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High School Baseball

Milledgeville/Polo pounds Winnebago

THOMSON ­ The Milledgeville/Polo baseball team only needed five innings to get past Winnebago Wednesday. The Missiles defeated Winnebago 13-3 in five innings when the two familiar foes hooked up on the baseball diamond..

Mike Allspaugh was the winning pitcher for Milledgeville/Polo, hurling four innings en route to the convincing win.

A trio of Milledgeville/Polo players produced a pair of hits apiece. Matt VanOosten, Augie Forrester and Ryan Kram each had two hits and two RBIs for Milledgeville/Polo in the winning effort.

Milledgeville/Polo was able to push across multiple runs in numerous innings during the high school baseball matchup.

REGIONAL BASEBALL

West Carroll Upends Forreston

THOMSON ­ Host West Carroll defeated Forreston in come-from-behind fashion Thursday in the Class 2A Savanna Regional semifinals. The Thunder scored three runs in the sixth inning and three more in the seventh to get past the Cardinals 6-5 in the highly-anticipated postseason high school matchup.

Alan Ferguson was the offensive leader for West Carroll in a perfect plate performance. Ferguson went 4-for-4 as the Thunder completed a successful rally.

Luke Ingersoll tossed the last two innings for West Carroll. Ingersoll pitched well in an impressive outing, giving up only one earned run.

Forreston owned the first five innings as pitcher Austin LeClere dominated West Carroll batters. The Forreston starting pitcher tossed five shutout innings before allowing three runs in the sixth inning.

LeClere earned a no-decision as he pitched six innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned.

Ingersoll, one of the area's top high school baseball pitchers, earned the starting pitcher nod for Saturday's regional championship contest.

Eastland Outlasts Dakota for Regional Championship

FREEPORT ­ Eastland High School is home to yet another championship team. The Eastland baseball team captured another regional title on Sunday, defeating Dakota 4-3 in the Aquin Regional.

Eastland overcame an early deficit en route to claiming its latest championship. Dakota took an early 2-0 lead on an offensive outburst. Eastland, however, wouldn't go away. Tony Dunlap helped to ignite Eastland offensively with a three-run home run.

Eastland pitcher Tyler Zumdahl was able to regroup and bounce back from a rocky start. After Dunlap put the Cougars out in front, Zumdahl only allowed one unearned run as Eastland played its way to the postseason win.

The Eastland pitcher was able to stay ahead in the count against most of the Aquin batters.

Dakota went out in front in the top half of the second inning when Austin Oberbruner supplied a two-RBI double.

Drew Carroll scored a run for Eastland to help push the Cougars out in front 4-2. Eastland never trailed after securing a lead on the Dunlap three-run dinger.

The Indians scored another run in the sixth inning before falling short. Dakota made some defensive and baserunning mistakes in the regional championship contest.

Thanks to the win, Eastland advances to the Lena Sectional. The Cougars will face Hinckley-Big Rock on Wednesday (May 27) at 4:30 p.m.

Missiles Edge Thunder 1-0 for Regional Title

SAVANNA ­ On graduation day Saturday, Milledgeville/Polo senior pitcher Kirk Engelkens led the charge for the Missiles' baseball team. Engelkens, who is winding down a stellar high school sports career, claimed the win from the mound as Milledgeville/Polo edged rival West Carroll 1-0 in the regional championship game.,

Engelkens outlasted West Carroll pitcher Luke Ingersoll in an intense battle between two talented high school baseball hurlers.

West Carroll suffered the disappointing loss on its home field.

Matt VanOosten was the offensive leader for Milledgeville/Polo. VanOosten delivered the game-winning RBI for the Missiles in the fifth inning. The VanOosten hit put Milledgeville/Polo out in front for good, 1-0. VanOosten recorded the RBI on a fielder's choice in the bottom portion of the fifth inning.

Engelkens tossed a superb complete game shutout for the Missiles.

Ingersoll, a Southern Illinois-Edwardsville-bound baseball player, also pitched well. The West Carroll pitcher recorded eight strikeouts in the setback.

