Category Archives: Sports Feature

OV Baseball Wins OV Northwest Conference Title

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•May 9, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley baseball team surpassed 20 wins and won the Little Okaw Valley Northwest Conference during a busy week.

OV knocked off Arcola, Argenta-Oreana, Decatur Lutheran and Tri-County to stay undefeated in the LOVC but lost a non conference game to Paris.

“Winning the LOVC is one of our main goals every season,” said OV coach Andrew Hagerman. “Going undefeated in conference play is really quite an accomplishment. There are some really good teams in our conference, and I feel all of the teams in the LOVC Northwest are very well-coached right now.”

Monday, the Timberwolves topped Tri-County 11-1.

OV scored in every inning but the third and totaled 11 hits. Read More

Redskins Shut Out Bulldogs for a Conference Win

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Josh Stutzman catches the ball.

•May 2, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan baseball team finished the week 5-1 with losses to Clinton, Okaw Valley, Shelbyville, Tuscola and Maroa-Forsyth.

The Redskins defeated St. Teresa last Wednesday.

Against the Bulldogs, Sullivan shutout St. Teresa 7-0 for a Central Illinois Conference win.

Sullivan scored two runs in the first inning, one run in he second and one run in the third for an early 4-0 lead.

The Redskins scored three more in the sixth inning for the final score.

Dalton Rogers, Spencer Johnson and Gavin Sullivan each recorded two hits. Johnson added two runs scored and two RBIs, and Rogers scored two runs. Read More

Sullivan Girls’ Track Team Wins Tri-County Meet

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Sullivan girls’ track team celebrating the Tri-County Meet win.

•April 25, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Sullivan girls’ track and field team won the nine-team Tri-County Meet and then placed sixth in the 16-team Tuscola Open on Friday.

In the Tri-County Meet Tuesday, April 17 Sullivan scored 103 points for the win.

Zoe Walton high jumped five feet for second place and Katherine Kite ran the 1,600 in 6:02 for second place.

Kite also placed fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:46.94.

Madalyne McPheeters placed third in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash with times of 13.92 and 29.16, respectively.

Emily White high jumped 4 feet 10 inches for third place, and Esther Miller triple jumped 32 feet 11 inches for third place and placed third in the 400-meter run with a time of 1:03.94.

She also high jumped 4 feet 8 inches for fourth place. Read More

All Star Games Highlight Local High School Talent

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All-Stars: Hope Ruppert, Natalie Jeffers and Paige Robinson hug after the SkyWalker All-Star Game in Decatur last Friday. Robinson won the MVP award and the 3-point contest, but had to play against her three-year co-starter in the game.

•April 18, 2018•

by Jason Brown
NP Sports

Several area girls’ basketball players participated in two different all-star games this past week, but it was Okaw Valley guard Paige Robinson who won the MVP award for both games.

Three players from Sullivan and one from Okaw Valley participated in the Marshall School Foundation Game in Marshall, Ind. and two Timberwolves played in the SkyWalker All-Star Game in Decatur.

In the Marshall School Foundation game Sunday, Redskins Chloe Riley and Haley Rose played for the Red Team, and Elizabeth Green played for the White Team.

For OV, Robinson played for the White Team, which won the game 88-63.

Robinson scored 28 points, including three 3-pointers, to go with double digit assists and a handful of rebounds to win the Co-MVP of the tournament.

“Paige had about four to five AAU teammates down there,” said OV coach Brad Ackers, “and so I know she enjoyed herself and competed against some girls she knows. A number of Sullivan girls were there too.”

Green scored in the first quarter for a total of four points for the White team.

For the Red Team, Riley scored seven points and Rose added two.

Riley made two of three free throws and made two baskets in the third quarter, and Rose scored her two points in the third quarter. Read More

WSS Softball is Winning Games in All Kinds of Weather

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Hatchets Mackenzi Tabbert runs around second base with Gwen Diepholz behind her.

•April 11, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Unlike many of the area schools, the Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg softball team has been squeezing in games during the most improbable weather.

But why not? It’s working.

The Hatchets won four more games this past week to improve their record to 10-0 on the season.

“The weather has been a challenge that all teams are dealing with,” said coach Craig Moffett. “The players have been mentally tough in practice and games, even when it’s cold and windy. The parents are awesome and have brought blankets, hot chocolate and heaters for the dugout in some games.”

