Posts Tagged ‘Prep baseball’
‘We just did that’: Pair of inside-the-park home runs leads Illinois past Missouri in all-star game
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Jansen Lawson couldn’t possibly do it, too, could he? Yes, he could. And he did. After Quincy High School graduate Brady Lowe hit an inside-the-park grand slam in the top of the first inning of Saturday’s Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game at the Veterans Sports Complex, Lawson, also a former Blue Devil,…
Read MoreSouth Shelby’s Rich becomes first to play and coach in Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game
HANNIBAL, Mo. — It felt different for Jacob Rich this time around. But at the same time, it all felt familiar. The South Shelby baseball coach took the reins of the Missouri team for Saturday’s 10th annual Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game at the Veterans Sports Complex. By doing so, he became the first person…
Read MorePhoto gallery: All-Stars enjoy time to shine during Missouri vs. Illinois baseball game
HANNIBAL, Mo. — A number of the top prep baseball players from this region were able to represent their high school and their community one final time Saturday night during the 10th annual Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game at the Veterans Sports Complex in Hannibal, Mo. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was there and…
Read MoreSeeing through Rose-colored glasses: QND baseball product overcomes freak accident to thrive playing game he loves
QUINCY — The afternoon sun hung high in a cloudless sky above an empty parking lot, making it impossible to escape just how luminous it can be. Ethan Rose didn’t shy away from it, even when brightness is his nemesis. “There’s nothing like having your eyesight,” he said. “It’s something you take for granted. Like…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: Baseball Player of the Year Wesley Robertson discusses record-setting season at Illini West
CARTHAGE, Ill. — If the best is yet to come, Wesley Robertson will rewrite the Illini West baseball program’s entire record book. What he did during his sophomore campaign was pretty impressive as a starting point. The third baseman set the Chargers’ single-season record for RBIs, driving in 50 runs as Illini West went 28-5…
Read More2024 all-area baseball team: League leaders and record-setting numbers define success
QUINCY — League-leading hitters, dominant pitching performances and record-setting run producers helped define success throughout the prep baseball season. Here is a look at the 2024 Muddy River Sports all-area baseball team: Owen Rigg, Catcher, Senior, Southeastern Rigg was selected to play in the 47th annual Illinois Coaches Association All-Star Baseball Game at Hornberger Field…
Read MoreChargers’ Robertson receives Class 2A all-state honors after record-setting baseball season
CARTHAGE, Ill. — A record-setting season earned Wesley Robertson an all-state accolade. The Illini West sophomore third baseman/pitcher was one of 24 players named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A all-state team and one of just two sophomores to make the list. The IHSBCA names only one all-state team per class.…
Read MoreQuincy American Legion Post 37 working toward reviving baseball program
QUINCY — The puzzle is not complete, but the picture is becoming clearer. Quincy American Legion Post 37 has been without a baseball team since 2018, but it could return as soon as 2025. Matt Anderson and John Gosney are spearheading the effort to revive it. “There’s definitely a void to be filled,” said Anderson, Post…
Read MoreIrish right-hander takes steam out of Chargers’ attack in Class 2A sectional championship
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…
Read MoreRedbirds capitalize on free bases in knocking Blue Devils out in regional semifinals
ALTON, Ill. — The Quincy High School baseball team erased a three-run deficit once. Doing it twice was asking too much, especially when giving away free bases. Trailing Alton 3-0 after two innings in Thursday’s Class 4A Alton Regional semifinal, the Blue Devils rallied to take a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the…
Read MoreChargers apply pressure to Rockets’ defense, create sectional title game showdown with Irish
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…
Read More‘I wasn’t really nervous’: Carlisle’s strong outing helps Chargers win regional title
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Ethan Carlisle is only a sophomore, but he had the composure of a veteran on Saturday. Carlisle tossed six shutout innings as the Illini West baseball team defeated Macomb 5-0 to capture the Class 2A Illini West Regional title at Jake Burling Field. Carlisle’s poise was put to the test in the…
Read MoreOne for the road: Cougars beat Mustangs for regional title, send seniors on class trip in style
LIBERTY, Ill. — A freshman pitcher’s poise and presence is going to allow the seniors on the Winchester West Central baseball team to thoroughly enjoy the road trip that lies ahead. It should enable Grant DeWitt to have a more casual drive, too. Right-hander Anthony Hance wriggled out of a sixth-inning with a five-run lead…
Read MoreCyclones walk off with victory over Saukees after scoring twice in seventh of regional title game
