Maroons continue WB6 diamond dominance, beat Blue Devils to remain unbeaten in league play

Quincy High School catcher Owen Zanger, right, fields a bunt in front of Blue Devils pitcher Brady Lowe during Tuesday's game against Moline at the QHS field. | Samantha Carmean photo

QUINCY — Craig Schimmel is no physician, but his diagnosis was spot on. “We had about a five-minute stretch that was uncharacteristic for us,” the Moline baseball coach said. “We looked like we were brain dead out there.” Yes, the bottom of the third inning proved to be a bit testy for the Maroons, but…

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Power-packed punch: Tollerton’s opposite-field home run ignites Raiders’ response to early deficit in victory over Titans

Quincy Notre Dame's Tucker Tollerton hit an opposite-field home run in the first inning to kickstart a five-run rally that carried the Raiders to a 9-5 victory over Chatham Glenwood on Saturday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — No one associated with the Quincy Notre Dame baseball program realized the left-handed hitting Tucker Tollerton had enough pop in his bat to drive a ball over Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield’s high fence in left field. Not even Tollerton himself. “I didn’t think I had that much power the opposite way,” he…

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Photo gallery: QND exacts measure of revenge with victory over Chatham Glenwood

Quincy Notre Dame third baseman Brady Kindhart waits to hit while the Chatham Glenwood defense discusses things during a mound visit in Saturday's game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A six-run loss to Chatham Glenwood last April was one of only three setbacks the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team suffered last season. That didn’t sit well with the Raiders. Saturday, a five-run first inning propelled the Raiders to a 9-5 victory over the Titans at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. “We had…

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‘I had a job to do’: Miller focuses on taming Hannibal’s hitters, not missed opportunity while pushing QND to one-run victory

Quincy Notre Dame right-handed reliever Dalton Miller delivers a pitch during Wednesday's game against Hannibal at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Bob Seger sang it a half-century ago, but the words remain meaningful today. In fact, Dalton Miller carried their theme to the mound with him in the top of the seventh inning Wednesday. Turn the page. Leading Hannibal by a run in the bottom of the sixth inning at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial…

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JWCC Prairie State Profile: Eagles’ Deege plays vital role in helping younger teammates grow

Liberty senior Landon Deege is the Eagles' defensive anchor in center field and a top left-handed hurler. | Submitted photo

LIBERTY, Ill. — Landon Deege understands the reality the Liberty baseball team is facing. “We’re young, but we’re growing,” the senior said. With that comes the ups and downs of inexperience. The Eagles have won one game to date — a 1-0 victory over Illini West in which Jackson Sims struck out eight over five…

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Raiders find success can be blowing in the wind with another offensive outburst

Quincy Notre Dame third baseman Brady Kindhart, left, gives starting pitcher Tyler Dance five before first baseman Dalton Miller, right, does the same before the first inning of Saturday's game against Jacksonville at The Ferd. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Put on a pitch limit Saturday, Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Tyler Dance knew he needed to be efficient and aggressive. Being backed by a born-to-hit lineup made that easy. Dance threw three scoreless innings, his teammates collected 17 hits and the QND baseball team capped a run-filled week with a 19-0, four-inning victory…

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Photo gallery: QND baseball team muscles up in windy conditions to dispatch Jacksonville

Quincy Notre Dame's Nolan Robb gets out of the way of a wild pitch during Saturday's game against Jacksonville at The Ferd. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Blustery conditions at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield didn’t alter the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players’ approach at the bat. The Raiders simply keep on swinging. QND collected 17 hits, including five for extra bases, in a 19-0 whitewashing of Jacksonville on Saturday. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action for…

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Photo gallery: QHS baseball, softball teams play side-by-side with home games

Quincy High School right-hander Joe Schroeder delivers a pitch during Thursday's game against Palmyra at the QHS field. | Samantha Carmean photo

QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team finally got the chance to play at home Thursday, while the QHS softball team dove into Western Big 6 Conference play in its own backyard. The baseball team improved to 2-2 with a 15-0 victory over Palmyra featuring Evan Sohn and Joe Schroeder setting the stage at…

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‘I knew I had to prove myself’: Kenning owns strike zone, Raiders bounce back with complete effort

Quincy Notre Dame junior right-hander Evan Kenning delivers a pitch during Tuesday's 10-2 victory over Palmyra at The Ferd. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Taking the mound one night after four pitchers combined to walk seven batters and uncork five wild pitches in the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s first loss of the season, Evan Kenning knew what he was up against. “The pressure was kind of on to throw strikes,” he said. “I knew I had…

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Photo gallery: QND baseball team bounces back with victory over Palmyra at The Ferd

