Category Archives: Sports Section

OV Graduate to Enter National Baseball Hall of Fame

News Progress Posted on by

•April 5, 2017•

Okaw Valley 2013 graduate Eldon Yeakel will be entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on June 5.

Not as a player, of course, but instead as an intern.

Yeakel is the recipient of the 2017 Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development that last from June 5 to Aug. 11.

“I always enjoyed playing and watching sports growing up and once my love for history started to expand then it was a perfect combination of my two interests,” Yeakel said. “I was really intrigued with the internship given that the family that funds the internship was an avid baseball card collector and a Pittsburgh Pirates fan and I have been a huge Pirates fan since I was young and have collected a large sum of baseball cards.”

To be selected, Yeakel’s application that included a cover letter, resume, and three recommendations warranted an interview about why he applies, what he wanted to do at the museum and what he planned to do as a career. Read More

SOV JFL Sign up Time

News Progress Posted on by

•April 5, 2017•

Sullivan Okaw Valley junior football league sign ups for boys and girls entering the 4th-8th grades in the 2017-2018 school year are Sunday, April 9 from 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

They are held at the Bethany Firehouse where a board meeting will follow. For more information www.sovjfl.com

Knights Bring Big Bats Out for Bulldogs

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond baseball team kicked off its season with a 1-2 record, winning over St. Teresa and losing to Monticello and Central A&M.

Against the Bulldogs of St. Teresa, the Knights exploded for 12 runs in the fifth inning to overcome a 6-3 deficit and blow the game open.

ALAH went on to win 20-12.

Shandon Herschberger recorded a game-high six hits (6-for-6) and four runs scored. He also knocked in three runs.

Lucas Otto recorded three hits, two runs scored and three runs batted in. Read More

Sullivan Baseball Splits Pair of Games

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

The Sullivan baseball team split a pair of games this week, defeating Villa Grove-Heritage and losing to Neoga.

Against Villa Grove-Heritage last Wednesday, the Redskins scored five runs in the third inning and seven in the fourth to blow the game open for the 14-4 win.

Heritage scored one run in the first inning, two in the second and one in the fifth.

Brett Tuttle recorded four hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.  Read More

SOV Track Returning a Solid Distance Crew

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

In his fourth season as head coach of the Sullivan-Okaw Valley boys’ track and field team, John Bertetto had to replace a strong graduating class, but Bertetto believes he has a few top returners who will step up this year.

“Our strengths this year will be our pole vaulters and distance crew,” said Bertetto. “Both Jadon Nuzzo and Logan Pedigo should earn points in the pole vault at most of our meets, and our distance crew should be very solid this season with JT Bland and Isaiah Plank leading the way. We will hopefully be able to keep everyone healthy and training all season, leading up to our conference, sectional, and state meets.”

The team returned 16 letter winners and 13 seniors.

Pole vaulters Nuzzo and Pedigo will have a good shot at qualifying for the state meet.

SOV also returned JT Bland, who was last season’s top point earner in the distance events.  Read More

Strong Start for ALAH Softball Team

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

The Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond softball team started its season 2-0 with 6-5 wins over Villa Grove/Heritage and Georgetown-Ridge Farm last week.

Against Georgetown-Ridge Farm, the Knights scored three runs in the first inning and one in the fourth to take an early lead and did not look back for the 6-5 win. Read More

Three Wins for Sullivan Softball Team

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

The Sullivan softball team finished the week 3-1 with wins over Pana, Cerro Gordo and Mulberry Grove and a loss to St. Anthony.

The Redskins defeated Pana 7-4 Friday night.

Madison Wall got the win, and Avery Still got the save.

Brooke Tuttle and Sarah Green had two hits each.

Saturday, Sullivan hosted St. Anthony and Mulberry Grove in a round robin. Read More

ALAH Track Competes at Wesleyan

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

Several Arthur-Lovington/Atwood Hammond boys’ and girls’ track and field athletes competed in the Illinois Top Times meet at Illinois Wesleyan University Saturday.

Athletes from 318 teams competed in the meet.

For the boys, junior Logan Hall won 3,200 with a time of 9:24.13, and sophomore DaeLin Switzer long jumped 5-05 for first place. Read More

Winning Week for Timberwolves Baseball

News Progress Posted on by

•March 29, 2017•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports Editor

The Okaw Valley Timberwolves played four games in five days and finished the week with a 3-1 record.

OV recorded wins over Edinburg, St. Elmo and Ramsey but lost to Maroa-Forsyth.

Saturday against Edinburg, the Timberwolves scored seven runs in the fifth inning to blow the game open for the eventual 13-3 victory.

Sam Hagerman and Hutson Dickens each knocked in two runs. Read More