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The start was nearly perfect. The ending proved imperfect. After Pittsfield senior first baseman Brennan Tomhave launched a one-out home run to center field in the top of the first inning Saturday, Saukees right-hander Konner Allen retired Sacred Heart-Griffin without trouble in the bottom of the frame. However, the lead didn’t last.…
Read MoreBruns finishes what he starts, guiding Chargers to regional semifinal victory in eight innings
CARTHAGE, Ill. — Illini West baseball coach Zack Burling told left-handed starter Nick Bruns he was only going to face Eureka’s leadoff hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday before the Chargers went to the bullpen. “I just begged him to let me try to finish this game,” Bruns said. “And he did.…
Read MoreSpring postseason scoreboard: Regional title matchups set, soccer sectionals on tap
QUINCY — Here is a look at the schedule for regional play in Illinois in baseball, softball and girls soccer, as well as the Missouri district baseball tournaments: Illinois baseball Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional Wednesday, May 22 Game 1 — Winner North Mac Regional vs. Winner Pittsfield Regional, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 — Winner…
Read MoreMustangs manufacture five-inning victory over Eagles to reach Class 1A regional title game
LIBERTY, Ill. — Patience, persistence and pitching have put the Mendon Unity baseball team on the verge of both a 20-win season and the program’s first regional title in more than 30 years. The second-seeded Mustangs took advantage of 10 free bases, broke through to take the lead in the third inning and finished off…
Read MorePitchers’ duel ends with Cyclones ending Raiders’ season in Class 2A regional semifinals
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — One swing changed everything. Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Abram Wiewel held the second-seeded Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin baseball team hitless for a 4 ⅓ innings Wednesday in the semifinals of the Class 2A Pittsfield Regional. Then SHG designated hitter Gage Luttrell blasted a one-ball, one-strike pitch to center field for a solo home…
Read MoreWiewel drives in seven runs in first three innings, powers QND to victory in regional opener
QUINCY — Abram Wiewel, Evan Kenning and the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team are trying to rekindle some postseason magic. Monday was a good start. The Raiders used seven RBIs from Wiewel and five solid innings from Kenning to dispatch Beardstown 10-4 at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield and advance to Wednesday’s semifinals of the…
Read MoreAround the area: Indians advance in regionals, Ertz breaks all-time hit record
PAYSON, Ill. — The top of the Payson Seymour baseball team’s lineup set the tone for a 10-5 victory over Southeastern in Monday’s opening round matchup in the Class 1A Liberty Regional. It made history possible, too. Indians leadoff hitter Nolan Sparks went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while No.…
Read More‘It gives me goosebumps every time I think about it’: Ertz on verge of breaking Payson hits record
PAYSON, Ill. — Ashton Ertz and Josh Cook share more than just a record. Ertz, a senior center fielder for the Payson Seymour baseball team, has 86 career hits. This mark puts him in a tie with Cook, a 1993 Payson Seymour graduate who spent time in the Houston Astros and New York Mets farm…
Read MoreMissed opportunities cost Pirates in extra-inning loss to Hawks
HANNIBAL, Mo. — No baseball team in Hannibal High School history has ever won 20 games in a season. That will remain the case for at least one more day. The Pirates had a chance to become the first team to reach the 20-victory plateau Friday, but Hillsboro edged out them 2-1 in eight innings…
Read MoreAround the area: QHS tennis team with strong showing on first day of WB6 championships
GENESEO, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys tennis team positioned itself to claim the Western Big 6 Conference championship with a strong showing Friday. The Blue Devils lead the field with 12 team points, advancing two singles players and their No. 1 doubles team to Saturday’s semifinals. In singles play, third-seeded Trevor Nelson lost…
Read MoreFour-run frame enables Mustangs to build some momentum ahead of regional play
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Carter Reeves did exactly what Mendon Unity baseball coach Tyler McAllister has wanted him to do with an outside pitch. Simply punch it into right-center field. With two outs in the top of the fifth inning Thursday, Reeves smacked the first pitch he saw from Camp Point Central reliever Garrett Neisen…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Mustangs, Panthers offer prelude to Class 1A baseball regional
CAMP POINT, Ill. — The final week of the regular season is mirroring the rest of the spring — windy, rainy and unpredictable. Thursday’s game between the Mendon Unity and Camp Point Central baseball teams saw sunny skies turn to dark clouds, wind kick up and a steady rain that halted play in the top…
Read MoreHornets take advantage of Blue Devils’ miscues in late innings to secure victory
