Category Archives: Sports Feature

Timberwolves Baseball Beats Bombers at Home

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Photo by Mike Brothers Timberwolves Taylor Coleman lays down a sacrifice bunt, advancing runners to second and third base during Okaw Valley High School baseball’s win over St. Elmo March 23.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Timberwolves Taylor Coleman lays down a sacrifice bunt, advancing runners to second and third base during Okaw Valley High School baseball’s win over St. Elmo March 23.

•March 30, 2016•

Okaw Valley Timberwolves varsity baseball came away with a 9-2 home win over the St. Elmo Bombers March 23.

The Timberwolves’ Dylan Park went six innings and was the winning pitcher throwing 67-113 strikes with 19 first pitch strikes; Tanner Coleman threw eight strikes in 19 pitches in relief.

Flowers pitched five innings and Brown one to share pitching duties for the Bombers. Flowers got the loss throwing 55-93 strikes with Brown striking out 11 on 26 pitches.

Cody Drake had a home run and a double, scoring twice and getting one RBI.

Ian Tiarks hit a double and a triple contributing four RBIs for the Timberwolves. Read More

Double Shutout for Sullivan Saturday

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Photo by RR Best Sullivan Baseball opened season at home last Friday with a loss, but came back on the weekend with a double header shut out.

Photo by RR Best
Sullivan Baseball opened season at home last Friday with a loss, but came back on the weekend with a double header shut out.

•March 23, 2016•

Sullivan Redskin baseball started the season with a 9-6 win over Mattoon March 18.

By the end of Saturday they had gotten some batting practice while shutting out Cerro Gordo in a double header there.

On Saturday Cerro Gordo yielded to the Redskins’ bats with Sullivan getting 24 runs on 26 hits while holding Cerro Gordo to two hits.

Junior Tom Schibur got the win with five strikeouts, allowing two hits with one base on balls. Schibur threw 37 strikes in 54 pitches before Austin Minnigerode came in for relief, throwing one strikeout while pitching 8-15 strikes.

Alec Ballinger was 4-4 at bats, scoring four runs with two RBIs.

In five trips to the plate Brett Tuttle had four hits with four RBIs, while scoring three runs.

Zach Hrvol made the most of his six trips to the plate getting four hits and three runs while driving in two runs.

Bryce Farris got one hit with two RBIs and scored twice getting one base on balls. Read More

Redskins Ready for Baseball Season

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Sul baseball team

Photo by Mike Brothers Redskin baseball Left to right: Zach Sowers, Adam White, Brett Tuttle, Blake Stewart, Tom Schibur, Dylan Liddiard, Gavin Sullivan, Zach Hrvol, Austin Minnegerode, Alec Ballinger, Jacob White, Bryce Farris

•March 16, 2016•

Sullivan Redskins varsity boys’ baseball opens season with Mattoon at home on March 18 and coach Troy Rogers is expecting to be competitive in the conference.

The varsity Redskins finished last season with a 23-7 overall record and a 11-2 conference standing.

“We have a good mix of leadership and young talent this year,” said Rogers. This is his 16th season as Redskins baseball coach.

That leadership includes senior Zach Hrvol, pitching and playing infield. Hrvol had a 7-2 win record with 1.55 ERA last season and a .313 batting average.

Senior Alec Ballinger is returning to centerfield. Ballinger led the team with 30 RBIs on a .276 batting average last season. Ballinger also led the team with 24 stolen bases.

Blake Stewart is coming back as a senior to his left field position. Stewart carried the big bat for the Redskins last season with a .375 average.

Rogers pointed out the team is welcoming some newcomers to this year’s varsity team. Junior Tom Schibur will provide pitching support while playing shortstop and second base. Read More

Seniors Step Up for Win Over Clinton

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Photo by ghgh Redskin Ty Molzen is up and inside for a score as River Edwards eyes the potential defensive setup in the Feb 19 win over Clinton.

Photo by ghgh
Redskin Ty Molzen is up and inside for a score as River Edwards eyes the potential defensive setup in the Feb 19 win over Clinton.

•February 24, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
News Progress Sports Reporter

Sullivan finished the regular season in style Friday with a 59-53 home win over Clinton.

In the seniors’ final home game Ty Molzen led all scorers with 23 points and nine rebounds, and Alec Ballinger tallied 18 points to go with with assists.

All eight seniors contributed and played extended minutes in the win.  Sullivan head coach Chester Reeder knew coming in the Redskins would get Clinton’s best shot.