Milledgeville/Polo won its third regional championship in four seasons. The Missiles rank as one of Northwest Illinois' top high school baseball teams.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Pearl City outlasts East Dubuque

EAST DUBUQUE ­ Pearl City saved its best for last Wednesday (May 20) versus East Dubuque. The game was knotted 1-1 in the seventh inning when Pearl City mounted a late-game charge to claim a 4-1 win on the softball diamond. Sarah Thomas got Pearl City started offensively with a bunt. Nicole Lawler then delivered the biggest hit of the game for Pearl City, connecting on a two-out RBI single for the Wolves. Teal Radford delivered in similar fashion for Pearl City, connecting on a two-run single as the Wolves defeated the Warriors 4-1.

In addition to her two-RBI performance from the plate, Lawler was also the winning pitcher for the Wolves. Lawler finished with seven strikeouts and a walk.

HIGH SCHOOL REGIONAL SOFTBALL

Eastland ladies edge Hiawatha

ASHTON ­ The Eastland High School softball team punched its ticket to the Class 1A A-FC Regional final Wednesday evening, posting a hard-fought 5-4 win over Hiawatha. Eastland showed several signs of being a veteran team, including delivering in the clutch. The Cougars prevailed late in the postseason matchup, scoring two runs in the seventh inning during their final at-bat.

Eastland claimed its 20th win of the season, improving to 20-10 following the semifinals victory.

Starting pitcher Marissa Harris delivered for Eastland in the regional tournament tilt. Harris had 12 strikeouts for the Cougars.

Offensively, Bricelynn Meyers went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Cougars. Meyers connected on a crucial hit for Eastland in the seventh inning when she tapped out a triple while the Cougars were on the losing end of a 4-3 score.

Haylee Endress went 2-for-4 for Eastland. Endress drove in Myers for the tying run and advanced to third base following two passed balls.

Madi Landherr connected on the walkoff RBI double for Eastland in the final inning. The Cougars continued to enjoy another successful softball season.

West Carroll Holds Off Morrison in Regional Semis

MORRISON ­West Carroll shook off Morrison in eight innings Wednesday in the Class 2A Morrison Regional semifinals, winning 6-4 behind the stout pitching of sophomore ace Jordan Kasbohm.

The Thunder were able to get some revenge thanks to the win. Last season, Morrison edged West Carroll 1-0, handing the Thunder a heartbreaking loss.

The latest postseason game between the two teams was tied 4-4 in the bottom half of the seventh inning when Kasbohm worked herself and West Carroll out of a jam.

Kasbohm ended the game with 13 strikeouts. The dominant West Carroll pitcher struck out the side in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Kasbohm ended the game with five straight strikeouts.

With the win, West Carroll moved on to the regional championship game versus familiar foe Milledgeville/Polo.

Thunder Blank Milledgeville/Polo, Claim Region Title

MORRISON ­ West Carroll posted an upset win on the softball diamond Saturday, defeating Milledgeville/Polo 2-0 in 12 innings. Sensational sophomore pitcher Jordan Kasbohm hurled West Carroll past top-seeded Milledgeville/Polo ­ the tournament favorite ­ in the championship game of the Class 2A Morrison Regional.

Keali Engelkens suffered the season-ending loss after holding West Carroll scoreless through 11 innings.

Kasbohm struck out 11 and didn't walk any in the championship game effort. The West Carroll starting pitcher allowed four hits and hit a couple of Milledgeville/Polo batters in an excellent 12 inning shutout.

Kasbohm was able to persevere for the win for West Carroll despite facing a tough jam in the bottom half of the 10th inning.

After five extra innings, Saturday's championship game finally featured a winner.

Jennesa Miller had an RBI triple for West Carroll's first run of the game in the top half of the 12th inning. Kasbohm, helping her cause at the plate, followed with a triple for the Thunder.

The West Carroll pitcher was able to turn back Milledgeville Polo in the bottom half of the 12th inning.

