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SPORTS

By Craig Lang, Prairie Advocate Sports

Carroll County Long Spurs ‘Fab 5’ Win Grand Nationals

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The Carroll County Long Spurs Fab 5 with their Grand American World Championship Awards. (L to R) Ty Harmston, Dale Gerlich, Hunter Binns, Jeff Casey and Drew Strohecker.

Five Members of the Pheasants Forever Carroll County Long Spurs Trapshooting Team traveled and competed at the AIM Grand Championships held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, IL, in conjunction with the Grand American World Championships on August 6 & 7. This is the largest shooting competition in the Nation with this years’ competition including over 1,028 competitors of all ages battling out for top honors.

There were 5 Age Divisions: Pre-Sub, Sub-Junior, Junior, Graduate and Collegiate, with a total of 161 Teams competing. Each Individual shot 200 targets for a total of 1000 targets per Team.

The Carroll County Long Spurs a/k/a “Fab 5” competed in the Sub-Junior Division against 60 Teams to win the Championship with a total score of 978. Not only did the “Fab 5” win their Age Division, they were the overall top scoring Team of all Age Divisions, beating out the Collegiate Team by 2.

The Carroll County Long Spurs “Fab 5” Team consisted of Dale Gerlich of Elizabeth (199 targets), Drew Strohecker of Pearl City (196 targets), Hunter Binns of Stockton (195 targets), Jeff Casey of Thomson (195 targets), and Ty Harmston of Stockton (193 targets). Dale Gerlich won top honors for his 199 in the Sub-Junior Division Class A, and Jeff Casey placed Third for the Sub-Junior Division Class B.

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The 2011 Milledgeville Lady Missiles Varsity Volleyball team: Back Row, l-r, #1 Jolee Parks, #7 Brooke Kappes and #2 Brandie Gelwicks. Front Row, l-r, #28 Kristen Geary, #32 Jacey Scribner, #27 Emily Bush, #4 Abbie Hayen, #5 Samm DeGraff, #16 Beckie Whitmarsh, #6 Kelsey Hayen, #30 Bridgette Prince, #21 Haley McAuliffe. (PA Photo/Craig Lang)

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The 2011 Milledgeville Missiles Varsity Football team, Front Row, l-r, #71 Bryce Palmer, #88 Matt Bonczyk, #45 Devin Biller, #22 Daniel Walker and #11 Kameron DawTyne. Back Row, l-r, #60 Ben Robertson, #83 Andrew Wiersema, #75 Eric Gibbs, #64 Kyle Imel, #70 Nick Nelson and #32 Guy Morgan. (PA Photo/Craig Lang)

SPORTS . . .

High School Football Preview

Forreston Cardinals Preseason Outlook

Forreston head football coach Denny Diduch begins his fourth season leading the Cardinals. The Cardinals will begin the 2011 campaign in the newly realigned NUIC Northwest Division with competition coming from the likes of EPC, Le-Win and Dakota among the frontrunners.

In 2010, Forreston finished with a 6-4 record, losing 40-20 in the first round of the IHSA Class 1A playoffs to the eventual state champion Le-Win Panthers. Diduch and the Cardinals look to get back to that point and go even further this season with returning players such as senior all-conference running back/linebacker Adam Akins, all-conference senior lineman Tanner Bronkema, senior lineman Cole Strehlow, senior tight end/ offensive lineman Kenyon Janicke, senior running back/defensive back Chris Sander along with running back/defensive back Felix Romero, running back Hunter Hake and lineman Tory Smice.

Diduch cites key newcomers such as running back/linebacker Bryan Kraft, running back/linebacker Andrew Brown, lineman Chris Eytalis, lineman Nick Perez, QB/defensive back Brett Carlson, defensive and offensive back Tylor Henneman and lineman Jacob Adams as big parts of the continued Cardinals success.

