Maybe it’s time for the St. Louis Cardinals to move on from Kolten Wong
Scott Burzynski named new HS Boys Basketball coach at Johnston City
The Johnston City school board hired Scott Burzynski as their new head HS boys basketball coach.
Burzynski. a 1992 gradate of Sesser-Valier, still holds the record for being the schools all time leading scorer. He went on to have a successful college career for Rich Herrin and the Southern Illinois Salukis.
He replaces Jerry Hampleman, who played for the Red Devils also in High School.
Burzynski has over 300 wins in his coaching career, guiding the Carterville Lions for seventeen years. He started his coaching career at Elverado.
There is some talent to work with, as the Indians have a loaded junior class. They should be in the thick of things in the Black Diamond East for the 2017-18 season.
sd
Morgan Griffith going to suit up for the Volunteers next year
by Steve Dunford
Morgan Griffith getting the 2,000 point ball being presented by long time West Frankfort coach Matt Hampleman
West Frankfort all time leading scorer Morgan Griffith will be playing for the John A. Logan Volunteers next season. She made the following statement on social media tonight.
“With my senior year coming to a close, I have re-evaluated my athletics and academics. Athletically, I have had a great high school career. Academically, I will be graduating in the top of my class and with an associate degree.”
“With this being said, after a change in my desired career, I have decided to forgo my academic/basketball scholarship at Missouri S&T. Starting next school year, I will be playing basketball and continuing my education at John A. Logan.”
“I will be finishing my prerequisites for the nursing program, hoping that I can test into the practical nursing program then work my way up. I am very excited about this decision and ready to see where life takes me after high school.”
I have enjoyed watching Morgan play over the last couple years. I will be keeping a close eye on Logan Women’s basketball next season.
Rend lake fishing report
| 4-26-2017 | LARGEMOUTH BASS | Good using minnows, spinnerbaits, worms and black/blue jigs. Reports of fish being caught around Jackie Branch, Sandusky Cove, and below the dam. Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around bridges and along the rocks |
| 4-26-2017 | CRAPPIE | Excellent using meal worms, qtr oz pink/white tube jigs, small & medium minnows. Fish attractors! From shore, fish near structures, hot spots are Jackie Branch, Sandusky, Sailboat Harbor, Marcum coves, and Ina Boat Ramp. Try the Jackie Branch Breakwater. Fish the main lake drop off areas. |
| 4-26-2017 | BLUEGILL | Fair using small jig worms, meal worms & crickets. From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Try fishing shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. Fish in the back of necks and on flat shallow banks and on the rocks. |
| 4-26-2017 | CHANNEL CATFISH | Good using large minnows, leeches, Hoss Hawg Bait, nightcrawlers & Sonny Stink Bait. Try leeches in moving water. Drift fish the flats. Set line 3 to 4 feet from the shore over rocks. Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, Jackie Branch, and North Sandusky Day Use Area. |
| 4-26-2017 | WHITE BASS | Fair using inline spinners, jig and curly tail grubs. Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish around along the rocks and drop-offs Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. |
RLC Women’s Golf claims another region title
Reece Rutland – Rend Lake College Public Information
INA, Ill. (April 24, 2017) – The Rend Lake College Lady Warrior Golf Team notched another NJCAA Region 24 crown on Monday as they defeated Kaskaskia College and John A. Logan College handily at Weibring Golf Club in Normal.
As a team, the Lady Warriors posted a two-day final of 671 (334, 327) to KC’s 764 (384, 380) and JALC’s 785 (397, 388) to take the region by a 93 strokes.
Marion Debove (Belloy-en-France) took top honors with a 158, shaving 10 strokes off her opening round 84 to post a Monday afternoon 74. Alexandra Brue (Chanderville) placed second with a 164. Macey Mooneyham (Herrin) finished third with a 174, and Shelby Johnson (Greenwood, Ind.) took fourth with a 175. Those finished earned RLC four of the five spots on the 2017 All-Region Team.
“We played much better today. We put ourselves in better positon and executed really well,” head coach Cindy Corn stated.
