‘They were just the better team today’: Columbia ends QND’s season in Class 1A super-sectional

Quincy Notre Dame senior midfielder Sage Stratton settles the ball during Saturday's Class 1A North Mac Super-Sectional game against Columbia in Virden, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

VIRDEN, Ill. — Makayla Patton, Sage Stratton and the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s state dreams were dashed one victory shy of the final four on Saturday, but the sting of a 6-1 loss to Columbia in the Class 1A North Mac Super-Sectional did not hurt as bad as it could have, thanks in…

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QND’s Dyer and Strong win first two matches at state tennis tourney, stay alive heading into second day

Quincy Notre Dame's Alex Strong, left, and Daniel Dyer went 2-1 on the first day of the Class 1A boys tennis state tournament in Palatine, Ill. | Submitted photo

PALATINE, Ill. — Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong are making their return to the Class 1A boys tennis state tournament last as long as possible. The Quincy Notre Dame No. 1 doubles team won two of its three matches Thursday and are one of 24 duos still alive heading into the second day of the…

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‘The highlight of my year’: Thomas sisters elated for QND girls soccer team to eliminate SHG in sectional

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore center back Sierra Thomas delivers a free kick during Tuesday's Class 1A Greenville Sectional championship game at Don Stout Field in Greenville, Ill. | Shane Hulsey

GREENVILLE, Ill. — For how much beating Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin means to the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team, look no further than Sierra and Alena Thomas’ thoughts on that subject. “Sometimes I feel like our team wants to beat them more than we want to beat (Quincy High School), honestly,” said Sierra Thomas, a…

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QND softball team can’t get critical hit in Class 2A sectional semifinal setback to Williamsville

Quincy Notre Dame's Josie Boyer is caught stealing second in the bottom of the seventh inning of Tuesday's sectional softball game at Macomb High School. Making the tag is Williamsville shortstop Reese Larson. | Photo courtesy Andrea Ratermann

MACOMB, Ill. — The outcome came down to one crucial difference. The Williamsville softball team put two hits together in the same inning to plate a run. Quincy Notre Dame didn’t. With scoring chances limited as QND’s Caitlin Bunte and Williamsville’s Izzy Nowack engaged in a pitchers’ duel, one run loomed large as the Bullets…

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Photo Gallery: QND girls soccer team advances to first super-sectional since state championship season

Quincy Notre Dame's Addie Flesch, Makayla Patton and Liesel Vincent celebrate the Raiders' 1-0 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in Tuesday's Class 1A Greenville Sectional championship game at Don Stout Field in Greenville, Ill. | Shane Hulsey

GREENVILLE, Ill. — Sierra Thomas’ goal in the 12th minute stood up as the only goal in the Raiders’ 1-0 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in Tuesday’s Class 1A Greenville Sectional championship game. This was the Raiders’ first victory over the Cyclones since beating them 3-2 in the 2022 sectional title game on their way…

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QND baseball team overmatched by Sacred Heart-Griffin pitcher in 3-0 loss in regional championship

Quincy Notre Dame pitcher Abram Wiewel grimaces after failing to field a perfectly placed bunt down the third-base line during the fourth inning of the Class 2A regional championship game on Saturday in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY – Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin pitcher Andy Antonacci was confident striding off the mound after striking out the side in the top of the first inning. “Some days I feel like I just get in a groove, and from there I don’t feel or hear anything. I just go out and throw,” he said. “Today…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders can’t get runner past first base, strike out 10 times as season ends at 19-11

Quincy Notre Dame third baseman Rowan Stegeman charges in to field a short groundball during Saturday morning's Class 2A regional championship baseball game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | David Adam

Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Nick Antonacci tossed a no-hitter and struck out 10 batters in Saturday’s Class 2A regional championship game against Quincy Notre Dame on Saturday in Quincy. He issued three walks and hit a batter, but he didn’t allow a runner to advance beyond first base. The closest QND came to a hit was in…

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‘Did that really just happen?’ QND freshman scores her first varsity goal for memorable moment in sectional

Quincy Notre Dame freshman forward Abby Miller enjoys her first varsity goal, which she scored in the 51st minute of QND's 3-1 victory over Alton Marquette in Friday's Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal game at Don Stout Field. | Shane Hulsey

GREENVILLE, Ill. — Abby Miller’s reaction was equal parts shock and excitement. Given just a handful of minutes in the second half of Friday’s Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal game, the Quincy Notre Dame freshman forward made the most of her opportunity in the 51st minute. With QND and Alton Marquette tied at one, Miller…

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Bunte sets tone on mound, at plate in first inning as Notre Dame beats Tri-City in regional finals

Caitlin Bunte is lost in a mob of Quincy Notre Dame teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning of Friday night's Class 2A regional softball championshiop game at The Backyard. | Annie C. Reller

QUINCY — The momentum swing was quick and quite obvious. Right after Quincy Notre Dame softball pitcher Caitlin Bunte worked out of a bases-loaded situation in the top of the first inning, she led off for the Raiders in their first at-bat. One swing later, Bunte’s left-handed stroke sent a pitch from Tri-City’s Lily Woodworth…

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QND doubles team of Dyer and Strong secure return to Class 1A state tennis tournament

Quincy Notre Dame's Daniel Dyer, left, and Alex Strong are headed back to the state tennis tournament after reaching the semifinals of the Class 1A Jacksonville Sectional. | MRS file photo by Shane Hulsey

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong are getting the chance to outdo themselves. The Quincy Notre Dame boys tennis team’s No. 1 doubles tandem won a pair of matches Friday at the Class 1A Jacksonville Sectional to reach the semifinals and earn a spot in the state tournament, which begins May 29 in…

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Photo Gallery: Two goals four minutes apart in second half propel Raiders past Alton Marquette

Quincy Notre Dame senior midfielder Sage Stratton shields off an Alton Marquette defender during Friday's Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal game at Don Stout Field. | Shane Hulsey

GREENVILLE, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team scored three unanswered goals in the second half to beat Alton Marquette 3-1 in Friday’s Class 1A Greenville Sectional semifinal. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images at Don Stout Field.