“Clinton is a really talented team. They are in the middle of a bad run, lost nine straight,” Reeder said. “We had some mental errors that gave them confidence, but the seniors gutted one out, and I am glad we get to send these seniors off on the home floor with a win.”

The Maroons nailed two three pointers to take a 6-0 lead just over a minute into the game.

Molzen then went to work and scored the next seven Redskin points as part of an 11-0 run over the next four minutes.

Sullivan led 13-8 with just 15 seconds left in the first quarter, but Clinton banked in a deep three at the buzzer to make it a 13-11 game. Sullivan would extend their second quarter lead to 20-13 after a clutch three pointer by Ballinger at the five minute mark.   Read More

Redskin Seniors Deliver in Road Win Over Central A&M

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File Photo Sullivan Redskin Ty Molzen

File Photo
Sullivan Redskin Ty Molzen

•February 17, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Ty Molzen and Alec Ballinger put together a pair of all conference performances in Friday night’s 49-45 win over Moweaqua.

Molzen led all scorers with 19 points and added 12 rebounds for a double double.

Ballinger nailed a pair of threes before the half to swing momentum and finished with 16 points.

Sullivan head coach Chester Reeder said the group is benefiting from experience. “This is always a tough place to play. They showed a lot of toughness tonight. We are towards the end and have eight seniors that show up.”

A back and forth first quarter saw the Raiders 12-10 advantage pushed to 17-10 as part of a 10-1 run.

Redskin senior Adam White scored to stop the bleeding with six minutes left in the second quarter. The basket started a 17-6 Redskin run to close the half.

Trailing by three 23-20 at the two minute mark, back to back threes by  Ballinger vaulted Sullivan in front 26-23.   Read More

Lady Knights Celebrate Seniors with Big Win

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Photo by Darian Hays Payton Wellbaum scored seven of the next 13 points for the Lady Knights extending the lead to 17-7 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Photo by Darian Hays
Payton Wellbaum scored seven of the next 13 points for the Lady Knights extending the lead to 17-7 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Physical Bomber Game 

•February 10, 2016•

By Mattt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Hannah Wallen scored 16 points in a 58-39 win over Argenta-Oreana on senior night Feb. 4.

The Lady Knights were able to hold the Bombers to just five points in the fourth quarter of a dominate performance.  ALAH head coach Craig Moffett was happy for his seniors Alyssa Hershberger, Jazmine Arnett, and Essi Kennunen.

“Our seniors played hard, and they have been working all year,” he said.  “They have been good senior leaders for us.”

Argenta took an early lead 3-1 at the six minute mark in the first quarter.  Liz Shipman changed the momentum with a steal and got the ball to Wallen for her first three pointer of the game. The trey resulted in a 4-3 lead for the Knights and with five minutes remaining in the first quarter the team started to roll.

Payton Wellbaum scored seven of the next 13 points for the Lady Knights extending the lead to 17-7 with under a minute remaining in the first quarter. The Bombers would add a layup with 10 seconds remaining to make it a 17-9 game heading into the second quarter. Senior Alyssa Hershberger scored at the 6:45 mark in the second period to make it a 21-9 lead for the Knights.   Read More

St. Teresa Outlasts Sullivan in Physical CIC Tourney Opener

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Photo by Mike Brothers Ty Molzen put his muscle to the boards finishing the game with 11 rebounds and 13 points.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Ty Molzen put his muscle to the boards finishing the game with 11 rebounds and 13 points.

•February 3, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
News Progress Sports Reporter

The Bulldogs were able to grind out a hard fought 43-36 win behind Isaiah Bond’s fourth quarter heroics. Sullivan rallied from a 10 point deficit in the first quarter and stayed within striking distance thanks to the strong play of Zach Hrvol who finished with 18 points.

Sullivan head coach Chet Reeder said the game plan didn’t change heading into the rematch. “They hit a lot of jumpers, and that was still the game plan. Our defensive intensity was pretty good; they just made some heavily contested shots.”

St. Teresa opened the contest with back to back three pointers taking a 6-0 lead just over a minute in.

Ty Molzen got the Redskins on the scoreboard at the six minute mark.  The Bulldogs countered with three straight baskets to make a 12-2 game with three minutes left in the first period of play.

Hrvol looked confident all game and made it a 12-6 game on consecutive layups. Alec Ballinger then gave Sullivan all the momentum taking a loose ball coast to coast scoring at the buzzer to cut the Bulldog lead to 14-8.

