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BYRON CENTER, Mich. — Two games into the Senior League Softball Central Regional, the Illinois District 17 all-stars have created quite a debate. Which will the Land of Lincolners finish the tournament with more of — runs, hits or strikeouts? Right now,they’re piling up all three.. Tuesday’s 14-0 victory over Michigan District 2 featured Springfield’s…
Read Full Article QUINCY — No matter the format nor the foes, Zach Willing and Ethan Arns remain unbeatable. Another Quincy Tennis Association city doubles championship is proof of that. Willing, a Quincy High School graduate who will be a senior on the Quincy University men’s tennis team, and Arns, a Quincy Notre Dame graduate who is the…
Read Full Article CANTON, Mo. — The Culver-Stockton College football team finds itself in a familiar preseason position. Chasing Grand View in the Heart of America Athletic Conference North Division. The reigning Heart champion is picked to win the North Division for the fifth straight year, according to a poll of the league’s coaches. Grand View went 5-0…
Read Full Article BYRON CENTER, Mich. — The Illinois District 17 softball team is looking to make it back to the Senior League World Series. Monday, the all-stars took their first step — with authority. Quincy Notre Dame’s Caitlin Bunte struck out 13, Havana’s Kaydi Miller doubled twice and the Illinois squad beat the Johnston (Iowa) Senior All-Stars…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Alayna Vela has watched enough of past Women’s World Cup events to understand how incredibly passionate and unique the fans are. Now, she gets to see it up close. Vela, a sophomore midfielder on the Quincy University women’s soccer team, is part of the Hawks’ 45-person traveling party heading to Australia this week.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Tanner Klingele says it’s one thing to reach the proverbial mountain top, but staying there is another story in itself. Klingele, the points leader in the super-competitive sport mod division at Adams County Speedway, solidified his No. 1 position Sunday night with a thrilling — and that’s likely a major understatement — victory…
Read Full Article O’FALLON, Mo. — Three Quincy Gems hurlers combined to send the Prospect League home with momentum. Anthony Ribes struck out seven over 4 ⅔ innings, while Drew Evans and Tanner Gerdes combined for 4 ⅓ innings of scoreless relief in Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the O’Fallon Hoots at CarShield Field. It was the Gems’ third…
Read Full Article JACKSON, Tenn. — The Quincy Gems built a lead Friday night by capitalizing on all of the free bases the Jackson Rockabillys were willing to give. Then, the Gems gave it all back. A five-run seventh inning by the Rockabillys which featured two bases-loaded walks and a run-scoring wild pitch tied the game at 12…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The challenges of playing, practicing, studying and sleeping on the road in order to play club volleyball are things Gabbie Wiley Weiman and Josie Stanford endured in their pursuit of high level competition and college scholarships. They don’t want the next generation to find it so arduous. “We had to go to St.…
Read Full Article CLINTON, Iowa — The heart of the Quincy Gems’ order did exactly what it’s expected to do. Produce runs. Gems catcher Kyle Hvidsten and third baseman Lucas Loos — hitting third and fourth in the lineup — combined to collect five hits, score five runs and drive in five runs as Quincy won its third…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Griffin Kirn happened to be enjoying a relaxing midsummer afternoon when Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel unexpectedly called. “I figured it was to check in and see how my summer was going,” said Kirn, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior left-handed pitcher. There was a little more to this call. Schissel had been contacted…
Read Full Article FRANKLIN, Wis. — Throughout Dayson Croes’ three-year stint as an All-American infielder for the Quincy University baseball team, his coaches continually used a two-word phrase to describe Aruba native. Professional hitter. He’s proving just how accurate that is. The left-handed hitting Croes will represent the Winnipeg Goldeyes in Tuesday’s American Association of Professional Baseball all-star…
Read Full Article BURLINGTON, Iowa — Noah Harbin didn’t allow the way the Quincy Gems’ night began to affect the way it ended. That was back in the win column. The Gems finished a suspended game prior to Monday’s regularly scheduled contest with the Burlington Bees at Community Field, losing 5-4 in 10 innings as the Bees scored…
