Mason, Davis key Logan win

March 29, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

CARTERVILLE – Sophomore lefty Wes Mason pitched seven innings of two-hit ball and sophomore second baseman J.C. Davis banged out three hits Thursday to lead the John A. Logan College baseball team to a 5-2 home win over Southeastern Illinois College.

Wes Mason moves to 3-0 with win over SIC.

Wes Mason moves to 3-0 with win over SIC.

With the win, the Vols improve to 4-2 in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference and 16-13 overall. SIC falls to 6-13 overall, 2-7 in the league.

The visiting Falcons took a 1-0 lead over Mason and the Vols in the top of the fourth inning on a two-out single off the bat of John Jones, who drove in Taylor Morris. Morris had walked, stolen second and advanced to third on an error by the catcher.

That would be the only run Mason would allow, however, as the Mount Vernon native struck out six and walked only one in picking up his third win of the spring.

“The main thing I tried to improve upon today was not walking so many people and I think I accomplished that,” Mason said. “I worked on establishing my fastball more for strikes. Other than that, I don’t think I did much different than either of my last couple of starts. I’m just trying to repeat what I’ve been doing week after week.”

The Vols tallied three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead. Freshman Matt Woolwine, who would later reinjure his hamstring, led off with a double. DeJohn Suber singled him to third. Davis followed with an RBI single. Suber was thrown out at third on the play. Zac Mishler then singled and Anthony Bayus singled to load the bases.

Tanner Scott came up with a base hit, plating Davis and Mishler. Bayus was thrown out at third for the second out. Derek Repking then flied out to left to end the inning.

The Falcons pulled to within one at 3-2 in the eighth off Vols’ freshman reliever John Hondlik. Collin Book walked and came around to score on a hit by Nick Borders. Borders next raced from first to third on an errant pickoff attempt, but Vols’ sophomore third baseman Keelin Rasch saved the day when he stretched high to snag a line drive off the bat of Logan Leverette.

The Vols tacked on two insurance tallies in the bottom of the eighth as Rasch and Davis singled in runs. Sophomore righthander Anthony Spangler worked an uneventful ninth to pick up his second save of the spring.

Logan head coach Jerry Halstead was pleased with the win.

“Wes has been good in the conference his last three outings,” he said. “I didn’t think he had his best stuff today, but he got ahead in the counts and made some good pitches.”

Halstead said Rasch’s web gem was indeed the play of the day.

“I thought that was a game-changer. The young man (Leverette) barreled it up and probably hit it as hard as he could hit it, and fortunately for us, Keelin got off the ground to make the catch with the tying run on third. That may have changed the whole scenario of the ballgame.”

Halstead said he was also happy with the way Davis swung the bat.

“He had three hits and drove in a couple of big runs for us,” the coach said.

The Vols are scheduled to play a doubleheader at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, at noon today, weather permitting.

Filed Under: College Sports

Schutt gains All-State indoor honors, Benton track competes at ISU

March 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Benton girl’s track team traveled to the Illinois State University Cogdal Relays with 24 teams participating.

Benton coach Andy Sloan was pleased with a day that saw standout Kaitlyn Schutt participate in two separate meets in the same day.

“We had a really good day and finished off the indoor season on a bright note,” said Sloan.  “We took 10 kids to the meet and had a ton of personal records and season best performances.  We are continuing to see improvements and the kids are continuing to get better as the season progresses.  Our good isn’t great but if we keep doing what we have been, by the end of the year we hope our good is really good.  Individually, Kaitlyn Schutt had a great day.  She started off at Illinois Wesleyan by finishing 5th at the Indoor State Meet in the 800 and then came over to ISU and ran a season best in the 4×2 and 4×4, leading off both relays.”

Sloan said Schutt became the first Rangerette to medal in the Class AA state meet by finishing fifth in the 800 finishing in 2:22.29, breaking her old indoor school record by five seconds.  The performance also makes her part of the Class AA Indoor All-State Team.

