Posts Tagged ‘College baseball’
Saturday sweep needed: Top-seeded Hawks face elimination after losing super regional opener
QUINCY — The weather hasn’t always been ideal, but Saturdays at QU Stadium throughout the spring have been perfect nonetheless. One more flawless Saturday is needed. The Quincy University baseball team finds itself in a win-twice-or-it’s-over scenario following Friday’s 4-3 loss to Indianapolis in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regional,…
Read MoreGreyhounds’ Donaldson seizes extra opportunity to spoil final home start for Hawks’ Walker
QUINCY — Spencer Walker never saw exactly where Luke Napleton caught the fastball or where it crossed the plate. He didn’t think he needed to look. With runners on second and third and two outs in the top of the eighth inning Friday at QU Stadium, the Quincy University senior right-hander felt he’d painted the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU, Indianapolis square off in Midwest Super Regional at QU Stadium
QUINCY — The opening game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Super Regional turned into a pitchers’ duel, one the seventh-seeded University of Indianapolis baseball team won with a 4-3 victory over top-seeded Quincy University on Friday at QU Stadium. The Hawks (47-10) must win twice Saturday to advance to the D-II World Series in…
Read MoreSuper regional primer: Top-seeded Hawks chasing World Series berth against Greyhounds
QUINCY — A Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball program is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series for the third consecutive season and the seventh time in the past nine seasons. Will it be the team of destiny or the ultimate underdog? A best-of-three series taking place at QU Stadium will decide…
Read MoreHawks’ Napleton becomes fourth QU standout to be named Midwest Region Player of the Year
QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s historic season has him in line for All-American honors. The Quincy University junior catcher was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Midwest Region Player of the Year and a first-team all-region selection, which makes him eligible for All-American consideration. QU coach Matt Schissel was named the Midwest Region Coach of…
Read MoreSuper duper: Hawks score six times in first inning to extinguish Timberwolves’ hope, advance to super regional
QUINCY — Eight innings remained, but any hope Northwood had of stymying the steamroller better known as the Quincy University baseball team evaporated after a single frame. The Hawks weren’t surrendering a six-run lead. Not one game from reaching the super regional. Not with Jay Hammel in control on the mound. And certainly not at…
Read MoreHammel’s first-pitch dominance takes pressure off bullpen, shuts down Timberwolves
QUINCY — A walkie talkie hangs from the netting stretched around the Quincy University baseball team’s dugout and always within Hawks coach Matt Schissel’s reach. It’s how he communicates with the bullpen during a game. Saturday, he hardly touched it. Right-handed starter Jay Hammel alleviated any pressure on Schissel and the bullpen during the final…
Read More‘Do your job’: Simple premise leads to extraordinary results as Hawks move one victory closer to super regional
QUINCY — It’s a philosophy so basic it comes across as too simple at times. “Everybody does their job,” Luke Napleton said, “and the team wins.” The Quincy University catcher can point to Friday’s performance against Northwood as the perfect example of that. The top-seeded team in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional received a…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QU baseball parents become family of their own
QUINCY — The root of their lies in their success of their sons, but the parents of the Quincy University baseball players have formed a bond that is as tight as a baseball family gets. The shared a house during the season-opening road trip to Florida. They tailgate together wherever the Hawks play. They text.…
Read MoreKirn’s bulldogged performance is further proof nothing can knock Hawks down for good
QUINCY — Griffin Kirn could have snuck away to the bathroom or a corner of the dugout at any point during the final two innings Friday to see just what kind of mark was left by the line drive that hit him squarely below the rib cage on his left side. He didn’t bother. It…
Read MoreNapleton gets back in power groove, breaks GLVC single-season home run record with two dingers
QUINCY — Going 20 at-bats without hitting a home run may not seem like much of a drought, but Luke Napleton knew he had taken several swings since his last blast. None of them felt like the right rhythm. “I’ve been rolling over the past few games, being a little early,” the Quincy University catcher…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team beats Northwood to move one win from super regional
QUINCY — As each day passes, the Quincy University baseball team moves a step closer to its ultimate goal. Saturday, the Hawks can take a leap forward. They will face Northwood at noon Saturday at QU Stadium, needing to win just once to capture the regional title and advance to the super regional. The top-seeded…
Read MoreMarinara muscle: Full-scale Italian meal fuels Hawks’ power surge in Midwest Regional opener
QUINCY — Paul D’Alessio decided he needed to fuel the Quincy University baseball team with some Italian power this week. So Tuesday, he assembled the kind of feast a loving nonna would serve to her family at Sunday dinner. Pasta, meatballs, sausage, chicken cacciatore, etc. It was the kind of meal where you wipe the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU, Northwood win on opening day of NCAA Division II Midwest Regional
QUINCY — Two teams that have gone head-to-head in NCAA Division II regional play twice before with try to eliminate each other once again. The top-seeded Quincy University baseball team and fifth-seeded Northwood both beat Wayne State on Thursday on the opening day of the Midwest Regional at QU Stadium. The Timberwolves scored three times…
Read MorePosition of power: Wosman returns to seeing barrel meet ball, crushes pair of homers for Hawks