MT. STERLING, Ill. — Beating a Class 4A program gave the Brown County baseball team a major boost heading into next week’s Class 1A regional. Vlad Rebarcak scored in the bottom of the sixth inning when Quincy High School was unable to turn an inning-ending double play, and Hornets pitcher Eli Staton finished a complete…
Read MoreBlue Devils scratch across single runs in fourth and fifth innings to quell Panthers’ rally
QUINCY — A quick answer enabled the Quincy High School baseball team to fend off Camp Point Central on Tuesday at the QHS field. After the Panthers scored four runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 7, a two-out RBI single by Brady Lowe regained the lead for the Blue…
Read MoreAround the area: Allison lifts Panthers to victory, Pirates’ offense rolls, Allen tosses shutout for Saukees
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Braizley Allison came through in the clutch. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday and the Camp Point Central and Payson Seymour softball teams knotted at 8, Allison singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Anna Peters with what turned out to be…
Read MoreBombers capitalize on free bases, use four-run inning to beat Raiders
QUINCY — Free bases are nothing but trouble as the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s pitching staff has come to know. Five QND hurlers combined to walk eight batters and hit two others during Tuesday’s 8-5 loss to Macomb at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. The Bombers’ four-run rally in the top of the fourth…
Read More‘The ball is going to find you’: Hendrian’s play off bench gives Raiders needed lift
QUINCY — Elliott Hendrian might as well have taken a flashing neon sign screaming “Hit it here” with him to second base. The baseball gods were well aware he was there. Quincy Notre Dame coach Rich Polak made an abrupt switch in the top of the fourth inning Monday, pulling starting second baseman Oliver Triplett…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND, West Hancock square off in WCC baseball battle
QUINCY — A pitcher’s duel turned in the favor of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team when the Raiders were able to manufacture a pair of runs in the fifth inning of Monday’s 3-1 victory over West Hancock in West Central Conference action at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman…
Read MoreTaylor dazzles in 12-strikeout effort to lead Blue Devils to WB6 split
STERLING, Ill. — Kyle Taylor’s final Western Big 6 Conference start will go down as his best. The senior right-hander tossed a one-hit shutout Monday in leading the Quincy High School baseball team to a 7-0 victory over Sterling and a split of the conference doubleheader. The Golden Warriors won the opener 15-0. Taylor struck…
Read MoreAround the area: Chargers walk off with victory, Titans’ Larson plates winning run, Panthers thrive on pair of homers
CARTHAGE, Ill — Wesley Robertson’s walk-off single was the exclamation point on the Illini West baseball team’s 6-5 victory over Lewistown-Valley-Cuba on Monday. With the game tied at 5 and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, Carter Chapin reached on an error, and Colby Robertson singled to move the winning run to…
Read MoreAround the area: Hlubek belts three homers to lead Blue Devils past Chargers
QUINCY — Avary Hlubek could not and would not be denied. The sophomore center fielder hit home runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings of the Quincy High School softball team’s 12-4 victory over Illini West on Friday. Her second inning home run came just three batters after Carlee Gilker hit a two-run home…
Read MoreTake it to the limit: Wiewel holds Blue Devils at bay as Raiders win latest crosstown showdown
QUINCY — Abram Wiewel understands the need for a pitch count, but it doesn’t dampen the disappointment of being pulled one out away from a complete game. “I wanted to finish it really bad,” said Wiewel, the Quincy Notre Dame junior right-hander who left Tuesday’s game against the Quincy High School baseball team with a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Raiders, Blue Devils tussle in round two of their three-part city series
QUINCY — It all comes down to the rubber match. The Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams split their first two meetings this season, with the Raiders evening the series with a 5-1 victory Tuesday night at the QHS field. The third meeting comes next Monday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield.…
Read MorePitching, defense shine as Pirates clinch North Central Missouri Conference title
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Kane Wilson’s diving stop in the fifth inning of the Hannibal baseball team’s 3-0 victory over Mexico at the Veterans Sports Complex on Monday did not result in an out, but the Pirates shortstop made arguably the most important play of the game. With a runner on second, no outs and the…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Dryden’s effort, insurance runs secure another NCMC crown for Pirates
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal baseball team is at the top of the heap once again, having defeated Mexico 3-0 on Monday at the Veterans Sports Complex to win the North Central Missouri Conference title. It is the Pirates’ second NCMC crown in the past three seasons. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent Monday…