Read Full Article CANTON, Mo. — The interim coach responsible for stabilizing the Northwestern football program during a tumultuous offseason began his coaching career at Culver-Stockton College. Last Friday, David Braun was elevated from defensive coordinator to interim head coach by the Northwestern administration. He replaces Pat Fitzgerald, who was fired last week amid a hazing scandal in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Jaison Andujar steps into the cage for batting practice at QU Stadium and rifles the second pitch he sees over the right field fence. Before he’s through, the muscular left-handed swinger deposits two more balls over the wall — one to right and another to right-center — in between spraying line drives to…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It’s getting to the point that Austen Becerra has won so many modified features this season it’s becoming difficult for him to remember the exact number. Such was the case Sunday night at Adams County Speedway. “This was No. 21 … or maybe it’s No. 22,” he said, trying to add up the…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A new youth sports league is coming to Quincy. The Quincy Youth Flag Football League will begin play the week of Aug. 28 for kids entering first through fourth grades. There will be eight teams in each of two divisions — first and second graders are combined, as are third and fourth graders…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Word of Chase Gockel’s electric fastball, the kind that made Quincy University baseball fans anxious to see how high the velocity would register, brought Major League Baseball scouts to the stadium. How he used the fastball in unison with his slider made them take note. Ultimately, the Los Angeles Angels liked the combination…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It’s never too late, right? For Adam Birck to defend his sport mod track championship at Adams County Speedway, the longtime driver from LaGrange, Mo., will need a dominating second half of the season. Birck took the first step toward that goal Sunday night, rolling to a definitive feature victory for his first…
Read Full Article ALTON, Ill. — The Simpson Tennis Center in Gordon Moore Park turned into Quincy’s playground over the weekend. Zach Willing rolled to the championship in the men’s open singles division of the Alton Open, and then he teamed with Ethan Arns to capture the open doubles championship. To make it complete, Marko Cucuk won the…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The 28th annual Hannibal Cannibal, held Saturday, July 1, had more than 1,500 registrations and saw its highest proceeds to date with a little more than $65,000 raised. Three course records were broken during this year’s race. In the 5K females, Arianna Neisen of Liberty, Ill., set a course record of 19:23, topping Mia…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Two of the region’s top high school distance runners set the pace for the 5K race during the 28th annual Hannibal Cannibal, which took place Saturday with the start/finish line in downtown Hannibal. West Hancock graduate Miles Sheppard finished first in 10 minutes, 12.3 seconds, while Bowling Green’s Ben Chance was second…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The 44th annual Mississippi Mud Volleyball Tournament, hosted by the Hannibal Y Mens Club, continued Saturday near the Hannibal riverfront. Hannibal freelance photographer Mathew Kirby put together this photo gallery of the action:
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — The 44th annual Mississippi Mud Volleyball Tournament, held by the Hannibal Y Mens Club in conjunction with the 68th annual National Tom Sawyer Days, got underway Friday near the riverfront in America’s Hometown. Hannibal award-winning freelance photographer Mathew Kirby put together this photo gallery from the first day of action:
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A marathon day of golf Friday at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Memorial Hospital Championship couldn’t have started any better for Quincy native Luke Guthrie. The ending wasn’t quite as promising. Forced to play only four holes in Thursday’s opening round before darkness set in due to a five-hour weather delay, Guthrie returned…
Read Full Article BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The lower Beau Eftink’s scores go, the higher his spot on the leaderboard gets. This week, it took him to the top. The Quincy Notre Dame sophomore golfer posted his lowest competitive round to date, shooting a 3-under 69 in the opening round of the State Farm Youth Classic at Prairie Vista…
Read Full Article ALTON, Ill. — Quinn Thomas’ challenge of getting his golf game to be as consistent as he wants it seems to be less of a struggle these days. Shooting a 3-under 69 in a national qualifier changes things. The Hannibal senior tied for the top spot Tuesday in a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier at Spencer…
Read Full Article MACOMB, Ill. — Trenton Massner’s history-making efforts as a senior on the Western Illinois University men’s basketball team were noticed far beyond the Summit League borders. Coaches with the Miami Heat liked what they saw. Massner, the 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Wapello, Iowa, inked a free-agent deal with the Heat after going undrafted in last…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Former Quincy University men’s basketball coach Luke Strege is moving back to the NCAA Division I level. After eight highly successful seasons at Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Mo., Strege recently was hired as an assistant coach at North Dakota State University. The Bison went 16-17 overall last season and 11-7 in…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Adams County Speedway will play host to the UMP Summer Nationals Super Late Model Hell Tour on Wednesday, always one of the season’s most anticipated shows at the venerable dirt track at 8000 Broadway. There was no racing last Sunday, allowing track workers some extra time to fine-tune the facilities for an event…