WSS defeated Neoga, Sullivan, Effingham, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond and Pana. Read More

Okaw Valley’s Paige Robinson Named Player of the Year

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•March 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Okaw Valley senior guard Paige Robinson was named the 36th annual JG-TC Girls Basketball Player of the Year this past week.

She set several records this season and has collected even more accolades along the way.

Robinson was named to the 15-member Illinois Girls’ Basketball Coaches’ All-State Class 1A/2A first team.

The 5 feet 10 inch guard was one of five players named to the second team Associated Press All-State girls’ basketball team.

“I said Paige is the best player in the area and best player around to anyone that would listen in the last two years,” said OV coach Brad Ackers. “Paige just continued to prove it.” Read More

OVHS Softball Team Slugs Past Paris for Win

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OVHS Varsity Softball first row - Miaya Lehman, Bella Benning, Grace Harlin, Kailey George, Andi Dicken. Second row - Kiersten Kennedy, Grace Bunfill, Hannah Landreth, Kami Landret. Third row - Paige Coleman, Madison Voegel, Kate Jeffers, Natalie Jeffers, Danielle Lochbaum.

•March 21 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley softball team split a pair of games this past week.

The Timberwolves outslugged Paris 19-18 last Wednesday but lost to Maroa-Forsyth 10-. Monday evening.

Against Paris, OV took the lead with a 4-run first inning then tacked on another run in the second inning.

Paris took a 6-5 lead with six runs in the top of the fourth inning, but OV answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning.

Both teams scored four runs in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth. Read More

A State Finals Run that Put Okaw Valley on the Map

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Photo by Sonya Best
The Okaw Valley Lady Timberwolves took Findlay, Bethany and surrounding fans on a wild ride as Regional, Sectional, and Super-sectional champs. The historic run took the team and their fans to their first appearance at the Class 1A Illinois State Finals at Redbird Arena. The team is pictured with fourth place trophy.

•February 28, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

The Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team brought home the first state basketball trophy in the school’s history to a reception of fans at the high school in Bethany Saturday, Feb. 24.

Despite not being ranked in the top 10 all season, the Timberwolves took their fans on an incredible run that ended at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A State Tournament in Redbird Arena in Normal Friday and Saturday.

Though OV lost both games, the players, coaches and fans got to experience how special a trip to state can be.

“The trophy means everything to the communities here,” said Ackers. “We accomplished a lot of things that have never been done in school history. I could run through them; it’s a laundry list. That will sink in more as we look back here.” Read More

OV Timberwolves Trio Triumphs With Trip to State Finals

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Photo by RR Best
The Okaw Valley girls’ Super Sectional win over Mounds Meridian improved their overall record to 29-5, which set another school record for most wins in a season. The Timberwolves are scheduled to play Stockton at 11 a.m. Friday at Illinois State University’s Redbird Arena in Normal.

•February 21, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

Three years ago as sophomores, Paige Robinson, Natalie Jeffers and Hope Ruppert saw major playing time for the Okaw Valley girls’ basketball team.

The Timberwolves finished that season 16-7 overall and 4-1 in the Little Okaw Valley Conference.

More importantly, the seeds were sown.

Last year the trio had high expectations for the team, and though the OV finished 18-9 overall and 3-1 in the LOVC, the Timberwolves were bounced out of the regional by a tough Central A&M team.

This year as seniors, the trio of Robinson, Jeffers, Ruppert and the team’s strong supporting cast were not going to be denied. Read More

Sullivan Lady Redskins Keep Finding Ways to Win

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Sectional Bound: Sullivan Redskins Girls Basketball team celebrates winning the Regional Championship and with one sectional win behind them the team faces off with Teutopolis at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at St. Anthony High School in Effingham.

•February 14, 2018•

By Jason Brown
NP Sports

After defeating the No. 10 seeded Meridian in the first round of the IHSA Class 2A Arthur Regional, the Sullivan girls’ basketball team upset its way to the Sweet 16 on Feb. 12.

On their way to a sectional championship match, the Redskins upset No. 3 seeded Greenville and No. 2 seeded Tuscola to win the Arthur regional, then upset No. 1 seeded Marshall in the sectional semifinals Monday night in Effingham.

“Words can’t express how happy I am for these girls,” said Sullivan coach Sheri McCain. “They continue to defy the odds and find a way to win.”

Against top-seeded Marshall Sullivan played from behind almost the entire first half and went into the locker room down 25-19. Read More