Quincy Notre Dame's Brady Kindhart slides safely into second base with one of the Raiders' eight stolen bases in Tuesday's 10-2 victory over Palmyra at The Ferd. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Humbled by Monday’s loss to Hersey, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team responded with Evan Kenning striking out 10 batters over five innings and Brady Kindhart and Alex Connoyer each hitting a home run in Tuesday’s 10-2 victory over Palmyra at The Ferd. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman put together this photo…

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Photo gallery: QHS baseball team suffers loss at Belleville West

Quincy High School baseball coach Rick Lawson, left, gives a fist bump to first baseman Jansen Lawson after the third inning Wednesday against Belleville West in Belleville, Ill. | Photo courtesy Paul Baillargeon, Archview Photo

BELLEVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy High School baseball team made strides. One week after suffering a 9-0 loss to Belleville West, the Blue Devils squared off with the Maroons again Wednesday afternoon and suffered a 5-2 loss after allowing four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Quincy led 2-1 going to the bottom…

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Stupavsky, Raiders get charge out of opening season with first-inning outburst

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Michael Stupavsky, center, heads back to the dugout to celebrate his three-run home run in the first inning of Tuesday's victory over Illini West at The Ferd. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — As much as he felt like he barreled the ball and put a legitimate charge into it, Michael Stupavsky could tell where it was headed. Foul territory. “After I hit that one, I wanted that back,” the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s senior catcher said of the ball he hit in the first…

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Photo gallery: QND baseball team opens season with victory over Illini West

Quincy Notre Dame assistant coach Zach Robb, left, greets sophomore pitcher Abram Wiewel after a strikeout ended the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against Illini West. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A seven-run outburst in the bottom of the first inning, three-plus innings of relief from a sophomore right-hander making his varsity debut and the first victory for new Quincy Notre Dame baseball coach Rich Polak made Tuesday’s game against Illini West complete. The Raiders won 8-3 at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, and…

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

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

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

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With baseball in his blood, Polak brings passion to new role as QND’s skipper

Rich Polak, the owner of Complete Game Training Academy in Quincy, is taking over as the new head baseball coach at Quincy Notre Dame. | David Adam photo

QUINCy — Rich Polak was where you’d expect him to be on a wintry Thursday night. Throwing pitches and teaching swing mechanics. “Baseball is my life,” he said. It’s his livelihood and his passion, too. So for the owner of Complete Game Training Academy, coaching the game comes naturally. His fit as the new Quincy…

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‘You don’t get that time back’: Oden resigns as QND baseball coach to put family first

Quincy Notre Dame baseball coach Ryan Oden, left, resigned Thursday to devote time to his family, which includes being able to watch his son, Harry, right, begin his collegiate baseball career. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Before Ryan Oden left his house Thursday morning for a meeting with the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players, his wife, Deb, wanted to know he was comfortable with his decision to resign as the Raiders head coach. “She asked, ‘Are you sure?’” Oden said. “And I told her I am.” With his son…

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Schuckman: Return of prep all-star game showcases everything great about baseball

Quincy Notre Dame's Ben Kasparie, left, takes a selfie with Hannibal catcher Keaton Scott before leading off Saturday night's Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — It started with a selfie and ended with a shower. Everything happening in between helped ensure Saturday night’s eighth installment of the Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game — the first since 2019 — became a full-tilt celebration of high school baseball. From bunts to bad hops, knee-bending curveballs to wild throws, and…

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Photo gallery: Missouri beats Illinois 7-4 in all-star baseball game at Clemens Field

Palmyra coach Mark Loman, who was the skipper for the Missouri all-stars, gets doused with a cooler of water after the Show-Me State won the eighth Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game on Saturday night at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent Saturday night at Clemens Field as the eighth Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star baseball game unfolded. Here is a gallery of the images he collected both on the field and in the stands:

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Return of Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game comes with bevy of talent from both sides of Mississippi

Quincy High School teammates Grayson Cook, left, and Luke Mettemeyer will represent Illinois in Saturday's Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Game at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Mo. | Matt Schuckman photo

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Like nearly every other big event during the summer of 2020, the Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star baseball game fell victim to a global pandemic. But Kevin and Aaron Peters, the Monroe City father-son duo who are the braintrust and the legs behind this event, never lost faith the game could return in…

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Hornets’ Blakeley, Raiders’ Miller pick up all-state accolades from IHSBCA

Brown County's Gabe Blakeley, left, and Quincy Notre Dame's Dalton Miller were named to the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. | Matt Schuckman photos