Sloan said several other Benton athletes are rounding into form heading into the outdoor season – with the cooperation of Mother Nature.

“Kryslyn Fowler is getting stronger and understanding what her strengths are.  She had two good races and jumped well.  Kaitlyn Biddle had a good day in the field and ran a strong 200 leg for us.  She is a kid that does what we ask and never asks questions; the ultimate team player.  Bayley Eubanks ran a really strong leg on the 4×8 and had a personal record in the 55 high hurdles.  She too was asked to do something she is not accustomed to and ran real well. Jenna Johnston ran her best 800 of the year and got some good sprint work in today.  We loaded her up some last week so we backed off a little with her distances this week.

Benton girls’ track was bumped from Class 1A to Class 2A last year where enrollments range from 546 to 1,464 making Benton one of the smallest schools in the field.  Despite that, Sloan was happy with the way his team competed against the much larger schools.

“When you are up against the likes of Peoria Richwoods, Decatur MacArthur, Normal U High, Normal Community and Pontiac you better bring your best effort or you will be embarrassed,” said Sloan. “I’m proud of our kids and the way they have approached practices and competitions.  We have had a very successful indoor season and although the weather is not cooperating, it’s time to get outdoors.”

Benton girl’s track is at Murphysboro Open Wednesday March 27 (weather permitting) and host the annual home opener, the Benton Spring Fling Saturday, March 30.

Saturday’s results from ISU

_______________________
ILLINOIS TOP TIMES INDOOR STATE MEET 2 ILLINOIS WESLEYAN:
ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY-COGDAL RELAYS 24 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
HIGH JUMP
OLIVIA HAGERMAN        NH        NP
4X800 RELAY               11:12.09    4TH     *SB, #6 INDOOR BCHS
JOHNSTON 2:33.4 *SB    TABOR 2:49.2 *SB    MILLER 2:59.8 *SB    EUBANKS 2:48.7 *SB
55 DASH
VALARIE REPP            8.18        17TH
OLIVIA HAGERMAN        8.20        19TH     *PR
1600 RUN
CHELSEA TABOR        6:33.54        24TH     *SB
TAYLORAN MILLER        6:50.07        27TH     *PR
55 HH
BAYLEY EUBANKS        10.07P/9.75F    5TH     *PR, #4 INDOOR BCHS
4X200                 1:56.11        5TH     *SB, #8INDOOR BCHS
SCHUTT 27.6 *SB, NEAL 29.9 *SB,  FOWLER 27.8 *SB     HAGERMAN 29.9
4X400                4:25.32        5TH     *SB, #3 INDOOR BCHS
SCHUTT 62.5 *SB    NEAL 68.4    FOWLER 66.1 *SB    JOHNSTON 68.1 *SB
POLE VAULT
CASSIDY NEAL            7’6”        6TH
LONG JUMP
KRYSLYN FOWLER        14’ ¾”        9TH     *PR, #8 INDOOR BCHS
KAITLYN BIDDLE        13’ 9 ½”    14TH     *PR, #10 BCHS INDOOR
TRIPLE JUMP
CASSIDY NEAL            27’7 ½”        16TH     *PR
SHOT PUT
KAITLYN BIDDLE        27’ ½”        15TH     *PR

 

 

