Logan softballers drop pair at Lake Land

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

MATTOON – The John A. Logan College softball team dropped a doubleheader Tuesday at league-leading Lake Land College at Mattoon, 15-5 and 8-1.

Vols’ freshman righthander Heather Johnson started and took the loss in the opener. She allowed nine runs on nine hits through the first two innings. Sophomore Sydney Skeel was solid in relief yet again, surrendering only two unearned runs through four innings of work. She then gave up four additional runs in the sixth inning for a total of six on five hits.

Rebecca Patterson was the hitting star for the Lakers, clubbing three home runs and driving in eight of her team’s 15 runs. Kristi Belshe and Skyler Woods also homered for the home team.

Logan managed seven hits. Ana Duda had an RBI triple. Johnson had an RBI single. Both Taylor Brackett and Kortney Crawford delivered doubles. Taylor Price, Kirsten Price and Skeel all singled.

In Game 2, sophomore pitcher Sarah DaRosa deserved a better fate. She held thehigh-octane Lakers to only two runs through the first four innings. A two-out error by third baseman Kirsten Price, however, led to a three-run fifth. Two more runs scored in the sixth after Vols’ second baseman Jayda Rendleman was late to cover second base on a force out.

Logan also had the bases loaded with nobody out in the sixth inning and only scored one run. Offensively, the Vols could only manage three hits. Jessica Hirsch, Taylor Price and Rendleman contributed singles to the cause. Price drove in the only run.

Logan head coach Bruce Jilek was disappointed in his team’s performance.

“We didn’t play much of anything today,” he said. “Our pitching wasn’t there. Our defense wasn’t there. In the first game, we hit the ball some, but not in the second game. And every error we made, they capitalized on.”

The Vols now stand 20-10 overall and are 13-7 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference. They are scheduled to host Wabash Valley Thursday with games at 2 and 4.

Rangers defeat Massac, meet Harrisburg in key Ohio Division match up today

Staff Report

The Benton Rangers’ bats heated up with the weather on Monday as they pounded out 15 hits en route to a 13-0 shellacking of Massac County in a SIRR Ohio Division game at Eovaldi Field at Benton Community Park.

The Rangers got three hits each from Gus Gibbs, Ethan Hughes and Tyler Owens and a solid pitching performance by Dakota Head, who tossed a one-hitter while allowing only one walk in the five-inning game that was shortened due to the 10-run rule.

Benton jumped on Massac County with three runs in the first inning and then blew the game wide open with an 8-run second inning.

With the victory the Rangers improved to 11-5 overall and 3-1 in Ohio Division play.  The Rangers will reach the halfway point in conference games Tuesday when they meet Harrisburg, 12-3 overall and also 3-1 in a key Ohio Division game at Eovaldi Field at Benton Community Park.

Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.

# Name G PA AB R H B 1B 2B 3B HR RBI BB Kc Ks SO HBP SB CS SCB SF SAC ROE FC CI GDP GTP
5 Gus Gibbs 1 4 4 2 3 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Martin Ward 1 4 4 2 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Dakota Head 1 3 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
18 Ethan Hughes 1 3 3 0 3 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Cameron Rock 1 3 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
6 Zack Mocaby 1 3 2 2 2 0 1 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Logan Threlkeld 1 3 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 Caleb Kearney 1 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 Tyler Owens 1 3 3 2 3 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Nathaniel Higgins 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 Dalton Shew 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Andrew Simpson 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 1 29 26 13 15 0 8 6 0 1 12 2 2 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Harrisburg defeats West Frankfort 8-1

By Bruce A. Fasol

The visiting Harrisburg Bulldogs defeated the West Frankfort Redbirds 8-1 Monday night in an Ohio Division game.

The starting pitchers for the game ( Harrisburg’s Chris Younger and WF’s Ethan Sisk) held each other scoreless for three innings. It was in the fourth that Harrisburg broke the game open. Younger went on to one-hit the Birds for the victory. It was Harrisburg’s 10th win of the season.

The lone hit for the Redbirds came from Chase Mclaren who had an RBI single in the 5th to break up the shutout.

The Redbirds travel to Murphysboro for another SIRR Ohio Division game at 4:30pm Tuesday.

RLC women’s golf shoots 725 for 17th at Wash U Spring Invite

 

MADISON, Ill. – Rend Lake College women’s golf finished 17th out of 20 teams at the Washington University Spring Invitational, April 6 and 7, at Gateway National Golf Course in Madison, Ill.