QUINCY — Nolan Wosman has never lost sight of what matters. A frustrating weekend swinging the bat couldn’t change that. A week ago, during the Quincy University baseball team’s four-game march to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship, the senior second baseman struggled to marry the barrel to the ball. He went 2 for…
Read MoreNCAA Midwest Regional primer: Eight things you need to know about QU baseball team
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team’s pursuit of a trip to Cary, N.C., begins in earnest Thursday with the start of NCAA Division II Midwest Regional play. The top-seeded Hawks, who carry a 44-9 record into the postseason, will face either Northwood or Wayne State at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at QU Stadium. The Timberwolves…
Read MoreNice ring to it: Hawks capture GLVC Tournament championship, earn No. 1 Midwest Regional seed
MARION, Ill. — The first step is always the hardest or so the adage goes. If that rings true, the Quincy University baseball team better ready itself for a prolonged journey. The Hawks followed up their regular-season Great Lakes Valley Conference championship by winning the GLVC Tournament, capping a four-game swath through the tourney field…
Read MoreSchuckman: Days like this are reason Hammel returned to Hawks to pitch one more season
QUINCY — Jay Hammel wrestled with the decision. Should he stay or should he go? Last May, Hammel graduated from Quincy University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and media studies. He also fashioned a 9-2 record as a right-handed starter for the QU baseball team, helping the Hawks get within one victory of a…
Read MoreSchuckman: Sharing Mother’s Day with their sons and love of game makes baseball moms unique
QUINCY — Where Mother’s Day is positioned on the calendar makes sense. The beauty of spring and the breath of fresh air May brings plays hand-in-hand with the love and nurturing we receive from our mothers. Florists love it, too, because moms love receiving fresh bouquets as much as love giving them. Yet, the one…
Read MoreCarpenter shuts down Saints, sends Hawks into GLVC Tournament title game
MARION, Ill. — Tyler Carpenter got mad. Then he got nasty. That made the Maryville baseball team’s plans to rally obsolete. The Quincy University left-handed reliever entered Saturday’s Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament game in the fifth inning with the Hawks ahead 9-7, two outs and two runners on base. The Saints’ Jed Zebig greeted…
Read MoreDuPont hits it where Greyhounds can’t catch it, Hawks play stellar defense to advance
MARION, Ill. — No matter how hard Dustin DuPont hit the ball in his first two at-bats Friday night — he stung it with authority both times — University of Indianapolis center fielder Brandon DeWitt ran down those line drives for the first out in both the first and third innings. “I got back to…
Read MoreWalk this way: Freshmen set stage for Hawks to stroll away as winners in GLVC tournament opener
MARION, Ill. — A glimpse at the future of the Quincy University baseball program enabled the present-day Hawks to see how to keep their championship aspirations on course. It takes patience and persistence. The two freshmen inserted into the starting lineup — Joe Huffman started just three games in the last month and Ben Dahlof…
Read MoreBunts lay groundwork for big inning as Hawks erase five-run deficit to stay in winner’s bracket
MARION, Ill. — The nation’s top home-run hitting team showed it can play small ball when it needs to as well. It caught everyone by surprise, especially Missouri S&T. In the final game of the opening round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament late Thursday night, the top-seeded Quincy University baseball team fell behind…
Read MoreQU’s Napleton receives GLVC Player of the Year honor, while Schissel is Coach of the Year
QUINCY — Not long after Luke Napleton left QU Stadium the day he broke the Quincy University baseball program’s single-season home run record, he received a text message with a video attached. It was from Ryan Snyder, the slugger whose record Napleton broke, who wanted to congratulate the Hawks junior catcher. Snyder may need to…
Read MorePut a ring on it: Hawks head into postseason ready to chase championships, earn some new bling
QUINCY — Brock Boynton can envision a championship ring sizable enough to celebrate more than one title. “I was thinking about it last night,” the Quincy University senior center fielder said Wednesday morning before the Hawks boarded a bus headed for Marion, Ill., and the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. “There’s four sides to a…
Read MoreQU baseball team ready to roll into postseason after capping ‘nine-game heater’ at Rockhurst
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brock Boynton called it. Following a mid-week victory over nationally ranked Central Missouri on April 25, the Quincy University baseball team’s senior center fielder said the Hawks needed to go on a “nine-game heater” to carry the momentum of an historic regular season into the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Sunday,…
Read MoreQU baseball team on verge of history with one victory needed to reach 40-victory plateau
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dayne Sebranek’s name is officially part of history. One big swing took care of that. A senior infielder on the Quincy University baseball team, Sebranek collected his first career hit Saturday during a 17-3 victory over Rockhurst in the first game of a Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader at Loyola Park.…
Read MoreQU baseball team uses timely hitting, stellar pitching to win series opener at Rockhurst
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Quincy University baseball team doesn’t need to hit home runs to win. Timely hitting and stellar pitching get the job done, too. Friday night’s Great Lakes Valley Conference series opener against Rockhurst at Loyola Park is a prime example. The GLVC’s top hitting offense and the nation’s No. 1 team…
Read MoreMUDDY RIVER BREAKDOWN: QU Baseball=Good, Cardinals Baseball=Bad
Ben Marth and Matt Schuckman talk about how good Quincy University baseball is and how terrible the St. Louis Cardinals are right now. They also let you know who they want to tell the story of their lives.
