Advanced to Tuesday’s must-win game
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Moultrie Douglas Legion ball took a disappointing 14-2 loss versus Shelby County Saturday in the first game of the district tournament. However, the team rebounded thanks to a double elimination format, beating Macon County 9-4 Sunday advancing to Tuesday night’s matchup versus the loser of Mattoon and tournament host Rantoul.
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Now prepare for district tournament
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Moultrie-Douglas County American Legion baseball swept a double header against rival Shelby County winning 9-4 and 9-5 in a Sunday matinée hosted by Windsor.
The stifling heat was shrugged off by both squads with Legion Post 479 racking up 18 total runs in back to back come from behind wins.
Mo-Do jr. legion head coach Duff Hoel knew that his team was facing a tough opponent going into the contest.
“We told the kids before the game that we were facing a good pitcher who is from Windsor originally and is pitching in college right now. So he is going to try and get ahead of you early so look for the fastball and shoot it the other way because he is going to have some velocity. Dylan Hart started us off with a big home run. That was nice since we were down two to nothing before Dylan hit a ball into the trees in right field. That got us going and the other guys picked it up behind him.” Read More
OV baseballer to continue sport at Lake Land
Photo by Keith Stewart
Recent Okaw Valley graduate Devon still signed his letter of intent to play baseball at Lake Land College during a May 19 ceremony. Pictured, left to right, back row are: Lake Land head baseball coach Bill Jackson and OV head baseball coach Andrew Hagerman. Front row: father Jeff Still, Devon Still, and mother Rachel Still.
June 17, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
It’s true that Devon Still has played golf and basketball throughout his high school career and excelled in both. But neither compares to his love for baseball. The sport is less a game to him than more a necessity.
And for the recent Okaw Valley graduate, not to mention member of the school’s fourth place state finishing team, that necessity has been extended two more years.
“I’ve always loved baseball. It was a couple years ago that I figured out if I worked hard enough I would be able to keep playing baseball, which is exactly what I wanted to do,” said Still. “I wanted to play in college, whether it was just playing or for a scholarship. I just wanted to play. So it was really nice getting an offer from Lake Land.”
That offer came relatively late into Still’s career, however. A fact that surprised his high school head coach Andrew Hagerman. Read More
Photo by RR Best
Okaw Valley’s baseball team took home a fourth place state trophy from this past weekend’s tournament in Peoria. Pictured, left to right, are Peyton Hagerman, Joe Jeffers, and Devon Still.
Timberwolves bring home fourth place hardware after historic run
June 10, 2015
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Out of 169 class 1A baseball teams just four made it to this past weekend’s ISHA state tourney in Peoria. The Timberwolves fell in two competitive contests, first against state runner up Okawville 5-3 Friday, and then against Fulton 11-7 Saturday. After all was said and done the Timberwolves took home a gigantic fourth place trophy along with some memories that will last a lifetime. The 26-9 record to end the season secured the deepest postseason run of any area squad in more than a decade.
Trying to Hold On
Peyton Hagerman took the ball in the Timberwolves first matchup on Friday afternoon. Dozer Park, the Cardinals single A minor league affiliate, had the radar gun working and both teams’ eyes were locked on the scoreboard early on. Hagerman showed no signs of fatigue despite a long season of work, popping the mitt at 86mph to start the game. His opposite from Okawville respectably registered 81 miles per hour, but had an impressive command of the strike zone. Both pitchers dominated through the first three innings, and with the game tied 0-0 heading to the top of the fourth inning it would be Okawville who would draw first blood. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Okaw Valley senior Devon Still hoists the team’s super-sectional plaque into the air for the home crowd to see Tuesday night in Champaign after he and the Timberwolves defeated Princeville 6-5.
Still going, OV baseball wins super-sectional Tuesday 6-5 to advance to state
June 3, 2015
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Lefty Devon Still had a game to remember Tuesday night in Champaign, pitching all seven innings to tally 14 punch-outs and earning his 11th victory on the season. Still also drove home the game winning run in walk-off fashion sending Okaw Valley to the team’s first final four state qualifier.
“Now having kids will be the second happiest day of my life,” said Still. “I can’t believe it. It’s something I dreamed of as a kid, but I never really pictured me in that position, but now we’re here.”
Leading by one run, 5-4, heading in to the top of the seventh inning Okaw Valley was three outs from advancing, but Princeville had other ideas.
The Princes got the lead-off runner on due to a throwing error and brought him around to score on a swinging bunt with two outs to tie the game and put the pressure back on Okaw Valley.
“It was more motivating actually,” said Peyton Hagerman. “There were a few people with their heads down. Fritz and I were ripping their heads back up. Garrett walked up to me and said, ‘You’re getting on, and I’m hitting you in.’ And I said, ‘Deal.’ Then I got on, Taylor got on, Garrett got on, and then Devon, he had himself a day.” Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Pictured, from left to right, are members of the SOV girls’ track and field team with their third place team trophy at the IHSA state track meet Saturday in Charleston: Head coach Kali Taylor, Ashlynd Risley, Amanda McClain, Emily Neuhauser, Carlin Nuzzo, Bailey Turnbaugh, and Abby Cravatta.