Filed Under: High School Sports

Thompson, Rasch help Vols sweep Shawnee

March 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
 
 BY JOHN D. HOMAN
Logan Media Services
ULLIN – Call it a three-game sweep for the John A. Logan College baseball squad as the Vols took a pair of games from Shawnee College Saturday, 2-0 and 14-2, a day after notching a 5-0 win in Carterville.
jalc baseball logo
Sophomore Derek Thompson was simply amazing in the opener, tossing a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits in his seven innings of work. Thompson (5-1), struck out 11 and walked three.
Logan plated both of its runs in the fifth inning. Sophomore third sacker Keelin Rasch of Harrisburg led the charge with two hits in four at bats, including an RBI single. J.C. Davis contributed a double. Others notching one hit apiece were: Tanner Scott, Joba Ferrell, John Tolliver, and Dontrell Rush. DeJohn Suber did not get a hit, but scored a run.
In the finale, the Vols erupted for 17 hits as led by sophomore Anthony Bayus’s collection of four. He also had an RBI and two runs scored. Davis was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Derek Repking bashed three hits, as well, including a pair of runs batted in. Rasch made the most of his two hits with a two-run homer and single and drove in five of his team’s runs. Scott followed with two hits and two RBIs. Rush had two hits and two runs scored. Ferrell tacked on one hit with an RBI.
The Vols scored four runs in the first; five in the second; two in the third and three in the sixth.
Winning pitcher was Chris Hunt. The sophomore righthander went the first four innings, surrendering two runs, one earned. He gave up five hits, struck out five and walked one. Anthony Spangler tossed the final two frames, striking out three.
The Vols (15-13) are scheduled to play at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo. Tuesday and will host Southeastern Illinois Thursday at 3.
Filed Under: College Sports

All-star basketball game Sunday at Logan

March 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

BY JOHN D. HOMAN

Logan Media Services

CARTERVILLE – Twenty-seven of the most talented senior basketball players from throughout the region will assemble Sunday and compete in the 26h Annual All-Star Classic at the Donald L. Brewer Gymnasium and Convocation Center on the John A. Logan College campus.

Game time is set for 3 p.m. All tickets are $5. Ed Belva and Todd Tripp will coach one team, while Kevin Toney and Eric Stallman will coach the other.

Players on Belva and Tripp’s squad include: Jerrod Warren-Carbondale; Jeremy Weeke-Okawville; Link Cushman-Chester; Justin Lukens-Herrin; Scott Brown and Devin Holle-Nashville; Gabe Owens and Kris Harlow-Woodlawn; Devantae Price-Egyptian; Austin McPheron-Johnston City; Trey Witges-Waltonville; Trevor Flota-Mount Vernon; George Kuhlman-Trico; and Darin Winkelman-Steeleville.

Players on Toney and Stallman’s team are: Dylan Davidson-Newton; Daz Nickerson-Massac County; Anthony Johnson-Oblong; Dylan Harding-Pinckneyville; Patrick Lowe and Andrew Drone-Gallatin County; Joshua Jones-Meridian; Kevin Mercks-Christopher; Blaine LePere-Trico; Aaron Rushing-Sparta; Dalton Beltz- Du Quoin and Tyler Smithpeters and Capel Henshaw from state champ, Harrisburg.

Prior to the game, there will be three-point shooting and dunk contests. The Ron Herrin Award will be presented just prior to tip-off.

There will also be a halftime performance by the Du Quoin High School Indianettes dance squad. Prior to the start of the second half, the Shawn Oldani Award will be presented. At the conclusion of the game, the Buffalo Wild Wings MVP awards will be presented.

For more information, contact event organizer, Wendell Wheeler, at 618-790-3045.

 

 

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, High School Sports, Uncategorized

Amazing come-from-behind win sends RLC Warriors to NJCAA Final Four

March 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

DANVILLE, Ill. (March 20, 2013) – Momentum.

]While watching the Rend Lake College Warriors get behind South Suburban College in the national basketball championship quarterfinals Wednesday night, there was a feeling they could still swing it. Too good a team to go quietly against the Bulldogs program-turned rival over the span of a year, there was still a fixed hope things would change. But it was double-digits by the half. Then 20 points. Things seemed to be getting away from the Warriors in a hurry.

Jeril Taylor hit two free throws with ;05 seconds left to give the RLC Warriors a berth in the NJCAA Final Four.

Jeril Taylor hit two free throws with ;05 seconds left to give the RLC Warriors a berth in the NJCAA Final Four.

But then it happened. A couple of stops here. A turnover there. Still enough time. The momentum had turned and Rend Lake had dug itself out. It found itself with the ball and a chance to hit a last-second long shot to win. Sophomore guard Dawson Verhines (Woodlawn) caught the inbound pass, launched a half-court laser over two defenders, and it rimmed out. It was perhaps the greatest comeback in RLC sports history already, and the Warriors hadn’t won anything.