Read MoreRaiders fend off Hornets, pick up victory with ninth-inning rally
MT. STERLING, Ill. — A catcher’s interference call on a bunt attempt in the top of the ninth allowed the go-ahead run to score and the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team tacked on another to pull out a 7-5 victory over Brown County on Monday. After each team scored a run in the eighth inning,…
Read MoreAround the area: Dance, Trail Blazers sweep twinbill; Pirates, Eagles split doubleheader
VINCENNES, Ind. — Tyler Dance found his footing. The John Wood Community College freshman right-hander threw six scoreless innings Saturday, striking out eight and walking one as the Trail Blazers opened a four-game Mid-West Athletic Conference series with an 8-0 victory over Vincennes University. JWCC also won the nightcap of the doubleheader 14-4. Dance, a…
Read MoreI am Iron Man: Camp Point Central’s Petersen toughs out streak of consecutive games catching
CAMP POINT, Ill. — It takes a certain toughness to play catcher. As Camp Point Central freshman infielder Caleb Petersen put it, “There’s no such thing as a good sissy catcher.” His older brother is as tough as they come and has an iron man streak to prove it. Cole Petersen, a senior, has caught…
Read MoreKenning, Robb come up clutch for Raiders in pivotal inning against Tigers
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…
Read MoreAround the area: Canton wins golf invite, Saukees’ Simon tosses one-hitter, Blue Devils belt four homers
LANCASTER, Mo. — One day after playing in a hail storm, Trevor Biggerstaff and the Canton boys golf team enjoyed teeing it up under a sun-splashed sky. The Tigers’ play mirrored the weather. Biggerstaff earned individual medalist honors by shooting a 1-under 71 and Canton won the team title with a 328 total Wednesday in…
Read MoreIndians notch shutout in program’s first win over Raiders
QUINCY — There’s a first time for everything. Clark County baseball coach Shaun Parker delivered that message to his team before Tuesday’s game against Quincy Notre Dame. The Indians listened and believed in what Parker said. Clark County scored a 4-0 victory at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield for the program’s first victory against QND.…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Split decision for QND teams at home as girls soccer wins, baseball falls
QUINCY — Playing side by side on the Quincy Notre Dame campus Tuesday evening, the QND girls soccer and baseball teams came away with mixed results. The soccer team scored three second-half goals in a 3-1 victory over Burlington (Iowa) Notre Dame, while the baseball team left 12 runners on base during a 4-0 loss…
Read MoreOh, so close: Wiewel carries no-hitter into seventh inning as Raiders down Mustangs
QUINCY — Off the field, Quincy Notre Dame junior Abram Wiewel is a light-hearted jokester. On the field, he turns into a junkyard dog. “When I’m pitching, I get into a completely different mindset,” Wiewel said. “I want to hunt you down and destroy you.” Monday, Wiewel annihilated the Mendon Unity baseball team’s offense, throwing…
Read MoreAround the area: Lowe tosses second perfect game in last two weeks as Wolves continue to roll
PLEASANT HILL, Ill. — Dominant. Unhittable. Perfect. All of these adjectives describe McKinley Lowe’s performance for the Pleasant Hill softball team on Monday. Lowe tossed a perfect game and struck out 19 hitters in the Wolves’ 9-0 victory over Winchester West Central. This is Lowe’s second perfect game in the last two weeks. She also…
Read MoreStellar pitching helps Saukees regain their footing, end Mustangs’ win streak
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Mired in a midseason slump, the Pittsfield baseball team needed a turn-things-around moment. Ending Mendon Unity’s 13-game win streak may be it. Two Saukees combined to limit the Mustangs to two hits, and a five-run fifth inning helped propel Pittsfield to a 9-0 victory Saturday. The Saukees had lost three of their…
Read MoreErrors, walks contribute to Blue Devils struggling in WB6 doubleheader sweep by Panthers
EAST MOLINE, Ill. — The Quincy High School baseball team surrendered eight runs in Saturday’s Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader against United Township. Not a single run was earned. The Blue Devils committed five errors total in getting swept 3-0 and 5-3, running their conference losing streak to five straight games. They have committed 11…
Read MoreRose in full bloom: QND senior belts first home run at The Ferd to power Raiders past Chargers
QUINCY — On the first pitch Ethan Rose saw, he knew he shouldn’t swing. On the second pitch, he knew he couldn’t pass. He made the right call on both. With one out in the bottom of the second inning Friday and runners on second and third after Gavin Doellman’s double, Rose jumped on a…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Runs difficult to come by as QND, Illini West square off
QUINCY — Four pitchers — two each from the Quincy Notre Dame and Illini West baseball teams — combine to strike out 14 batters and allow just five hits during Friday night’s showdown at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. The Raiders won 4-2 on the strength of Ethan Rose’s three-run home run and Evan Kenning’s…
