The 2010 Morrison Fillies pose with their medals and third place trophy after defeating Alton Marquette 3-2 on Saturday. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Morrison’s Kelly Winkler displays her Fillie colored locks for all the faithful Morrison fans during the Class 2A state finals in East Peoria over the weekend. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

The victorious Morrison Fillies take their third place trophy after winning the third place game at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria on Saturday afternoon. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

 

The Fillies Kaitlyn Finneran slides safely into second base ahead of the throw to Alton Marquette shortstop Mia Stack. Kaitlyn scored on a base hit by Billie Jean Conner. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Johnston City Lady Indian Samantha Watkins (11) slides safely into second base ahead of the tag by Morrison shortstop Kaitlyn Finneran’s tag in the bottom of the fourth inning. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

A group of Morrison faithful pose for a picture before the start of the third place game on Saturday at the EastSide Centre. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Morrison right fielder Ashley Vegter is thrown out at the plate as Alton Marquette’s Alexis Silkwood shows the ball to the home plate umpire during the Morrison half of inning four. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

A proud Morrison fan wears the t shirt proclaiming the third times a charm for the Morrison Fillies at the Class 2A state tourney in East Peoria. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Morrison Fillie pitcher Christie Wiersema delivers a pitch during tourney action in East Peoria at the Class 2A state finals. Christie picked up the win in Morrison’s third place win over the Explorers from Alton Marquette. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

Morrison Fillies in IHSA 2A Final Four

Fillies Fall To Lady Indians In Semi Finals

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

Morrison fell behind in the bottom of the first inning on Cierra Hutchinson’s long home run to left field off Morrison starting pitcher Danielle Stralow and held on for the 3-2 victory at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria on Friday.

Johnston City would add another run in their half of the second to take a 2-0 lead on a walk, a bunt single and an error by third baseman Marie Deter. Both teams put zeros on the scoreboard in the third inning.

The Fillies finally broke through plating a runner in the top of the fourth inning to cut the deficit in half. Stralow doubled to right centerfield leading off the inning and Morrison head coach Tammy Deter put Kaitlyn Wiebenga in to pinch run. Fillie catcher Allie Hanson then followed with a double to score Wiebenga.

The Lady Indians added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning as an error led to another unearned run crossing the plate. Hutchinson lofted a fly ball to right fielder Ashley Vegter who dropped the ball. A wild pitch by Stralow sent Hutchinson to third base and she then scored on a Carley Bunting base hit to make the score 3-1 Johnston City.

The Fillies quickly responded, getting that run right back in the top of the sixth, scoring once on three hits. Leadoff hitter Danielle Stralow struck out swinging and catcher Hanson grounded out to second baseman Allison Smiley. Vegter then singled and second baseman Morgan Ammon followed with a base hit. Pinch hitter Billie Jean Connor singled to left field scoring Ammon to make it 3-2 Lady Indians.

Johnston City pitcher Kaley Coonce then retired the Fillies in order in the seventh inning to end the game and send Morrison to Saturdays third place contest against the Alton Marquette Explorers.

Morrison-0-0-0-1-0-1-0-2-8-4

Johnston City-1-1-0-0-1-0-X-3-4-1

WP: Kaley Coonce (31-2) - 7IP, 8H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 5K

LP: Danielle Stralow (13-5) - 5IP, 4H, 3R, 1ER, 2BB, 7K

WP: Morrison: Stralow 2

E: Morrison: Deter 2, Hanson, Vegter

2B: Morrison: Hanson, Stralow, Sumption

HR: Johnston City: Hutchinson

LOB: Morrison: 8; Johnston City: 6

DP: Morrison: 1

SB: Morrison: Hanson; Johnston City: Bunting, Watkins

Morrison Takes Third Place Trophy

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

A big fourth inning propelled the Fillies to the 3-2 victory over the Alton Marquette Explorers on Saturday in East Peoria and the third place trophy in the Class 2A State Final tournament.

Timely hitting by Morrison coupled with brilliant pitching performances by Christie Wiersema and Danielle Stralow led the Fillies to the win.

The Explorers struck first, putting a run on the board in the top of the opening frame as Marquette’s Alexis Silkwood singled to left center field, stole second base and scored as second baseman Kate Dunn smacked a base hit up the middle.

Morrison responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning as pitcher Christie Wiersema rapped a double to left center and scored on shortstop Kaitlyn Finneran’s base hit.

The Explorers grabbed the lead back in the top of the third inning as Marquette shortstop Mia Stack blasted a home run to give the Explorers a 2-1 advantage.

Morrison came back to take the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth putting two more runs on the board. Kaitlyn Finneran drew a leadoff base on balls, Allie Hanson and Ashley Vegter singled to load the bases and designated player Billie Jean Conner came through with a huge base hit scoring Finneran and Hanson with Vegter thrown out at the plate on a close play.

Morrison then shut the door on the Explorers season as Wiersema and Stralow allowed just two base hit the rest of the way to seal the victory and third place for Morrison.