West Carroll, under the tutelage of head coach Don Mathey, defeated tournament host Morrison 6-4 in the regional semifinals.

Rick Lincoln-coached Milledgeville/Polo only suffered two losses in the regular-season. Metamora (Class 4A) and Geneseo (Class 3A) posted slim wins over Milledgeville/Polo during the regular-season.

West Carroll will face Harvard in the Class 2A Byron Sectional Thursday.

Milledgeville/Polo coach Rick Lincoln talks to his team during a break in the action during Saturday's Regional championship game. The Lady Missiles ended their season with an outstanding 26-3 record after taking the 2-0 loss to the West Carroll Lady Thunder. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

West Carroll catcher Katie Wiersema crosses the plate with what turns out to be the winning run during Saturday's Morrison Regional championship game. The Lady Thunder pushed across another insurance run in the top of the 12th inning and held off the Milledgeville/Polo Lady Missiles to take the 2-0 victory. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Milledgeville/Polo pitcher Keali Engelkens delivers a pitch to a West Carroll hitter during Regional championship action in Morrison. Keali pitched all twelve innings, giving up two runs and six hits while walking none and striking out twelve. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Team Members from the victorious Lady Thunder share a hug in celebration of their 2-0 win at the Morrison Regional championship game on Saturday. They now go on to meet Harvard at the Byron Sectional. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

The West Carroll Lady Thunder pose with their Regional championship plaque after defeating the Milledgeville/Polo Lady Missiles at the Morrison Regional. They face Harvard Thursday, May 28 at 4:30 p.m. in Byron. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Eastland Falls to Indian Creek in Regional Title Game

ASHTON ­ The Eastland High School softball team had its postseason run end in the regional championship game on Sunday. Eastland pitcher Marissa Harris only allowed one hit, but it wasn't enough to lift the Cougars past Indian Creek in the championship matchup. Indian Creek made the most of their one hit and utilized some stellar baseruning en route to a 4-0 win over the Cougars in the Class 1A Ashton-Franklin Center Regional title game. Victorious Indian Creek also made the most of Eastland miscues.

Offensively, Harris and Bricelynn Myers led Eastland with two hits apiece.

Eastland edged Hiawatha 5-4 in the regional semifinals on its way to reaching the championship game. The Cougars concluded the season with 20 wins.

2A Softball Regional (Morrison)

May 19

Riverdale-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-4-0

Milledgeville/Polo-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-9-0

WP: Engelkens 10IP, 0R, 4H, 1BB, 13K

LP: Smith 10IP, 1R, 9H, 1BB, 7K

2B: Riverdale: 1 (Wise)

M/P: 2 (B. Herin, Grobe)

May 20

West Carroll-0-0-0-2-0-2-0-2-6-5-1

Morrison-0-0-0-0-4-0-0-0-4-9-1

WP: J. Kasbohm (15-4) 8IP, 4R, 0ER, 9H, 0BB, 12K

LP: Smith 7 1/3IP, 5R, 4ER, 5H, 3BB, 8K

2B: West Carroll: 2 (J. Kasbohm, Miller)

Morrison: 2 (Smith, Sumption)

May 23

West Carroll-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-2-6-2

Milledgeville/Polo-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-5-2

WP: J. Kasbohm (16-4) 12IP, 0R, 5H, 0BB, 10K

LP: Engelkens (25-3) 12IP, 2R, 6H, 0BB, 12K

2B: West Carroll: 1 (Miller)

1A Softball Regional (AFC)

Eastland-0-0-1-2-0-0-2-5-8-1

Kirkland-Hiawatha-0-1-0-0-3-0-0-4-5-5

WP: Harris 7IP, 4R, 5H, 6BB, 12K

LP: Luepkes 7IP, 5R, 8H, 7K

2B: Eastland: 1 (Landherr)

3B: Eastland: 1 (Myers)

May 23

Shabbona (Indian Creek) 4 Eastland 1

1A Softball Regional (East Dubuque)