The team now advances to the NJCAA National Championship at Chateau Elan Golf Club in Duluth, Ga. The two-day tournament begins play on Monday, May 15.
RLC Sports Hall of Fame adds three plaques
by Reece Rutland RLC Public Information
It was a night full of laughs and tears as three more plaques were placed on the wall of the Rend Lake College Aquatics Center lobby following the 18th Annual induction ceremony for the RLC Sports Hall of Fame. This year’s batch joins the ranks of 45 individual athletes and 14 teams to receive the honor.
In total, 20 were enshrined during last Saturday’s event. Those honored included RLC golf standout Danielle Kaufman of the 2003-05 women’s golf team, prolific baseball coach Rich Campbell (1992-2001) and the iconic 1983-84 Warrior men’s basketball team.
Kaufman was the first to receive the nod, as her former coach and friend Cindy Corn took the podium to honor an athlete that battled tremendous pain on her way to becoming one of the most successful golfers in RLC’s history.
Former RLC golfer and hall of famer Danielle “Ace” Kaufman (All photos by Reece Rutland, RLC pubic information)
“I’ve never worked so hard to recruit someone,” Corn joked to those gathered. “Danielle is my best friend. She is a tremendous athlete. We are very fortunate that she decided to come here. She has the most beautiful smile and the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Goose” as she was known to her teammates and coach, Kaufman’s links success was almost cut short when it was discovered that she suffered from compartment syndrome in her legs, making it extremely painful to compete. Corn had to write a letter on her player’s behalf to request that Kaufman be allowed to utilize a cart to finish up her freshman season of play.
Kaufman’s accomplishments include recording just the second hole-in-one in the history of the National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Golf Championships en route to Second-Team All-American honors as a freshmen. She also claimed Region XXIV Medalist distinction during the 03-04 season while battling her leg pain.
After off-season surgery, she was Region runner-up by two strokes as a sophomore behind an All-American teammate and helped Coach Corn’s more balanced entry to a No. 4 showing in the Nationals, an improvement by one position and the best showing ever for a program with a dozen Top Ten performances. Kaufman was 20th in the nation. Her 2004-05 Lady Warriors earned induction into the RLC Sports Hall in 2014.
She also holds the honor of setting the Rend Lake Golf Course’s Women’s records with a 68 from the Gold Tees (5,922).
Following her career at RLC, Kaufman signed with SIUE, later playing for SIUC. Professionally, she returned to RLC. Kaufman now serves as the RLC softball assistant coach and held a stint as the women’s golf team’s assistant coach (2009-12). She also manages the RLC Golf Outlet at the MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon.
For her part, Kaufman was quick to turn the attention back to her coach.
“I’m sorry, I want to take a moment to recognize Cindy. She’s retiring this year. She deserves so much credit. She has always been there for me. I couldn’t ask for a better friend or a better coach. Playing here was amazing,” Kaufman expressed.
She also took the time to highlight the importance her family held, thanking her family and giving them the credit for her start in the sport.
RLC hall of fame baseball coach Rich “Soup” Campbell
Saturday night’s second inductee was a man tasked with keeping RLC’s history of stellar baseball play on track, and Rich “Soup” Campbell did not disappoint.
Campbell set himself apart from a cavalcade of successful Warrior coaches by being the only head coach to guide the baseball team to a pair of Region XXIV Championships and three Sectional titles. He boasts a 302-225 (.573) overall record covering nine seasons (1992-01).
RLC Athletic Director Tim Wills recalled starting in 1992 alongside Campbell. “We were both newbies that year. He was a great friend and a great coach,” Wills said. “The thing that always stuck out to me about Soup was the work ethic. He did everything he could all the time to get the program where he wanted it. He took care of the details. That baseball field was always pristine. You could count on it, and he knew down to the penny what his budget was for the season.”
With a program that ran like clockwork and a distinctive leadership style, Campbell did more than fill the shoes of Warrior coaches past. In fact, retired RLC Director of Marketing and Public Information and Sports Information Director Bob Kelley couldn’t help but remind Soup that he would have been the winningest coach in college history if he had just stuck around one more year.