Alton Marquette-1-0-1-0-0-0-0-2-7-0

Morrison-1-0-0-2-0-0-X-3-6-0

WP: Christie Wiersema (13-8) - 5IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 10K

S: Danielle Stralow - 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K

LP: Alexis Silkwood (28-6) - 6IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 7K

HBP: by Wiersema (Beile); by Silkwood (Wiersema)

2B: Alton Marquette: Shipley, Silkwood

HR: Alton Marquette: Stack

LOB: Alton Marquette: 9; Morrison: 4

SB: Alton Marquette: Silkwood, Stack, Youngblood; Morrison: Finneran

Northwest Upstate Illini Conference All Conference Teams 2010

West Division

Eastland: Marissa Harris, Pitcher 1st Team (U); Taylor Ruter, Catcher 1st team (U); Megan Bunyer, Outfield 1st Team; Bricelynn Myers, Pitcher/IF 2nd Team; Karoline Kniss, Outfield 2nd Team; Ashley Larak, Outfield Honorable Mention

Pearl City: Gwendolyn Scott, Pitcher/1B/OF 2nd Team; Bethanie Litow, Catcher Honorable Mention

West Carroll: Chelsey Sipe, SS/OF 1st Team (U); Sophi Morhardt, OF/IF 2nd Team; Kim Durward, Pitcher 2nd Team; Katy Cook, CF 2nd team; Tygan Cole, 1B/Catcher Honorable Mention

Scales Mound/River Ridge: Carlene DeCoster, OF 1st team (U); Nicole Winter, SS 1st Team (U); Whitney Kieffer, Catcher 1st Team; Darcy Steffes, Pitcher 2nd Team; Ashley Brant, OF Honorable Mention

East Dubuque: Samantha Fluhr, IF 1st Team (U); Abbie Leibold 2nd Team; Amanda Larson, IF Honorable Mention

Galena: Lindsey Decker, OF 2nd Team; Amanda Heitkamp, IF 2nd Team; Shelby Hoppman, OF Honorable Mention

Le-Win: Sam Riedel, 2nd Base 1st Team (U); Katie Keeffer, Catcher 1st team (U); Kayla Gobeli, Pitcher 1st Team (U); Becca Diffenderfer, 3rd Base Honorable Mention

Stockton: Jessie Brunner, Catcher 1st Team (U); Katelyn Gille, IF/ Pitcher 2nd Team; Morgan Werkheiser, Pitcher 2nd Team; Keeley Schulz, SS Honorable Mention

Player of the Year: Marissa Harris, Eastland

East Division

Milledgeville/Polo: Keali Engelkens, Pitcher 1st team (U); Katelyn Grobe, 1st team (U); Emily Bush, 1st Team (U); Andrea Herin, 2nd Team; Taylor Kent, 2nd Team; Brianna Herin, 2nd team

Forreston: Alyssa Edler, Pitcher/3rd Base 1st Team (U); Holly Kortemeier, SS 2nd Team; Renita Krusey, 1st Base 2nd Team; Ketarah DeVries, 3rd base/Pitcher 2nd Team; Karissa Ludwig, OF 1st Team (U)

AFC: Logan Burnette, Pitcher 2nd Team; Audra Lundquist, SS/1st Base/Pitcher 1st Team

Dakota: Kasie Kolthoff, 1st Team; Brianna Boals, 1st Team; Abby Bowers, 1st Team; Samantha Derr, 2nd Team; Jackie Hagemann, 2nd Team

Durand/Pecatonica: Morgan Hardy, 2nd Team

Orangeville: Katie Boals, Pitcher/SS 1st Team (U); Carley Rote, Pitcher/SS/3rd Base 1st Team (U); Hannah Wilson, 3rd Base/Pitcher 2nd Team; Haley Obert, Catcher 2nd Team

South Beloit: Abigail Stevens, Catcher 1st Team (U)

Player of the Year: Keali Engelkens, Milledgeville/Polo

Eastland Cougar Tony Dunlap autographs a t shirt for one of the Cougar Camp attendees after the competition on Friday at Eastland High School. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

NUIC North Girls Win All-Star Classic

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

The North girls took the win in the Jim Shaw All-Star basketball game in Lanark. The North squad won by a score of 53-29. The North team was led in scoring by River Ridge/Scales Mounds Brooke Wheelwright who had 13 points for the evening. The South squad was led by Forreston’s Renita Krusey, Morrison’s Shelby McBride and West Carroll’s Kara Durward who all scored six points. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

The Northwest Upstate Illini Conference North girls basketball team dominated the scoring on Monday night June 1st at the Eastland high school gym to win the Jim Shaw All-Star basketball Classic 53-29.

The North squad jumped out to an early lead and built on their lead to keep it from being a close game throughout. The North team led by Stockton coach Denny Young outscored and out hustled the South squad from the opening tip off to build a huge lead early and keep the pressure on the South squad, coached by Eastland Cougar head coach Colleen Henze, to take the easy victory.