Rend Lake shot 367-358-725. It was led by sophomore Lexie Shoemaker (Mt. Vernon) with a 179 (91-88). Shoemaker finished in a tie for 76th. Also for The Lake: Nina Jackson (Martinsville, Ind.) tied for 82nd with a 182 (96-86), Laura Bremer (Vienna) tied for 88th with a 185 (91-94), Chandra Weddle (Royalton) finished 92nd at 186 (96-90), and Taylor Koeller (Marissa) tied for 93rd with a 187 (89-98). Former Lady Warrior Gabbi Schuerman (Decatur) now plays for Millikin University. She tied for 16th with a 162. Millikin finished 19th. NAIA No. 5 ranked William Woods University captured its second-straight team championship at this tournament with a 36-hole score of 623 (314-309). Olivet College’s Casey Lamp shot the tournament low round of 71 on Sunday. 2 DePauw University’s Paige Gooch was the tournament medalist at 153 (78-75).

Rend Lake’s next outing is April 20 and 21 at The Links in Jacksonville, Ill. For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

17 Rend Lake 367 358 725
T 76 Lexie Shoemaker 91 88 179
T 82 Nina Jackson 96 86 182
T 88 Laura Bremer 91 94 185
92 Chandra Weddle 96 90 186
T 93 Taylor Koeller 89 98 187

 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Paige Gooch, DePauw
Emily Javadi, Sewanee
Myriam Hassan, William Woods
Jodie Peacock, William Woods
Abby Dickey, DePauw
Jamie Palermo, William Woods
Hannah Buck, Washington U.
Kelsey Smith, DePauw
Andrea Hibbert, Washington U.
Connie Zhou, Washington U.

Herrin dedicates softball field for Jilek

 BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

CARTERVILLE – John A. Logan College softball coach Bruce Jilek has never been one to seek accolades, but he will earn yet another one next week when Herrin High School officials name the new softball field at the Harrison-Bruce Sports Complex on Bandyville Road after the former Tigers coach.

The field dedication is set for Friday, April 12th immediately after the Tigers’ scheduled 4:30 p.m. home game with Benton.

After a successful career as softball coach at Herrin High School Bruce Jilek is now head softball coach at John A. Logan College.

After a successful career as softball coach at Herrin High School Bruce Jilek is now head softball coach at John A. Logan College.  Jilek is a Franklin County native and a graduate of Benton High School.

“It’s kind of a humbling experience,” Jilek said. “I never thought that some guy who started out in a one-room country school would end up with something like this. That sports complex out there that Herrin has built is really a super place. It’s not just a dirt field that somebody has hung a sign on. It’s an impressive facility.”

Jilek coached 24 years (1979 through 2002) with the Tigers and compiled an overall record of 539-102. His teams were even more dominant within the South Seven and River to River Conferences at 262-23. He led Herrin to 18 league titles in all; 19 regional titles; eight sectional titles; eight state tournament appearances; and four runner-up finishes (1980, 1981, 1993, 1998). He was also named to the Illinois High School Coaches Association and Herrin High School Halls of Fame.

Jilek said pitcher Sunny Clark set the tone for other pitchers to follow at Herrin in 1980. There was a long procession of pitching standouts after her – from Nina Calcaterra, SIU head coach Kerri Blaylock, Jennifer Brown, Tracy Ward, Rachel Phillips and Jamie Schuttek to Lynde Capogreco, Carisa Winters, Rachel Murray, and Kendra and Mary Kosco.

“Pitching was the backbone of our team,” Jilek said. “I was fortunate enough to have people who were willing to come in early in the morning to the school and give me a great deal of effort and time. Our success just kind of snowballed.”

Jilek said he would like to think that his players learned more from the game of softball than how to hit, field and throw. He said softball provided players with the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons such as sportsmanship and teamwork.

“We won a lot of games at Herrin and we all have some fond memories, but more important, I hope they learned why they should give their best effort, even if things were not going their way,” Jilek said. “Your time playing the game of softball goes by rather quickly, but the lessons you learn along the way can last you a lifetime. When I see former players doing well in the field of their choice after school… that’s what makes me happy.”

There will be a gathering of family, friends, colleagues and fans after the dedication for Jilek at the Knights of Columbus hall in Herrin.