Pearl City-0-0-0-0-1-0-3-4-7-1

East Dubuque-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-1-4-1

WP: Lawler 7IP, 1R, 4H, 1BB, 7K

LP: Belken &IP, 4R, 7H, 7BB, 11K

May 23

Pearl City-0-1-0-0-0-0-2-3-7-2

River Ridge/Scales Mound-1-0-2-3-0-0-X-6-7-1

WP: Steffes

LP: Lawler

2B: Pearl City: 1 (Lawler)

RR/SM: 1 (Korte)

3B: RR/SM: 1 (Lapp)

HR: Pearl City: 1 (Lawler)

RR/SM: 2 (DeCoster, Korte)

2A Baseball Regional (West Carroll)

May 21

Forreston-1-0-1-0-2-1-0-5-5-0

West Carroll-0-0-0-0-0-3-3-6-11-2

WP: Ingersoll (5-3) 2IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, 4K

LP: Schneiderman

2B: West Carroll: 1 (J. Ferguson)

May 23

Milledgeville/Polo-0-0-0-0-1-0-0-1-5-2

West Carroll-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-5-0

WP: Engelkens

LP: Ingersoll (5-4) 6IP, 1R, 5H, 2BB, 8K

1A Baseball Sectional (at Le-Win)

May 27

1-Hinckley-Big Rock vs Eastland-4:30pm

2-Le-Win vs Alden-Hebron-7pm

May 30

Game #1 winner vs game #2 winner-12 noon

2A Baseball Sectional (at Mendota)

May 27

1-Mendota vs Morrison-4:30pm

May 28

2-Milledgeville/Polo vs Byron-4:30pm

May 30

Game #1 winner vs game #2 winner-10am

1A Softball Sectional (at Eastland)

May 27

1-Dakota vs Scales Mound-4:30pm

2-Somanauk vs Shabbona (Indian Creek)-4:30pm

May 30

Game #1 winner vs game #2 winner-11am

2A Softball Sectional (at Byron)

May 27

1-Stillman Valley vs Oregon-4:30pm

May 28

2-Harvard vs West Carroll-4:30pm

May 30

Game #1 winner vs game #2 winner-11am

1A Baseball Super Sectional (at Lisle)

June 1

Gardner-South Wilmington sectional winner vs Le-Win sectional winner-TBA

2A Baseball Super Sectional (at Rock Island)

June 1

Illinois Valley Central sectional winner vs Mendota sectional winner-TBA

1A Softball Super Sectional (at Dakota)

June 1

Eastland sectional winner vs Orion sectional winner-4:30pm

2A Softball Super Sectional (at Rock Island)

June 1

Byron sectional winner vs Monmouth Roseville sectional winner-4:30pm

Hunters Bag 15,488 Birds During 2009 Illinois Spring Wild Turkey Season

SPRINGFIELD ­ Hunters in Illinois bagged a preliminary statewide total of 15,488 wild turkeys during the 2009 Spring Turkey Season, a slight decrease from last year's spring turkey harvest of 15,792.

The 2009 total is higher than the 2007 statewide turkey harvest of 14,766. Hunters took a state-record 16,605 turkeys during the spring season in 2006.

Hunters this spring took a preliminary total of 6,353 wild turkeys during all seasons in the South Zone, an increase from the harvest of 6,287 last year in the south.The North Zone total of 9,135 wild turkeys was down compared with last year's total of 9,505. The 2006 record harvests were 6,530 in the south and 10,075 in the north. The results include harvest during the Youth Turkey Seasons.

"Given the poor turkey reproduction during the past few years, and wet weather through much of the spring, our turkey harvest totals are as expected," said Paul Shelton, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Forest Wildlife Program Manager. "Our statewide total of 15,488 compares pretty well with the average of 15,625 for the previous five years."

The top five counties for turkey harvest in the South Zone this spring were Jefferson (363), Randolph (352), Pope (332), Marion (329), and Wayne (325).The top five counties for spring turkey harvest in the North Zone this year were JoDaviess (612), Pike (549), Adams (421), Fulton (417), and Macoupin (351).