Three individual crowns propel SOV to third place team trophy
May 27, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Sure. The 400m dash and the long jump are both events in which SOV senior Amanda McClain was at the top of her class. But the 200m dash too?
Saturday’s answer was “apparently so,” as she exploded down the big blue track at O’Brien Stadium in Charleston taking first in the 200m event and thus marking her third individual championship on the day. That coupled with Emily Neuhauser’s fourth place finish and an earlier sixth place in the 4x200 earned SOV a third place team trophy for the second straight year.
“To bring that trophy back to the communities of Sullivan, Findlay, and Bethany, it’s just a phenomenal feeling as the SOV coach to be a part of that,” said head coach Kali Taylor. “It’s something these girls are going to remember for the rest of their lives.” Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan's Heidi Clements came up big for the Redskins Tuesday, not only with a game-ending double play, but also the tying RBI in the fourth inning.
Redskins to play Tuscola Saturday for regional title
May 20, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
Tuesday evening’s regional semi-final between no. 2 seed and host Sullivan and no. 3 seed Shelbyville saw plenty of back-and-forth momentum that finally ended with a double play in the top of the seventh, earning the Lady Redskins their second straight regional championship appearance.
After taking an early 1-0 lead, Sullivan found themselves down 5-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
There, the Lady Red strung together six hits for four runs, including a double to deep left field by Heidi Clements to tie the game at 5-5 before Makenzie Ruppert tripled to deep left field to put Sullivan on top 6-5–a lead they would not give up. Seleste Smith then followed with a single RBI up the middle to put Sullivan ahead 7-5. Read More
Photo by RR Best
Pictured is the Sullivan varsity baseball team with their Central Illinois Conference title plaque, which they won following a 6-2 win over Clinton last Thursday. Pictured, front row, left to right: Brody Elder, Dylan Hart, Jacob Piper, Matthew Sparrow, Blake Stewart, and Nick Frerichs. Back row: head coach Troy Rogers, Zach Hrvol, Levi Nadler, Drew Harris, Dylan Liddiard, Dakota Clayton, and Alec Ballinger.
Will begin regional play next week
May 13, 2015
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
The Sullivan Redskins secured the CIC(Central Illinois Conference) inaugural championship Thursday at Leon Lane Memorial Field thanks to a strong pitching performance by Jacob Piper, who went five innings of shutout baseball, ultimately allowing just two runs on two hits over the complete game. Sullivan ran its way to a lead early and held off a sixth inning rally to claim the program’s first conference title in more than 15 years.
Celebrating with his team after the win, head coach Troy Rogers gave all the credit to his players. “These are a great group of kids who played a lot of baseball over the years, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. They deserve it.”
Rogers also complimented Piper who was starting just his second game on the season.
“He had just had some relief appearances, and he is 2-0 now after starting last weekend versus Okaw Valley. I know he is going to throw strikes, keep them off balance, and let his defense work. We have been playing solid defense behind him. We had one hiccup where we gave Clinton a couple extra outs, but Jacob did a good job getting out of it, keeping that four run cushion.” Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan senior and basketball player Emily Neuhauser signs her letter of intent committing to play basketball at Lake Land College in an April 8 ceremony. Pictured, front row, left to right: Father John Neuhauser, Emily, mother Barb, and sister Paige. Back row: Sullivan girls’ head coach Sheri McCain, assistant coach Tiffinie Tucker, and Lake Land College girls’ head coach Dave Johnson.
Sullivan senior to become Lady Laker this fall
May 6, 2015
by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com
There really is something to be said for love of the game. And gained.
Just ask Emily Neuhauser.
The Sullivan senior hoopster last month signed her letter of intent, committing to join Lake Land College’s women’s basketball team come this fall.
“It’s going to be a lot different because it’s the collegiate level,” acknowledged Neuhauser. “I’m excited to see where he (Dave Johnson) puts me on that court. I’ll do whatever he says. I’m ready to see what he has in store for me.”
Neuhauser’s journey actually began with SHS alum Asia Morrison three years ago. Morrison was scouted and ultimately recruited by Lake Land’s head coach Dave Johnson, who says even then, Neuhauser caught his eye. Read More
Photo by Keith Stewart
Okaw Valley sophomore Taylor Coleman reaches for first on a throw-out attempt Monday.
Still, still undefeated from the mound
April 29, 2015
By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter
Okaw Valley starter Devon Still (7-0) won his seventh game in as many starts while improving the Timberwolves overall record to 18-1, after defeating Decatur LSA. Still had an all-conference day fanning 10 of the opposition over seven innings of one-run ball, and helping his own cause at the plate going 4-4 with three RBIs.
Coach Andrew Hagerman expected nothing less from his senior lefty.
“Devon pitched well which is no surprise. He located all his pitches, and he played like a senior, and he has been doing it all year.”
Still pitched out of a first inning jam thanks to a web gem by his third baseman and then struck out the side in the second, twisting right handed batters into the ground with nasty movement down and in. Still flashed some leather of his own in the third inning coming off the mound to make an excellent play on a would be bunt single. Still whirled and delivered a missile across the diamond beating the runner to first. Capping off the performance Still struck out the side again in the fifth overmatching the LSA hitters with a mix of velocity and movement. Coach Hagerman thought the defensive effort was a big factor in the win. Read More