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Photo Gallery: Pair of homers help Raiders rack up sixth consecutive regional championship

Quincy Notre Dame first base coach Sam Vranjes, left, congratulates Sophia White after she reached first base during Friday night's Class 2A regional championship game. | Annie C. Reller

Lauren Miller and Caitlin Bunte both homered for the Quincy Notre Dame softball team in Friday night’s 5-1 victory over Buffalo Tri-City in the Class 2A regional championship game at The Backyard. The regional title is Notre Dame’s sixth straight, and Tri-City was denied its first title since 2022. QND has won 11 straight games…

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Quick as a Wink: Double play by center fielder helps QND softball team outlast Pittsfield

Pittsfield shortstop Lila Simon reaches for the ball she dropped while Notre Dame baserunner Madalyn Boyer decides to retreat to second base during Wednesday's regional semifinal softball game at the Backyard. | David Adam

QUINCY — Morgan Winking’s first concern was to simply catch a fly ball. Gunning down a baserunner by doubling her off first base, however, proved to be the play that sealed Quincy Notre Dame’s victory on Wednesday night. Winking’s double play combination with first baseman Morgan Zanger in the top of the sixth inning ruined…

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Lahr takes care of business on mound, at bat as QND snares shutout victory in regional baseball semifinal

Notre Dame's Bradi Lahr pumps his fists while getting a pat on the back from first baseman Eli Johnson after he struck out the final batter to end the fifth inning of Wednesday night's regional semifinal baseball game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | David Adam

QUINCY – Bradi Lahr picked an opportune time for his best pitching performance of the season. The junior right-hander scattered five hits and struck out 11 in going the distance Wednesday night as Quincy Notre Dame pulled away late for a 7-0 victory over Petersburg PORTA in the semifinals of the Class 2A regional tournament…

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Photo Gallery: Four-run sixth inning gives Raiders breathing room as they earn rematch Saturday with SHG

Quincy Notre Dame coach Rich Polak exhorts Rowan Stegeman to score in the first inning of Wednesday's semifinal game in the Class 2A regional at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | David Adam

Quincy Notre Dame scored four runs in the sixth inning to pull away late for a 7-0 victory over Petersburg PORTA on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Class 2A regional tournament at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. The third-seeded Raiders improved to 19-10 and earned a date against second-seeded Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in…

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Photo Gallery: Dominant Bunte allows two hits, one walk to help Raiders reach regional title game

Quincy Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte fires a pitch during Wednesday afternoon's Class 2A softball regional semifinal game at the Backyard. | David Adam

Quincy Notre Dame’s Caitlin Bunte was dominant in the circle on Wednesday afternoon, allowing just two hits and walking one to collect a 2-1 victory over Pittsfield in the Class 2A regional semifinals at the Backyard. She gave up one unearned run to a team that had scored 299 runs in 30 games before Wednesday.…

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With Class 1A regional championship in bag, real work about to begin for QND girls soccer team

Addie Flesch punches a shot past Hillsboro goalkeeper Aubrey Reincke for her third goal during Tuesday's regional championship game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | David Adam

QUINCY – Members of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team were all smiles as they took turns posing for pictures with the regional championship plaque in front of the north goal at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Earning another piece of hardware for the school’s already bulging trophy case was worth celebrating, especially for the…

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Photo Gallery: Flesch, Patton both record hat tricks in Raiders’ regional championship victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Addie Flesch crashes into Hillsboro goalkeeper Aubrey Reincke during the first half of Tuesday's regional championship girls soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. At left is Hillsboro defender Addison Compagni. | David Adam

Addie Flesch and Makayla Patton both scored three goals in Quincy Notre Dame’s 9-0 victory over Hillsboro in the Class 1A regional championship game on Tuesday afternoon at Advance Physical Therapy Field. QND advances to face Alton Marquette – a 6-0 winner Tuesday over Carlinville – at 4:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the…

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Positive reinforcement: Wiewel’s strength, poise and leadership leads to remarkable results

Abram Wiewel is the ace of the Quincy Notre Dame staff with a 6-1 record and a 2.22 ERA. He has struck out 12 or more batters in four starts, including a 16-strikeout effort in six innings in a 10-2 victory over Brown County. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — The voice Abram Wiewel hears when he steps into the batter’s box is the same one he listens to when he stands atop the pitcher’s mound. It’s his own. However, the message varies. “My hitting and pitching mentalities are kind of polar opposites,” said the senior stalwart on the Quincy Notre Dame baseball…

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Triplett survives tightrope walk, leaves bases loaded in seventh as QND baseball team turns tables on QHS

Quincy Notre Dame junior right-hander Oliver Triplett celebrates after striking out Quincy High School's Jacob Salisbury with the bases loaded to secure the Raiders' 9-6 victory over the Blue Devils on Friday at Quincy High School. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — On Friday, redemption was spelled “Q-N-D.” Ten days after losing to Quincy High School 10-0, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team exacted crosstown revenge by beating the Blue Devils 9-6 on Friday. “We really needed this,” QND junior catcher and right-handed pitcher Oliver Triplett said. Triplett’s tightrope act in the bottom of the…

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Photo Gallery: Marth hits first QND home run to pad Raiders’ lead in victory over Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame freshman infielder Kaden Marth chats with his teammates after hitting his first high school home run in the seventh inning of QND's 9-6 victory over Quincy High School on Friday in Quincy. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame freshman infielder Kaden Marth hit the first home run of his high school career in the seventh inning of a 9-6 victory over Quincy High School on Friday. Oliver Triplett escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh by striking out Jacob Salisbury to end the game. Muddy…

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Thomas hopes demanding schedule has QND girls soccer team primed for postseason success

Springfield Lutheran's Kaylynn Kooi flinches as Quincy Notre Dame's Mia Vranjes hits a cross during Friday afternoon's Class 1A girls soccer regional semifinal game at Advance Physical Therapy Field in Quincy. | David Adam