Brooke Wheelwright led the North team scoring thirteen points and Stockton’s Haley Magee tossed in twelve points, also being name MVP of the game while Pearl City’s Gwen Scott added eleven points for the victorious North squad. For the South team, Renita Krusey, Morrison’s Shelby McBride and West Carroll’s Kara Durward all scored six points.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Boys Team Victorious In Classic Battle

By Craig Lang

Prairie Advocate Sports

The South squad took the honors in the boys game of the Jim Shaw All-Star Classic held June 1st at EHS in Lanark. The South defeated the North by a score of 87-76 with Morrison’s Travis McBride taking scoring honors with 20 points and he also was named MVP. The North team was led by East Dubuque’s Chance Oster, who scored fifteen points. (PA photo/Craig Lang)

In a game that was close from start to finish, The NUIC South boys team pulled out the 87-76 win Monday night in Lanark. It was one last chance for the best seniors in the area to showcase their skills before a cheering crowd at the Eastland high school gym.

Both teams played with intensity and pride wanting to show one last time what they could do. The South squad was led by West Carroll head coach Josh Knuth while the North team was led by Scales Mound’s Erik Kudroniwicz.

The South team opened up their biggest lead of the game and pulled away from the North with about four minutes to go in the contest. The South squad was led by Morrison’s Travis McBride who scored twenty points and was named Most Valuable Player of the game.

Eastland Cougar Tony Dunlap added seventeen points. The North team was led by East Dubuque Warrioe Chance Oster’s fifteen points while Le-Win Panther Fritz Werhane added thirteen points.

 

 

 

 

 

Midwest League Schedule

Wed. June 9

Bowling Green at Wisconsin

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

Thurs. June 10

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

Fri. June 11

Lansing at Burlington

South Bend at Cedar Rapids

Bowling Green at Beloit

Fort Wayne at Clinton

Lake County at Kane County

Great Lakes at Peoria

West Michigan at Quad Cities

Dayton at Wisconsin

Sat. June 12

Lake County at Kane County

West Michigan at Quad Cities

Lansing at Burlington

Great Lakes at Peoria

Dayton at Wisconsin

South Bend at Cedar Rapids

Bowling Green at Beloit

Fort Wayne at Clinton

Sun. June 13

Lake County at Kane County

Great Lakes at Peoria

Dayton at Wisconsin

Fort Wayne at Clinton

Lansing at Burlington

South Bend at Cedar Rapids

Bowling Green at Beloit

West Michigan at Quad Cities

Mon. June 14

Peoria at Burlington

Tues. June 15

Lake County at West Michigan

Bowling Green at Lansing

Dayton at Fort Wayne

South bend at Great Lakes

Peoria at Burlington

Beloit at Cedar Rapids

Kane County at Quad Cities

Wisconsin at Clinton

MLB Schedule

Wed. June 9

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

Thurs. June 10

San Francisco at Cincinnati

San Diego at NY Mets

Detroit at Chicago White Sox

Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee

Houston at Colorado

LA Angels at Oakland

Atlanta at Arizona

NY Yankees at Baltimore

Boston at Cleveland

Pittsburgh at Washington

Florida at Philadelphia

Toronto at Tampa Bay

Seattle at Texas

Kansas City at Minnesota

Fri. June 11

Washington at Cleveland

Houston at NY Yankees

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

NY Mets at Baltimore

Pittsburgh at Detroit

Philadelphia at Boston

Kansas City at Cincinnati

Florida at Tampa Bay

Texas at Milwaukee

Atlanta at Minnesota

Toronto at Colorado

St. Louis at Arizona

Seattle at San Diego

LA Angels at LA Dodgers

Oakland at San Francisco

Sat. June 12

Philadelphia at Boston

Washington at Cleveland

Houston at NY Yankees

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

NY Mets at Baltimore

Pittsburgh at Detroit

Oakland at San Francisco

Texas at Milwaukee

Atlanta at Minnesota

Kansas City at Cincinnati

Florida at Tampa Bay

Toronto at Colorado

St. Louis at Arizona

Seattle at San Diego

LA Angels at LA Dodgers

Sun. June 13

Washington at Cleveland

Pittsburgh at Detroit

Houston at NY Yankees

Kansas City at Cincinnati

NY Mets at Baltimore

Philadelphia at Boston

Florida at Tampa Bay

Texas at Milwaukee

Toronto at Colorado

Seattle at San Diego

Oakland at San Francisco

LA Angels at LA Dodgers

St. Louis at Arizona

Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

Mon. June 14

Seattle at St. Louis

Milwaukee at LA Angels

Toronto at San Diego

Baltimore at San Francisco

Tues June 15

NY Mets at Cleveland

Houston at Kansas City

Philadelphia at NY Yankees

Washington at Detroit

Chicago White Sox at Pittsburgh

Arizona at Boston

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

LA Dodgers at Cincinnati

Texas at Florida

Oakland at Chicago Cubs

Colorado at Minnesota

Seattle at St. Louis

Milwaukee at LA Angels

Toronto at San Diego

Baltimore at San Francisco