Read MoreAround the area: Blue Devils win another dual, Neupauer walks off with homer, Wolves stay energized offensively
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School boys tennis team continues to pile up dual victories. Friday night’s effort against a traditional Western Big 6 Conference powerhouse is a sign of good things to come. The Blue Devils beat Moline 7-2 in a neutral-site dual, winning a pair of tiebreakers and getting solid play from…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Twice is nice for Pirates as baseball, girls soccer teams pick up NCMC victories
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Hannibal fans who made it to the Veterans Sports Complex on Wednesday afternoon were treated to a two-for-two. Two Pirates teams playing and two victories. The Hannibal girls soccer team continued its dominance of the North Central Missouri Conference, picking up an 8-0 victory over Kirksville. Malia Stolte scored four goals, Ashley…
Read MoreEpic rally allows Mustangs to keep win streak alive with extra-inning victory
BUSHNELL, Ill. — With two runners on base and two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bushnell-Prairie City baseball team was one run away from a 10-run rule victory. The Spartans didn’t get it, and that gave Mendon Unity new life. The Mustangs scored five times in the top of the sixth,…
Read MoreAround the area: South Shelby golfers win invite, Liberty rallies, QND collects 17 hits, Lowe homers twice for Blue Devils
SHELBINA, Mo — Jaaron Durbin and Noah Wilt took advantage of their home course knowledge and shared medalist honors Wednesday as the South Shelby boys golf team won its own invitational at Lakeside Golf Course. The Cardinals shot a 310, while Palmyra was second at 333 and Canton third at 344. Durbin and Wilt each…
Read MoreMaroons sweep Blue Devils in WB6 twinbill to stay atop league standings
QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team dropped both ends of a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader Saturday against league front-runner Moline at QU Stadium. The Maroons won the opener 5-3 despite getting outhit by the Blue Devils, while the nightcap turned into a rout as Moline won 14-1. In the first game, Quincy…
Read MoreUnity baseball team runs win streak to 11 straight with Saturday sweep
CONCORD, Ill. — The streak keeps building. A pair of victories Saturday in the Triopia Slam enabled the Mendon Unity baseball team to extend its winning streak to double digits following a 6-1 victory over Payson Seymour and a 12-0 victory over Triopia. The Mustangs have won 11 games in a row and are 12-2…
Read MoreQuality pitching not enough for QND baseball team to avoid dropping pair of games
TOLONO, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s pitching staff gave it a chance to win both games Saturday in the Tolono Unity Slam, but the Raiders’ offense couldn’t find that breakthrough moment. QND fell 1-0 to Tolono Unity and 4-1 to Teutopolis. Raiders junior right-hander Abram Wiewel tossed a two-hitter against Tolono Unity,…
Read MoreInjection of life: Blue Devils build confidence ahead of WB6 showdown by ending Pirates’ seven-game win streak
QUINCY — Rejuvenation became the name of the game. One team found it, the other now needs it — for decidedly different reasons. Back-to-back losses to begin the week, including an 11-run setback against Rock Island in Western Big 6 Conference play, made Wednesday’s 8-1 victory over Hannibal crucial for the Quincy High School baseball…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS, Hannibal baseball teams square off in middle of busy week
QUINCY — With no rain in sight, it’s time to play ball. And the Quincy High School and Hannibal baseball teams are playing as much as possible. Wednesday marked the third consecutive day with at least one game for both squads as the Blue Devils picked up an 8-1 victory at the QHS field. Muddy…
Read MoreShake it off, shake it off: Lahr’s ability to push everything aside and focus on pitching allows Raiders to take down Saukees
QUINCY — Just gotta shake it. Sophomore pitcher Bradi Lahr uttered those words — quite loudly — dozens of times during the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s game against Pittsfield on Wednesday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. What exactly does this phrase mean? “Whatever you want to take it as,” Lahr said. Whatever it…
Read MoreMustangs keep win streak alive by fighting back for nine-inning victory over Panthers
MENDON, Ill. — The manner in which the Palmyra baseball team rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning Monday to tie the game could have put Mendon Unity on its heels. Instead, the Mustangs proved they refuse to buckle. Cody Shaffer’s single through the left side of the infield with one…
Read MoreRaiders walk off with victory as all three runs in seventh-inning rally score on bases-loaded walks
QUINCY — Patience is a virtue the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players took to heart Monday. Trailing Rushville-Industry by two runs going to the bottom of the seventh inning at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, the Raiders put themselves in position to rally by loading the bases with one out. Abram Wiewel reached on an…