QUINCY — Mark Thomas hopes a difficult regular season schedule has prepared his girls soccer team at Quincy Notre Dame for a potentially successful postseason run. However, he knew that getting his team to forget Monday’s 5-0 loss to Pleasant Plains in the regular-season finale would still be difficult — especially when the Raiders and…

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Quincy Notre Dame finishes unbeaten in WCC after outlasting Central in eventful nine-inning softball game

Quincy Notre Dame teammates gather around home plate after a three-run home run by Joselyn Boyer in the five-run top of the ninth inning during Wednesdays game at Camp Point. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Whew! That major exhale heard shortly before dusk Wednesday four miles northeast of Camp Point was compliments of Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne. QND extended its win streak to 10 games but not before dodging several sizable upset-minded bullets from longtime rival Central on a breezy, 83-degree sun-swept afternoon…

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Photo Gallery: Orne picks up 650th victory on softball diamond in 27th season at Notre Dame

Central's Adisen Mace dives into home plate to score during the fifth inning of Wednesday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame. Mace's run tied the score at 1-1. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame’s 10-8, nine-inning victory on Wednesday over Central featured the two schools combining for eight runs in the ninth inning. The teams combined for 18 runs, 22 hits, eight walks and numerous wild pitches and passed balls. Fifteen players were credited with hits. QND’s victory was the 650th in…

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QHS tennis team sweeps season series from QND, finishes regular season with 18-2 dual record

Quincy High School's Surya Reddy, seen here hitting a forehand during an April 28 dual against Quincy Notre Dame, helped the Blue Devils beat QND 8-1 in both teams' final dual of the regular season on Tuesday. | MRS file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys tennis team put a cap on an incredible regular season by sweeping the season series from intracity rival Quincy Notre Dame. The Blue Devils posted an 8-1 victory over the Raiders on Tuesday at the Greeman Tennis Center in Reservoir Park to improve to 18-2 in duals before…

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QND softball team stays unbeaten in WCC play, extends winning streak to nine games

Notre Dame's Madalyn Boyer, shown pitching on April 22 against Western, struck out six, walked three and gave up one earned run — Jadyn Climer's home run in the fifth inning. | MRS file photo by David Adam

HAMILTON, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte came within a home run of the cycle, five players had multiple hits and Madalyn Boyer tossed a five-hit complete game as the Quincy Notre Dame softball team handled West Hancock 9-2 in Tuesday’s West Central Conference game. QND center fielder Morgan Winking helped get the Raiders on the board…

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Bunte hits homer, hurls one-hit shutout as QND softball team runs winning streak to eight games

Caitlin Bunte, shown pitching on May 9 against Beardstown, did not allow a baserunner after Kaitlyn Borrowman's single with two outs in the first inning. | MRN file photo by shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte tossed a one-hit shutout and hit a two-run home run as the Quincy Notre Dame softball team won its eighth game in a row, dispatching Pleasant Hill 8-0. Bunte’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Raiders a 5-0 lead, Lauren Miller extended that lead to six…

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Raiders hold off late Blue Devil rally to sweep season series

Quincy Notre Dame junior Bayley Weisenberger dribbles toward Quincy High School junior defender Avri Warner during Friday's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The record will show that Quincy Notre Dame swept the girls soccer season series against crosstown rival Quincy High School. But after shutting out the Blue Devils in the first meeting last month and holding them scoreless through the opening 72 minutes of the rematch Friday night, the Raiders had to sweat it out. Staked to a…

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Photo Gallery: Boyer scores on Winking infield single as Raiders outlast Tigers

Quincy Notre Dame senior Madalyn Boyer heads to the Raiders dugout after scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of QND's 3-2 win over Beardstown Friday at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior Madalyn Boyer scored the winning run from second base as Morgan Winking legged out an infield single to with two outs in the sixth inning to help QND beat Beardstown 3-2 on Friday. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images at The Backyard.

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Wink and a knock: Raiders slap hitter drives in winning run in WCC showdown with Tigers

Quincy Notre Dame's Morgan Winking drove in the winning run with an infield single in the sixth inning of Friday's 3-2 victory over Beardstown at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY -— By trade, Morgan Winking is described as a softball slapper. The left-hander uses extraordinary bat control, and when coupled with her above-average speed, she provides the Quincy Notre Dame softball team with an effective weapon at the bottom of its order. Winking’s talent was on display late Friday afternoon at The Backyard, where…

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Photo Gallery: Conkright brothers shine in West Hancock’s upset victory over QND

West Hancock senior infielder Grayson Conkright exits the field after an inning during Thursday's game against Quincy Notre Dame in Hamilton, Ill. Shane Hulsey

HAMILTON, Ill. — West Hancock senior third baseman Grayson Conkright hit a three-run home run and reached base four times, and his brother, junior Layton Conkright, had two RBIs and pitched the final 3⅔ innings to earn the save in a 9-4 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Thursday. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey…

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‘It’s a big, big, big win’: Coming into game with 3-15 record, West Hancock baseball team stuns QND

West Hancock junior right-hander Layton Conkright roars with excitement after the final out of the Titans' 9-4 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Thursday in Hamilton, Ill. | Shane Hulsey

HAMILTON, Ill. — Layton Conkright’s exuberance after the final out encapsulated what Thursday’s 9-4 victory over Quincy Notre Dame meant to him and the West Hancock baseball program. After Conkright got Logan Sutton to ground out to end the game, Conkright pumped his fists, let out a roar that was probably audible from Warsaw and…

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Raiders celebrate final home game for seniors with 6-0 victory, anxious to make postseason tournament run

Quincy Notre Dame's Bayley Weisenberger (10) dribbles around a Jacksonville player during Wednesday night's girls soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Annie C. Reller

QUINCY — Two goals scored within 40 seconds of each other put the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team in front in the game’s first nine minutes, and the Raiders went on to enjoy senior night with a 6-0 victory over Jacksonville on Wednesday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field. Mia Vranjes got the first…