Overtime.

RLC went on the attack, taking advantage of South Suburban players who had picked up four fouls in regulation. It worked. Two Bulldogs fouled out by way of Warriors slashing into the lane off the dribble. South Suburban’s coach went to a player on the bench who had four fouls. Within two or three possessions he had fouled out. RLC’s plan was working, but it was still down. Players kept fighting on defense, going hard for loose balls and working for good shots. A couple of costly turnovers and a foul by the Bulldogs put the hammer in Rend Lake’s hand with Jeril Taylor holding the last nail. The spindly, 6-4 freshman from Louisville, Ky., had hit key shots throughout the game – three from long range and a team-high 19 points. It was fitting he was the one called to close.

Taylor stepped to the line with five seconds left. The rest of his team had pulled out to the other end of the floor to put up one last defensive stand. Without hesitation, he made the first. It looked more like he was shooting in the first five seconds of the game than the last five seconds of overtime. His second shot found nothing but net in the same fashion. South Suburban pushed the ball down the floor, passed to a man in the corner and got off one last shot. However, RLC big man Bronson Verhines (Woodlawn) blocked the ball farther out of bounds than it had travelled from the shooter’s hand.

The block ended the game and sends a roused Rend Lake team into the national semifinals. The #4 seeded Warriors (28-3) play at 6 p.m., Friday, against #8 Owens Community College of Ohio (26-8). Listen live at Q106.3FM and watch a live stream at www.ihigh.com/njcaatv.

The Warriors’ 98-75 win over Cecil College on Tuesday was the first men’s basketball national tournament win in RLC school history. Tonight’s incredible 85-83 overtime victory is the second.

For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

BOX SCORE

Date: 3/20/2013 Arena: Mary Miller

Time: 8:00 pm City, State: Danville, IL

VISITOR: South Suburban (83 OT)

TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS

NO PLAYER P FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BK S MIN

21 Thorton, Kadeem * 4 8 0 0 0 0 2 5 7 3 8 2 1 0 1 38-

23 Harris, Michael * 9 24 6 13 0 1 2 2 4 2 24 1 5 0 1 44+

24 Walker, Bryce * 9 20 4 11 3 3 2 5 7 0 25 8 2 0 0 44-

30 Lee, Michael * 4 8 1 3 2 2 1 3 4 5 11 2 5 0 2 32+

32 Beard, Stefan * 2 5 0 1 1 5 2 0 2 4 5 1 1 1 0 18-

10 Strickland, Anthony 0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 5 1 1 1 0 0 11-

34 Hopkins, Marius 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1-

41 Davis, Henry 3 5 0 0 1 4 2 5 7 1 7 1 0 0 0 14-

55 Shofidiya, Rasheed 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 1 1 0 24+

TEAM REBOUNDS 0 0 0 0

Team Totals 32 74 11 28 8 17 11 21 32 23 83 16 17 2 4 225

 

Total FG% – 1st: 15/35 0.429 2nd and OTs: 17/39 0.436 Game: 0.432 Deadball

3-PT FG% – 1st: 6/15 0.400 2nd and OTs: 5/13 0.385 Game: 0.393 Rebounds

Total FT% – 1st: 1/2 0.500 2nd and OTs: 7/15 0.467 Game: 0.471 (5,7)

 

HOME: Rend Lake College (85 OT)

TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS

NO PLAYER P FG FGA FG FGA FT FTA OFF DEF TOT PF TP A TO BK S MIN

10 Ayala, Corey * 2 10 1 2 2 2 4 3 7 1 7 4 4 0 0 31+

21 Allen, Noel * 4 5 0 0 2 4 5 5 10 1 10 1 3 2 1 28-

24 Verhines, Dawson * 3 13 0 7 2 2 1 1 2 2 8 5 3 1 2 38+

30 Macklin, Cortez * 6 14 0 5 4 4 0 4 4 2 16 0 1 0 1 33+

42 Verhines, Bronson * 6 8 0 0 1 4 5 8 13 3 13 3 2 3 1 38+

5 Whaley, Trice 3 5 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 1 6 0 0 0 1 9+

00 Williams, Montez 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 7-

20 Bryant, Stephon 2 6 1 2 0 0 1 1 2 0 5 0 1 0 1 5+

22 Taylor, Jeril 6 17 3 10 4 5 0 7 7 4 19 1 1 0 0 30-

32 Buford, Montez 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4-

34 Singletary, Alonzo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1+

TEAM REBOUNDS 0 0 0 0

Team Totals 32 79 5 26 16 23 19 31 50 15 85 14 16 6 7 225

 

Total FG% – 1st: 10/31 0.323 2nd and OTs: 22/48 0.458 Game: 0.405 Deadball

3-PT FG% – 1st: 1/10 0.100 2nd and OTs: 4/16 0.250 Game: 0.192 Rebounds

Total FT% – 1st: 3/7 0.429 2nd and OTs: 13/16 0.813 Game: 0.696 (7,4)

 

Technical Fouls: SS (0)

: RLC (0)

 

 

ENHANCED SCORING FstBrk OffTov Paint 2ndCh Bench

South Suburban 0 16 26 11 10

Rend Lake College 0 19 50 21 31

 

SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd OT1 TOTAL

South Suburban 37 38 8 83

Rend Lake College 24 51 10 85

 

SHOT CHART

 

South Suburban

FG

FGA

PCT

3P

3PA

PCT

FT

FTA

PCT

ORB

DRB

TRB

PF

A

TO

BK

ST

PTS

1st

15

35

42.9

6

15

40.0

1

2

50.0

3

11

14

10

7

6

1

2

37
2nd

14

27

51.9

3

8

37.5

7

13

53.8

4

7

11

8

7

11

0

2

38
OT1

3

12

25.0

2

5

40.0

0

2

0.0

4

3

7

5

2

0

1

0

8

32

74

43.2

11

28

39.3

8

17

47.1

11

21

32

23

16

17

2

4

83
Rend Lake

FG

FGA

PCT

3P

3PA

PCT

FT

FTA

PCT

ORB

DRB

TRB

PF

A

TO

BK

ST

PTS

1st

10

31

32.3

1

10

10.0

3

7

42.9

4

15

19

4

4

9

4

3

24
2nd

21

43

48.8

4

14

28.6

5

6

83.3

13

11

24

10

9

7

1

4

51
OT1

1

5

20.0

0

2

0.0

8

10

80.0

2

5

7

1

1

0

1

0

10

32

79

40.5

5

26

19.2

16

23

69.6

19

31

50

15

14

16

6

7

85

 

SCORE BY PERIODS

1st

2nd

OT1

TOTAL
South Suburban

37

38

8

83
Rend Lake College

24

51

10

85
Filed Under: College Sports, Featured, Uncategorized

RLC advances at NJCAA DII Tournament

March 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Nathan Wheeler

Rend Lake College’s 12-point lead at halftime over Cecil College was a promising start in today’s opening round of the 2013 NJCAA DII Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament in Danville.

It got better.

After recovering from a meltdown in the opening minutes of the second half, the Warriors took control and won 98-75 over a Seahawks squad that logged an atypical 33.7 percent from the field. Cecil led the nation in three-point shooting during the regular season.

BronsonVerhinesMugBut it was Rend Lake that hit from beyond the arc in the second half – 44 percent. Big shots from long range came courtesy of players like Dawson Verhines (Woodlawn) who finished with 12 points; Cortez Macklin (Louisville, Ky.) who had 13 points, six rebounds and two assists; and Stephon Bryant (Louisville, Ky.) who had seven points and five rebounds. RLC got good inside penetration and rebounding from Bronson Verhines (Woodlawn) and Noel Allen (Guttenburg, N.J.). The combination of shooting and rebounding lifted The Lake to the next round.