QUINCY — It’s only fitting the final two area baseball teams left standing in the Land of Lincoln were honored with spots on the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association all-state teams. Brown County senior center fielder/pitcher Gabe Blakeley and Quincy Notre Dame junior first baseman/pitcher Dalton Miller were named to the Class 1A and…

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Crim: Hornets’ season to remember caps school year filled with success from start to finish

The Brown County baseball team became the sixth program in the Muddy River Sports coverage area to win a state trophy during the 2021-22 school year. Matt Schuckman photo

It was nearly the perfect ending to a magical high school sports season. Brown County was the sixth team in the Muddy River Sports area to play for a state championship during the 2021-22 school year when it took the field Saturday against Louisville North Clay in the Illinois Class 1A baseball state finals in…

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‘We hit them right at ’em’: Hornets see state title aspirations snuffed out by Cardinals’ defense

The captains of the Brown County baseball team accept the second-place team trophy after losing to Louisville North Clay 12-4 in the Class 1A state championship game Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — These weren’t Texas leaguers, nubbers or Punch-and-Judy pokes coming off the bats of the Brown County baseball players. “There weren’t a lot of balls hit soft,” first baseman Mason Henry said. “Every ball was hit on the screws.” Too often, though, they were within the reach of the Louisville North Clay outfielders.…

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Schuckman: Support of Brown County community helps Hornets see journey and legacy matter more than final outcome

The Brown County baseball team poses for pictures with its Class 1A second-place state trophy Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — Disappointment lingered, but only for so long. By the time the Brown County baseball players cleaned up their dugout and made their way to the grassy berm in the right-field corner, the green-clad wave of Hornets fans who had invaded Dozer Park on Saturday were ready to fete their conquering heroes. The…

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Photo gallery: Brown County baseball team takes second at Class 1A state tournament

From left to right, Brown County's Sam Carr, Colby Wort and Mason Henry take the field during lineup introductions before the Class 1A state championship game Saturday at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The traffic along Highway 24 between Peoria and Mount Sterling was steady late Saturday afternoon. After all, most of Mount Sterling made the trek to River City in order to watch the Brown County baseball team play for the Class 1A state championship. Although the Hornets lost 12-4 to Louisville North Clay…

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Championship dreams: Hornets wriggle out of seventh-inning jam, win state semifinal

Brown County left-handed reliever Mason Henry reacts to the final out in the Hornets' 2-1 victory over Ottawa Marquette in Friday's Class 1A state semifinal at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The tension gripping the Brown County baseball team’s dugout and its legion of fans in the stands apparently wasn’t being felt by those on the field. “I was calm the entire time,” shortstop Colby Wort said. “I had my whole belief in our pitchers and our fielders.” Hornets center fielder Gabe Blakeley’s…

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Hornets finish off Blakeley’s record-setting victory with faith, belief in each other

Brown County right-handed starter Gabe Blakeley delivers a pitch during Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against Ottawa Marquette at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — After a bunt single loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh inning, Ottawa Marquette freshman center fielder Julian Alexander thought the Crusaders had put Brown County in a precarious spot. He even told Hornets shortstop Colby Wort so. “I thought it was pretty funny,” Wort said. “He’s…

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Photo gallery: Brown County beats Ottawa Marquette in Class 1A baseball state semifinals

Brown County coach Jared Hoots, left, celebrates the end of an inning with catcher Eathan Howell and pitcher Gabe Blakeley during Friday's Class 1A state semifinal against Ottawa Marquette at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team snared the lead in the first inning, extended it in the third inning and never relinquished it in beating Ottawa Marquette 2-1 in the Class 1A state semifinals Friday at Dozer Park. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the atmosphere and action on and off the…

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Schuck on a Truck: Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots talks historic postseason run

Brown County coach Jared Hoots and the Hornets will appear in the Class 1A state final four this weekend at Dozer Park in Peoria. Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team will be making the program’s first appearance in the state final four Friday when it faces Ottawa Marquette at 10 a.m. at Peoria’s Dozer Park in the Class 1A state semifinals. Hornets coach Jared Hoots sat down with Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman for an…

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Brown County pours heart and soul into supporting its state-bound baseball team

The Brown County baseball players ride a fire truck down Main Street in Mount Sterling on Wednesday night to celebrate their Class 1A state final four berth. Matt Schuckman photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — A slow drive down Main Street on Wednesday night — the way the posted speed limit intends it — allowed onlookers and gawkers to witness what community spirit truly is. Outside Hagel 1891, a modern American cuisine restaurant located next to Dorothy’s Market in the historic Hagel building, had green and…

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No interfering with history: Hornets snuff out Hawks’ seventh-inning threat to reach state finals for first time ever

Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots, left, and starting pitcher Colby Wort celebrate after the final out was recorded in the Hornets' 4-3 victory over Carrollton in Monday's Class 1A super-sectional at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field. Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Everyone in the Brown County baseball team’s dugout and those on the field could see Carrollton’s Grant Pohlman looming in the on-deck circle and casting a rather sizable shadow over the Claude Kracik Field grass. “We knew he was coming up and we knew what he had done to us,” Hornets catcher…

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Brown County pitcher’s bulldogged nature guides Hornets to program’s biggest victory ever

Brown County right-handed starter Colby Wort delivers a pitch during Monday's Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional against Carrollton at Lincoln Land Community College's Claude Kracik Field. Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Brown County baseball coach Jared Hoots struggled a little to come up with an apt description for Colby Wort’s effort. “He is a competitive animal,” Hoot said. “Whatever adjective you want to use, go for it. The slang would be a dog. Some people say a competitive fire. I don’t know what…

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Photo gallery: Brown County beats Carrollton in Class 1A baseball super-sectional

Brown County's Gabe Blakeley, left, celebrates with his teammates after scoring the game's first run in the top of the first inning against Carrollton in the Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional at Claude Kracik Field. Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Brown County baseball team made history Monday, beating Carrollton 4-3 in the Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional at Lincoln Land Community College’s Claude Kracik Field to advance to the state final four for the first time ever. The Hornets are guaranteed to bring home the first state trophy in school history. Muddy…

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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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Edwardsville’s powerful lineup knocks QHS baseball team out in regional championship game

Quincy High School's Connor Schwindeler reacts to a play during the Class 4A Alton Regional championship game against Edwardsville. | Photo courtesy Matt Kamp

ALTON, Ill. — Powered by the top three hitters in its lineup, the Edwardsville baseball team outmuscled Quincy High School in Saturday’s Class 4A Alton Regional championship. Grant Huebner, Spencer Stearns and Riley Iffrig went a combined 8 for 11 with two home runs, three doubles and six RBIs to send the top-seeded Tigers to…

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Blue Devils’ Schroeder doesn’t wait until seventh to deliver game-winning RBI single

ALTON, Mo. — Walk-off Joe didn’t get the opportunity to end the Quincy High School baseball team’s regional victory in heroic fashion So junior second baseman Joe Schroeder settled for a game-winning hit an inning earlier. Following Noah Harbin’s two-out triple in the sixth inning of Thursday’s Class 4A Alton Regional semifinal at Lloyd Hopkins…

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Blakeley, Hornets move step closer to championship dreams with sectional semifinal victory

Brown County's Gabe Blakeley drove in two runs and pitched six innings in the 5-4 victory over Lewistown in the Class 1A sectional semifinals Thursday in Jacksonville, Ill. Photo courtesy Martha Blakeley

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Gabe Blakeley merely said out loud what the rest of the Brown County players were thinking to themselves. When the time arrives for the Hornets to leave the baseball field for the final time this spring, they want to be carrying one thing with them. “The state championship trophy,” Blakeley said. Thanks…

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Success on pitch, baseball diamond leads to All-WB6 honors for Blue Devils

The Quincy High School girls soccer team won the Western Big 6 Conference championship with a 7-0 record and placed 10 players on the All-WB6 teams. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — To the winner go the spoils. So it’s only fitting the Quincy High School girls soccer team landed the most players of any program on the All-Western Big 6 Conference teams. The Blue Devils placed three on the first team, two on the second team and five on honorable mention after they went…

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Schuckman: QND baseball fans indulge in ‘Bacon’ to keep winning ways alive

Bacon, the 4-inch crocheted, stuffed pig, rests on the wall behind home plate during the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team's Class 2A sectional semifinal against Shelbyville on Wednesday in Pleasant Plains, Ill. Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — Everybody likes bacon, right? That’s undoubtedly true of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players’ parents, grandparents and fans. But if you’re thinking it’s the sizzle-in-the-frying-pan kind of pork product they are so enamored with, you’d be sorely mistaken. In this case, “Bacon” is their good luck charm, a 4-inch crocheted, stuffed…

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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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Photo gallery: QND baseball team vs. Shelbyville in Class 2A sectional semifinals

The Quincy Notre Dame baseball players warm up in the outfield prior to Wednesday's Class 2A sectional semifinal against Shelbyville. Matt Schuckman photo

PLEASANT PLAINS, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team ran its winning streak to 23 consecutive games and improved to 32-2 — the second-most single-season victories in program history — with Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Shelbyville in the Class 2A sectional semifinals at Reiser Field. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the Raiders’…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Scoreboard for Wednesday, May 18