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Wiewel blasts 12th home run, freshman tosses complete game two-hitter as QND routs Southeastern

Gavin Doellman, shown batting in Quincy Notre Dame's May 6 game against Quincy High School, hit a two-run triple in the first inning of Wednesday's game at Southeastern. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

AUGUSTA, Ill. — Abram Wiewel hit his 12th home run of the season and freshman Reese Schertel hurled a complete game two-hitter for his first varsity victory as the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team cruised to a 12-2 victory over Southeastern in five innings on Wednesday. Wiewel also drove in four runs for the Raiders (17-7).…

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Day waits to hear about classroom test but aces test on pitcher’s mound in QHS shutout of QND

Quincy High School baseball coach Rick Lawson, left, greets Blue Devils starting pitcher James Day as he exits the field following one of the seven scoreless innings he tossed on Tuesday against Quincy Notre Dame at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — James Day doesn’t necessarily want to take his AP Government test again, but if it helps him pitch like he did on Tuesday, he gladly would. About an hour before his scheduled start against Quincy Notre Dame, Day, a junior at Quincy High School, finished the test he needs to pass to earn…

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QND softball team eclipses 20-victory mark for sixth consrcutive year with 16-1 decision over Southeastern

Eric Orne's softball teams at Quincy Notre Dame have won at least 20 games for six consecutive seasons. | MRN file photo by David Adam

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte homered to center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning for the Quincy Notre Dame softball team, which went on to post a 16-1 victory over Southeastern on Tuesday afternoon at the Backyard. The victory enables the Raiders (20-4) to reach the 20-victory plateau for the sixth consecutive…

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Photo Gallery: Dent, Konrad ignite Blue Devils’ offense in dominant victory over Notre Dame

Quincy High School junior outfielder Mason Dent celebrates as he rounds the bases following his first home run of the season, which came in the seventh inning of the Blue Devils' 10-0 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Mason Dent and Nate Konrad hit home runs and the Quincy High School baseball team cranked out 12 hits in a dominant 10-0 victory over Quincy Notre Dame at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield on Tuesday. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images from the crosstown showdown.

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Barnes’ goal gives QND life, but late surge isn’t enough in one-goal loss at home to Springfield

Quincy Notre Dame's Ellison Barnes, left, and Sierra Thomas celebrate Barnes' goal in the 76th minute of a 2-1 loss to Springfield on Monday at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Ellison Barnes practiced what Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Thomas has preached, and it gave the Raiders a chance against Springfield on Monday at Advance Physical Therapy Field. With the Raiders trailing the Senators 2-0 and five minutes left in the second half, Barnes, a junior forward and midfielder, made a…

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Reyburn finally homers to fulfill coach’s prophecy, punctuating QND’s victory over Brown County

Quincy Notre Dame junior Weston Reyburn, left, and freshman Eli Johnson share the Raiders' home run cowboy hat after they hit back-to-back home runs against Brown County on Monday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Rich Polak, the Quincy Notre Dame baseball coach, had seen it coming for the last four months. He helps train Raiders junior outfielder Weston Reyburn during the offseason. “Going into the season, he’d never even had an extra base hit,” Polak said. “He put on 20 pounds of muscle. I said, ‘Listen, you’re…

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Photo Gallery: Wiewel strikes out 16, Raiders pull away from Hornets late

Quincy Notre Dame's Abram Wiewel has compiled a 2.14 earned run average with 69 strikeouts in 36 innings, and he is hitting .516 with 11 home runs this season. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior Abram Wiewel continues to stake his claim as one of the top baseball players in the area. Wiewel struck out 16 Brown County batters and added a triple in QND’s 10-2 victory on Monday. Wiewel has compiled a 2.14 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 36 innings and is hitting…

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Crim: QND’s Connell says IHSA changes to address ‘competitive equity’ unfairly penalizes all private schools

Jenna Durst, left, and the girls basketball team at Quincy Notre Dame will play in Class 3A next season, but Robbie Reed and the boys basketball team at Quincy Notre Dame will play in Class 2A, per changes made by the Illinois High School Association with the success factor and the 1.65 multiplier applied to the classification enrollment of private or non-boundaried schools. | MRN file photos

QUINCY – The public-private debate is as old as high school athletics itself. It reached a fever pitch last fall in Illinois when private schools won seven of the eight state football championships. While insisting that was not the tipping point, the Illinois High School Association Board of Directors has since voted to implement three…

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Raiders pound out 36 hits, 32 runs and six home runs in doubleheader sweep of Alton Marquette

Caitlin Bunte, shown batting against Quincy High School on April 16, had seven hits, including three home runs, and drove in 10 runs during Quincy Notre Dame's doubleheader sweep of Alton Marquette on Saturday at the Backyard. | MRN file photo by David Adam

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte had seven hits in eight at-bats, including three home runs, and drove in 10 runs during the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s 17-2 and 15-4 victories over Alton Marquette on Saturday at the Backyard. Bunte went 4 for 4 with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBIs in the…

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‘Brum Strong’: Wiewel blasts 11th homer in first inning of Notre Dame baseball’s victory over Central

Quincy Notre Dame senior Abram Wiewel watches his two-run home run sail out of Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield in the first inning Friday's game against Camp Point Central. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Abram Wiewel says he does not get caught up in the numbers, but they are difficult to ignore. The Quincy Notre Dame senior shortstop and right-handed pitcher cranked his 11th home run of the season in the first inning of the Raiders’ 13-6 victory over Camp Point Central on Friday. Amidst his power…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders extend win streak ahead of showdown with Brown County

Quincy Notre Dame infielders Bradi Lahr, left, and Abram Wiewel congratulate each other after turning a double play during Friday's game against Camp Point Central at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team reached 15 wins on the season and five in a row after handling Camp Point Central 13-6 Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Abram Wiewel hit his 11th home run of the season, and the Raiders scored double-digit runs for the ninth time. QND (15-6) will…

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Wiewel’s homer to lead off seventh sparks seven-run surge to give Raiders victory over Clark County