RLC will play South Suburban (Ill.) at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 20. Rend Lake beat the Bulldogs 76-68 when the two teams met back in November. The games are available live on local radio by tuning in to WQRL 106.3FM or online at wqrlradio.com and on a video stream at www.ihigh.com/njcaatv.

Bronson Verhines finished with a double-double – 18 points and 15 rebounds. Two of the biggest factors in the game were rebounding and bench points. Rend Lake out-rebounded Cecil 61-35 and had 41 points from the bench, compared to the Seahawks’ 10. Cecil players appeared to be running on empty toward the end of the fast-paced game.

Montez Buford (Louisville, Ky.) had an outstanding first half for the Warriors and was a big part of the lead going into halftime. Buford finished with 15 points.

Others contributing to RLC’s cause were point guard Trice Whaley (Jeffersonville, Ind.) with six points and two steals; Corey Ayala (Metropolis) with four points and two assists, Allen with 10 points and seven rebounds, Dennis Froemling (Campbell Hill) with two points, Alonzo Singletary (Chicago) with two points and six rebounds, and Jeril Taylor (Louisville, Ky.) with nine points, nine rebounds and five assists.

For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu/warriors.

 

 

Filed Under: College Sports, More Featured Articles

SIU travels to Eastern Illinois Tuesday for non-conference battle

March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

 

Southern Illinois (9-10, 0-0 MVC) vs. Eastern Illinois (3-14, 0-5 OVC)
Date Tuesday, March 19
Time 3 p.m.
Location Charleston, Ill. – Coaches Field
Probables LHP Brad Drust (1-1, 10.57) vs. RHP Jake Johansmeier (0-1, 4.00)
Radio WFRX 1300-AM and online at Saluki All-Access
Game Notes Southern Illinois Get Acrobat Reader
Live Stats Provided by Eastern Illinois
Social Media @SIU_Baseball

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Southern Illinois baseball team will look to snap a three-game losing streak with a 3 p.m. game Tuesday at Eastern Illinois. It will be the Salukis’ final game before the conference season starts this weekend.

TUESDAY’S STARTER Brad Drust will make his second start of the season. The lefty made his first start of the season on Wednesday, March 13 at Middle Tennessee State. He allowed two runs off four hits in four inning of work. A redshirt junior, Drust has also made four relief appearances in 2013 and picked up his first win of the year on Feb. 22 at Jacksonville State.

EASTERN ILLINOIS SERIES NOTES Southern Illinois leads the all-time series, 56-28-1. The series dates back to Abe Martin’s first year as head coach in 1947. The Salukis have won eight of the last 11 meetings, but the Panthers beat SIU 5-1 in Carbondale in 2012. The two schools have met annually for a single game since 2005. During that recent stretch, SIU is 6-2 against the Panthers. Southern Illinois has won its last three road games against Eastern Illinois and has not lost in Charleston since dropping both games of a double header with EIU on April 7, 1993.

The Salukis have not lost in Charleston since 1993.

The Salukis have not lost in Charleston since 1993.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS After starting the season 3-5, Eastern Illinois has lost nine straight games. The Panthers opened the home portion of their season this past weekend with a pair of losses to Austin Peay. The third game of the series was cancelled due to weather. EIU ranks 10th out of the 11-team Ohio Valley Conference with a .243 team batting average. Second baseman Nathan Sopena leads the team with a .316 batting average and five stolen bases. Jake Johansmeier will make his second start of the season. He has also made six relief appearances this season.

CLOSE LOSES Four of SIU’s last five loses have been by two runs or less, and the last two have been in extra innings. SIU has not lost by more than three runs all season. The Salukis are 2-4 in one-run games and 2-4 in two-run games. Southern Illinois is 5-2 in games decided by three runs or more.

