Welcome back: Raiders’ energetic, clean effort coincides with first home game in three weeks

Quincy Notre Dame designated hitter Alex Connoyer connects for a three-run home that finished off the Raiders' 12-0, five-inning victory over Central on Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — There aren’t many places that make Tyler Dance feel as comfortable and confident as he does pitching at Ferd Niemann Jr. Ballfield. “That mound is one of my favorites,” the Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander said. He hadn’t pitched from that mound since the QND baseball team beat Hannibal on April 5. Five…

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Raiders rally to take kick out of upstart Mustangs and run winning streak to 15 straight

Quincy Notre Dame's Alex Connoyer hit a grand slam and drove in six runs total during the Raiders' 12-6 victory at Unity on Monday. | Matt Schuckman photo

MENDON, Ill. — The Unity baseball team put Quincy Notre Dame in an unfamiliar spot. The Raiders trailed by two runs through three innings Monday. An offense that has pushed QND into this week’s Prep Baseball Report top 25 state poll wouldn’t let the deficit linger. The Raiders scored three times in the fourth inning,…

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Championship aspirations: Depth, talent, know-how give QND baseball players confidence they can chase state title

Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander Tyler Dance, left, and senior first baseman Dalton Miller will each play a critical role in the Raiders' success this spring. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Dalton Miller admits the luxury of experience and camaraderie enjoyed by the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team can get taken for granted. “We’ve been playing together for so long it’s a security I’ve become numb to almost,” the senior first baseman said. “Sometimes I can’t say I appreciate the security of my teammates…

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Raiders learn lesson, rally to edge Keokuk in overtime in regular season finale

Quincy Notre Dame's Charlie Lavery goes up to contest a shot by Keokuk's Brenton Hoard during Friday night's boys basketball game at Wright Fieldhouse in Keokuk, Iowa. | Photo courtesy of Doug Brenneman/Keokuk Daily Gate City

KEOKUK, Iowa — A trip to Wright Fieldhouse in Keokuk and a 69-65 overtime victory provided the Quincy Notre Dame Raiders boys basketball team with an important lesson with postseason play starting. “One thing we learned is that you can’t come out flat starting tomorrow,” Raiders coach Kevin Meyer said. “You’ve got to come out…

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Connoyer finds hole in West Hancock defense, scores 19 points to help Raiders win 20th game

Quincy Notre Dame's Braden Sheffield drives to the basket during Tuesday night's boys basketball game at The Pit. West Hancock's Alec Hymes defends the play. | David Adam

QUINCY — In the aftermath of Quincy Notre Dame’s 20th victory of the season on Tuesday night, Charlie Lavery was quick to point out the importance of his senior teammate Alex Connoyer. “Without him, we’re in trouble,” Lavery said. Connoyer scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the third quarter to help the Raiders pull…

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Inside, outside, upside, down: Ability to run offense through Connoyer in paint allows Raiders to roll Bearcats in Shootout finale

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Alex Connoyer, center, scored 18 points in leading the Raiders to a 67-40 victory over Cairo (Mo.) Northeast on Saturday night at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Alex Connoyer established a trend the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball team needs to follow if its season is going to last another five weeks. Starting with the first time he touched the ball Saturday night through his final offensive possession in the 67-40 victory over Cairo (Mo.) Northeast at The Pit, the…

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Raiders enjoy sweet rewards after capping State Farm Holiday Classic with back-to-back wins

Quincy Notre Dame's Noah Lunt reacts to Alex Connoyer scoring the go-ahead basket against El Paso-Gridley with 6.7 seconds remaining in regulation Thursday afternoon in the State Farm Holiday Classic in Bloomington, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Christina Meyer made a promise the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball players intended her to keep. So after beating Kankakee Bishop McNamara 53-46 in Thursday night’s fifth-place game of the State Farm Holiday Classic, the Raiders reminded Meyer’s husband — QND coach Kevin Meyer — she said she’d buy the team milkshakes…

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Raiders punch Illini West in mouth in first quarter, cruise to easy victory; Pleasant Plains awaits in regional title game

Illini West's Cole Kirkham loses control of the ball as he tries to split Quincy Notre Dame defenders Jackson Stratton, left, and Alex Connoyer during Wednesday's Class 2A regional semifinal boys basketball game at Beardstown High School. | David Adam

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The rules of high school basketball call for a game to be played for 32 minutes, but the Quincy Notre Dame basketball team needed less than five Wednesday night. The Raiders dominated their Class 2A regional semifinal matchup with Illini West, scoring the game’s first 12 points and leading 30-10 at halftime…

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