Abram Wiewel hit his 10th home run of the season to lead off the seventh-inning comeback for Quincy Notre Dame on Tuesday against Clark County. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

KAHOKA, Mo. — Another day, another Abram Wiewel home run — but this one ignited a game-saving rally. With the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team trailing Clark County 11-10 in the top of the seventh inning on Tuesday, Wiewel belted a leadoff home run, sparking a seven-run inning. Bradi Lahr hit a two-run home run…

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Holzgrafe filling in at No. 1 doubles spot just fine for injured teammate, helps QHS tennis team win every set in victory

Quincy High School sophomore Kael Holzgrafe celebrates winning a point during the No. 1 doubles match as part of Quincy's dual against Quincy Notre Dame on Monday at Reservoir Park. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Ethan Stark will return soon, but in the meantime, Kael Holzgrafe has found a home in the No. 1 doubles spot for the Quincy High School tennis team. Holzgrafe and Surya Reddy defeated Quincy Notre Dame’s Daniel Dyer and Alex Strong 9-7 in No. 1 doubles as part of the Blue Devils’ 9-0…

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Dirty Dozen: QND softball maintains mastery over arch rival QHS, wins 13-3 at home

Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte socked her seventh home run of the season and 20th of her career, a line shot over the right-center field fence, during Monday's game. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — To her credit, Anjay Heinecke did not try to sidestep the question. The Quincy High School softball coach fully admitted the frustration of the ongoing losing streak to arch rival Quincy Notre Dame, the latest loss coming in 13-3 fashion on a balmy Monday evening inside the friendly confines of The Backyard at 10th and…

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Back-to-back homers get Raiders off to great start, Lahr drives in seven runs in 21-0 victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Eli Johnson, shown taking a swing during an April 16 game, led off Monday's game in Mendon with a home run. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

MENDON, Ill. — The first two at-bats for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team against Unity were a harbinger of things to come. Freshman Eli Johnson and senior Abram Wiewel belted back-to-back home runs in the top of the first, then the Raiders piled on 19 combined runs in the third and fourth innings —…

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Photo Gallery: QHS earns clean sweep of QND in dual at Reservoir Park

Quincy High School senior Emanuel Sogadji hits a backhand shot during his No. 6 singles match against Quincy Notre Dame's Cael Willer at Monday's dual at Reservoir Park. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — The Quincy High School boys tennis team improved its dual record to 15-2 with a 9-0 victory over Quincy Notre Dame on Monday at Reservoir Park. The Blue Devils did not drop a set in any match on a day when temperatures reached near 90 degrees and winds blew upwards of 20 miles…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders all smiles in victory over Blue Devils in crosstown showdown

From left, Quincy Notre Dame softball players Josie Boyer, Morgan Winking, Ellie Miller and Sophia White pose for a photo before taking the field during Monday's game against Quincy High School at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY —The Quincy Notre Dame softball team jumped on Quincy High School with four runs in the first inning on Monday and never looked back in a 13-3 victory at The Backyard. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured some of the action from 10th and Jackson.

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Raiders rebound from tough defeat on Friday to snag pair of victories in Clopton on Saturday

Freshman Rowan Stegeman had two hits in each of Quincy Notre Dame's games on Saturday, | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

CLOPTON, Mo. — A quick turnaround did not bother the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. Less than 15 hours after a 10-2 road loss to Illini West, the Raiders made the 75-minute drive to Clopton for a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. QND combined for 22 runs in two games, defeating Clopton 13-6 and…

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Muscling Up: Watkins’ homer ignites fuse for eight-run inning as Illini West baseball team thumps QND

Illini West's Shawn Watkins Jr., left, and Wesley Robertson celebrate Watkins' two-run home run in the fifth inning of Friday's game against Quincy Notre Dame at Jake Burling Field. | Shane Hulsey

CARTHAGE, Ill. — Illini West senior catcher Shawn Watkins Jr.’s home plate collision with Quincy Notre Dame’s Oliver Triplett did not faze him. Watkins, a two-time state qualifying wrestler, welcomed the physicality. “It’s not the first one of the year, and it probably won’t be the last one,” Watkins said. “I feel like wrestling toughens…

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Raiders shut out by undefeated Peoria Notre Dame, but Thomas pleased with performance

Quincy Notre Dame coach Mark Thomas during an April 11 game against Quincy High School. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Losing still stinks, but Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer coach Mark Thomas was pleased with his team’s play Friday night in a 2-0 loss to undefeated Peoria Notre Dame. “We worked hard,” Thomas said after the game, played at Advance Physical Therapy Field. “(Peoria Notre Dame has) got a good team, and that’ll…

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Photo Gallery: Chargers’ Carlisle carries no-hit bid into fifth inning against Raiders

Carthage pitcher Ethan Carlisle | Shane Hulsey

Illini West starting pitcher Ethan Carlisle carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning of Friday’s baseball game against Quincy Notre Dame, which the Chargers eventually won 10-2. Carlisle gave up just one baserunner before Bradi Lahr’s single leading off the fifth. Carlisle exited after five innings after striking out six and walking just one on…

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Winking’s walk sets up red-hot Bunte to clear bases with triple, setting tone early for QND softball team

Quincy Notre Dame's Josie Boyer slides across home plate and umpire John Shepard gives the safe call while Western catcher Rachel McMullen looks to throw the ball during Wednesday afternoon's softball game at the Backyard in Quincy. Josie Boyer scored on Madalyn Boyer's single in the fourth inning. | David Adam

QUINCY — The most important at-bat in Wednesday afternoon’s 12-2 victory by the Quincy Notre Dame softball team over Western at the Backyard came in the second inning when it took the lead. No, it wasn’t Caitlin Bunte’s bases-clearing triple, breaking a scoreless tie. Instead, it was Morgan Winking’s two-out walk to load the bases,…

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Raiders extend winning streak to four, have won nine of last 10 after routing Payson Seymour