The table below includes the preliminary 2009 county-by-county spring turkey harvest results and comparable totals for 2008.

Carroll 208, 240

JoDaviess 568, 612

Lee 89, 95

Ogle 149, 173

Stephenson 174, 194

Whiteside 160, 177

Hunters Wingshooting Clinic

SPRINGFIELD ­ The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Briar Knoll Hunting and Fishing Club are sponsoring a wingshooting clinic for hunters on Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7.

Wingshooting skills are those abilities hunters develop over time and with practice to use a shotgun to consistently hit a moving target.Hunters use these skills when shooting clay targets and when harvesting game while hunting.

The wingshooting clinic will be held on the Briar Knoll Club's sporting clays course modified to ensure that the clay target presentations represent hunting situations typically encountered by hunters.

Hunters ages 16 years and older who are interested in improving their wingshooting skills are encouraged to attend.The clinic will run from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.Two four-hour shooting sessions (morning session and afternoon session) are available to participants each day.Each session is limited to 20 participants.The clinic will be taught by National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) and IDNR certified wingshooting instructors.The cost of the clinic is $30 per person, which covers the cost of clay targets and refreshments.

Advanced registration is required.To make a reservation, call the IDNR between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday at 217/785-8129 (first come first serve and space is limited).

Survey Indicates 400,000 High School Cheerleaders

INDIANAPOLIS - Almost 400,000 individuals are participating in high school cheerleading, according to a new survey conducted this spring by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

This first-of-its-kind, comprehensive survey of the NFHS member state high school associations measured participation in cheerleading at the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels. With 18,922 high schools in the 51 member associations, the new figure of 394,694 translates to an average of 21 cheerleaders per school.

The only national participation figure for high school cheerleading in the past has been one for those boys and girls involved in competitive spirit squads. The 2007-08 High School Athletics Participation Survey conducted by the NFHS indicated a total of 113,980 boys and girls involved in competitive cheer.

The new survey not only includes those individuals in competitive cheer, but also everyone involved in sideline cheerleading at the high school level throughout the United States.

"This figure of almost 400,000 provides a more accurate portrayal of student participation in cheerleading," said Robert F. Kanaby, executive director of the NFHS. "This adjustment is particularly noteworthy in relation to reports on cheerleading injuries. The NFHS will begin tracking the incidence of such injuries through our partnership with Dr. Dawn Comstock at Ohio State University."

House Bill Increases IHSA Performance-enhancing Drug Testing Program

Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Executive Director Marty Hickman recently testified before the House and Senate Educational Committees in Springfield on House Bill 272 (HB0272).

House Bill 272, which was filed by 63rd District Representative Jack D. Franks on January 21, calls for an increase in performance-enhancing drug testing by the IHSA, while also providing state funding to help accommodate the additional tests.

"We appreciate the efforts of Representative Jack Franks to provide funding to help enhance the IHSA's Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Program," said Hickman. "We believe that the results from our first year of testing have proven that the program is a successful deterrent and that House Bill 272 will help further reduce performance-enhancing drug use among high school students in the state."

The IHSA is one of three state high school associations in the country with a performance-enhancing drug testing program, as the Association is currently in the midst of its first full school year of testing. The IHSA's 2008-09 testing program will test just under 700 student-athletes at the State Series level (Regional, Sectional, Super-Sectional, State Final, football playoffs) in every IHSA sport.

House Bill 272 calls for at least 1,000 student-athletes to be tested each school year and will allow random testing to occur at any time during the school year. The Bill will also require representation from at least 25 percent of IHSA member schools in the annual testing pool. The IHSA expects that it will come to close to the 25 percent benchmark during the 2008-09 school year.

The Bill would provide funding for the IHSA Performance-Enhancing Drug Testing Program directly from fines imposed on individuals convicted of drug possession and delivery crimes.

Hickman added, "The additional funding will allow us to expand the sheer number of drug tests that are conducted each school year, while also helping us to develop an educational component on performance-enhancing drugs for coaches throughout Illinois."

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