Local HS baseball teams receive their post season assignments

May 4, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford 

The IHSA released post season assignments for High School Boys Baseball yesterday. Like I did for the postseason in basketball, I am going to break down each round for the county schools.

Here is a link to the full brackets:

https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivities/BoysBaseball/StateSeriesInformationResults.aspx

The Benton Rangers and the West Frankfort Redbirds will be heading to the Harrisburg Class 2A Regional.  (Yes I said Benton, they are 2A in Baseball)

The Rangers are the number one seed and will play the winner of seventh seeded Johnston City Indians or ninth seeded Eldorado, Wednesday, May 17th, at 4:00 P.M. The winner advances to the championship game on Saturday, May 20th at 11:00 a.m.

The Redbirds are the number five seed, and will play fourth seeded Harrisburg on Thursday, May 18th, at 4:00 P.M.  The teams have split the season series.

The Waltonville-Sesser-Valier Spartans are the number three seed at the Farifield Class 2A Regional.  and will face the sixth seeded Carmi-White County Bulldogs, on Wednesday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. The winner will advance to the championship game on Saturday, May 20th at 11:00 a.m.

The Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher Tornadoes are the number five seed in the Carterville Class 2A regional.  They will have a first round home game on Monday, May 15th at 4:30 p.m. against the number nine seed, the Vienna Eagles.  The winner advances to face the number three seed, the DuQuoin Indians in a semi-final game at 4:30 P.M.. Thursday at Carterville.

The winner of all three regionals, advances to the Benton Sectional.

The Thompsonville Tigers are the number seven seed in the Carrier Mills Class 1A Regional.  They will face the ninth seeded Joppa Rangers, at home on Monday, May 15th, at 4:30.  The winner will advance to face the second seeded, Crab Orchard Trojans on Wednesday, May 17th at 4:30 p.m., at Carrier Mills.

The winner of the Carrier Mills Regional advances to the Goreville Sectional.

 

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, Christopher High School Sports, High School Sports, Sesser-Valier High School Sports, Sports, Thompsonville High School Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports, Zeigler-Royalton High School Sports

Rangers fall to Nashville yesterday

May 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

NASHVILLE, IL – (Amanda Jarzynski – Benton Evening News – Please click on the link for the full story – Here is an excerpt) After dropping an 11-3 loss to Mascoutah on Sunday, the Benton Rangers (20-4) hoped to get back on track when they visited Nashville. Unfortunately, things did not go in favor of the Rangers and they took their fourth loss of the season by a score of 4-1 to the Hornets. We just didn’t get the hits we needed when we needed them,” said Brett Blondi, Rangers’ coach. “We hit some line drives right at them. In the field we could’ve been a little tighter. When you’ve got a kid throwing over 100 in just four innings… McMahon was as sharp as he usually is, so there was something going wrong there (with calls being made by the umpire).”

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, High School Sports, Sports

Z-R-C splits at home with Trico

May 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Steven Anderson on the mound for Game One of the DH in the Black Diamond West match-up. (Randall Risley-photo)

Steven Anderson on the mound for Game One of the DH in the Black Diamond West match-up with Trico. (Randall Risley-photo)

ZEIGLER, IL – In Game One the Tornadoes split with Trico 3-2.  Dalton Humphrey and Jared Cole have two hits a piece.

In Game two Gabe Schimpf throws a two hitter, fanning eight, as the Tornadoes win 6-0.

Steven Anderson, who took the loss on the mound in game one, picks up three hits in game two.  He also caught the second game.    Humphrey and Kaeleb Pedigo pick up two hits in game two for Z-R-C. -sd

 

Filed Under: Christopher High School Sports, High School Sports, Sports, Zeigler-Royalton High School Sports

Redbirds improve to .500 over win over W-S-V

May 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford 

The West Frankfort Redbirds sent 14 men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth, score nine runs, on only four base hits, to defeat the Waltonville-Sesser Valier Spartans 12-2.

The Redbirds were coming off a win yesterday against Anna-Jonesboro.  W-S-V who had not played in a week, were rusty, especially defensively.

Noah Vance pitches a complete game for the Redbirds, allowing two runs on five hits.

Charles Farmer, was making quick work of WF, not allowing an earned run until the bottom of the fourth inning, took the loss.  He just ran out of gas, losing command of the strike zone.

The first two and a half innings were played at a brisk pace, and looked like it was going to end up a low scoring pitchers duel.

MacMurray College bound Peyton Overturf picks up two hits in yesterdays win against W-S-V. Here he is picking up an RBI double in Monday's win against A-J. (Byron Hetzler - Southern Illinoisan photo)

MacMurray College bound Peyton Overturf picks up two hits in yesterdays win against W-S-V. Here he is picking up an RBI double in Monday’s win against A-J. (Byron Hetzler – Southern Illinoisan photo)

The Redbirds scored three runs in the bottom of the third as RF Zach Lindsey hit an RBI double, driving in Noah Vance who reached on an error. Lindsey later scored on a passed ball.  Peyton Overturf had an RBI base hit, driving in Jared Clark who reached on a walk.  After three it was 3-0, WF.