When asked what he feels are Forreston strength’s this season, Diduch replied, “We will be big in the line. At the same time our conditioning level is excellent. Our skill players have a lot of experience and our senior class has the potential to be great leaders.” And, where do the Cardinals need to improve? “We need to focus on the next play,” coach Diduch continued, “We are ready right now for the challenge before us and the only thing we can control is the present.”

When asked what his expectations are for Forreston this season, he replied, “We want to finish each game without any would of, could of, should of’s. We want to attack from the opening kickoff and leave the field totally exhausted from our effort.” And the keys to achieving those goals? “We need to think clearly under pressure, know our assignment and execute it as intensely as possible, then, do it again!”

Stockton Blackhawk Preseason Outlook

Chris Thornton begins his sixth season at the helm of the Stockton Blackhawks in 2011. Stockton finished the 2010 season in sixth place with a 3-6 record in the NUIC Upstate Division. The Blackhawks look to improve on last season’s record with returning players, 5’8” 175 lb. QB/DB Jack Miller, 6’1” 240 lb. RB/LB Jared Hess, 6’1” 160 lb. WR/DB Cole Schamberger, 5’10” 175 lb. RB/LB Trey Ernst, 5’11” OL/LB Logan Staver and 5’11” 200 lb. OL/DL Steve Hawley.

Top newcomers include 5’6” 155 lb. RB/LB TJ Knutson, 5’9” 155 lb. TE/DB Trent Schubert, 6’ 205 lb lineman Jacob Brunner along with fellow linemen 5’10” 230 lb. Jacob Weltzen and 6’4” 190 lb. Ty Harmston.

When asked what the Blackhawks strength’s will be this coming season, Coach Thornton replied, “We return a great deal of our roster from last year. They have all had a nice off season with every one of them improving. A small but talented senior class will be reinforced by a junior class with great potential. Depth in the skill positions will help a great deal.” As far as weaknesses go, Thornton continued, “Depth on both the offensive and defensive line is a concern, an injury up front will be hard to handle.” The keys to success this year for Stockton? “We need to get more consistent on offense than we have been the last couple of seasons,” Thornton replied, “We need to limit our number of three and outs and control the time of possession. On defense, we need to be more successful on third downs. We have been doing a pretty good job the last few years on first and second down only to let teams have success on third down.”

Coach Thornton thinks that East Dubuque and Freeport Aquin will be a couple of the top teams in the NUIC Upstate. As for his expectations this year for the Blackhawks? “Our expectations are to return to the playoffs and be near the top of the conference.” Sounds like a pretty good plan and as the season progresses we’ll see if Stockton can deliver.

NUIC Northwest Varsity Football Schedule

Aug. 26

West Carroll vs. EPC at Pearl City

Forreston at Galena

Polo at Milledgeville

South Beloit at Dakota

Pecatonica at Le-Win

Sept. 2

EPC at Pecatonica

AFC at West Carroll

Galena at Polo

Dakota at Forreston

Le-Win at South Beloit

Sept. 9

Polo vs. EPC at Pearl City

West Carroll at Pecatonica

South Beloit at Forreston

Dakota at Freeport Aquin

Le-Win at Galena

Sept. 16

Galena vs. EPC at Lanark

West Carroll at Le-Win

Polo at Dakota

Forreston at Orangeville

Pecatonica at South Beloit

Sept. 23

EPC at Le-Win

South Beloit at West Carroll

Forreston at Polo

Dakota at Galena

Durand at Pecatonica

Sept. 30

EPC at East Dubuque

Dakota at West Carroll

Polo at Pecatonica

Le-Win at Forreston

Galena at South Beloit

Oct. 7

South Beloit vs. EPC at Lanark

Pecatonica at Dakota

Warren at Galena

Le-Win at Polo

Oct. 8

West Carroll at Forreston

Oct. 14

Dakota vs. EPC at Lanark

Galena at West Carroll

Polo at South Beloit

Forreston at Pecatonica

Stockton at Le-Win

Oct. 21

EPC at Forreton

West Carroll at Polo

Le-Win at Dakota

Pecatonica at Galena

South Beloit at River Ridge

Traveling Baseball Team Tryout

Try out for an 11U traveling baseball team! The Midwest Mudcats (formerly the River Bend Baserunners) will be having tryouts for a competitive traveling team on Sunday, August 21st from 1-2 p.m. at Pleasure Park in Fulton, Illinois (located by the water tower). 11U means that you must be 11 years old or younger by April 30, 2011. For more information contact Vinny Popkin at , Lynn Schipper at or Troy VanZuiden at .

