Eastland Cougar Austin Shellhause slides safely into third ahead of the tag by Elgin Westminster Christians third baseman after his two run scoring triple in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score EWC five and Eastland two. Elgin went on to the six to four victory ending the Cougars twenty one win season. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

EWC’s Dylan Scully slides safely into home to score the sixth run for the Warriors as Eastland pitcher Tyler Giedd comes in to cover the plate. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

The Eastland Cougars come out of their dugout following their sectional semifinal loss to Elgin Westminster Christian in Elgin on Wednesday afternoon. Despite being down 5-0 early the Cougars battled back to make an exciting game out of it eventually falling by two runs to the Warriors. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Class 1A Softball

Lady Cardinals Advance To Sectional Championship

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

Forreston’s Alex Ludwig (30) slides safely under Dakota 3rd baseman Kasie Kolthoff (26) in the top half of Wednesday’s semi-final game at the Pearl City 1A Sectional. Down 4-3, Ludwig’s triple started a 2-out rally that resulted in 2 runs and a 5-4 lead that the Cardinal’s never relinquished. Forreston advanced to Saturday’s championship game. (PA photo/Tom Kocal)

Despite being down by three runs early in their sectional semi final game against Dakota, the Forreston Lady Cardinals battled back to take the come from behind 5-4 victory. The win advances Forreston to Saturday’s championship game to face the winner of the Stockton-Somonauk game.

Dakota was aided in their early three run lead by timely hitting and a pair of Forreston miscues in the field to jump out on top 4-1 after two innings. The Forreston comeback began in the fourth inning with a lead off bunt single by Alyssa Edler and second hitter Holly Kortemeier reached first on an error. An RBI groundout by Renita Krusey scored Edler and pinch hitter Taylor Slothower had a single to score Kortemeier.

Then, with two outs in the fifth, Alex Ludwig started things off for the Ladt Cardinals with a triple to deep left field. Ketarah DeVries drove her home to knot the score at four and then scored herself after an Edler single and a Dakota error.

 

Lady Cardinals Defeat Somonauk

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

Forreston Lady Cardinal Becca Wienand sets for her throw to first after forcing the Somonauk Bulldog runner at second base during Saturdays sectional championship game in Pearl City. Forreston defeated the Bulldogs 3-1. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Saturday’s sectional Championship game between Forreston and Somonauk started as a pitching duel between the Cardinals Alyssa Edler and the Bobcats Jessica Schultz. Both pitchers held the opposing team to goose eggs on the scoreboard until Forreston broke through with a single run in the second inning.

Edler drew a base on balls, stole second and scored when third strike to Renita Krusey got away from the Somonauk catcher. Holly Kortemeier hit a two run scoring double in the sixth which sailed over the head of Bobcat right fielder Hillary Paull to give Forreston a three to nothing lead.

The Bobcats managed to score a lone run late in the game to make the final margin of victory at 3-1. Edler pitched the complete game win for Forreston, giving up just one run on five hits while walking one and striking out six Bobcat batters.

The sectional championship win advanced Forreston to Monday’s super sectional game to play Alexis United in Orion.

 

 

 

 

The Pearl City sectional champion Forreston Lady Cardinals pose with their sectional championship plaque following Saturdays 3-1 victory over the Somonauk Bobcats. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

 

Katie Bertelsen and Alexis United Super In Win Over Forreston

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

The Lady Cardinals third baseman Taylor Slothower puts the tag on an Alexis United base runner during super sectional play in Orion on Monday. The Red Storm ran themselves out of a potential big inning as Forreston completed the double play to end the inning. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

The Forreston Lady Cardinals knew they had their hands full facing one of the best pitchers in the state Monday in AU’s Bertlesen. Bertlesen didn’t disappoint as she and her Red Storm teammates eliminated Forreston 4-0 in the Orion super sectional.

Bertelsen no hit the Lady Cardinals, giving up just one seventh inning walk. She struck out the first twelve Forreston hitters she faced and fanned the side twice enroute to sixteen strikeouts in the game.

Forreston’s Alyssa Edler took the loss for Forreston giving up four runs on eight hits, walking one and fanning three Red Storm batters.

Alexis Untied put their runs on the scoreboard in four separate innings, scoring and single run in the first, a run in the fifth and solo home runs in the sixth and seventh. The Lady Cardinals concluded their best season in the programs history, finishing the season with a 25-14 record.

