beat the Bombers 7-2 in the championship game of the Class 2A Macomb Regional at Phil Bradley…
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