QND pitcher Sam Klauser | MRN file photo

QUINCY — Sophomore starter Sam Klauser allowed one earned run in four innings of work, and two freshmen combined for three scoreless innings in relief as the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team defeated Payson Seymour 10-2 on Monday night. The victory was the fourth straight for the Raiders (10-4), who have won nine of their…

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Stegeman belts first career homer, Wiewel fans baker’s dozen in QND baseball’s victory over Rochester

Freshman third baseman Rowan Stegeman, shown taking a swing in an April 12 game against Chatham Glenwood, hit his first career home run on Saturday, a two-run shot to left field in the first inning against Rochester. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — In a year full of firsts for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team, Rowan Stegeman added his name to that list on Saturday. The freshman third baseman hit his first career home run, a two-run shot to left field in the first inning, to give the Raiders a 2-1 lead over Rochester. The…

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After falling behind, Hannibal girls soccer team scores next four goals to knock off Notre Dame

Hannibal's Malia Stolte (in white) tries to manuever around Quincy Notre Dame's Sage Stratton during Thursday night's girls soccer game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Annie C. Reller

QUINCY — Makayla Patton’s goal for Quincy Notre Dame 11 minutes into Thursday night’s game at Advance Physical Therapy Field broke a scoreless tie. It was like a slap in the face to the Hannibal girls soccer team. “We didn’t have the first goal, but if anything, it made us just come back harder and…

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One strike from victory, Raiders give up tying and winning runs in bottom of seventh at Piasa

Morgan Zanger, shown taking a swing during an. April 14 game against Pittsfield, had two hits against Piasa Southwestern on Thursday. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

PIASA, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls softball team was one strike from victory, but a two-out two-strike RBI single tied the score and another RBI single drove home the winning run for Piasa Southwestern in an 8-7 victory on Thursday afternoon. The Raiders led 7-5 entering the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Caitlin…

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Boyer slugs homer, earns victory in circle as QND extends softball win streak over QHS to 11 games

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Lauren Miller prepares to throw out Quincy High School runner Ariana Adorno, who laid down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning during Wednesday night's softball game at Avenue of Saints Field. Adorno's sacrifice bunt helped the Blue Devils take an early 1-0 lead, but Notre Dame rallied for a 6-2 victory. | David Adam

QUINCY — Understandably, Madalyn Boyer needed a few moments to decide what was more enjoyable. The Quincy Notre Dame right-hander was the winning pitcher — with excellent relief help from Caitlin Bunte — and also socked her first home run of the season during the Raiders’ 6-2 victory over rival Quincy High School in a Wednesday…

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First homer for Johnson energizes Raiders, who escape with wild 12-10 victory at Pittsfield

Quincy Notre Dame freshman Eli Johnson follows through with a swing during Wednesday afternoon's baseball game at Pittsfield. | Shane Hulsey

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Eli Johnson could not contain his excitement. The Quincy Notre Dame freshman is a fiery competitor, but after hitting his first career home run on Wednesday, he smacked Raiders coach Rich Polak’s hand rounding third base. Polak felt the effects of Johnson’s emotions running high. “I think he almost broke my hand,”…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders improve to 15-2, close in on sixth consecutive 20-victory season

Quincy Notre Dame coach Eric Orne waves home Caitlin Bunte after Joselyn Boyer's double during Wednesday night's softball game at Avenue of Lights Field. | David Adam

Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over Quincy High School moved the Quincy Notre Dame girls softball team one step closer to a sixth consecutive 20-victory season. Notre Dame has outscored Quincy 87-18 during that 11-game stretch. The last QHS victory against the Raiders came in April 2018.  Muddy River News Editor David Adam captured some of the images from…

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Photo Gallery: Plenty of baseball, softball action in Pittsfield on Wednesday night

Quincy Notre Dame's Abram Wiewel celebrates as Weston Reyburn scores during Wednesday night's baseball game at Pittsfield. | Shane Hulsey

Sports Writer Shane Hulsey caught a different type of doubleheader on Wednesday night, capturing images of Quincy Notre Dame’s 12-10 victory over Pittsfield in baseball as well as Pittsfield’s come-from-behind 7-6 victory over Western in softball.

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Opportunity knocks, and freshman pinch-hitter answers to help QND softball rally at Pittsfield

Quincy Notre Dame freshman Cadence Smith stands at second base after her go-ahead double in the fourth inning of Monday's softball game against Pittsfield at Vic Callender Field. | Shane Hulsey

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame freshman Cadence Smith knew her opportunity would come, and she made the most of it. The QND softball team was trailing Pittsfield 4-2 with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fourth on Monday when Smith came off the bench to hit for Ellie Miller…

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Photo Gallery: Bunte’s amazing offensive streak continues for Raiders

Caitlin Bunte connects for a two-run home run in the third inning of Monday night's softball game between Quincy Notre Dame and Pittsfield. | Shane Hulsey

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte went 2 for 3 with a two-run home run in the third inning and scored three runs in Quincy Notre Dame’s 10-4 victory over Pittsfield in a prep softball game on Monday night. In the last eight games dating back to April 5, Bunte has gone 15 for 22 with…

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Raiders own worst enemy in lopsided loss to Chatham Glenwood

Quincy Notre Dame pitcher Abram Wiewel throws a pitch during Saturday's game. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — File it and forget it. That’s about all the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team could do following Saturday’s 15-2, six-inning loss to Chatham Glenwood at Ferd Niemann Memorial Field. The Raiders (6-4) proved to be their own worst enemy. “Nine walks, four errors … ,” said QND coach Rich Polak, recounting some of…

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Bunte has five hits, seven RBIs in first game as QND softball splits with Bloomington Central Catholic

Quincy Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte takes a swing during Friday's game against Calhoun. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte had the game of dreams on Saturday. The Quincy Notre Dame senior and University of Indianapolis commit went 5 for 6 with seven RBIs and hit for the cycle in the Raiders’ 15-4 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader. Bunte got the home run…

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QND commands second half, ends losing streak against QHS with 2-0 girls soccer victory