Class 2A Softball

Morrison Fillies Punch Their Ticket To East Peoria

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

In the 2010 IHSA 2A Sectional Championship Girls Softball Game, Morrison’s Kaitlyn Wiebenga (#8) touches home for 1 of 13 runs Saturday against the Rock Falls Lady Rockets. Head Coach Tammy Deter is in the background. The Fillies slammed Rockfalls 13-4. (PA photo/Mark Hagen)

For the third time in four years the Morrison Fillies are state tournament bound as they defeated Lisle on Monday by a score of 3-1. Morrison jumped on Lisle early as pitcher Christie Wiersema belted a long home run in the botton of the first inning to give the Fillies a one to nothing lead. Morrison would add another run to make the score two to nothing.

Lisle didn’t give up easily threatening to score in several innings but Morrison would come up big on defense to shut the door. Danielle Stralow would come in to relieve Wiersema in the sixth and Lisle manged to plate one run before Stralow struck out the last hitter for out number twenty one.

The Fillies last two state tourney appearances came in 2007 and 2008. In 2007 Morrison defeated Tri-Valley 7-1 in the quarter finals before losing in the semis to eventual state champions Beecher 2-0. They then lost in the third place game 10-3 to Rockridge. In 2008 they were defeated in eight innings by Olympia 2-1 and beat Southwestern 3-2 to take the third place trophy.

Lisle-0-0-0-0-0-0-1-1-5-2

Morrison-2-1-0-0-0-0-0-3-7-4

WP: Wiersema

S: Stralow

2B: Morrison: (Sumption, Deter)

HR: Morrison: (Wiersema)

The Morrison Fillies after claiming the Rock Falls Class 2A Sectional Championship. (PA photo/Mark Hagen)

Christie Wiersema (17) slides in safe at home as the ball sails past in the Fillies semi-final game against Stillman Valley. Morrison advanced to Saturday’s championship by beating the Cardinals 3-1. (PA photo/Mark Hagen)

Class 1A Softball State Tournament

Eastside Centre, East Peoria

June 4

Cobden vs. Alexis United-9:30 am

Serena vs. Lebanon-noon

June 5

3rd Place -9:30 am

Championship -noon

Class 2A State Tournament

Eastside Centre, East Peoria

June 4

Morrison vs. Johnston City-7 pm

June 5

3rd Place-4:30 pm

Championship-7 pm

Note: Only two teams set as of press time, two super sectional games played on late Tuesday

Class 1A Baseball

Cougars Fall To Warriors

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

Despite being down by five runs after four innings, the Eastland Cougars never gave up, battling back to put four runs on the board before falling to Elgin Westminster Christian 6-4.

Defense proved to be Eastland’s downfall early as EWC scored three of their five runs due to errors. The Cougars finally got through to Warrior pitcher Ryan Perez as Austin Shellhause knocked in Tyler Giedd and Cameron Geerts with a triple to deep left field. Shellhause then scored from third on and infield error. Giedd then put the Couras within a run with a long home run to right center field.

EWC added their sixth run in the sixth inning on a bases loaded wild pitch to make the final margin of victory for the Warriors. The Cougars bow out of this season with an exceptional record of 21 wins and only 6 losses.

West Carroll Sports Physicals

The West Carroll sports physical dates for the 2010/2011 seasons for athletes have been set as follows: Thursday, June 3rd from 2 to 4 p.m. at the West Carroll Middle School and Tuesday, July 27th from 4 to 7 p.m. at FHN Family Healthcare Center in Savanna.

This sports physical meets IHSA eligibility requirements for all sports and is good for all 6th through 12th grade athletes. However, this physical does NOT meet the requirement for a 9th grade school physical or for new out-of-state students. Physical forms will be available at the West Carroll Middle School, West Carroll High School or at the FHN Healthcare Centers. The cost of the physical is $20. You do not need to schedule an appointment. Please make checks payable to FHN. FHN donates the proceeds from the sports physicals to West Carroll.

Please note-Athletes MUST have a current physical before their first day of practice for the 2010/2011 season.

Chadwick/Milledgeville Sports Awards Night

Spring sports recognition night was held on Tuesday, May 25th. Certificates and pins were awarded to 35 athletes for girls and boys track, 21 baseball players and 32 softball players.