In the top of the fourth, Charles Farmer leads off with a base hit, CF Dalton Banach doubles to center, Seth Boles and Tanner Eubanks pick up RBI’s on ground outs.  Zach Lindsey makes a diving stop on a one hopper in RF to throw Eubanks out at first.   In the middle of the fourth it was 3-2 Redbirds.

In the bottom of the fourth, when things became ugly, the offensive highlights for the Redbirds were, pitcher Noah Vance picks up an RBI double, singles by Lucas Wolfe, Peyton Overturf, and Brendan Russel, and an RBI ground out by Jared Clark.  After four it was 12-2, West Frankfort.

The Spartans tried to get something going in the top of the fifth, with second and third, no one out, from a single up the middle from catcher Drake Houghland, and a double in the left ceterfield gap by Preston Launius.  They were left stranded, as Noah Vance strikes out two and gets a pop up for the complete game.

The Redbirds improve to 8-8 on the season and travel to DuQuoin to take on the Indians this afternoon, weather permitting.  The Spartans fall to 15-5 (?)

 

HITTING 

WALTONVILLE-SESSER-VALIER 

Player AB R H RBI
McPhail 3B-SS 3 0 0 0
Farmer P-LF 3 1 1 0
Da. Banach CF 2 1 1 0
Boles RF 2 0 1 1
Eubanks 2B-3B 1 0 0 1
Winchester SS-P 2 0 0 0
Houghland C 2 0 1 0
Launius LF-2B 2 0 1 0
Di. Banach 1B 2 0 0 0
Totals 19 2 5 2

2B Da. Banach, Launius

WEST FRANKFORT 

PLAYER AB R H RBI
Wolfe DH 3 1 1 0
Vance P 3 2 1 1
Clark 3B 1 1 0 1
Lindsey RF 2 2 1 1
Overturf C 3 0 2 1
Archione CR 0 0 0 0
Allen CR 0 1 0 0
Elko 1B 3 1 0 0
Dorris 2B 2 1 0 0
B. Russell LF 2 2 1 0
Herrell SS 1 1 0 0
Glass CF 0 0 0 0
Totals 20 12 6 4

2B- Vance, Lindsey

PITCHING

WALTONVILLE- SESSER-VALIER

Player IP R ER H BB K
Farmer (L) 3 7 3 3 6 3
Winchester 1 5 0 3 2 1
Totals 4 12 3 6 8 4

WEST FRANKFORT 

PLAYER IP R ER H BB K
Vance -W 5 2 2 5 1 5

 

LINESCORE

 

TEAM 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Waltonville-Sesser-Valier 0 0 0 2 0 2 5 7
West Frankfort 0 0 3 9 X 12 6 0
Filed Under: High School Sports, Sesser-Valier High School Sports, Slider, Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports

Scott Burzynski named new HS Boys Basketball coach at Johnston City

May 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

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

 

Filed Under: High School Sports, Sports

Morgan Griffith going to suit up for the Volunteers next year

April 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

Morgan Griffith getting the 2,000 point ball being presented by long time West Frankfort coach Matt Hampleman

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.

 

Filed Under: High School Sports, Slider, Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports

RLC Sports Hall of Fame adds three plaques

April 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment

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)

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

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).

Campbell was named Louisville Slugger Region XXIV “Coach of the Year” following championship seasons in spring 1997 and 1999 and an American Baseball Coaches Association / Diamond Sports Company NJCAA D-I Regional “Coach of the Year” in 1999.
During his stay, he recruited and coached at least 64 players who continued their careers at the four-year level, and signed 11 professional contracts.

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.

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.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, College Sports, Slider, Sports

After 31 seasons and 571 victories, Brad Weathers retires from coaching basketball

April 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment
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

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

NASHVILLE, IL (David Wilhelm – Belleville News-Democrat Please click to read the full story. Here is an excerpt) Brad Weathers coached boys basketball for 31 years at Carlyle and Nashville high schools, compiling a 571-360 record. But Weathers, who this week retired as Nashville’s coach after eight seasons, will miss much more than the victories. “It’s the relationships you build over the years, the friendships made,” said Weathers, 63, a graduate of Benton High and then-McKendree College. “I run into players, coaches, officials, people like that, and there are great memories. It’s a fraternity. And it’s the camaraderie with the kids.

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, High School Sports, Slider, Sports

Rangers pick up big win at Dinger Wooden Bat Classic

April 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment

 

Benton against Union Co WIMAYFIELD, 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.

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, High School Sports, Sports

IHSA State Track & Field to Remain at EIU’s O’Brien Field Through 2022

April 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

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.

 

Filed Under: High School Sports, Sports
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