Logan golfers win five-team tourney

 
BY JOHN D. HOMAN
Logan Media Services
MARION – The John A. Logan College men’s golf team finally had a perfect day to play and took advantage of the opportunity with a win at its own two-day Spring Invitational Sunday afternoon at Kokopelli Golf Course in Marion.
jalc golf
The Vols “A” team consisting of Tucker Guisewite, Steve Souchek, Andrew Mitchell, Connor Graves and Thomas Simpson shot a combined score of 642 (331 on Saturday and 311 on Sunday). The Vols “B” team of Michael Mencaccy, Brock Bolton, Tanner Werner and Jack Wilson was second at 674. Rend Lake finished third. Vincennes was fourth and Mineal Area was fifth.
Medalist honors went to Guisewite, a sophomore from Mount Carmel. He carded a 156 (83, 73). Souchek was second overall at 158 (81, 77) and Mencaccy was third best at 160 (83, 77). There was a three-way tie for fourth between Bolton and Mitchell of Logan and Dayton Jones of Rend Lake at 163.
“It’s always nice to win a tournament. I’m proud of the way the kids battled out there today after such brutal conditions due to the high winds Saturday,” said JALC head coach Tom Ferris. “I probably should have cancelled the tournament. The conditions were so difficult Saturday that it made for extremely high scores, but because we’ve had so precious few opportunities to play this spring, we went ahead with the round. To say the least, this has been an unusual spring for us weather-wise.”
Ferris said he’s confident that the Vols still have ample opportunity to fine tune their skills before the regional tournament in Springfield, May 5th and 6th.
“I think so,” he said. “We have three more tournaments yet, so as long as we get to play those and don’t have any more setbacks with the weather, I think we will be OK.”

RLC softball loses both at Logan

CARTERVILLE, Ill. (April 4, 2013) – Rend Lake College softball fell short in a conference doubleheader Thursday at John A. Logan. The Lake lost 4-0 and 2-1 to the Lady Vols.

In game one, RLC committed five errors while losing pitcher Taylor Thomas (Arcola) gave up only one earned run. Alaina Reeves (Mt. Vernon) was behind the plate for The Lake. Thomas is now 1-4. Fallon Clayton (Anna) and Magen Edwards (DuQuoin) each went 2-for-3 for Rend Lake.

Lady Warriors catcher Haley Miller (Rockport, Ind.) went 2-for-3 and had the lone RBI in RLC’s 2-1 nightcap loss. The losing pitcher was Amanda Holloway (Benton) who falls to 5-7.

Rend Lake is now 9-15 overall and 4-10 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference. It will host Lincoln Trail at noon Friday and will play at Olney Central at 2 p.m., Sunday. For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

RLC baseball gets win at SIC

rlc logo

 |
 HARRISBURG, Ill. (April 4, 2013) – Rend Lake College’s baseball team improved to 20-11 overall and 6-4 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference with its 4-2 win Thursday at Southeastern Illinois College. Ty Broady (Greenville, Ky.) and Tirey Burch (Santa Claus, Ind.) had RBI doubles for the Warriors while teammate Brady Wright (Jonesboro) had two. Nick Andros (Tunnel Hill) improves to 4-2 on the mound after striking out two, walking three, and giving up five hits in seven and two-thirds innings. Wright picked up his fifth save. Rend Lake will host Southeastern in a doubleheader at noon Friday.
FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Rend Lake College (20-11) 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 11 3
Southeastern Illinois College (20-11) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 0

Rend Lake College

HITTERS AB R H RBI BB SO LOB
Zack Jones lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0
Carson Neushwander cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Trey Garrett rf 4 0 1 0 1 0 1
Justin Busekrus cf 4 1 2 0 0 1 0
Ty Broady 3b 4 1 2 1 0 0 0
Blake Deaton 2b 2 1 0 0 1 1 1
Brady Wright dh 3 1 3 2 1 0 0
Darius Box 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
Bryant Shute lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Tirey Burch ss 4 0 2 1 0 0 2
Aaron Choate c 4 0 0 0 0 1 1
Nick Andros p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 31 4 11 4 3 5 6
BATTING
2B: Ty Broady; Brady Wright; Tirey Burch
RBI: Ty Broady; Brady Wright 2; Tirey Burch
Sac: Darius Box 2
GIDP: Ty Broady
BASERUNNING
SB: Trey Garrett; Ty Broady; Blake Deaton
FIELDING
E: Carson Neushwander; Ty Broady; Tirey Burch
DP: Ty Broady; Blake Deaton; Darius Box

 