As an example of that coaching style, Campbell shared a story with those gathered about a standout player for him arriving to practice a minute and a half late. It didn’t matter that this particular player was a star and an excellent student, his coach made him run sprints for 30 minutes.
“I lived for moments like that,” Campbell expressed. “It was such a great chance to teach a variety of lessons. I got to show that no one was above the rules. It proved to my other players that everyone was held to the same standard. I wasn’t always loved in the moment, but I get calls from guys now saying ‘I didn’t see it back then, but thanks for being tough.’”
He also thanked those close to him and said the baseball teams of 1997 and 1999 will always hold a special place in his heart.
“I will be forever grateful to my teams and this institution. These memories are embedded in my soul permanently.”
The final inductee of the night was known just as much for their comradery as their success.
Members of the 1983-84 RLC Warrior Basketball team possessed a chemistry that was still evident in 2017.
Nine team records were theirs when they left town. A 10th belonged to nine of those same players as freshmen.
Members of the 1983-84 Warrior Basektball Team. FROM LEFT: Jeff Cochren, Todd Stoermer, Dean Merder, Myron Hawkins, Jamie Raley, Coach Mitch Haskins, Travis Helm, Robby Jones, Jeff Wilkinson, Tim Wills, Kevin Riggan, Derrick Leonard and Mark Kerley.
Mitch Haskins coached a team-record 22 wins out of this close-knit group their first campaign and a 25-7 mark the next, his third at the helm. Eight of their 20 losses in two seasons were to teams which advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Finals in Hutchinson, Kan. Their three conference setbacks in 1983-84 were by a total of five points.
In addition to the standard for wins and winning percentage (.781), the 1983-84 Hall-of-Fame Gang established new marks for consecutive wins (nine); free throws made (587), attempted (790) and percentage (.743); greatest average point differential per game (16.0); greatest margin of victory (74 vs. Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center, 108-34), and greatest margin of victory over community college opponent (57 vs. Oakton, 97-40).
An equally impressive average defensive yield of 63.3 points per game was just 1.0 higher than the record set by their 1982-83 predecessors.
All nine sophomores who grew close together for two years on the Ina campus, plus one late addition, accepted offers to continue their playing careers following their departure from the Juco (Junior College) ranks, the most from one class in 50 seasons of Warrior basketball.
“Talk about a team that stood together, played together and had each other’s backs,” said Haskins as he reminisced about the team. “I had never seen a tighter-knit group. It was a very balanced team. We had a lot of players make contributions. I’ve said it before, but a team is like a pyramid. It has to have a solid base. We had guys step up in practice to push our starters and lots of depth.”
The RLC Sports Hall of Fame is located in the Aquatics Center lobby and is open to the public. For more information on Kaufman, Campbell, the 1983-84 Basketball team, the 2017 Sports Hall of Fame Induction, and all things athletic at The Lake, visit www.rlc.edu/athletics.
After 31 seasons and 571 victories, Brad Weathers retires from coaching basketball
Nashville head coach Brad Weathers has a word with player Kyle Jasper before he enters the game last season. Weathers announced his resignation after eight years. Ron Johnson Peoria Journal Star
Rangers pick up big win at Dinger Wooden Bat Classic
MAYFIELD, KY – Tyson Houghland threw five innings to pick up the win. and Gehrig Wynn homered as the Benton Rangers picked up a 15-3 win over Union Grove WI at the Dinger Wooden Bat Classic, hosted by Graves County High Schoool.
The Rangers improved to 18-2 on the season. They will play two games today, weather permitting.
IHSA State Track & Field to Remain at EIU’s O’Brien Field Through 2022
Press Release from The Illinois High School Assoication
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved a recommendation to extend the IHSA Track & Field State Final hosting contract at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston at their regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA offices in Bloomington on Tuesday, April 18, 2017.
The contract extension, which will keep the Girls and Boys State Final Meets at O’Brien Field for an additional five years, runs from 2018 through 2022.
