Photo by RR Best
Sullivan senior and baseball player Nick Frerichs signs his letter of intent committing to play baseball at Kaskaskia college in a January 22 ceremony. Pictured, front row, left to right: Mother Kerri, Nick, and father Dan. Back row: Sullivan head baseball coach Troy Rogers and Kaskaskia head baseball coach Mitch Koester.

Receives baseball scholarship

May 6, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Not Tyler, not Chad, but Nick.
The youngest of three, the current Sullivan senior is following in his older brothers’ footsteps–sort of.
Earlier this year Nick Frerichs signed papers committing to play baseball at Kaskaskia College come this fall. His two older brothers also went on to play baseball collegiately; however they each went to Lincoln Land College.
“I really like their campus, and I know a couple of the guys going already,” said Nick. “Kaskaskia has all been pretty successful the past couple years so I figured it was the right fit for me.”
And though choosing a different college at which to play ball, Frerichs is quick to recall the impact his brothers and family have had on his development as one of the area’s top players. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Okaw Valley pitcher Amanda McClain chases down a bunt laid down by Sullivan’s Elissa Stewart Saturday.

Clements ends game with walk-off

May 6, 2015

By Matt Kracht
NP Sports Reporter

Two of the area’s top prep softball teams went to battle on Saturday for bragging rights on Sullivan’s north diamond. Amanda McClain and Heidi Clements, both all-conference pitchers, dueled it out for seven innings before Clements took matters into her own hands with a walk off game winner.
Sullivan head coach Ben Richter said he was pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
“I am just still trying to figure out how we pulled this one out,” he admitted. “That was a great team that hits the ball well. Amanda McClain is a talented pitcher, but we put the ball in play, putting the pressure on them.”
Asked whether he could put his finger on a play that changed the game, Richter pointed to Brittin Boyer’s two-run triple in the bottom of the fifth. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Sullivan pitcher Jacob Piper eyes an in-field popup while first baseman Dakota Clayton supports and Okaw Valley base runner Justin Johnson watches in anticipation.

T-wolves’ defense lacks in the loss

May 6, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

Of Sullivan’s 10 runs Saturday, only three were earned. In what was an uncharacteristic day for the typically stalwart Okaw Valley defense, the Timberwolves committed three costly errors and had a handful of dropped third strikes on which Sullivan was able to reach first. And despite a seventh inning rally by OV, Sullivan kept the lid on the Timberwolves, who fell 10-2.
Errors in both the first and second innings helped Sullivan to a 6-0 lead going into the third. From there, the two Moultrie County rivals stood at a stalemate for the next three innings, though OV’s offense finally began to come around in the fifth but was ultimately stopped short, stranding two runners on first and third base. OV would continue the slight momentum into the sixth after Taylor Coleman reached first on a fielding error. After Jacob Piper’s first walk of the day, Garrett Fritz singled between third and short to load the bases. Cody Drake then hit a hard grounder to third baseman Zak Hrvol, who committed a fielding error, allowing Coleman home. But OV would muster no more in the inning and instead again stranded runners. Read More

Photo by Keith Stewart
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond head coach Craig Moffett encourages his team during last Friday’s contest against Cerro Gordo-Bement. The Knights were able to pick themselves up after a poor first two innings to come back and win 11-5.

ALAH reverses tide, takes advantage of Cerro Gordo-Bement mistakes

April 29, 2015

by Keith Stewart
keith@newsprogress.com

After just two innings in Arthur Friday evening, things looked as if they were going Cerro Gordo-Bement’s way.
The Broncos led 3-0 going into the third after a two-error second saw the Knights begin to unravel.
But head coach Craig Moffett remained calm in the dugout, telling his boys to keep their heads up and regain their composure.
They listened.
“We just tried to stay positive,” said Moffett. “Baseball can be a really frustrating game. I just tried to keep them confident, positive, and focused on the next play. They did a good job of coming back.”
Despite a three up, three down second, the Knights came back in the third and forced a quick three batter inning themselves. In the bottom, Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond took advantage of a few Bronco mistakes to score two runs. Read More

April 29, 2015

Last Wednesday Sullivan’s varsity softball team travelled to take on Tuscola and fell 8-6 despite taking an early 2-0 lead, which included a solo home run by Heidi Clements. However, Tuscola would score five in the fourth to take the lead. Down 8-3 going into the seventh, Sullivan strung together three runs with a base-clearing double by Elissa Stewart, but the Redskins would not complete the comeback. Read More