Addie Flesch is surrounded by her teammates after scoring the first goal of Friday night's girls soccer game at Flinn Stadium for Quincy Notre Dame. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY – Quincy High School swept crosstown rival Quincy Notre Dame in each of the previous two seasons, the only times the Blue Devils had accomplished that in the first 34 years of the girls soccer series. The Raiders were intent on flipping the script on Friday night when the teams met for the first…

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Bunte atones for first-inning mistake, goes 4 for 4 in QND softball team’s home victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte celebrates after hitting a double in the sixth inning of Friday's game at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte did not let a first-inning error deter her and instead used it as motivation. Two batters into the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s game against Triopia on Friday, Raiders third baseman Josie Boyer fielded a ground ball off the bat of Addilynn Tracy. Bunte dropped Boyer’s throw to first, allowing Tracy…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders’ offense comes alive after scoring just one goal in past two games

Quincy High School's Leah Knudson settles the ball in front of Quincy Notre Dame's Lakin Allensworth during Friday night's game at Flinn Stadium. | Shane Hulsey

Adde Flesch gave the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team, which had managed just one goal combined in back-to-back losses to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Hannibal (Mo.), the lead with just 3 minutes, 9 seconds elapsed during Friday night’s game against Quincy High School at Flinn Stadium. Sage Stratton scored the Raiders’ second goal in…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders shut down high-scoring Triopia after allowing early run

Members of the Quincy Notre Dame infield gather around pitcher Caitlin Bunte before the top of the seventh inning of Friday night's game at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey

Caitlin Bunte had four hits, scored two runs and fired five scoreless innings in relief as the Quincy Notre Dame girls softball team beat Triopia 4-1 at The Backyard on Friday. Bunte struck out nine and retired the final 13 batters of the game, throwing 46 of her 61 pitches for strikes. Sports Writer Shane…

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Johnson, Wiewel help Raiders storm back for victory over Hannibal before storm ends game

Abram Wiewel, right, receives a low five from Quincy Notre Dame coach Rich Polak after hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning of Wednesday night''s baseball game at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Aspen Gengenbacher

QUINCY – The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team provided a little thunder and lightning just before Mother Nature delivered the real thing. Eli Johnson doubled off the left-field fence to drive home the go-ahead run, and Abram Wiewel followed with a two-run homer to cap a six-run fifth inning to carry the Raiders to a…

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Turner stands tall as Pirates fend off Raiders in cross-river battle

Hannibal senior forward Abbie Martin makes a pass during Tuesday's 5-1 win over Quincy Notre Dame in Hannibal, Mo. — Photo by Shane Hulsey

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal girls soccer team’s potent offense gave it the lead. Senior goalkeeper Ava Turner made sure that lead stayed in tact.  Turner stopped each of the first eight shots she faced, several of which came from point blank range, as the Pirates beat Quincy Notre Dame 5-1 Tuesday at the Veterans…

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Wiewel, Raiders lock in and lock up Crimsons to secure fourth consecutive victory

Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander Abram Wiewel held Jacksonville scoreless the final six innings Saturday in a 3-2 victory at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The way things unfolded in the top of the first inning Saturday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield left Abram Wiewel looking for control. One swing seemed to help him find it. The No. 3 hitter in the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s lineup got a first-inning merry-go-round going with his one-out single…

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Patton, Flesch get Raiders’ offense rolling in right direction in four-goal victory over Bullets

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Makayla Patton tries to settle a ball during the first half of Tuesday's 4-0 victory over Williamsville at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — What took place on the backend of each of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team’s scoring opportunities is what gets remembered. It’s the build-up to those opportunities that Raiders coach Mark Thomas likes to see. The off-the-ball movement of forwards Makayla Patton and Addie Flesch and the control of midfielders Sage Stratton…

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Wiewel, Klauser combine to quiet Panthers as no-hitter leads to Raiders’ victory

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore right-hander Samuel Klauser delivers a pitch during Tuesday's game against Palmyra at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The plan was in place. All Abram Wiewel and Samuel Klauser had to do was execute it. The two Quincy Notre Dame right-handed hurlers did so to near perfection as they combined to no-hit Palmyra in a 7-0 victory Tuesday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. Wiewel started and pitched the first two…

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Raiders forge tie with Explorers, get early-season taste of what postseason path looks like

Quincy Notre Dame's Makayla Patton, right, battles Alton Marquette's Radley Hoener for possession during Monday night's game at Advance Physical Therapy Field. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team got a taste of what the Class 1A postseason path may look like, and it was no April fool’s joke. The Raiders played Alton Marquette to a scoreless tie Monday night at Advance Physical Therapy Field, finding the Explorers’ defense difficult to generate an attack against…

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Interference call ends pitchers’ duel as Raiders outlast Warriors at softball slam

Quincy Notre Dame senior pitcher Caitlin Bunte delivers a pitch during Saturday's game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Whether the play was savvy, lucky or both, Alyssa Ley’s instincts paid off. With the bases loaded, two outs and the Quincy Notre Dame softball team leading Hardin Calhoun 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning Saturday, Ley ranged to her left from her shortstop position to field a ground ball off…

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White’s speed turns tide in Raiders’ favor during one-run win over Warriors

Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne, left, congratulates freshman outfielder Sophia White after White reached third base during Saturday's game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame freshman outfielder Sophia White has earned the nickname “Flash.” On Saturday, she showed why. White led off the third inning of a scoreless game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard with one task — get on base. With that in mind, Raiders coach Eric Orne told White to bunt for…

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Payson Seymour splits games at softball slam, while Illini West suffers pair of setbacks

Payson Seymour softball coach Joe Fessler, left, congratulates senior catcher Ella Archer after Archer reached base during Saturday's game against Quincy Notre Dame at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Four teams provided a day full of action at Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Softball Slam at The Backyard. The finale provided plenty of drama with QND squeaking out a 1-0 victory over Hardin Calhoun. Here is a recap of the three games preceding that showdown: Archer’s timely hits give Indians lift Corin Robinson…

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Wiewel finishes what he starts, makes defensive play to end Raiders’ one-run win over Blue Devils