“Eastern Illinois is excited to continue to serve as the host for the IHSA Boy’s and Girl’s State Track & Field Championships,” said EIU Athletic Director Tom Michael. “This state championship has been a vital part of the community for more than 40 years. This is a great way to show off Eastern Illinois University to thousands of people for two great weekends of competition. In partnership with other units on campus, EIU Athletics looks forward to continuing this long-standing May event at O’Brien Field.”
O’Brien Field first hosted the boys’ state meet in 1972, due to a scheduling conflict at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium. The meet returned to Memorial Stadium in Champaign in 1973, before EIU took it on again in 1974, where it has remained ever since. EIU is also the only home the girls’ state meet has ever known, as it debuted there with the inaugural finals in 1973.
“Eastern Illinois University is synonymous with Illinois high school track & field,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We enjoy a great partnership with EIU and the surrounding communities of Charleston and Mattoon. They provide amazing support for the event, and we are proud that another generation of IHSA track & field student-athletes wills strive to compete at O’Brien Field on the final weekend of the season.”
ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board approved a recommendation to reemploy the Associate Executive Director, Assistant Executive Directors and Executive Assistant.
2. The Board approved a recommendation to authorize the Executive Director to appoint member school Athletic Directors to serve as Tellers for IHSA Nominations, Elections and Proposals during the 2017-18 school year.
3. The Board approved a recommendation to begin a search for an Assistant Executive Director position. More details and an official job description will be posted publicly in the coming months.
4. The Board voted not to approve a proposal to set fixed numbers to determine classification cutoffs in four-class sports. The proposal came from an ad hoc committee reviewing IHSA Policy 17. The Board asked the ad hoc committee to continue its work.
5. The Board voted not to approve a request from the Noble Network in Chicago to be a separate district supporting 10 of more high schools per By-law 1.240.
APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a water polo equipment exemption. The equipment is not allowable per the NFHS Water Polo Rules Book.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Sterling (Newman Central Catholic). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.042.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Chicago (St. Patrick). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.
4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Chicago (St. Patrick). The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040 and its sub-sections.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the April 18, 2017, agenda:
1. The Board discussed state final attendance at the recent IHSA Boys Basketball State Final tournament.
2. The Executive Director gave a report on the Collaborative Solutions for Safety in Sports conference that was held in Kansas City on March 8-9.
3. The Executive Director provided an update on the upcoming IHSA Road Race.
4. The Executive Director provided an update on the modification of IHSA State Final trophies.
Z-R-C defeats West Frankfort 7-4 in a battle of cross county rivals
by Steve Dunford
WEST FRAKNFORT, IL – The story of the afternoon was the battle of the bullpens. Freshman Gabriel Motsinger came on in relief in the top of the fifth, pitching three scoreless innings to pick up the save for starter Nick Hale for the Tornadoes.
For the Redbirds, Tyson Broy pitched 5 1/3 innings only giving up one earned run. West Frankfort starter Zach Lindsey had some hard luck behind him, only lasting 1 2/3 innings, giving up five runs and one of them earned.
The Redbirds defense on the afternoon was shoddy with seven errors.
I asked both coaches about the effort they got out of their bullpens. Tornado coach Page Kirkpatrick said, “Motsinger got the ground balls when we needed them or a big strikeout, as he fanned three.
West Frankfort coach Michael Warren said, “Broy picked us up and gave us a chance. Lindsey did not have his best stuff, but he was decent. The defense behind him let him down. When you spot a good HS team four runs, it is tough to come back.”
Z-R-C scored two in the top of the first. Gabe Schimpf singles over SS Bryson Dorris head. Kaeleb Pedigo beats out an infield single. Steven Anderson and Bryce Pratt have RBI singles. The Redbirds go down in order.
In the top of the second Dalton Carpenter reaches with a bloop single. Jason Cole reaches on a fielders choice and ends up aboard with an error. Hale tries to sacrifice and it fails as a good play by Lindsey to gun Carpenter down at third. Pedigo picks up another RBI single scoring Cole. Anderson then has an RBI base hit scoring courtesy runner Cam Newton. Shane McKowen picks up a base hit. Warren then brings Broy into the game and Bryce Pratt grounds out. The score is 5-0
West Frankfort makes some noise in the bottom of the inning. Lindsey reaches on an error. Jaryd Clark and Dorris follow with base hits. Brendan Russel draws a walk and an RBI. Brandon Glass grounds into a double play. The Redbirds had bases loaded and no one out and only scored one, which makes it 5-1 after two.
