Irish right-hander takes steam out of Chargers’ attack in Class 2A sectional championship

Illini West right-hander Ethan Carlisle allowed only two hits over six innings in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Peoria Notre Dame in the Class 2A Chillicothe IVC Sectional championship in Chillicothe, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — Jack Livengood did what no one else could. The Peoria Notre Dame junior right-hander quieted the Illini West baseball team’s attack. Livengood retired the Chargers in order the first time through the lineup, didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and authored a three-hit shutout in Saturday’s Class 2A Chillicothe IVC…

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‘We were so close’: Raiders unable to get final out before Spartans rally to win sectional semifinal

A pair of Quincy Notre Dame softball players share an emotional embrace after their season ended with Wednesday's 9-6 loss to Stanford Olympia in the Class 2A Williamsville Sectional semifinals. | Addi Zanger photo

WILLIAMSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame softball team went from utter delight to bitter disappointment in less than an inning. With it, the Raiders’ season hit its end. Morgan Zanger’s three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth gave QND a two-run lead in the Class 2A Williamsville Sectional semifinal against Stanford Olympia,…

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Chargers apply pressure to Rockets’ defense, create sectional title game showdown with Irish

Illini West's Wesley Robertson threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in Wednesday's 11-2 victory over Rockridge in the Class 2A Chillicothe IVC Sectional semifinals, while also going 2 for 5 with two runs scored. | Matt Schuckman photo

CHILLICOTHE, Ill. — Sometimes putting the ball in play is enough to get the job done. The Illini West baseball players took that approach to heart. The Chargers continually applied pressure to Rockridge’s defense during Wednesday’s Class 2A Chillicothe IVC Sectional semifinal, using a mix of hard ground balls, solid liners and strategically timed bunts…

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Bombs away!: Macomb’s 3-point barrage overwhelms Rockridge, leads to first sectional championship since 2006

The Macomb boys basketball players celebrate their Class 2A Canton Sectional championship after beating Rockridge 54-38 on Friday night at Alice Ingersoll Gymnasium in Canton, Ill. | Photo courtesy Andrea Ratermann

CANTON, Ill. — Ian Case didn’t have to concern himself as much with getting in position to snare an offensive rebound as he did with getting back on defense. There weren’t many shots coming off the rim anyway. “Every shot that went up, I had to put a three up,” said Case, a 6-foot-7 senior…

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Panthers unable to chop Alvey, Tigers down to size in suffering sectional championship setback

Camp Point Central senior guard Drew Paben reacts to the 47-35 loss to Illini Bluffs in Friday night's championship game of the Class 1A Abingdon-Avon Sectional. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

ABINGDON, Ill. — Size eventually won out, no matter what the Camp Point Central boys basketball team did to negate it. The Panthers neutralized Illini Bluffs’ height advantage — 6-foot-9 Hank Alvey towers above most Class 1A post players — for the better part of the first half Friday night in the Class 1A Abingdon-Avon…

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Photo gallery: Macomb reaches Class 2A elite eight by avenging holiday loss to Rockridge

The Macomb boys basketball team beat Rockridge 54-36 in the championship game of the Class 2A Canton Sectional on Friday night in front of a packed house at Alice Ingersoll Gymnasium. | Photo courtesy Andrea Ratermann

CANTON, Ill. — The Macomb boys basketball team went 1 of 12 from 3-point range in suffering a 36-33 loss to Rockridge in the championship game of the Macomb-Western Holiday Tournament. Friday night, in a rematch with the Rockets in the Class 2A Canton Sectional championship game, the Bombers hit every target. Macomb went 9…

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Game Night Guide: Macomb, Rockridge lock horns once again, this time with sectional title at stake

The Macomb bench will need to continue to bring energy as the Bombers face Rockridge on Friday night for the Class 2A sectional championship in Canton, Ill. | Photo courtesy Macomb boys basketball/Andrea Ratermann

Class 2A Canton Sectional Championship Macomb (27-5) vs. Rockridge (24-6) Where: Alice Ingersoll Gym, Canton High School When: 6 p.m. Friday Livestream: Bomber Sports Network Radio: WRMJ 102.3 FM Scouting the Bombers: Coming off the sectional semifinal upset of title favorite Peoria Manual, the Bombers’ biggest challenge will be to not have a letdown. Facing…