Hrvol keep the run alive going high above the rim on an alley-oop inbounds play to make it a two point game 14-12 with five minutes left in the half.   Read More

Knights Outscore Timberwolves in Arthur

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Photo by RR Best ALAH Knight Janette Comstock protects the ball as Okaw Valley Timberwolves (from left) Chloe Weybright, Devan Nave, Natalie Jeffers and Brianna Creviston close in.

Photo by RR Best
ALAH Knight Janette Comstock protects the ball as Okaw Valley Timberwolves (from left) Chloe Weybright, Devan Nave, Natalie Jeffers and Brianna Creviston close in.

•January 27, 2016•

Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond faced down Okaw Valley in a 59-37 win January 21 at Arthur.

The Knights took a 13-8 first quarter advantage over the Timberwolves followed by a 16-9 second quarter that put the ALAH girls’ team up 29-17 at the half.

Okaw Valley came out with a 11-10 third quarter but lost momentum with a 20-9 fourth quarter, resulting in the 59-37 Knight win.

Hannah Wallen led the Knight scoring with 23, hitting seven field goals and a perfect 9-9 from the free throw line.

Megan Fifer hit a three point shot and five from the field for 13 points.

Liz Shipman came up with 11 points, hitting one three point shot and four field goals.

Payton Wellbaum scored six points with two field goals and two free shots; Mycaela Miller hit two field goals for four points, with Janette Comstock getting  two points from 2-2 trips for free throws. Read More

Okaw Valley Puts Arcola Away in LOVC Action

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Photo by Darian Hays Paige Robinson drives against Purple Rider Rylee Fishel for two of her game leading 17 points, helping the Knights to a 42-30 wind over Arcola.

Photo by Darian Hays
Paige Robinson drives against Purple Rider Rylee Fishel for two of her game leading 17 points, helping the Knights to a 42-30 wind over Arcola.

•January 20, 2016•

Okaw Valley girls beat Arcola 42-30 in LOVC tournament action in Arthur January 18.

The Timberwolves were up 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Purple Riders came back with a 5-3 second quarter, putting the Okaw Valley team up 13-11 at the half.

During the third quarter Okaw Valley scored 12 to Arcola’s eight points. Up 25-21 at the end of three, the Timberwolves finished with a 17-10 fourth quarter for the 42-30 win.

Paige Robinson led the Timberwolves in scoring with six field goals, while hitting 5-6 free throws for 17 points.

Chloe Weybright hit one three point shot, three field goals and was 3-4 from the free stripe for 12 points.

Natalie Jeffers hit two field goals and one free shot for five points; Hope Ruppert made two field goals for four points; Jesse Robinson made one field goal, and Brianna Creviston scored a field goal to complete Okaw Valley scoring. Read More

Redskins Fight Tuscola Down to the Wire

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Photo by Mike Brothers Sullivan’s Kaleb Shumard drives hard to the basket in the January 8 home game against the Tuscola Warriors on the Redskin home court.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan’s Kaleb Shumard drives hard to the basket in the January 8 home game against the Tuscola Warriors on the Redskin home court.

•January 13, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Redskins’ basketball fans watched an instant classic Friday night as Ty Molzen and Nick Bates traded baskets in a pair of all conference performances, that ended in a 38-36 Tuscola win.
Molzen finished seven for seven from the field tallying 14 points for Sullivan, and Nick Bates poured in 22 points leading the way for Tuscola.
Sullivan head coach Chet Reeder was unhappy with Sullivan’s “timid” play on the offense but thought the effort shown on defense was top notch. “We played our tails off on defense. Defensively that was one of the best games we have ever played. The ball just did not bounce our way a couple times, and that is all it takes.”
The Warriors jumped out to an early 7-2 before back to back baskets tied the game at the end of the first quarter. In the second period Tuscola’s Bates took over at the five minute mark scoring the Warriors next seven straight. The run gave the Warriors a 16-11 halftime lead. Coach Reeder complemented Bates’ game after the contest. “He is a special player; there is not a matchup for Nick Bates.” Sullivan stayed within striking distance during the third quarter and cut Tuscola’s lead to 23-21 with 2:30 remaining in the period. However, Bates responded with another run hitting what looked to be a dagger three pointer to put Tuscola up by 10, 31-21, with just six minutes left in the game. Read More