Both teams go down in order in the third.
In the top of the fourth, Shimpf picks up a one out single and steals second, and ends the inning stranded at third.
In the bottom of the inning Logan Elko singles. Jaryd Clark hits a one out double. Dorris reaches on a two base error scoring Elko and Clark. Tornado shortstop Luke Garver robs Brendan Russell of a double on a screaming line drive. Glass strikes out
Z-R-C goes down quietly in the top of the fifth. WF makes some noise though as they have bases loaded with no one out with a pair of singles from Lucas Wolfe and Peyton Overturf. Elko Ks. Lindsey grounds into a fielders choice scoring Wolfe. Jared Clark pins Schimpf up against the warning track. Motsinger put out the Redbird fire as he came in with two on no one out. After five West Frankfort cuts into the lead 5-4
In the top of the sixth, Cole legs out an IF single. Motsinger drops down a perfect SAC bunt. Schimpf gets a base hit to center and Glass throws a perfect strike to 2B Jacob Russell who entered the game in the second when Broy took the mound to gun down Schimp. He drives in Cole. Pedigo flies out to right.
In the bottom of the sixth, Dorris opens with a single. B. Russell grounds into a fielder choice as 2B Kaeleb Pedigo with a diving stop flips to SS Luke Garver for the force out. Motsinger fans two in a row as it is 6-4 Z-R-C after six.
In the top of the seventh, Anderson reaches with a single. he swipes second and third. An overthrow by Peyton Overturf brings Anderson into score. The Tornadoes go down quietly then.
In the bottom of the seventh a diving catch by CF Gabe Schimpf robs Tyson Dorris of at least a double. Overturf gets on with a base hit and Elko grounds into a double play for a 7-4 final.
The Tornadoes improve to 14-4 on the year. Coach Kirkpatrick said “When you beat a quality opponent out of the Black Diamond on the road it is huge for us. He went on to say that other than beating 1A defending State Champion Goreville, it is their biggest win of the year.”
The Tornadoes go on the road to face the Vienna Eagles tomorrow afternoon, who they won a 2-1 extra inning thriller at home Tuesday in BDC play.
The Redbirds fall to 5-6. They will play the Herrin Tigers on the road tomorrow in SIRR OHIO play, weather permitting for both games as the forecast looks unfavorable.
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON-CHRISTOPHER BOX SCORE
PLAYER AB R H RBI
CF Schimpf 4 1 3 1
2B Pedigo 4 1 2 2
C Anderson 4 2 3 1
CR Motsinger 0 0 0 0
1B McCowen 4 0 1 0
3B Pratt 4 1 1 1
SS Garver 3 0 0 0
LF Carpenter 3 0 1 1
RF Cole 3 2 1 0
P Hale 2 0 0 0
CR Newton 0 0 0 0
P Motsinger 0 0 0 0
SB Schimpf, Anderson (2) SAC Motsinger
WEST FRANKFORT BOX SCORE
PLAYER AB R H RBI
LF Wolfe 4 1 1 0
2B-P Broy 3 0 0 0
C Overturf 3 0 1 0
CR Allen 0 0 0 0
CR Archione 0 0 0 0
P-RF Lindsey 3 1 1 1
3B Clark 3“1 2 0
SS Dorris 3 0 1 0
DH B. Russell 2 1 1 1
CF Glass 3 0 0 0
RF Sturgill 0 0 0 0
2B J. Russell 0 0 0 0
2B: Clark HBP: Bory (Hale)
PITCHING IP R ER H SO BB
Z-R-C
Hale (W) 4 4 1 5 1 1
Motsinger (SV) 3 0 0 3 0 0
WF
Lindsey (L) 1 2/3 5 2 6 0 0
Broy 5 1/3 2 1 6 2 0
LINE SCORE
Z-R-C 230 001 1 – 7 12 2
WF 010 210 0 4 8 7