Read MoreHawks continue to batter opposing pitching, slug six home runs in series finale against Panthers
QUINCY — The DJ Khaled collaboration “All I Do Is Win” was released in 2010 and remains a ballpark staple more than a decade later. Still, it may be time for some fresh lyrics. The Quincy University baseball team seems to be providing them. It goes a little like, “All we do is crush, crush,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team wins regular-season home finale by hammering Drury
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team doesn’t want Sunday’s 16-6 victory over Drury to complete a Great Lakes Valley Conference sweep to be its final game this season at QU Stadium. The Hawks want to play host to an NCAA Division II regional. Keep hitting the way they are and the Hawks likely will…
Read More‘You can’t stop it’: Walk-off grand slam keeps Hawks rolling with twinbill sweep of Panthers
QUINCY — A rally that began with a record-breaking home run, ended with an epic bat flip and featured some of the most selfless, mature at-bats in between left everyone exiting QU Stadium with the same train of thought. This Quincy University baseball squad may truly be a team of destiny. “I told you three…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Walk-off grand slam sets stage for QU baseball team to complete twinbill sweep
QUINCY — Brock Boynton knew it immediately. The epic bat flip made it obvious to everyone else. The senior center fielder crushed a walk-off grand slam to give the Quincy University baseball team a 12-8 victory in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Drury at QU Stadium. The eighth-ranked Hawks completed the sweep with…
Read MoreLogsdon’s grand slam puts cap on strong start to weekend for QU baseball team
QUINCY — If the rest of the weekend follows suit, the seniors on the Quincy University baseball team will create a memorable way to say goodbye. Friday’s start set the tone. Senior right-hander Spencer Walker struck out eight over seven innings, the eighth-ranked Hawks opened the game with five consecutive singles and fifth-year first baseman…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Hawks open final home weekend of regular season with victory over Panthers
QUINCY — The team that has been virtually unbeatable at home this season continued to show why Friday. The eighth-ranked Quincy University baseball team parlayed a quality start from right-hander Spencer Walker and a 17-hit attack into a 12-5 victory over Drury at QU Stadium. The Hawks are now 23-2 at home this season. Muddy…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Logsdon, Norris talk about how QU served as home, family during incredible athletic careers
QUINCY — The highs and lows — things both Lance Logsdon and Mattison Norris experienced throughout the Quincy University athletic careers — never sidetracked either, largely because of their competitive nature and dogged determination, but also because they had each other. The record-setting slugger for the QU baseball team and the All-American outside hitter for…
Read MoreStandard of success: Logsdon’s legacy with QU baseball program will be defined by drive, determination and doing things right way
QUINCY — The preferred option isn’t always the right option. Josh Rabe helped Lance Logsdon see that. And by embracing such a notion, the left-handed slugger discovered he was choosing the best option imaginable. Deciding to play baseball at Quincy University and forego the dream of an NCAA Division I scholarship allowed Logsdon to earn…
Read MoreSix is a serious number: No. 13 Hawks use six-run rally in seventh inning to upend No. 4 Mules
QUINCY — Brock Boynton never felt the ball leave the bat. “That’s when you know it’s going to be a good one,” he said. Gino D’Allesio didn’t feel the ball explode off his bat either. “I’ve been waiting for one of those,” he said. When the Quincy University center fielder and shortstop barreled up pitches…
Read MorePhoto gallery: No. 13 QU baseball team erases four-run deficit to knock off No. 4 Central Missouri
QUINCY — A six-run rally in the seventh inning Tuesday — a “Quincy six-spot” as center fielder Brock Boynton called it — pushed the 13th-ranked Quincy University baseball team to an 8-6 victory over No. 4 Central Missouri at QU Stadium in the Hawks’ final non-conference game of the regular season. Muddy River Sports Editor…
Read MoreHawks blend ingredients for victory together to win another GLVC weekend series
ST. LOUIS — The Quincy University baseball team’s recipe for success worked well Sunday. The Hawks piled up runs, scoring 11 times and collecting 18 hits. Jay Hammel delivered a strong start as the right-hander allowed just two runs over seven innings. The bullpen finished it off with Chase Gockel and Tyler Carpenter each striking…
Read MoreKirn dials in, mows down Tritons with career-high 13 Ks as No. 13 Hawks reach 30-victory plateau
ST. LOUIS — Maybe Griffin Kirn should have known something special lied ahead. “Typically, it seems the better games a pitcher pitches their catch is bad or their bullpen is bad,” the Quincy University left-handed pitcher said. “For me, my catch was the worst game of catch I’ve had in a long time.” Prior to…