Read Full Article WATERLOO, Ill. — Luke Guthrie is going to get a taste of home in his efforts to earn his way back to full-time status on the Korn Ferry Tour. The Quincy native shot a bogey-free round of 7-under 65 in the Monday qualifier for the Memorial Health Championship, which begins Thursday at Panther Creek Country…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Zach Willing discovered the third time truly is a charm. Twice is nice, too. Willing won his third consecutive Quincy Tennis Association men’s open division city championship Sunday, beating Ethan Arns in the finals for the second year in a row. Willing won 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Three Quincy Gems pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout and the offense exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning of Friday night’s 11-0 seven-inning whitewashing of the O’Fallon Hoots in Prospect League action at QU Stadium. Right-handed starter Ryan Foley struck out four over 2 ⅔ hitless innings. Right-hander Jake Syverson followed…
Read Full Article HOLLISTER, Mo. — Alex McCulla is taking aim at a major amateur championship. The Quincy native and Illinois State University junior golfer advanced to the second round of match play at the Missouri Amateur Championship with a dominant effort Thursday at Payne’s Valley Golf Course. McCulla, who was seeded second among the 64 golfers to…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Each hug said goodbye. For now, not forever. Each “thank you” was earned. Not just now, but over the course of forever. Each story came with a smile. Nan Ryan tried to relish them now, but she’ll hold onto them forever. The 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships wasn’t just a tournament.…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The way Braden Hayes read his putt, it could break either way. “From the downside, I saw it was going to go a little right,” he said. “From the top side, it was going to go left. So I was like, ‘What’s this going to do?’” Beau Eftink showed him. With a putt…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Nolan Murphy didn’t worry about being on the leaderboard, even if it created a twinge of pressure going into the final round of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships. “A little bit I guess,” Murphy said. “But I really didn’t have anything to lose because I’d never been there. Last year, I was…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The second day of competitive play at the 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships brought about back-nine duels, new champions crowned and the end of another successful tournament. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured some of the on-course action in this photo gallery:
Read Full Article QUINCY — A beautiful, sunny, 80-degree morning provided the perfect backdrop for the start of the 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships at the Knights of Columbus Par-3 Course. For Brian Kroeger, it lso provided a sense of deja vu. Kroeger, a 32-year-old Quincy native, first played in the LPGC in the mid-1990s when…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships officially teed off at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday with 203 total golfers competing across 14 age divisions — seven each for boys and girls. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time Tuesday at Westview Golf Course and put together this photo gallery:
Read Full Article QUINCY — A handful of area golfers positioned themselves to chase top-five finishes — possibly even championships — after the first day of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course. Carthage’s Nolan Murphy is the closest to the top of the leaderboard, shooting a 4-over 75 on Tuesday to sit tied for…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Austen Becerra is a busy guy, but he has no complaints. Along with working full time, the reigning modified track champ at Adams County Speedway races three nights per week and works on his ride for three hours or so on each of the remaining four evenings. Oh, he’s married, too. “You only…