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Class 2A QND Regional Quincy Notre Dame 13, Athens 3. Click here for the story and photo gallery. At Maroa, Ill. Class 2A Maroa-Forsyth Regional Williamsville 6, Pittsfield 4: A five-run third inning by the Bullets put the Saukees in a bind, and they couldn’t complete…

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Grand entrance: Raiders embark on state title quest with Connoyer’s slam providing boost

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Michael Stupavsky, right, gives starting pitcher Tyler Dance a pat on the back following the first inning Wednesday during the Class 2A QND Regional semifinal against Athens at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Dead red is all Ryan Oden said. It’s all Alex Connoyer needed to hear. After Athens right-hander Davis Ishmael loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning Tuesday by sandwiching a hit batter between two walks, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball coach told his junior shortstop to look for nothing but…

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Raiders’ Oden discovers passion for baseball while growing up around the game

Quincy Notre Dame senior outfielder Harry Oden has been instrumental in the Raiders' success, hitting .402 with 16 extra-base hits and 39 runs scored. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It might not have seemed out of the ordinary to any of the Quincy Gems players to have the 9-year-old son of their pitching coach running around the outfield with them shagging baseballs. Those moments, though, turned out to be priceless. Nearly a decade later, everyone sees why. Quincy Notre Dame left fielder…

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Scoreboard for Tuesday, May 17

Girls soccer At Advance Physical Therapy Field, Quincy Class 1A QND Sectional Quincy Notre Dame 6, Piasa Southwestern 0. Click here for the story. At Kahok Stadium, Collinsville, Ill. Class 3A Collinsville Regional Edwardsville 1, Quincy High School 0. Click here for the story. At St. Peters, Mo. Class 3 District 4 Duchesne 3, Hannibal…

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Scoreboard for Monday, May 16

Prep baseball At Wentzville, Mo. Class 5 District 4 Hannibal 6, North Point 1: Pirates right-hander Aaris Stolte fashioned a five-hitter, allowing just one unearned run as fourth-seeded Hannibal advanced to the district semifinals. The Pirates (19-11) will face top-seeded Fort Zumwalt East at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Stolte struck out three and walked three. He…

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Raiders play home run derby in final regular season game, run win streak to 20 straight

Quincy Notre Dame third baseman Brady Kindhart belted two home runs and drove in four runs during Saturday's 12-2 victory over Jacksonville Routt in Jacksonville, Ill. Matt Schuckman file photo

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Just in case anyone in the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional showed up Saturday at Jacksonville Routt to get a peek at what the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team is capable of doing, the Raiders provided plenty of food for thought. Namely, the Raiders made them ask: How do you stop this…

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Scoreboard for Wednesday, May 11

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 12, Gateway Legacy Christian Academy 2. Click here for the story. At QHS field, Quincy Quincy High School 9, Unity 0: Junior right-hander Joe Schroeder fashioned a one-hitter, while striking out nine and walking one. The Mustangs loaded the bases in the second…

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Raiders stroll their way to 19th consecutive victory by showing patience at plate

Quincy Notre Dame's Tucker Tollerton had two hits, including a single during a three-run first inning, as the Raiders won their 19th consecutive game Wednesday. Matt Schuckman file photo

QUINCY — Patience is a piece of the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s arsenal that often gets overlooked. The ability to not get jumpy at the plate paid major dividends Wednesday. The Raiders capitalized on four walks from Gateway Legacy Christian Academy starter Isaac Rosario in the first inning to score three times and set…

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Dancing in the dark: Raiders showcase energy, enthusiasm and bling while sweeping season series from Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame's Denver Bryan slides safely into second base with a stolen base in the second inning of Monday's game against Quincy High School at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Mason Winking’s part-time job at Farm & Home Supply afforded him the opportunity last weekend to pick up some new home run bling for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. Little did the Raiders know how significant the upgrade would be. Winking purchased — he used his employee discount, an important fact for…

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Photo gallery: QND, QHS baseball teams meet for third time this season in crosstown showdown

The Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams met for the third time this season Monday night at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A barrage of hits and runs in the first two innings of Monday night’s crossdown showdown between the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams ended, and the game became a battle of zeroes until the lights went out with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Sports Editor…

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Scoreboard 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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Schroeder’s seventh-inning heroics allow Blue Devils to split WB6 doubleheader

Quincy High School's Joe Schroeder singled through the right side of the infield to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Geneseo. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Joe Schroeder played the hero in the first game of Saturday’s Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader. The Quincy High School baseball team needed another one in the nightcap. The Blue Devils took the opener against Geneseo 2-1 as Schroeder delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the nightcap,…

