Raiders’ Dance attacks Rams to finish remarkable season with victory in third-place game

Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Tyler Dance reacts to getting the last out in the fourth inning Saturday in the Class 2A third-place game against DePaul College Prep at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

PEORIA, Ill. — Tyler Dance didn’t like it, but he didn’t fret over it. He simply worked through it. That’s what an ace does. Staked to a one-run lead following the top of the first inning of Saturday’s Class 2A third-place game at Dozer Park, the Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander saw the DePaul College…

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‘He threw another gem’: Raiders right-hander Dance delivers by shutting down Saints

Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander Tyler Dance delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against Bloomington Central Catholic during Monday's Class 2A super-sectional in Springfield, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — In the moments after the Quincy Notre Dame baseball players decided they’d play Monday’s Class 2A super-sectional as planned, senior designated hitter Alex Connoyer stood in front of Tyler Dance, leaned in so they were nearly nose-to-nose and delivered a strong message. “Use all the emotion,” Connoyer told his teammate. “Let it…

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

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

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

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Adapt and overcome: Raiders’ Dance responds to one big swing by shutting down Cardinals in complete-game regional semifinal victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Mason Winking congratulates starting pitcher Tyler Dance after he finished a complete-game effort in a 9-1 victory over Pleasant Plains in the Class 2A regional semifinal Wednesday. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Tyler Dance threw 34 innings during the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team’s regular season without allowing a home run. One inning and 18 pitches into the postseason, that changed. Pleasant Plains’ Zach Ponce led off the top of the second inning by driving a two-ball, two-strike curveball to left field for a home…

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A Wink and a knock: Raiders celebrate Senior Day with enjoyable effort in shutout of Hornets

Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander Mason Winking delivers a pitch during the first inning of Monday's game against Brown County at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — With the way their class schedule works, a majority of the seniors on the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team typically hit the field for practice shortly after 1:30 p.m., giving them the opportunity to squeeze every ounce of enjoyment from every day together. “This is their time,” QND coach Rich Polak said. So…

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Welcome back: Raiders’ energetic, clean effort coincides with first home game in three weeks

Quincy Notre Dame designated hitter Alex Connoyer connects for a three-run home that finished off the Raiders' 12-0, five-inning victory over Central on Friday at Ferd Niemann Jr. Memorial Ballfield. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — There aren’t many places that make Tyler Dance feel as comfortable and confident as he does pitching at Ferd Niemann Jr. Ballfield. “That mound is one of my favorites,” the Quincy Notre Dame senior right-hander said. He hadn’t pitched from that mound since the QND baseball team beat Hannibal on April 5. Five…

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Dance hurls one-hit shutout as Raiders blast another potential postseason foe

Quincy Notre Dame right-hander Tyler Dance threw a one-hit shutout Thursday in the Raiders' 13-0 victory over Beardstown at Lewis Field in Beardstown, Ill. | Matt Schuckman photo

BEARDSTOWN, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame baseball team delivered a strong message to a potential regional opponent Thursday afternoon. The Raiders are ready to Dance. Behind a one-hit shutout by right-hander Tyler Dance and a dominant effort from the top of the batting order, the Raiders rolled to a 13-0, five-inning victory over Beardstown…

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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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