Mustangs collect another victory, want to finish season with a flourish

MENDON, Ill. — Make no mistake about it, that victory Thursday night was important for the Unity-Payson football team. The Mustangs’ 26-12 win over Beardstown before the U’s faithful fans proved doubly important, from the standpoint of both immediate result and potential long-range impact. Unity’s Western Illinois Valley Conference North victory was its second in a…

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Kenning, Robb come up clutch for Raiders in pivotal inning against Tigers

Quincy Notre Dame's Evan Kenning led off the fourth inning Wednesday against Beardstown with a single, setting the stage for a three-run inning in the Raiders' 5-2 victory. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The heart of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s lineup got the ball rolling when the Raiders needed to pad their lead. Evan Kenning and Nolan Robb opened the bottom of the fourth inning Wednesday with back-to-back singles, which led to a three-run rally and catapulted the Raiders to a 5-2 victory over…

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Dance hurls one-hit shutout as Raiders blast another potential postseason foe

Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Tyler Dance threw a one-hit shutout Thursday in the Raiders' 13-0 victory over Beardstown at Lewis Field in Beardstown, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team delivered a strong message to a potential regional opponent Thursday afternoon. The Raiders are ready to Dance. Behind a one-hit shutout by right-hander Tyler Dance and a dominant effort from the top of the batting order, the Raiders rolled to a 13-0, five-inning victory over Beardstown…

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Schuckman: Old-school vibes, new-school touches make Friday nights at Unity-Payson feel like it’s where you belong

The moon dropping to the horizon behind the pressbox at the Unity-Payson football field in Mendon, Ill., is a perfect backdrop for Friday night high school football. | Matt Schuckman photo

MENDON, Ill. — When modern technology accents old-school charm, you wind up watching a prep football game in an environment artists pen songs about and screenwriters use as inspiration for movie scripts. Friday night, this Adams County village offered one of those backdrops. From the bonfire in the neighboring yard to a respected, celebrated old…

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Delivering big blows: Connoyer’s home run helps shift momentum in QND’s favor in regional title game against Beardstown

The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team celebrates its Class 2A regional championship after beating Beardstown 6-2 on Monday at the Ferd. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The old bully on the postseason playground threatened to derail the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s title quest yet again. That was until a tag and swing knocked Beardstown to its knees. A legendary coaching career went down with it. The Raiders escaped danger in the first inning, tagging out the Tigers’ William…

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Photo gallery: QND baseball team beats Beardstown for Class 2A regional championship

The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team prepares to pose for a team picture with the Class 2A regional championship plaque after beating Beardstown 6-2 on Monday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team kept the good times rolling, winning its 22nd consecutive game with a 6-2 victory over Beardstown in the Class 2A regional championship at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Took a look at how Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action through his camera lens:

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QND exacts revenge for loss to Beardstown as Dance shuts down Tigers’ offense

Quincy Notre Dame's Dalton Miller slides safely headfirst into second base on a passed ball in the fifth inning of Thursday's game against Beardstown at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Dalton Miller knew there’d never be a snowball effect. Still, responding quickly and succinctly to last week’s three-run loss at Beardstown was vitally important for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team to ensure such sour taste would be swished away for good. Winning four games in six days and capping it with a…

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Pitching performances by Dance, Connoyer power Raiders to pair of victories at Beardstown tourney

Quincy Notre Dame junior right-hander Tyler Dance struck out a career-high 13 batters in Saturday's victory against Illini West at the Beardstown Tiger Showcase. Matt Schuckman photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — A pair of stout pitching performances has the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team back on track. Tyler Dance struck out a career-high 13 batters in a 5-2 victory over Illini West on Saturday in the Beardstown Tiger Showcase at Robin Lewis Field, while Alex Connoyer tossed five shutout innings in an 11-0…

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