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Sweet 16: Connoyer’s blast jolts Raiders to life as they sweep pair in running win streak to 16 straight

Quincy Notre Dame's Harry Oden slides safely across home plate on Brady Kindhart's two-run double in the fifth inning of Saturday's 6-0 victory over Hannibal at the Ferd. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — It hasn’t happened often when the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team goes three consecutive innings without scoring. When it happened Saturday against Hannibal, no one fretted. “This year, we’re more mature,” Raiders junior Alex Connoyer said. “We know we can put up six in an inning. We know we can do it like…

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Kindhart stays in ball-meets-barrel groove as QND baseball team keeps piling up victories

Quincy Notre Dame third baseman Brady Kindhart, right, gets a first bump from QND coach Ryan Oden after safely reaching third base during Friday's 13-1 victory over Marceline (Mo.) in the QND/Palmyra Spring Slam at the Ferd. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With each swing he took, Brady Kindhart sensed he was inching closer to where ball and barrel would meet in harmony. Once that happened, the Quincy Notre Dame junior third baseman has done nothing but string hits together. Friday, he bookended the Raiders’ 14th consecutive victory with sweet-spot connections. Kindhart delivered a run-scoring…

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JWCC Show-Me Spotlight: Scott’s presence looms large behind plate for Pirates

Hannibal senior catcher Keaton Scott frames pitch in a game against Marshall at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Keaton Scott knows his frame doesn’t fit the prototype for a catcher, especially not one planning to play at the NCAA Division II level. Experience has taught him being 5-foot-7 doesn’t matter. “It’s all about how hard you work,” the Hannibal catcher said. His work ethic is unmatched. Scott is one of…

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Raiders continue offensive onslaught as winning streak reaches 13 straight games

Quincy Notre Dame junior Alex Connoyer allowed one hit over five innings in Thursday's 11-0 victory over West Hancock at the Ferd. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — If rain cannot slow the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s offense, what can? Opposing pitchers are asking the same thing. Thursday at the Ferd, the Raiders scored in double digits for the fourth straight game and the 13th time this season while beating West Hancock 11-0. QND has outscored its opponents 49-3 in…

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Scoreboard for Tuesday, May 3

Girls soccer At Rock Island, Ill. Quincy High School 4, Rock Island 1:  The Blue Devils snared the lead on Rian Moore’s goal with 11 minutes remaining in the first half and built a four-goal advantage in the second half to finish the Western Big 6 Conference season with a 7-0 record. Taylor Routh, who…

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Scoreboard for Monday, May 2

Girls soccer At Springfield, Ill. Quincy Notre Dame 1, Springfield 0: The Raiders rebounded from a pair of losses in a tournament in Burlington, Iowa, last Saturday with a stingy defensive effort against the Senators. QND grabbed the lead with less than eight minutes remaining in the first half as freshman Makalya Patton ran onto…

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20/20 vision: Raiders win 11th straight game to reach 20-victory plateau

Quincy Notre Dame center fielder Ben Kasparie drove in four runs in Monday's 12-3 victory over Brown County in Mount Sterling, Ill. Matt Schuckman file photo

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — The ability to produce in every spot in the order is what has made the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team a 20-win season. A never-say-die attitude has done the same for Brown County. Monday, glimpses of both were evident. The Raiders sent 11 batters to the plate in the second inning,…

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Blue Devils rally to gain split of WB6 doubleheader with Pioneers

Quincy High School catcher Luke Mettemeyer went 6 for 8 at the plate in Monday's Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader split with Rock Island Alleman. Matt Schuckman file photo

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The momentum a game-tying, seventh-inning run should have produced could have been lost when Rock Island Alleman walked off in the bottom of the inning with a 5-4 victory in the first game on Monday’s Western Big 6 Conference doubleheader. The Quincy High School baseball team refused to let that be…

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‘We had a great mood today’: Raiders relish opportunity to play, shut out Panthers

Quincy Notre Dame senior center fielder Ben Kasparie reacts to hitting a two-run home run in the second inning of Friday's game against Central at The Ferd. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Ben Kasparie went to the plate with two outs in the top of the fifth inning Friday needing a triple to complete the cycle. He didn’t allow that to change his approach. Everything stayed simple. “Think about nothing, honestly,” the Quincy Notre Dame senior center fielder said. “A clear mind. Just seeing the…

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Harbin, Cook shut down Golden Warriors as Blue Devils earn WB6 doubleheader sweep

Quincy High School right-hander Noah Harbin tossed a one-hit shutout Friday against Sterling in Western Big 6 Conference action. Matt Schuckman file photo