Read MoreWalker quiets Tritons as Hawks break single-season home run record in series opener
ST. LOUIS — A record-setting home run was all Spencer Walker needed. After Luke Napleton launched a solo home run in the first inning Friday afternoon, allowing the Quincy University baseball team to break the single-season home run record, Walker followed with eight scoreless innings as the Hawks opened the weekend series against Missouri-St. Louis…
Read MoreDoubly grand: Flowerree’s epic series includes two slams in one game, go-ahead three-run homer
CANTON, Mo. — Dax Flowerree tried to have a singular focus during his at-bat. “When I got into the box, I wanted to get a pitch to hit hard somewhere,” he said. But the Culver-Stockton College senior first baseman couldn’t ignore everything transpiring around him. With the C-SC baseball team leading Graceland 16-2 in the…
Read MoreCollege notebook: Derry gets NAIA coaching job, Alleyne earns All-MIVA honors, QU grad gets jersey retired at SIU
AUGUSTA, Ill. — Emma Derry is taking her talents to the college game. The Southeastern graduate spent the past two years as the head volleyball coach at Lincoln High School, guiding the Railers to a 30-win season, a regional championship and a second-place finish in the Apollo Conference last fall. The success earned her the…
Read MoreNapleton garners GLVC Player of the Week after crushing McKendree pitching
QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s big weekend earned him another Great Lakes Valley Conference honor. The Quincy University baseball team’s junior catcher was named the GLVC Player of the Week after helping the Hawks go 5-0 last week with a four-game sweep of McKendree to move into sole possession of first place in the league standings.…
Read MoreHawks continue to showcase offensive firepower, finish sweep of Bearcats with big bang
QUINCY — Filling out the lineup card isn’t too much of a chore for Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel. “It isn’t drawing straws,” he said. Eight starters are hitting .350 or better. Seven starters have each hit six or more home runs. Five have 30 or more RBIs. And every single one of them…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team completes four-game sweep of McKendree
QUINCY — A four-game sweep of McKendree, coupled with a series split between Illinois-Springfield and Maryville, has the Quincy University baseball team alone in first place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference following Saturday’s 13-6 and 15-4 victories at QU Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman was on hand to capture some of the…
Read MoreKirn, Hawks turn up heat on Bearcats, open weekend series with doubleheader sweep
QUINCY — Of all the unusual pieces to the puzzle the Quincy University baseball program had to maneuver into place to play its Great Lakes Valley Conference series at home this weekend, dealing with the heat wasn’t on the list of concerns. At least not until gametime. The 84-degree afternoon temperature at QU Stadium was…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team wins first two games of weekend series with McKendree
QUINCY — The logistical challenges of moving a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball series from the McKendree campus to QU Stadium were unique, but the end result of Friday’s series-opening doubleheader was expected. The 14th-ranked Hawks swept the Bearcats, winning 15-5 and 5-2. Due to weather concerns, the rest of the weekend schedule has…
Read MoreMartin confident more complete arsenal of pitches will lead to rise through Cubs organization
KODAK, Tenn. — To get to where he sees himself going, Riley Martin understands the importance of having another pitch in his arsenal. More specifically, the left-handed hurler needed a pitch to befuddle left-handed hitters. So this spring, the former Quincy University All-American pitcher and current member of the Chicago Cubs organization took advantage of…
Read MoreHawks erase four-run deficit, win GLVC series against Saints
QUINCY — Luke Napleton tossed the bat away thinking he’d just drawn a walk, but the home plate umpire called it a strike to force the Quincy University catcher back into the batter’s box to face a full-count payoff pitch. But he only had a few seconds to regroup because the pitch clock was running.…
Read MoreDupont’s blast completes rally as nationally ranked Hawks sweep twinbill from Saints
QUINCY — Dustin Dupont hoped some verbal encouragement would work. The fly ball he hit in the bottom of the sixth inning Friday afternoon seemed to have enough steam behind it to clear QU Stadium’s left field stone wall. Still, as the Quincy University baseball team’s left-handed hitting catcher bounced out of the batter’s box,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Late-inning rally leads to twinbill sweep for QU baseball team