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Trusting process carries Central-Southeastern past Pleasant Plains and to sectional title

The Central-Southeastern girls basketball players celebrate winning the Class 2A Beardstown Sectional championship following Thursday night's 43-37 victory over Pleasant Plains at Beardstown High School. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — There were quite a few blue T-shirts with white lettering scattered across the Central-Southeastern stands Thursday night. The message the shirts carried was a simple one: “Trust the Process.” CSE girls basketball coach Matt Long’s explanation of that phrase was not particularly complicated, but still rather poignant — even more so following…

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Photo gallery: Central-Southeastern shows resiliency in winning sectional championship

Central-Southeastern coach Matt Long gives the Panthers instructions during a timeout in the Class 2A Beardstown Sectional championship game against Pleasant Plains on Thursday night in Beardstown, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The Central-Southeastern girls basketball players never lost faith in each other or the belief the sectional championship would be theirs, fending off Pleasant Plains 43-37 to win the Class 2A Beardstown Sectional on Thursday night. Photographer Mike Pritchard shared this photo gallery of the Panthers’ victory:

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Peters’ free throws help CSE hold off Staunton’s fourth-quarter surge and reach sectional title game

The Central-Southeastern girls basketball players react to a Lauren Miller basket during Tuesday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal against Staunton in Beardstown, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — Lauren Miller’s assessment was spot on. “We have to do better Thursday,” the Central-Southeastern junior forward said. The CSE girls basketball team escaped Tuesday night’s Class 2 sectional semifinal game with a hard-earned 56-50 victory over Staunton in front of about 600 fans at Beardstown High School. Central-Southeastern (28-2) advances to face…

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Photo gallery: CSE advances to sectional championship game by beating Staunton

Central-Southeastern's Claire Huston pressures Staunton's Ele Feldmann during Tuesday night's Class 2A Beardstown Sectional semifinal in Beardstown, Ill. | Photo courtesy Mike Pritchard

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The fourth quarter may have gotten a little too close for comfort, but the Central-Southeastern girls basketball team withstood Staunton’s late surge to secure a 56-50 victory in the semifinals of the Class 2A Beardstown Sectional on Tuesday night. Photographer Mike Pritchard shared this photo gallery from the game:

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Illini West’s record-setting volleyball season ends with loss in sectional title game

The Illini West volleyball team won a program-record 34 matches this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — A record-setting season needed one final rally. The Pleasant Plains volleyball team didn’t let that happen. Illini West led the second set of Wednesday night’s Class 2A sectional championship game 13-12 and was in the process of overcoming losing the first set, just as it had in Monday’s semifinal victory over…

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Endurance test: Chargers outlast Bluejays by seizing momentum in third set of sectional victory

Illini West middle blocker Madalyn Boyer, center, and her teammates react to winning a point during the third set of Monday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal victory over Petersburg PORTA in Pleasant Plains, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Only four times in 37 matches leading up to Monday night’s Class 2A sectional semifinals had the Illini West volleyball team engaged in a three-set marathon. And only once had the Chargers won. “I was kind of worried about that,” Illini West coach Dakota Lafferty said. So when the Chargers lost…

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Photo gallery: Illini West to play for sectional volleyball championship after dispatching PORTA

Illini West's Josie Bryan, left, and Madalyn Boyer, right, put up a block during Monday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal against Petersburg PORTA in Pleasant Plains, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Madalyn Boyer said every play gives the Illini West volleyball team confidence, and throughout Monday night’s Class 2A sectional semifinal against Petersburg PORTA — especially the final two sets — confidence grew. The Chargers outlasted the Bluejays 22-25, 25-21, 25-18 to advance to the sectional title match against Pleasant Plains at…

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Pleasant Plains capitalizes on momentum shifts, knocks Macomb out in sectional semifinals

Macomb's Madeline McClure hits a shot through the block of Pleasant Plains during Monday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal in Pleasant Plains, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Pleasant Plains volleyball team figured out how to continually stem the tide. During Monday night’s Class 2A sectional semifinal against Macomb, the Cardinals strategically used timeouts to stall scoring runs by the Bombers, putting the brakes on a four-point swing late in the second set that enabled Pleasant Plains to…