Read Full Article QUINCY — It became obvious to the Illinois all-stars during their preparation for the Muddy River Showcase that Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne was taking this as seriously as anyone.. “Coach Orne made it really intense,” Unity’s Ashlynn Arnsman said. “It felt like a real regular-season game.” The Missouri all-stars realized how…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Do you believe in Magic? The Illinois girls all-stars certainly do. Q-City Magic, that is. Six of the 10 players on the Illinois roster for the Saturday’s Muddy River Showcase began playing together in sixth grade as part of the Q-City Magic program coached by the late Gayland Blakemore. It allowed the Showcase…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Illinois boys all-star team put on a shooting display you’d expect in a marquee event, making 19 3-pointers in a 118-80 victory over Missouri in the second Muddy River Showcase on Saturday night at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman sat courtside and captured these…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The Illinois girls had length and athleticism. The Missouri girls had guard play and quickness. It made for an entertaining chess match in the second Muddy River Showcase, played Saturday at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. A 30-10 spurt in the third quarter enabled the Illinois squad to pull away for…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The depth of talent that will be on display Saturday during the second Muddy River Showcase is quite impressive. Consider these stats: • Among the 40 players comprising the four rosters, 14 scored 1,000 or more points in their high school careers; • There are 14 planning on playing basketball in college; •…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Jackson Stratton and Isaac Genenbacher had the same initial thought when they received invitations to play in the Muddy River Showcase. How can I make this work? The Quincy Notre Dame and Camp Point Central multi-sport athletes had committed to play in the Illinois Shrine Bowl, an all-star event for prep football players…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The lack of qualified officials has forced the cancellation of what would have been the 29th Titan Firecracker Classic, which was scheduled for June 23-25 at Sheridan Swim Club. Thomas Gerek, head coach of the Sheridan Swim Team, said the head official the meet has used in recent years informed the team earlier…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Each week throughout the summer, Muddy River Sports photographer Samantha Carmean is going to showcase area residents at play with a photo gallery. This week, Carmean spent a day at the Hannibal Aquatic Center. Check out her photos:
Read Full Article QUINCY — We’re now deep enough into the dirt-track racing season to start making some assessments concerning the five weekly series at Adams County Speedway. That will be this week’s approach to our familiar Dirty Thirty Thoughts about the modifieds, sport mods, crate late models, stock cars and 4-Cylinders. Modifieds Championship favorite: Austin Becerra is…
Read Full Article The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. QUINCY — Jake Hoyt…
Read Full Article The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. MENDON, Ill. — Ashlynn…
Read Full Article HANNIBAL, Mo. — Kane Wilson’s record-setting season didn’t go unnoticed by prep baseball coaches around the state. The Hannibal junior shortstop was named as an honorable mention infielder on the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association Class 5 all-state team. Wilson established new single-season program records for hits with 45 and and RBIs with 44 while also…
Read Full Article QUINCY — The number of former Quincy University baseball players pursuing professional playing careers more than doubled in the last month. One of the Hawks chasing their big-league dream moved a step closer to that reality Tuesday. Left-handed reliever Riley Martin was promoted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs after a sterling first two months coming…
Read Full Article QUINCY — A record-setting season on the field should end with a worthwhile honor off it. The John Wood Community College baseball program received that Monday. Freshman outfielder Payton Mansfield was named an NJCAA Division II first-team All-American, becoming the first JWCC product to earn All-American honors since 2015 and just the fourth first-team selection…
Read Full Article The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. SHELBYVILLE, Mo. — Ava…
Read Full Article QUINCY — There is one thing each of the players participating in the second Muddy River Showcase have in common. They can call themselves alumni. The top senior basketball players from West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri have all officially graduated from their respective high schools, but they will team up to represent their communities and…
Read Full Article QUINCY — Sam Halstead has been racing at Adams County Speedway for more than 25 years, and has long carried the nickname “Superman” for his driving abilities. That nickname was truly befitting on a rather windy and unseasonably chilly Sunday night at 8000 Broadway. Halstead emerged from a four-car scrum on the final lap to…
Read Full Article The Muddy River Showcase featuring 40 of the area’s top senior basketball players from Illinois and Missouri takes place June 17 at John Wood Community College’s Student Activity Center. The girls game begins at 4 p.m. with the boys game to follow at 6 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door. CAMP POINT, Ill. —…
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