QUINCY — In need of something to lift morale and change momentum, the Quincy University baseball team got a quality start from left-hander Griffin Kirn and a three home run day from Dustin Dupont to sweep Maryville 14-6 and 6-5 in Great Lakes Valley Conference action Friday at QU Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MoreNinth-inning collapse costs Hawks opening game of crucial GLVC series with Saints
QUINCY — Brett Panick’s wildness, Maryville’s patience and an inopportune time for a letdown has the nationally ranked Quincy University baseball team needing to rebound. The ninth-ranked Hawks took a three-run lead to the ninth inning Thursday in the opening game of a four-game Great Lakes Valley Conference series, but Panick was unable to close…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU’s Walker, Palmyra’s Kroeger engage in GLVC pitcher’s duel at QU Stadium
QUINCY — Spencer Walker delivered. So did Jacob Kroeger. Once the two starting pitchers exited, it was up to their respective bullpens to determine which team won the opening game of the Great Lakes Valley Conference series. Give the edge to the Maryville baseball team. The Saints rallied for four runs in the top of…
Read MoreHammel, Hawks finish series with dominant effort, earn split with Prairie Stars
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Jay Hammel delivered his best when the Quincy University baseball team needed it most. Having lost the first game of Sunday’s Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader with Illinois-Springfield, the Hawks needed a victory in the nightcap to split the day and the four-game series between two nationally ranked teams. Hammel made certain…
Read MoreHawks, Prairie Stars split doubleheader as bullpen, energetic offense engineer comeback in nightcap
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Chase Gockel’s job Saturday was to keep the Great Lakes Valley Conference doubleheader from teetering to the point of no return. Three scoreless innings did the trick. After the Illinois-Springfield baseball team won the first game of the twinbill 9-3 by scoring three times in both the sixth and seventh inning, the…
Read MoreLiving in a hitter’s paradise: Hawks slug seven home runs, sweep GLVC series from Bulldogs
QUINCY — A sun-splashed Sunday afternoon with the wind whipping into the right-center field gap and temperatures rising above the stocking cap barometer turned QU Stadium into a hitter’s paradise. No wonder the Quincy University baseball team’s entire lineup salivated over the possibilities. “I think it’s almost impossible not to, especially when you have 20…
Read MoreSchuckman: Unshaken confidence allows Hammel to rejoin QU rotation with bulldogged effort
QUINCY — Doubt comes when confidence wanes. Everything Jay Hammel experienced in the first six weeks of the Quincy University baseball team’s season could have created doubt in himself, his ability to contribute on a nationally ranked team, and his decision to return for a final year of eligibility. Never once has he doubted any…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Hawks complete sweep of Bulldogs with another booming effort offensively
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team bookended its weekend sweep of Truman State with offensive outbursts, complementing Friday’s 14-run effort with Sunday’s 20-7 victory at Stadium. The Hawks hit seven home runs with Nolan Wosman going 5 for 5 with two home runs and four runs scored. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent…
Read MoreHawks eliminate any hope Bulldogs created by winning final three innings of series opener
QUINCY — It’s a simple philosophy with proven results. Win the inning. “I don’t know if you can hear me in the dugout, but I’m always saying ‘win the inning,’” Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel said. “Whether we give up four or give up two or give up none, go win the inning. If…
Read MoreWalker bounces back with complete command, strikes out 10 in Hawks’ victory over Bulldogs
QUINCY — Spencer Walker paused as he searched for the most apropos way to describe his mindset when he took the mound Friday afternoon. “I can’t find the word,” he frustratedly said. He needed more than one. “I went out there with a little more of a chip on my shoulder,” Walker said. He pitched…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team opens weekend with 10-run rule victory over Truman State
QUINCY — Everyone got into the act. The Quincy University baseball team scored 12 runs over the final three innings Friday to post a 14-4, seven-inning victory over Truman State at QU Stadium. All nine of the Hawks in the lineup reached base, seven had hits and eight scored at least one run. Muddy River…
Read MoreHawks rattle bats, score 30 runs in sweeping doubleheader from Miners
QUINCY — When the Quincy University baseball team starts rattling the bats, there’s no slowing down the offense. The Hawks tagged nine Missouri S&T pitchers for a combined 30 runs in sweeping Sunday’s doubleheader at QU Stadium, winning 11-2 and 19-11 to take three of the four games in their first Great Lakes Valley Conference…
Read MoreWosman’s walk-off single allows Hawks to rebound and split GLVC doubleheader