Read MoreThree-run first inning gives Saukees control in victory over Blue Devils
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — The Pittsfield baseball team wasted no time taking control. Run-scoring doubles by Brennan Tomhave, Konner Allen and Hayden Gratton in the bottom of the first inning Monday led to a three-run frame and catapulted the Saukees to a 5-3 victory over Quincy High School. The Saukees’ Luke Archer led off the fourth…
Read MoreWalking away a winner: Ritter’s single caps rally as Blue Devils split twinbill with Silver Streaks
QUINCY — Mason Ritter’s water bottle shower was well earned. With two outs, the bases loaded and the score tied in the bottom of the seventh inning in the nightcap of Saturday’s western Big 6 Conference doubleheader, the Quincy High School baseball team’s sophomore catcher fouled off back-to-back pitches deep in the count to keep…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Blue Devils earn split with Silver Streaks in WB6 doubleheader
QUINCY — Stellar pitching performances, solid approaches at the plate and a seventh-inning rally enabled the Quincy High School baseball team to earn a Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader split with Galesburg on Saturday at the QHS field. The Silver Streaks won the opener 4-0, while the Blue Devils rallied for a 5-4 victory in…
Read MoreShaffer, Sims put up zeroes before Mustangs score twice in eighth inning to get past Eagles
LIBERTY, Ill. — The line drive hit Cody Shaffer’s upper right arm with enough force that the ricochet led to an out at first base and had people scrambling to check on the Mendon Unity right-hander. Immediately, the umpires called time and Mustangs coach Tyler McAllister popped out of the dugout to assess Schaffer’s injury…
Read MorePerfection personified: Pirates’ Wilson retires all 18 Raiders he faces in 10-run victory
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Kane Wilson didn’t need to be perfect. Yet, he was. The Quincy Notre Dame brought 18 batters to the plate Thursday afternoon and the Hannibal senior right-hander sat all 18 down, tossing a six-inning perfect game in the Pirates’ 10-0 victory at the Veterans Field complex. Wilson struck out only four, but…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Old-fashioned pitchers’ duel breaks out as Mustangs, Eagles go extra innings
LIBERTY, Mo. — A pair of right-handed hurlers engaged in a pitchers’ duel Thursday as neither Mendon Unity’s Cody Shaffer nor Liberty’s Jackson Sims allowed a run over the first six innings. The relievers were just a stingy in the seventh inning. It wasn’t until the eighth inning when a pair of errors enabled Unity…
Read MoreLawson’s two-hitter helps Blue Devils earn road victory over Warriors
GRANITE CITY, Ill. — Jansen Lawson locked in instead of locking out. The Quincy High School senior right-hander allowed the Granite City baseball team to tie Thursday’s game at 1 in the second inning when he hit back-to-back batters with two outs to force in a run. A groundout ended the inning, and Lawson was…
Read MoreMerry-go-round of hits and walks in second inning propels Panthers to CCC road victory
MACON, Mo. — The turf baseball field Macon High School installed in 2022 continues to show its benefits, like being able to absorb the rain from thunderstorms that knocked out the rest of the games scheduled for Tuesday across Northeast Missouri. The opportunity to play was all Palmyra needed to open Clarence Cannon Conference play…
Read MorePennock tosses no-hitter as Saukees sweep doubleheader from Warriors
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Justin Pennock wasn’t overly confident he have unhittable control as he warmed up Saturday morning. “Honestly, not really,” said Pennock, a senior right-hander on the Pittsfield baseball team. “I was still a little bit sore. I thought if I hit spots I’d be all right.” He hardly missed one. Pennock faced just…
Read MoreCentral baseball, softball teams rally to complete sweep of double-dip with Liberty
CAMP POINT, Ill. — Friday began and ended with late-inning heroics. First, Garrett Neisen stranded the tying run in scoring position as the Camp Point Central baseball team rallied from a four-run deficit to beat Liberty 5-4. Then, the Central softball team allowed Liberty to score five times in the top of the sixth inning…
Read MoreAround the diamond: Mustangs rally in seventh, Blue Devils scored 11 in first, Saukees suffer first loss
MENDON, Ill. — Trailing by two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday, the Mendon Unity baseball team needed baserunners to even think about a rally. Six consecutive batters safely reaching did the trick. Ben McClelland and Sawyer Allen started the rally with back-to-back singles before the Mustangs’ patience kicked in. Three…
Read MoreWiewel comes up clutch as Raiders walk off with low-scoring victory over Eagles
QUINCY — The Liberty baseball team wasn’t going to allow Nolan Robb to beat it. So Abram Wiewel did. After Quincy Notre Dame’s Logan Sutton singled with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday and stole second base, the Eagles chose to intentionally walk Robb. Wiewel followed by hitting a two-strike line…