LOOKING AHEAD SIU will open the conference schedule on Friday, March 22 with a three-game series at Indiana State. The Salukis will then return home for five consecutive nonconference games at Abe Martin Field. SIU will host Belmont on Tuesday, March 26 before welcoming Eastern Kentucky to town for a three-game series beginning on Thursday, March 28. The homestand will conclude on Tuesday, April 2 against Murray State.

Filed Under: College Sports

IHSA: ‘No firm timeline for completion of Harrisburg-Seton investigation’

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

A spokesperson with the IHSA said on Monday that there is not a specific time frame to conclude its investigation into the Class 2A state championship game between Harrisburg and Seton Academy.

The Harrisburg Bulldogs won the game 50-44 completing a record-setting season and finishing the year with a record of 33-1.  The game was marred by three technical fouls and the ejection of Seton Academy’s Mark Weems, Jr., who received two technical fouls and was ejected with 2:05 remaining in the first half.  Weems, Jr. received the second technical foul for making contact with the official.  The other technical foul was called on Harrisburg’s Dakota Upchurch.

The Seton Academy team refused to accept the second place trophy following the game and Coach Brandon Thomas and several players refused to allow the second place medals to be placed around their neck and Thomas threw his medal in the direction of a assistant coach after he exited the podium.  Two days after the championship game the Seton Academy leveled charges that players had been subjected to racial slurs throughout the game, a charge that Harrisburg officials vehemently deny.

Matt Troha, who serves as assistant executive director for the IHSA, issued a two-sentence answer on Monday when he was contacted by email about the ongoing investigation and the time schedule for completion.

“We are still awaiting some requested materials as a part of our investigation and expect to receive them later this week,” said Troha. “There is no firm timeline for completion of the investigation, although it remains a top priority.”

Only hours after the championship game was completed the IHSA issued a statement taking both teams to task.

The statement read:

“The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is disappointed with and embarrassed by the actions of both Harrisburg High School and South Holland (Seton Academy) during Saturday’s IHSA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship game.

While passion and intensity are an integral part of athletic competition, especially at the highest levels, the behaviors of both teams crossed the lines of acceptable sportsmanship.  The IHSA is in the process of reviewing the events associated with tonight’s contest. Both schools will be contacted Monday.

“I am embarrassed by what took place here tonight,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Interscholastic athletics are designed to teach young people important lessons about life. The lessons on display tonight were that respect and sportsmanship are not important, and that is simply not acceptable.”

The IHSA staff will be reaching out to the schools participating in next week’s Class 3A and Class 4A Super-Sectionals and State Finals tournament to reinforce the expectations of sportsmanship and appropriate behavior in interscholastic contests.

Filed Under: High School Sports

Lady Redbirds softball improves to 2-0 with win over Trico

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Bruce A. Fasol

The West Frankfort Lady Redbirds won their second straight softbal game Friday afternoon. The Lady Redbirds were on the road playing Trico High School. The ‘Birds and Lady Pioneers were tied with a run apiece after the first inning on a warm afternoon in Campbell Hill.

The Lady Redbirds grabbed the lead in third inning plating another run. That lead was never surrendered. Trico scored their only other run in the 6rh inning to make the final score 6-2. as the redbirds scored one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth inning.

Kiarha Wilce was the winning pitcher for West Frankfort. Hirtting for the Lady Redbirds: calvert,Aldridge, Wyatt and Thompson were all 2 of 4 from the plate.

The Redbirds are now 2-1 for the season.

Filed Under: High School Sports

ZRC baseball knocks off Cobden behind Gabe Jelley one-hitter

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Bruce A. Fasol

Opening Day for the Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher baseball team belonged to pitcher Gabe Jelley who allowed just one hit in a masterful 7-0 win over the visiting Cobden Appleknockers. In addititon to giving up just a single base hit, Jelley fanned 12 of the Cobden hitters while flirting with a no-hitter.

Hitting for the Tornadoes were: Nick McPhale 2-3, Boris Moskoff the catcher was 1-2 with 2 RBI’s, Bailey Schimpf 1-4 with an RBI, and Trevor Fitch 1-4.

Filed Under: High School Sports
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