QUINCY — What’s the best way to respond to a pummeling? Come back and deliver the final blow. The Quincy University baseball team is pretty good at finishing with a punch. After allowing the most runs in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game in at least two decades in a 20-10 loss, the Hawks salvaged…
Read MoreFormer QU ace Spraker earns victory out of bullpen for Great Britain in World Baseball Classic
QUINCY — The Fox Sports 2 broadcast team handling the play-by-play of Monday’s World Baseball Classic matchup between Colombia and Great Britain pointed out multiple times the number of professional scouts in attendance. If any are looking for a right-handed reliever, Graham Spraker may have piqued their interest. The former Quincy University ace came out…
Read MoreHawks’ Napleton picks up GLVC weekly honor after belting five home runs in series sweep
QUINCY — Luke Napleton’s first at-bat set the tone for quite a weekend that earned him Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week when all was said and done. The Quincy University baseball team’s junior catcher roped a line drive over Augustana center fielder Trevor Winterstein that turned into a triple thanks to his…
Read MoreWalking away a winner: Parks’ four-RBI effort powers Hawks to sweep of Vikings
QUINCY — Zach Parks didn’t find himself in an all-or-nothing situation, but the absence of an on-deck hitter behind him suggested it. When the Quincy University left fielder went to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday, two scenarios existed. If he collected a hit…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team completes three-game sweep of Augustana
QUINCY — Seven combined shutout innings from four pitchers and a four-RBI effort from the No. 9 hitter propelled the Quincy University baseball team to a 10-0 victory over Augustana on Saturday at QU Stadium and a three-game sweep of the Vikings. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman hung out at the windy, cold stadium…
Read MoreShutout innings from starters, gobble-it-up defense carry Hawks to doubleheader sweep
QUINCY — Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel picked up the walkie talkie used to relay messages to the bullpen but hesitated before hitting the call button. “I was like, ‘Do I say it? Do I not say it? Do I say it? Do I not say it?’” he said. “The whole time I’m thinking,…
Read MoreQU baseball notebook: Triple in first at-bat gets Napleton close to hitting for cycle
QUINCY — Luke Napleton wasn’t stopping for anyone or anything. In the bottom of the first inning in the first game of Friday’s doubleheader, the Quincy University baseball team’s junior catcher rifled a ball over the head of Augustana center fielder Trevor Winterstein that reached the warning track. Although third base coach Chandler Purcell threw…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team sweeps doubleheader from Augustana
QUINCY — The nationally ranked Quincy University baseball team hit six home runs and got scoreless outings from its starting pitchers in sweeping a doubleheader from Augustana (S.D.) on Friday at QU Stadium, winning both games 7-2. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the afternoon at QU Stadium and created this photo gallery:
Read MoreLate-inning rallies help Hawks complete four-game sweep of Timberwolves
QUINCY — Never out of the fight. That needs to become the Quincy University baseball team’s new catchphrase. The Hawks completed a four-game sweep of Northwood — a perennial Midwest Region foe — with a series of late-inning rallies, scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh inning or later in three of the four games…
Read MoreQU baseball team moves up to No. 17 in national poll after opening with three victories in four games
SAINT LEO, Fla. – The Quincy University baseball team has moved up three spots to No. 17 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. Quincy opened its season by defeating No. 3-ranked Tampa in two out of three games on Feb. 10-12, then defeated Saint Leo University 10-2 on Tuesday. A two-run double…
Read MoreResilient Hawks rally to knock off No. 3 Spartans, win season-opening series in Florida
TAMPA, Fla. — Never give up, never give in. Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel knows he has a team willing to live by that mantra. The Hawks can compete with anyone in the country, too. Both of those aspects were revealed during the season-opening three-game series against the third-ranked University of Tampa as the…
Read MoreHawks’ goal on Florida trip is to become part of national contender conversation — now and for seasons to come
QUINCY — Asked what he hoped his team’s accomplishes on a seven-game, 11-day trip to the Sunshine State, Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel responded with his own query. “Short term or long term?” he asked. Everything Schissel does for this program is viewed through both of those lenses. In this case, the short-term answer…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Cubs pitching prospect Riley Martin discusses spring training and his progress