Read MoreAround the diamond: Saukees stay perfect, Raiders back sophomore righty, Shaffer mows down Tigers
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Three Pittsfield pitchers limited the Brown County baseball team to two hits and the Saukees used a four-run third inning to catapult themselves to a 7-1 victory to improve to 5-0 and highlight Wednesday’s action across the area. Pittsfield’s Draven Puterbaugh allowed one unearned run and two hits over the first four…
Read MoreLowe’s stellar effort helps Blue Devils come away with split on final day in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The weather played havoc with the Quincy High School baseball team’s spring break trip, but the Blue Devils were still able to come away with a split on their final day playing in the USA High School Baseball Challenge. Senior right-hander Brady Lowe threw four scoreless innings Tuesday in a 4-1 victory…
Read MoreBlue Devils hope loss to Maroons serves as motivation to buckle down
QUINCY — Kyle Taylor sensed a lack of enthusiasm. “It felt like another Tuesday at the ballpark, not a game day,” the Quincy High School baseball team’s senior shortstop said. A five-run deficit after the first inning made it even worse. “When I looked across the diamond, there were guys with their heads down early,…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QHS squares off with Belleville West in baseball home opener
QUINCY — The Belleville West baseball team scored five runs in the first inning and hit three home runs on a somewhat blustery day to spoil Quincy High School’s home opener, winning 13-3 on Tuesday afternoon at the QHS field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman put together this photo gallery from the game:
Read MorePhoto gallery: Stolte’s first goal, Wilson’s complete game help Hannibal enjoy banner day
HANNIBAL, Mo. — Malia Stolte didn’t settle for scoring her first varsity goal in the Hannibal girls soccer team’s 8-0 victory over Warrenton on Tuesday night at Veterans Field. She went ahead and recorded her first career hat trick as well. Kane Wilson didn’t settle for his first victory of the season for the Hannibal…
Read MorePair of QHS pitchers mow down QND to claim victory during head-to-head clash in SHG Slam
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The first crosstown showdown of the spring took place 110 miles from the Gem City, but it didn’t lack any down-to-the-last-out drama. With a runner on first base and the Quincy High School baseball team holding a two-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, right-handed reliever Jansen Lawson induced a…
Read MoreSchuckman: QND’s retirement of No. 5 puts love of family, love of baseball on full display
QUINCY — Tears were expected Friday afternoon, but the smiles elicited by the memories of Tucker Tollerton and the embrace his family received balanced everything out. That was as much of a tribute to Tollerton as seeing his jersey number retired. Anyone who accompanied the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team on last season’s record-setting journey…
Read MoreProblems with execution plague QND baseball team in season-opening loss to Sherrard
QUINCY — There is likely to be one word the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players are going to hear in the days to come. It’s going to be details, details, details. Or it may be fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals. Better attention to details and a better performance fundamentally may have altered an exasperating outcome in Friday’s…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball program retires No. 5 in honor of Tucker Tollerton
QUINCY — With most of Tucker Tollerton’s extended family, friends and his entire college team in attendance Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball program retired No. 5 in honor of the Raiders’ former center fielder, who was killed last May in an auto accident. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team falls in season opener against Sherrard
QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s youth and inexperience showed in a season-opening 10-0 loss to Sherrard on Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the sunny afternoon at the Ferd and put together this photo gallery:
Read MoreAccountability playing key part in Blue Devils staying focused in pursuit of success
QUINCY — Owen Zanger looks around the diamond and sees the bond the game has created among the Quincy High School baseball players. “We’re all great friends,” he said. “I think that comes with every successful team.” For this group, though, it doesn’t come with an air of indifference for those not performing or not…
Read MoreRaiders ready to unveil new lineup carrying same hunger to be state tournament team
QUINCY — Come Friday, when the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team opens its season, there will be an angel in the outfield looking over the Raiders and every day moving forward. The school will retire the No. 5 worn by Tucker Tollerton, the starting center fielder on last year’s Class 2A third-place state team who…
Read MorePhoto gallery: Hannibal, Palmyra, Bowling Green participate in baseball jamboree