STERLING, Ill. — A pair of shutdown pitching performances kept the Quincy High School baseball team in the thick of the Western Big 6 Conference race. Noah Harbin authored a one-hit shutout as the Blue Devils opened Friday’s WB6 doubleheader with an 11-0 victory over Sterling. Grayson Cook followed with a three-hitter as the Blue…

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Scoreboard for Thursday, April 28

Girls soccer At Burlington, Iowa Quincy High School 1, Olathe (Kan.) North 1: Blue Devils goalkeeper Taylor Fohey saved a penalty kick in the first half to help QHS forge a tie in the first of three games in the tournament. Bri Lannerd scored off a Rian Moore assist for the Blue Devils’ goal. Quincy…

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Prep baseball scoreboard for Monday, April 25

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 4, Unity 0: Ben Kasparie tossed five shutout innings, and Tucker Tollerton followed with two scoreless frames as the Raiders ran their winning streak to eight straight games. Kasparie allowed two hits while striking out four and walking none. Tollerton allowed three hits…

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Prep scoreboard for Saturday, April 23

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 7, Quincy High School 0. Click here for the story. At Dozer Park, Peoria, Ill. Brown County 3, Streator Woodland 1: Sam Carr allowed one unearned run and two hits as the Hornets made an early lead last. Will Groesch had an RBI…

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Schisler shuts out Blue Devils as Raiders run win streak to seven straight with victory at The Ferd

Quincy Notre Dame shortstop Alex Connoyer, left, checks Quincy High School's Grayson Cook, who was leading off second base during Saturday's game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The circumstances which led to the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams scrambling to find replacements for Saturday’s scheduled matchups were unfortunate. The final outcome was something both programs can appreciate — another well-pitched, well-played chapter in the city rivalry. Raiders junior right-hander Jake Schisler outdueled Blue Devils senior Noah…

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Photo gallery: Quincy Notre Dame, Quincy High School square off in baseball at The Ferd

Quincy High School's Joe Schroeder watches a pitch during Saturday's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Because of scheduling conflicts with their scheduled opponents, the Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy High School baseball teams both were searching for an opponent for Saturday. So they played each other at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured the action and here’s a gallery of his images:

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Scoreboard for Thursday, April 21

Girls soccer At Jacksonville, Ill. Chatham Glenwood 3, Quincy High School 0: The Titans scored three second-half goals to win the non-conference game at Illinois College. A ball bouncing off the far post ricocheted directly to Glenwood attacker, leading to the first goal with 25 minutes remaining. The Titans scored all three goals in a…

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

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

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

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Prep scoreboard for Tuesday, April 19

Girls soccer At Flinn Stadium, Quincy Quincy High School 2, Geneseo 1. Click here for the story and photo gallery. At Canton, Mo. Canton 5, Keokuk 3: Macie Fisher and Emilee Gorrell each scored twice and Kielyn Ott added the other goal for the Tigers. Prep baseball At Concord, Ill. Brown County 14, Triopia 4:…

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Scoreboard for Monday, April 18

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 1, Pittsfield 0. Click here for the story. At Dozer Park, Peoria, Ill. Southeastern 7, Central 2: The Suns scored twice in the first inning, then plated two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to snare the victory. Owen Rigg scored…

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Raiders strike first knowing potential regional rematch with Saukees looms

Quincy Notre Dame coach Ryan Oden waves home Tucker Tollerton with the only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning Monday against Pittsfield. Tollerton scored on on a two-out single to left off the bat of Harry Oden. David Adam photo

QUINCY — The gamesmanship is officially underway. There’s a good chance Quincy Notre Dame and Pittsfield could meet again in the Class 2A baseball postseason. That’s what made Monday’s matchup between the longtime rivals that much more interesting. QND pulled out a 1-0 victory on a crisp April afternoon at wind-swept Ferd Niemann Memorial Ballfield,…

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Liquor Booth Shot of the Game: Mustangs’ Obert belts three-run walk-off home run

Unity's Aidan Obert his a three-run walk-off home run last week against Southeastern. Submitted photo

MENDON, Ill. — One swing gave Aidan Obert the memory for a lifetime. The Unity baseball team trailed Southeastern 5-1 going to the sixth inning last Friday when the Mustangs began piecing together a rally. With one out, Cody Shaffer walked, Obert was hit by a pitch and Bryson Muegge reached on an error to…

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Prep roundup for Saturday, April 16

Prep baseball At East Moline, Ill. United Township 2, Quincy High School 1: A one-out single and a hit batter gave the Panthers the opportunity to score in the bottom of the seventh, and a ground ball the Blue Devils couldn’t turn into a double play saddled them with the loss in the opener of…