QUINCY — Riley Martin admits it’s been a short offseason, but that hasn’t diminished his readiness for spring training. “I feel like I’ve put in some good work this offseason,” he said. “I’m excited to get back and get started.” The former Quincy University left-handed All-American hurler will head to Mesa, Ariz., next week to…
Read MoreTwo QU baseball products sign professional contracts
QUINCY — A pair of former Quincy University baseball players recently signed professional contracts. Right-handed reliever Graham Spraker is getting the chance to restart his career with a new organization, while slugging infielder Dayson Croes is just beginning his pursuit. Spraker signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays last week and was…
Read MoreQU’s Walker, Napleton pick up NCBWA NCAA Division II preseason All-American honors
QUINCY — A pair of Quincy University baseball players have been named preseason All-Americans a week ahead of the Hawks’ season opener. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its NCAA Division II preseason All-American teams Thursday with Quincy starting pitcher Spencer Walker earning first-team plaudits and junior catcher Luke Napleton garnering a second-team nod.…
Read MoreGLVC coaches tab QU baseball team to finish second in league’s preseason poll
QUINCY — The Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball coaches are following the lead of their national counterparts. Illinois-Springfield is the team to beat this spring. Quincy University isn’t far behind. The Prairie Stars, who are the defending GLVC champions and coming off an NCAA Division II World Series appearance, were selected as the No. 1…
Read MoreCollege notebook: Hawks sit No. 20 in preseason national poll, QHS grad Johnson with two indoor track personal bests
QUINCY — The battle waged last season for a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series is expected to happen again, at least by those voting for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason polls. The Quincy University and Illinois-Springfield baseball teams sit atop the Midwest Region preseason poll and are nationally ranked with…
Read MoreWIU names Sheriff as interim baseball coach
MACOMB, Ill. — Western Illinois University Director of Athletics Paul Bubb announced Monday that Tayler Sheriff will serve as the interim head coach of the baseball program for the 2023 season. “After speaking with returning members of the baseball team, I truly believe this is the best opportunity for this program at this time,” Bubb said.…
Read MoreSuper sensation: Hawks outlast Panthers with clutch performances, secure spot in super-regionals
CALEDONIA, Mich. — The odds were never in the Quincy University baseball team’s favor. The Hawks suffered a demoralizing 10-5, 12-inning loss to Northwood in Thursday’s opening game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional, squandering a 5-1 lead in the ninth inning. “A lot of people would have probably bet a lot of money…
Read MorePribyl finishes what he started freshman year by leading Hawks to super-regional berth
CALEDONIA, Mich. — Some might think Alex Pribyl actually enjoys the suspense. “It’s not me if I don’t make it interesting, isn’t that right?” the Quincy University right-handed reliever said. So the fact he allowed a single and a walk to the first two Davenport hitters in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday with…
Read MoreSchuckman: Logsdon delivers clutch hit because no one in QU dugout ever lost faith in him
CALEDONIA, Mich. — The kind of moments a hitter lives for can be the ones most taxing or debilitating when success eludes you. Lance Logsdon knows how true that can be. The Quincy University junior first baseman faced the opportunity to capitalize on a game-changing at-bat each of the past two weekends. Neither time he…
Read MoreKirn-el of hope: Left-hander’s bounce-back game moves Hawks to brink of super-regional bid
CALEDONIA, Mich. — Griffin Kirn couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. Last weekend against Lewis in the Great Lakes Valley Conference baseball tournament, the Quincy University left-hander retired the first nine batters he faced without incident. Then in the fourth inning, everything unraveled. He allowed the first six Flyers to collect hits, including four…
Read MoreHawks put together ‘Quincy inning’ to send Timberwolves packing in Midwest Regional
CALEDONIA, Mich. — It’s come to be known as the “Quincy inning.” Friday afternoon, the Quincy University baseball team enjoyed putting up one of those crooked numbers on the scoreboard. Leading Northwood 1-0 entering the second inning of an NCAA Division II Midwest Regional elimination game at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex, the Hawks exploded for…
Read MoreSchuckman: Character Schissel shows in wake of heart-breaking loss is why success will follow
CALEDONIA, Mich. — Matt Schissel struggled for good reason to calculate whether the Quincy University baseball players were ready to rebound 40 minutes after a gut punch. “I’ll be honest,” the first-year Hawks coach said, “I wasn’t ready to go back and play.” Schissel took at least 25 minutes of that 40-minute gap between games…