Southeastern Illinois College

HITTERS AB R H RBI BB SO LOB
Nick Borders rf 2 0 1 0 2 0 0
Taylor Morris 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0
Logan Leverett lf 4 1 1 0 0 0 0
John Jones 1b 4 1 2 1 0 0 1
Kyle Asher 3b 4 0 0 1 0 0 0
Austin Edge c 3 0 0 0 1 0 0
Jaylen Quarles dh 4 0 0 0 0 1 2
Blake Hicks cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0
Trenton Veach cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Collin Book ss 3 0 1 0 0 0 0
Jared Hunt p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
John Kohler p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 31 2 6 2 3 2 3
BATTING
HR: John Jones
RBI: John Jones; Kyle Asher
GIDP: Logan Leverett
BASERUNNING
SB: Jaylen Quarles
FIELDING
DP: Taylor Morris; John Jones; Collin Book

 

Rend Lake College

PITCHERS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Nick Andros (W, 4-2) 7.2 5 1 1 3 2 1
Brady Wright (Sv, 5) 1.1 1 1 0 0 0 0
Totals 9.0 6 2 1 3 2 1
PITCHING
Batters Faced: Brady Wright 5; Nick Andros 29

 

Southeastern Illinois College

PITCHERS IP H R ER BB SO HR
Jared Hunt (L, 0-0) 7.0 10 4 4 3 4 0
John Kohler 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Totals 9.0 11 4 4 3 5 0
PITCHING
Batters Faced: Jared Hunt 33; John Kohler 5
HBP: Jared Hunt 2

 

SCORING SUMMARY
REND LAKE COLLEGE – TOP 1ST
BROADY doubled, RBI; BUSEKRUS scored.
WRIGHT doubled, 2 RBI; DEATON, BL scored; BROADY scored.
REND LAKE COLLEGE – TOP 4TH
BURCH doubled, RBI; WRIGHT scored.
SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE – BOTTOM 4TH
JONES homered, RBI.
SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE – BOTTOM 9TH
ASHER reached on an error by ss, RBI; LEVERETT scored, unearned.
OTHER INFORMATION
Location: Southeastern
Stadium:
Attendance: 0
Duration:
HUNT faced 3 batters in the 8th.
Game: SIC1

Play-by-Play Click HERE

Service vs. Superiority

By Roger Lipe

In the world of sport, the centrality of competition leads to constant comparison and to alternating feelings of superiority and inferiority. Everyone involved in sport can tell you his or her record, ranking, standing in the league, etc… These are always in comparison to others. Those on top feel superior simply because their performance has been superior to the others. While this is a regular part of the sports world’s economy, it is also a terrible trap for those of us who serve as Christ’s representatives in it.

roger lipeIf we, while serving the teams at the top of our divisions, conferences or federations, bask in the achievements of our teams and take on an air of superiority, we stand on the brink of terrible foolishness. Our attitudes are in jeopardy and our ability to serve well is in danger. If we find ourselves making comparisons between ourselves and others who serve teams at the other end of the standings and infer that our position in the rankings is due to the effectiveness of our chaplaincy, we are simply deluded.

Christ Jesus’ way of leading was to serve. See John chapter 13 for a graphic example of how the greatest leader in history led his followers and how he challenged them to lead in His absence. A strongly held value for service of others prevents one from making foolish comparisons and keeps feelings of superiority at bay. It’s really hard to project an air of superiority while picking up trash after practice. One’s attitude is kept in check more easily as he performs the tasks no one else wants to do. We are infinitely more likely to please the Lord while serving quietly and consistently across seasons of winning and losing than when we capriciously ride the wave of success with the highest profile team available. Make the conscious choice to serve, to take the lower place, to eschew the privileges afforded the superior and you will keep your heart in its proper form.

Let’s be mindful of the Apostle Peter’s injunction to his friends, “…and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Let’s choose service over superiority and thereby consistently reflect the heart of the Lord Jesus in the world of sport.

(Roger Lipe is the executive director of the Southern Illinois Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and also serves a team chaplain for SIU Football.)

12th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing set for July 26

The Egyptian Officials Association along with the Southern Illinois Coaches Association and Southern Illinois McDonalds will host the 12th Annual Scholarship Golf Outing Friday, July 26th at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.

All proceeds from the event will be distributed back to eligible High Schools in Southern Illinois to be used in their scholarship fund for graduating students.

EOA Golf Outing 2013

EOA Hole Sponsorship 2013

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