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Photo gallery: Strong starts in both sets not enough as Macomb falls in sectional semifinal

The Macomb volleyball players wait for the officiating crew to discuss a call during the second set of Monday night's Class 2A sectional semifinal against Pleasant Plains in Pleasant Plains, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The momentum the Macomb volleyball team created by winning the Class 2A regional title last Thursday night seemed to linger with a stellar start to Monday’s sectional semifinal until Pleasant Plains took it away. Behind the program’s all-time leading hitter in Sydney McFee, the Cardinals stopped each Bombers’ run and earned…

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Mining sectional gold: Schisler tosses complete game, cracks two-run single to push Raiders another step closer to state tourney

Quincy Notre Dame pitcher Jake Schisler, center, holds the Class 2A sectional championship plaque as his teammates celebrate around him following Saturday's 5-0 victory over Gillespie in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The moment brought about a surge of adrenaline Jake Schisler needed to harness. “I was definitely a little amped up,” he said. One out away from sending the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team to the Class 2A super-sectionals for the first time since 2017, the right-handed Schisler allowed Gillespie’s Tristen Wargo to…

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Errorless defense continues to give Raiders edge during state championship pursuit

Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Jake Schisler delivers a pitch during Saturday's game against Gillespie in the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional championship in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Photo gallery: QND baseball team wins Class 2A sectional championship with shutout

The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team breaks a huddle before Saturday's game against Gillespie in the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional at Claude Kracik Field in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Trout season: Fiery QND right-hander pitches with purpose to lead Raiders into sectional title tilt

Quincy Notre Dame pitcher Tyler Dance, right, celebrates with catcher Michael Stupavsky after striking out the final batter in a 2-0 victory over Shelbyville in the Class 2A sectional semifinals Wednesday at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The motivation to finish what he started sent Tyler Dance to the pitcher’s mound in the seventh inning with purpose. An eye-popping fastball accompanied him. The senior right-hander punctuated a two-hit shutout of Shelbyville in the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional semifinals by striking out the Rams’ Kelton Logan on an 88…

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Photo gallery: Raiders win 30th straight game by beating Rams in sectional semifinals

The Quincy Notre Dame baseball players watch from the dugout during Wednesday's Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional semifinal against Shelbyville at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

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…

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Freshmen don’t wither in spotlight, help QND girls capture sectional title over Central-Southeastern

Quincy Notre Dame's Jenna Durst, right, drives past Central-Southeastern's Amanda Stephens during the second half of Thursday night's Class 2A girls basketball sectional championship game at Pleasant Plains High School. | David Adam photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Central-Southeastern girls basketball coach Matt Long was asked any advice he has for the seven teams left in the Class 2A state tournament for how to beat Quincy Notre Dame. “It’s only happened once,” he said succinctly. “Good luck.” The No. 1-ranked Raiders took early command of Thursday night’s sectional championship…

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Photo gallery: Winning streak for QND girls hits 26 straight after sectional title

Abbey Schreacke, center, turns to her teammates after she was handed the Class 2A sectional trophy after Thursday night's Class 2A girls basketball sectional championship game at Pleasant Plains High School. | David Adam photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, the defending Class 2A state champion, won its 26th consecutive game on Thursday night with a 44-29 decision over Central-Southeastern in the sectional championship at Pleasant Plains High School. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the images from the game.

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Photo gallery: QND girls have little trouble with Hillsboro, reach sectional title game

Quincy Notre Dame's Mara Ippensen goes up for a shot during Tuesday night's Class 2A girls basketball sectional game at Pleasant Plains High School. | David Adam

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team went on a 30-6 run in the first half, then opened the second half with a 19-2 run as they had no problem defeating Hillsboro 67-30 in the semifinals of the Class 2A Sectional at Pleasant Plains High School on Tuesday night. MRN Editor…

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Photo gallery: CSE scores first 18 points, steamrolls Staunton in sectional semifinal

Central-Southeastern's Abbey McMillen looks to pass during Tuesday night's Class 2A girls basketball sectional semifinal game at Pleasant Plains High School. | David Adam

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Central-Southeastern girls basketball team scored the game’s first 18 points and cruised to a 62-26 victory over Staunton in the Class 2A girls basketball sectional semifinals at Pleasant Plains High School. MRN Editor David Adam captured some of the images from the game.