Track: Most Valuable Male-Kevin Glastetter; Most Valuable Female-Brittny Olson; Most Improved Male-Guy Morgan; Most Improved Female-Kayla Barnes; Team Spirit Male-Tanner Neuschwanger; Team Spirit Female-Katie Hutchison; Most Valuable Freshmen (male)-Roger VanDeburgh; Most Valuable Freshmen (female)- Kim Johnson; Peggy Dettman- Alayna Woodard

Baseball: Most Valuable Player- Connor Peters; Most Improved Player- Kurt Landis and Dennis Layman; Mr. Defense- Landyn Montross; Team Award- Dean Hollewell

Softball: Most Valuable Player- Keali Engelkens; Most Improved Player- Taylor Kent; Best Batting Average- Keali Engelkens; Most RBI- Emily Bush; Defensive Award- Tie- Andrea Herin and Katelyn Grobe; Hustle Award- Alexis DawTyne

Female Athlete of the Year: Keali Engelkens

Male Athlete of the Year: Kurt Landis

MLB Schedule

Wed. June 2

Philadelphia at Atlanta

Arizona at LA Dodgers

NY Mets at San Diego

Cleveland at Detroit

Baltimore at NY Yankees

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh

Tampa Bay at Toronto

Oakland at Boston

Milwaukee at Florida

Washington at Houston

Texas at Chicago White Sox

LA Angels at Kansas City

Cincinnati at St. Louis

Minnesota at Seattle

Colorado at San Francisco

Thurs. June 3

Cleveland at Detroit

Baltimore at NY Yankees

Oakland at Boston

Washington at Houston

LA Angels at Kansas City

Milwaukee at Florida

Texas at Chicago White Sox

Minnesota at Seattle

Atlanta at LA Dodgers

Fri. June 4

Boston at Baltimore

Cincinnati at Washington

San Diego at Philadelphia

NY Yankees at Toronto

Florida at NY Mets

Tampa Bay at Texas

Chicago Cubs at Houston

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox

Detroit at Kansas City

Milwaukee at St. Louis

Colorado at Arizona

Minnesota at Oakland

LA Angels at Seattle

Atlanta at LA Dodgers

Sat. June 5

NY Yankees at Toronto

Florida at NY Mets

Boston at Baltimore

Cincinnati at Washington

San Diego at Philadelphia

San Francisco at Pittsburgh

Cleveland at Chicago White Sox

Chicago Cubs at Houston

Detroit at Kansas City

Tampa Bay at Texas

Minnesota at Oakland

LA Angels at Seattle

Atlanta at LA Dodgers

Colorado at Arizona

Milwaukee at St. Louis

Mon. June 7

Boston at Cleveland

San Diego at Philadelphia

San Francisco at Cincinnati

Seattle at Texas

Houston at Colorado

Atlanta at Arizona

LA Angels at Oakland

St. Louis at LA Dodgers

Tues. June 8

NY Yankees at Baltimore

Boston at Cleveland

Pittsburgh at Washington

Florida at Philadelphia

San Francisco at Cincinnati

San Diego at NY Mets

Toronto at Tampa Bay

Seattle at Texas

Detroit at Chicago White Sox

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee

Kansas City at Minnesota

Houston at Colorado

Atlanta at Arizona

LA Angels at Oakland

St. Louis at LA Dodgers

Midwest League Schedule

Wed. June 2

Burlington at West Michigan

Beloit at Lake County

Kane County at Dayton

Peoria at South Bend

Cedar Rapids at Lansing

Quad Cities at Great Lakes

Wisconsin at Fort Wayne

Clinton at Bowling Green

Thurs. June 3

Beloit at Lake County

Burlington at West Michigan

Kane County at Dayton

Peoria at South Bend

Cedar Rapids at Lansing

Quad Cities at Great Lakes

Wisconsin at Fort Wayne

Clinton at Bowling Green

Fri. June 4

Burlington at South Bend

Clinton at Dayton

Peoria at West Michigan

Wisconsin at Lake County

Beloit at Fort Wayne

Cedar Rapids at Great Lakes

Quad Cities at Lansing

Kane County at Bowling Green

Sat. June 5

Burlington at South Bend

Clinton at Dayton

Peoria at West Michigan

Wisconsin at Lake County

Beloit at Fort Wayne

Cedar Rapids at Great Lakes

Quad Cities at Lansing

Kane County at Bowling Green

Sun. June 6

Peoria at West Michigan

Wisconsin at Lake County

Burlington at South Bend

Clinton at Dayton

Quad Cities at Lansing

Beloit at Fort Wayne

Cedar Rapids at Great Lakes

Kane County at Bowling Green

Tues. June 8

Fort Wayne at Kane County

Great Lakes at Burlington

West Michigan at Cedar Rapids

Dayton at Beloit

Lansing at Peoria

Lake County at Clinton

South Bend at Quad Cities

Bowling Green at Wisconsin