Read More‘We put it in the past’: Hawks regroup after gut-punching loss, stave off elimination with offensive eruption
CALEDONIA, Mich. — Brock Boynton felt he had to get away. “I actually left the ballpark and took a walk in the woods,” the Quincy University sophomore center fielder said. “It was tough.” With a victory in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional seemingly within its grasp, the fourth-seeded QU baseball…
Read MoreHammel earns payback with complete-game victory over Panthers to keep Hawks’ season alive
CALEDONIA, Mich. — Jay Hammel never forgot. A year ago, when the Quincy University baseball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional with a 22-13 loss to Davenport, Hammel worked one inning of relief and allowed two runs and four hits. That crept into his mind as the right-handed pitcher warmed up…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: NCAA Tournament talk with QU baseball coach Matt Schissel
QUINCY — The QUuncy University baseball team is making its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional this week, the longest such streak in the region. The Hawks open play at 11 a.m. Thursday against Northwood in Caledonia, Mich. QU coach Matt Schissel joined Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman on the…
Read MoreQU baseball team earns seventh straight NCAA tourney bid, heads to Michigan for regional play
QUINCY — The expectation exists that on the second Sunday of May the Quincy University baseball team will see its name appear on the NCAA Division II Midwest Region bracket. Yet, until it does, there is always a touch of trepidation. “You really never know with the committee,” QU left-hander Tyler Carpenter said. “But we…
Read MoreCarpenter’s bulldogged effort moves Hawks into title game, but Prairie Stars capture GLVC crown
ST. CHARLES, Mo. — Tyler Carpenter’s effort proved inspiring. That should benefit the Quincy University baseball team in the long run, even if Sunday ended without a conference championship. A left-hander hurler who mostly had been used out of the bullpen this season, Carpenter put the Hawks in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship…
Read MoreTearing Loos: Payson Seymour product creates powerful legacy with JWCC baseball program
QUINCY — Graduation day ended up being spent on a baseball field. There aren’t many places Lucas Loos would rather be. His favorite fishing hole might be one of them. “I don’t think it’s better than baseball,” he said. “But it helps me relax and get my mind off things.” More recently, the woods have…
Read MoreHawks survive with one-run victory, move closer to playing for GLVC Tournament title
ST. LOUIS — Three outs away from winning a second round game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament, Quincy University baseball coach Matt Schissel was surprisingly relaxed. “I was probably the calmest person in the ballpark,” Schissel said. The rest of the QU dugout was on pins and needles. “I can’t lie to you,”…
Read MoreWalker, Napleton land on All-GLVC first team, with three Hawks earning second-team honors
QUINCY — Spencer Walker’s consistency and Luke Napleton’s power couldn’t be ignored. Neither could the stellar effort of Jay Hammel, the quality at-bats of Dayson Croes and the comeback effort of Alex Pribyl. Those five have played an integral part in the Quincy University baseball team rising to fourth in the latest NCAA Division II…
Read MoreLoos jacks three home runs to help Trail Blazers split final home doubleheader
QUINCY — Lucas Loos went out with a bang. Three bangs in fact. The Payson Seymour product blasted three home runs during his final home doubleheader with the John Wood Community College baseball team, jacking two in the nightcap as the Trail Blazers earned a 9-4 victory over Illinois Central College in Mid-West Athletic Conference…
Read MoreHawks’ rally falls short in regular-season finale, turn attention to GLVC Tournament
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team’s seed for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament wasn’t going to change with the outcome of Sunday’s regular-season finale. Only the vibe the Hawks carry into the postseason could be altered. A 12-11 loss to Missouri S&T at QU Stadium didn’t totally change that thanks to an offense…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QU baseball team celebrates Mother’s Day and Senior Day
QUINCY — The Quincy University baseball team honored its mothers and its seniors during pregame ceremonies before playing Missouri S&T in the regular-season finale Sunday at QU Stadium. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured images that helped sum up the day.
Read MoreScoreboard for Saturday, May 7
Girls soccer At Jefferson City, Mo. Quincy High School 5, Jefferson City Helias 0: Sophomore forward Taylor Routh and freshman midfielder Sydney Welsh each scored two goals as the Blue Devils closed the regular season with a victory. Mariah Crist also scored a goal for QHS, which is 12-6-1 overall heading into the Class 3A…
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