Young Redskin Softball Team is Ready for Action

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Photo by Mike Brothers Sullivan High School softball team. Front row left to right: Sarah Green, Bailee Pratt, Dani Boyer, Abby Elzy, Heidi Clements, Seleste Smith, Makenzie Ruppert and Jordan Bassett; Back row left to right: Irie Dulin, Ally Elzy, Lacie Green, Madison Wall, Josie Orris, Brooke Tuttle, Maryann Quiroz, Ally O’Neill, and Alexis Britton.

Photo by Mike Brothers
Sullivan High School softball team. Front row left to right: Sarah Green, Bailee Pratt, Dani Boyer, Abby Elzy, Heidi Clements, Seleste Smith, Makenzie Ruppert and Jordan Bassett; Back row left to right: Irie Dulin, Ally Elzy, Lacie Green, Madison Wall, Josie Orris, Brooke Tuttle, Maryann Quiroz, Ally O’Neill, and Alexis Britton.

•March 23, 2016•

Although Sullivan Redskins softball team is young coach Andy Wagner has seven returning letter winners from the 2015 team to help guide the way.

Among the strengths for the 2016 Redskins is their pitching.

“I’m hoping to have many strengths,” Coach Wagner said. “A few I think will be nice, is having some solid pitching”

Those pitchers include Heidi Clements, Madison Wall and Abby and Ally Elzy.

“We have a very solid receiver of the softball in Makenzie Ruppert,” he continued. “I feel as if offensively and defensively we should be pretty solid.”

He pointed out that having Clements back on the mound with Ruppert catching makes a great leadership duo that could help the team reach new levels this season.

The team focus is on getting plenty of swings, pitching, defensive situations and running. Read More

Knights Baseball Fans Will Get Best Illinois Baseball Has to Offer

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Photo by Darian Hays ALAH baseball team: Bradley R Miller*, Bradley D Miller, Tyler Emberton, Turner Emberton, Cory Griffin, Shandon Herschberger*, Nick Stoltey, Marcus Vanausdoll*, Waylon Schlabach, Keegan Morfey, Josh Garrett, Paul Brodnansky. An asterisk denotes senior players.

Photo by Darian Hays
ALAH baseball team: Bradley R Miller*, Bradley D Miller, Tyler Emberton, Turner Emberton, Cory Griffin, Shandon Herschberger*, Nick Stoltey, Marcus Vanausdoll*, Waylon Schlabach, Keegan Morfey, Josh Garrett, Paul Brodnansky. An asterisk denotes senior players.

•March 23, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
News Progress Sports

Your 2016 Knights baseball squad will rely heavily on four returning starters to be competitive in 2016.  Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond has a tentative home opener versus the Tuscola Warriors on Wednesday. However, weather could see the game moved to away or postponed to a later date. Regardless of when the Knights play their first game, fourth year head coach Craig Moffett thinks the majority of the spring weather has been an advantage. “We have been on the field more this year than ever before.”  Spring practice is notoriously hit or miss weatherwise and with a younger group of players being on the field is key. “We have got a good group of kids working hard, and we are looking to upset some teams.”  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

Timberwolves Softball Focused on Consistency

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Photo Furnished Okaw Valley softball front from left: Kailyn Boyer, Moranda Matheson and Grace Harlin; second row: Kaylee Thomas, Jess Robinson, Natalie Jeffers, Bella Benning, Chloe Weybright and Kailey George; back row Paige Robinson, Danielle Lochbaum, Kyra Jackson, Maddie Perrine, Madison Vogel, Gracie Weybright, and Kayla Wheeler. Not pictured: Dani Dick

Photo Furnished
Okaw Valley softball front from left: Kailyn Boyer, Moranda Matheson and Grace Harlin; second row: Kaylee Thomas, Jess Robinson, Natalie Jeffers, Bella Benning, Chloe Weybright and Kailey George; back row Paige Robinson, Danielle Lochbaum, Kyra Jackson, Maddie Perrine, Madison Vogel, Gracie Weybright, and Kayla Wheeler. Not pictured: Dani Dick

•March 23, 2016•

By Matt Kracht
News Progress Sports

Head Coach Dave Benning’s team went 9-1 in conference last season winning the Little Okaw Valley Northwest Division title. The Lady Timberwolves outscored their opponents 11 runs to 3 on average in one of the most dominant seasons in conference history. After a regional championship loss Coach Benning got right back to work breaking down the season ahead. “The challenge this year is to reboot the system I think we can improve on every aspect. Defensively we are working on our range and getting better situationally. We have Maddie Perrine who has gone 14-4 over her career ready to take the reins and see what she can do.”

The Lady Timberwolves tentative home opener Monday March 14th versus Central AM was a rain out. Unfortunately that means the first seven Lady Timberwolves games will be played on the road. The First home game barring a makeup date will be April 1st versus Villa Grove. The game will mark the start of a three game home stand ending April 5th against Windsor Stew-Straus. April 27th marks the start of a stretch of games where five of seven will be played at home ending with 5/6 Arcola, 5/10 Neoga, and 5/12 versus Altamont. The schedule is definitely formidable and the reigning champs will be sure to get everyone’s best shot.  Read More

OVHS FFA Has Donkey Basketball at Findlay

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•March 16, 2016•

The Okaw Valley High School FFA chapter is sponsoring donkey basketball in Findlay Saturday, March 19.

Held at the Findlay Middle School gymnasium beginning at 6 p.m., the public is invited to watch antics of uncontrollable donkeys and determined volunteer riders trying to play hoops.

SOV Track Competes at Invitational

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•March 16, 2016•

The Sullivan Okaw Valley track team competed in the Decatur Area Indoor Invitational last week held in the Mt. Zion fieldhouse.

The meet was non-scored so no team scores were calculated, but the boys had a solid start with nine personal records set.  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

Area Players Make All Conference

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•March 9, 2016•

Area girls’ basketball players were named to the  2016 LOVC Northwest team.

First team includes Arthur-Lovington/Artwood-Hammond junior Megan Fifer and sophomore Hannah Wallen; Okaw Valley sophomore Paige Robinbson.  Read More