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Have a little Faith: Kientzle’s run of service points, huge plays at net catapult Raiders to victory over Bombers in electric sectional title match

The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players turn to the QND student cheering section after receiving the Class 2A Farmington Sectional championship plaque following a three-set victory over Macomb on Wednesday night in Farmington, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

FARMINGTON, Ill. — Five points. No more. Certainly no less. Forced to a decisive third set in Wednesday night’s Class 2A Farmington Sectional championship after Macomb staved off four match points, Quincy Notre Dame volleyball coach Courtney Kvitle convinced the Raiders to concentrate on winning five points at a time. “We knew we had to…

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Photo gallery: QND beats Macomb in three sets to win Class 2A sectional championship

Quincy Notre Dame's Ali Entrup, left, and Faith Kientzle, right, react to winning the Class 2A sectional championship with as three-set victory over Macomb on Wednesday night in Farmington, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

FARMINGTON, Ill. — Certain moments cannot be forgotten. Try October 5 for example. With the Quincy Notre Dame cheering section split between two major events — the boys soccer team played at Quincy High School, while the volleyball team played host to Macomb — the Bombers brought a sizable, boisterous crowd to The Pit. A…

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Raiders let strong serving runs carry them into sectional title game rematch with Bombers

The Quincy Notre Dame volleyball players celebrate a kill by Emma Hoing, center, during the second set of Monday's Class 2A sectional semifinal sweep of Orion at Farmington, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

FARMINGTON, Ill. — The trick was to treat the Orion volleyball team to a false sense of hope. Giving up seven of the first 11 points in Monday’s first semifinal match of the Class 2A Farmington Sectional seemed to do that. It didn’t take long, though, for Quincy Notre Dame to dash that hope. A…

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Defensive-minded Bombers earn spot in highly anticipated sectional championship

Macomb coach Briana Rexroat, center, hugs one of her players as the Bombers celebrate going into a timeout during the second set of Monday's Class 2A sectional semifinal victory over Sherrard at Farmington, ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

FARMINGTON, Ill. — Taking the court under the watchful eyes of a rival and future foe could have been slightly unnerving. Facing an opponent looking for retribution could have, too. The Macomb volleyball team ignored it all and delivered a prime in-the-moment effort Monday night, dispatching Sherrard 25-15, 25-14 in the semifinals of the Class…

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Strong closing nine enables QND boys golf to climb into top three, return to state tournament

The Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team finished third at the Class 2A Bartonville Limestone Sectional on Monday and earned a spot in the state tournament field. | Submitted photo

BARTONVILLE, Ill. — The regional of death, as Quincy Notre Dame boys golf coach Brian Hendrian liked to call it, morphed into a sadistic sectional Monday at Coyote Creek Golf Course. Experience and depth led to the Raiders surviving both. But it wasn’t without some worry. “To be completely honest, when we made the turn,…

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Left-handed hurler ruins QND baseball team’s win streak, championship dreams

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Michael Stupavsky hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning Saturday in the Class 2A sectional championship against Maroa-Forsyth. | Matt Schuckman file photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — With his Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s season on the line Saturday afternoon, Raiders coach Ryan Oden knew all hope wasn’t lost. The Raiders trailed Maroa-Forsyth by five runs going into the bottom of the seventh inning of a Class 2A sectional championship game at Reiser Field. “I knew we had…

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Riding the storm out: QND baseball team beats rain, Shelbyville to earn spot in sectional championship game

Quincy Notre Dame second baseman Jack Linenfelser, right, and shortstop Alex Connoyer, center, react after Linenfelser tagged out Shelbyville's Kade Allen on a stolen base attempt to end the fifth inning of Wednesday's Class 2A sectional semifinal at Reiser Field in Pleasant Plains, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The darkening clouds rolling in from the northeast mimicked the situation the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team faced. Ominous, very ominous. “I kept looking over my shoulder and seeing those clouds coming closer and closer to the point you see the line of rain at the right-field fence,” said Jack Linenfelser,…

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