Quincy Notre Dame senior second baseman Abram Wiewel hauls in a pop up for the final out of Saturday's game against Quincy High School at QU Stadium. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Bradi Lahr had no doubt Abram Wiewel would make the play. “It’s Abram Wiewel,” said Lahr, a junior right-handed pitcher for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team. “He’s the best ballplayer I’ve been on a team with. I had trust in him the whole time.” With the Raiders leading Quincy High School 5-4,…

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Photo gallery: QND, QHS baseball teams open season Saturday at QU Stadium

Quincy Notre Dame infielders Bradi Lahr and Kaden Marth celebrate turning a double play during Saturday's game against Quincy High School at QU Stadium. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Opening day for the Quincy High School and Quincy Notre Dame baseball teams showed what fans have come to expect from both programs — grit, tenacity and tight games in the city series. After both teams dropped their season openers to Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin, QND took the upper hand in the city rivalry…

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Boyer joins Bunte to create formidable one-two punch for QND softball team’s pitching staff

Madalyn Boyer, a senior who transferred to Quincy Notre Dame from Illini West last summer, will provide the QND softball team with depth in the pitching circle. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Madalyn Boyer used to fear facing Caitlin Bunte. “I’ve always struggled hitting off of her,” Boyer said. “Everybody struggles hitting off of her.” Now there is no need to fear.  Boyer, a senior pitcher and third baseman who transferred from Illini West to Quincy Notre Dame prior to this school year, will combine…

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Finding balance between youthful exuberance, veteran leadership will define QND’s spring success

Senior right-hander Abram Wiewel will anchor the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team's pitching staff this season. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A mix of young talent and veteran leadership will shape the success of Quincy Notre Dame’s collection of teams this spring. Baseball A young, speedy QND baseball team will take the field for the first time at the QHS Slam on Saturday against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin and Quincy High School at QU Stadium.…

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‘I wanted to enjoy this last moment’: Stratton, Raiders finish fourth at state after loss to Panthers

The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball players clap as Washington receives its third-place medals Friday night at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — It was not the happy ending Sage Stratton had envisioned, but even as the tears streamed down her face as she watched the Washington girls basketball team celebrate Friday night’s 60-51 victory over Quincy Notre Dame in the Class 3A third-place game at CEFCU Arena, the QND senior guard had no qualms…

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‘You still get chills’: Orne keeps enjoyment of state tournament experience at forefront

Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne and the Raiders are bringing home the ninth state trophy in his 23 seasons as head coach, finishing fourth in Class 3A following Friday night's 60-51 loss to Washington in the third-place game at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — Eric Orne is still not numb to the feeling. “You still get chills when you walk through the tunnel,” Orne said. That tunnel leads you into CEFCU Arena, the home of the IHSA state basketball tournament, a destination Orne has reached nine times in 23 seasons as the Quincy Notre Dame girls…

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Photo gallery: QND girls basketball team brings home ninth state trophy in last 17 seasons

Quincy Notre Dame senior Lauren Hummel shoots a 3-pointer during Friday's Class 3A third-place game against Washington at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — The trips to CEFCU Arena — traditionally known as Redbird Arena — have been fruitful for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team, which won its ninth state trophy since 2008 this weekend. The Raiders finished fourth in Class 3A, losing 60-51 to Washington in Friday night’s third-place game. Muddy River Sports…

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Raiders unable to answer Broncos’ second-half surge, lose in Class 3A state semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame senior guard Sage Stratton looks to make a move around a Lombard Montini defender during Thursday night's Class 3A state semifinal at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — In a game of punch-counterpunch, Lombard Montini’s return blows proved too powerful for the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team to recover from. The silver lining for QND is a chance for atonement on Friday. The Raiders took a 26-20 lead on a Jenna Durst 3-pointer with 4:41 left in the third…

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Even after semifinal loss, Raiders recognize significance of return trip to state tournament

Quincy Notre Dame senior forward Tristan Pieper, left, shoots over Lombard Montini defender Peyton Farrell during Thursday night's 50-41 loss in the Class 3A state semifinals at CEFCU Arena on the Illinois State University campus in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — CEFCU Arena has become quite the familiar place for Sage Stratton, but the significance of playing in three state tournaments in four years is not lost on the Quincy Notre Dame senior guard. “I wish everybody could have this experience,” said Stratton, who helped the Raiders win a Class 2A state championship…

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Photo gallery: QND plays Lombard Montini in Class 3A state semifinals at CEFCU Arena

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler looks for room to run the offense during Thursday night's Class 3A state semifinal game against Lombard Montini at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

NORMAL, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team’s third state tourament appearance in the last four years hit a snag in the fourth quarter Thursday night as Lombard Montini pulled away for a 50-41 victory in the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey was courtside and…

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‘We stand up and rise to the occasion’: Raiders fend off Rams to earn berth in Class 3A state semifinals

Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball coach Eric Orne celebrates the Raiders' 55-54 victory over Mt. Vernon in Monday night's Class 3A Taylorville Super-Sectional while being hugged by senior guard Sage Stratton. | Matt Schuckman photo

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — Ari Buehler’s bright smile said it all. “I guess it does,” she said. The euphoric moment the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team experienced Monday night, beating Mt. Vernon 55-54 to win the Class 3A Taylorville Super-Sectional and earn a final four berth, had the Raiders smiling, giggling and even crying as…

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Raiders’ ability to hit clutch free throws in final two minutes secures super-sectional victory

Quincy Notre Dame junior guard Ari Buehler sizes up one of the free throws she made in the final two minutes of Monday night's 55-54 victory over Mt. Vernon in the Class 3A Taylorville Super-Sectional. | Matt Schuckman photo

TAYLORVILLE, Ill. — As Ari Buehler stepped to the free-throw line with the chance to nudge the Quincy Notre Dame girls basketball team closer to a state tournament berth, her mind circled back to a year ago when the Raiders’ season ended with her miss at the charity stripe. “Oh, yeah, for sure,” Buehler said.…

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