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

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

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

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Taking over reins of Palmyra baseball program allows QHS’s Crisp more quality time with family

Quincy High School baseball coach Brandon Crisp, left, will resign at season's end to take the heading coaching position at Palmyra, where he and his family live. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brandon Crisp hoped to find the best of both worlds. The Palmyra School district is affording him that. The Quincy High School baseball coach informed his staff and players Wednesday he is resigning at season’s end to become the head baseball coach and an elementary school physical education teacher at Palmyra. The Palmyra…

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Scoreboard for Friday, April 15

Prep baseball At Mendon, Ill. Unity 7, Southeastern 6: The Mustangs’ Aidan Obert belted a three-run walk-off home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Unity trailed 5-1 heading into the sixth when it put together a three-run rally, featuring a two-run single from Maynard. After the Suns scored once in…

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Scoreboard for Tuesday, April 12

Girls soccer At Sterling, Ill. Quincy High School 10, Sterling 0: The Blue Devils stayed undefeated in the Western Big 6 Conference with the whitewashing of the Golden Warriors. Bri Lannerd scored two goals and added three assists for the Blue Devils, while Taylor Routh had two goals and Rian Moore added three assists. Freshman…

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Scoreboard for Monday, April 11

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 14, Rushville-Industry 4: The Raiders used back-to-back four-run innings to break a 3-3 tie and secure the six-inning victory. After allowing the Rockets to tie the game in the top of the third, the Raiders loaded the bases with two outs in the…

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Prep scoreboard for Saturday, April 9

Prep track At Soule Bowl, East Moline, Ill. Kiwanis Invitational: Jettason Rose and the Quincy High School boys showcased their speed in an event featuring all of the Western Big 6 Conference teams. Rose set a personal record and broke the school record in the 100-meter dash in 10.74 seconds, which tied the meet record…

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Scoreboard for Friday, April 8

Hannibal senior Braysen Douglas singles during the Pirates’ North Central Missouri Conference game against Fulton on Friday at Clemens Field in Hannibal, Mo. Photo courtesy Mathew Kirby

Girls soccer At St. Charles, Mo. Orchard Farms 2, Quincy Notre Dame 0: The Raiders suffered their first loss of the season and were shut out for the third time. The Eagles, who have won four straight games since a season-opening loss, grabbed the lead with a goal in the 29th minute. They doubled their…

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Scoreboard for Thursday, April 7

Prep baseball At Winchester, Ill. Brown County 20, Winchester West Central 0: Twice the Hornets hit back-to-back home runs as they steamrolled the Cougars in Western Illinois Valley Conference action. Brown County scored 16 runs in the first inning as the first eight batters reached safely. Gabe Blakeley hit a two-run home run and Mason…

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Scoreboard for Wednesday, April 6

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 6, Hannibal 2: A change in venue didn’t slow the Raiders. Field conditions forced the game, which was to played at the Pirates’ Veterans Field, to be moved to the Illinois side of the river and Hannibal took advantage by scoring twice in…

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Scoreboard for Tuesday, April 5

Quincy Notre Dame freshman midfielder Sage Stratton, center, and her teammates celebrate the first of her two goals in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Hannibal at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Matt Schuckman photo

Girls soccer At Advance Physical Therapy Field, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 2, Hannibal 0: Freshman midfielder Sage Stratton scored goals two minutes apart in the first half to extend the Raiders’ unbeaten streak to eight straight games. With 12:20 remaining in the first half, Stratton hit a shot from roughly 35 yards that carried over…

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Scoreboard for Monday, April 4

Girls soccer At Flinn Stadium, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 1, Quincy High School 0. Click here for the story and photo gallery. At Mexico, Mo. Hannibal 8, Mexico 0: Katie Greening and Bella Falconer each had two goals and an assist as the Pirates earned a North Central Missouri Conference victory. Hannibal is 6-2 overall…

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Scoreboard for Saturday, April 2

Prep baseball At Pittsfield, Ill. Pittsfield 10, Calhoun 1: The Saukees scored seven runs in the third inning and had no trouble finishing off the victory in the first game of the doubleheader. The Saukees had four RBI singles and a run-scoring double in the inning. Nate Scranton went 3 for 3 with two RBIs,…

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Scoreboard for Friday, April 1

Prep baseball At Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield, Quincy Quincy Notre Dame 14, Highland 0: The Raiders erupted for 11 runs in the first inning and cruised to their seventh straight victory. Dalton Miller jacked a three-run home run to right field and Tucker Tollerton had a three-run, inside-the-park home run to highlight the opening…

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