HANNIBAL, Mo. — A week before the high school baseball season officially begins, Hannibal hosted a jamboree at the Veterans Field complex with Palmyra and Bowling Green taking part. Photographer Mathew Kirby spent time at the field Saturday and put together this photo gallery:
Read MorePrairie State Profile: Saukees’ Tomhave embraces traditions, bonds born from playing sports
PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Brennan Tomhave is a Saukee through and through. It would be difficult not to be when you grow up sitting on the bench. Tomhave had a front-row seat to one of the best seasons in Pittsfield boys basketball history in 2011, riding the bus and hanging out in the locker room as…
Read MoreHannibal’s Wilson, JWCC signee Schmidt receive honorable mention all-state plaudits
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 MoreRaiders’ Schisler earns all-state plaudits, joined by Saukees’ Allen and Hornets’ Wort
QUINCY — Missouri S&T pitching coach Shane Herschelman made Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Jake Schisler a recruiting priority last year, liking the way Schisler attacked hitters and how his pitches had natural movement. After the spring Schisler had, Miners head coach Todd DeGraffenreid might have to consider using Schisler as a two-way talent. Schisler was…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND welcomes home Class 2A third-place baseball team
QUINCY — Mark McDowell did what he needed to do in order to get the job done. He adjusted. To kick off the pep rally welcoming home the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team following its third-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament, the QND principal planned to begin his opening remarks by playing the…
Read MoreSchuck on a Truck: QND baseball team celebrates its third-place finish at Class 2A state tournament
PEORIA, Ill. — A record-setting season would have been incomplete without a victory on the final day of play. The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team understood that and made certain that happened, beating DePaul College Prep 7-2 in the Class 2A third-place game Saturday at Dozer Park. Winning the third state trophy in program history…
Read MoreTogether until the end: Raiders finish mission to play on season’s final day, bring home Class 2A third-place trophy
PEORIA, Ill. — Tyler Dance shook his head, almost in disbelief. Then he smiled, knowing you have to believe in fate. “No. 5,” Dance said. “It keeps coming up.” In the final game of this historic, record-setting season — one that should land the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team in the school’s Hall of Fame…
Read MoreRaiders’ Dance attacks Rams to finish remarkable season with victory in third-place game
PEORIA, Ill. — Tyler Dance didn’t like it, but he didn’t fret over it. He simply worked through it. That’s what an ace does. Staked to a one-run lead following the top of the first inning of Saturday’s Class 2A third-place game at Dozer Park, the Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander saw the DePaul College…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team faces DePaul College Prep in Class 2A third-place game
PEORIA, Ill. — This historic season had a fitting ending. The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team played and won on the final day of the season and came home with a trophy. The Raiders beat DePaul College Prep 7-2 on Saturday to take third place at the Class 2A state tournament at Dozer Park. The…
Read MoreRaiders realize shot at state championship not part of their destiny after semifinal loss
PEORIA, Ill. — The fifth inning provided the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players with hope. The sixth inning gave them angst. The seventh inning brought the stark realization a state championship wasn’t part of their destiny. Trailing defending Class 2A state champion Joliet Catholic by five runs in the fifth inning of Friday’s state semifinal…
Read MoreHilltoppers’ Schlageter best arm Raiders faced this season ‘by far’
PEORIA, Ill. — For one inning, T.J. Schlageter was immaculate. Five other innings, he was unhittable. That’s a scenario the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team hadn’t faced this season. Schlageter, the Joliet Catholic left-hander who has signed with the University of Louisville, handcuffed the Raiders for seven innings Friday night, allowing just three hits in…
Read MorePhoto gallery: QND baseball team makes first state final four appearance in nearly two decades
PEORIA, Ill. — Playing in the Class 2A state final four for the first time since 2004, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team enjoyed the support of a large, vocal crowd Friday night at Dozer Park. It sparked a fifth-inning rally that pulled the Raiders within two runs of defending state champion Joliet Catholic. However,…
Read MoreFor love of the game: Raiders’ year-round passion for baseball leads to unparalleled success
QUINCY — At the most elemental level, it’s a warehouse. The building has been remodeled and retrofitted to be a baseball haven, but the brick exterior, the large, garage-style doors and the location close to the Mississippi River suggest it once was used for storage, construction or manufacturing. The Quincy Notre Dame baseball players embrace…
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