Midwest League Schedule

(All times CST)

Wed. Aug. 17

Lake County at South Bend - 5:30 pm

Great Lakes at Dayton - 6 pm

West Michigan at Fort Wayne - 6:05 pm

Beloit at Kane County - 6:30 pm

Cedar Rapids at Burlington - 6:30 pm

Quad Cities at Clinton - 6:30 pm

Lansing at Bowling Green - 6:35 pm

Wisconsin at Peoria - 7 pm

Thurs. Aug. 18

Lake County at South Bend - 5:30 pm

Great Lakes at Dayton - 6 pm

West Michigan at Fort Wayne - 6:05 pm

Beloit at Kane County - 6:30 pm

Cedar Rapids at Burlington - 6:30 pm

Quad Cities at Clinton - 6:30 pm

Lansing at Bowling Green - 6:35 pm

Wisconsin at Peoria - 7 pm

Fri. Aug. 19

Lake County at South Bend - 5:30 pm

Great Lakes at Dayton - 6 pm

West Michigan at Fort Wayne - 6:05 pm

Cedar Rapids at Burlington - 6:30 pm

Quad Cities at Clinton - 6:30 pm

Wisconsin at Peoria - 6:30 pm

Beloit at Kane County - 7 pm

Lansing at Bowling Green - 7:05 pm

Sat. Aug. 20

Peoria at Cedar Rapids - 5:05 pm

Fort Wayne at Lake County - 6 pm

Kane County at Clinton - 6 pm

South Bend at West Michigan - 6 pm

Bowling Green at Great Lakes - 6:05 pm

Dayton at Lansing - 6:05 pm

Wisconsin at Burlington - 6:30 pm

Beloit at Quad Cities - 7 pm

Sun. Aug. 21

South Bend at West Michigan - 12 noon

Bowling Green at Great Lakes - 1:05 pm

Dayton at Lansing - 1:05 pm

Beloit at Quad Cities - 2 pm

Kane County at Clinton - 2 pm

Wisconsin at Burlington - 2 pm

Peoria at Cedar Rapids - 2:05 pm

Fort Wayne at Lake County - 6 pm

Mon. Aug. 22

Fort Wayne at Lake County - 6 pm

South Bend at West Michigan - 6 pm

Bowling Green at Great Lakes - 6:05 pm

Dayton at Lansing - 6:05 pm

Kane County at Clinton - 6:30 pm

Wisconsin at Burlington - 6:30 pm

Peoria at Cedar Rapids - 6:35 pm

Beloit at Quad Cities - 7 pm

Tues. Aug. 23

Fort Wayne at Lake County - 6 pm

South Bend at West Michigan - 6 pm

Bowling Green at Great Lakes - 6:05 pm

Dayton at Lansing - 6:05 pm

Kane County at Clinton - 6:30 pm

Wisconsin at Burlington - 6:30 pm

Peoria at Cedar Rapids - 6:35 pm

Beloit at Quad Cities - 7 pm

Midwest League Standings

(Games through 8/14)

Mid Eastern Division

1- Dayton 33-16 - 2- Lansing 28-21 5GB 3- Fort Wayne 27-22 6GB 4- Great Lakes 27-22 6GB 5- *Bowling Green 26-23 7GB 6- West Michigan 26-23 7GB 7- South Bend 21-28 12GB 8- Lake County 19-30 14GB

Mid Western Division

1- Kane County 29-20 - 2- Quad Cities 29-20 - 3- Clinton 26-23 3GB 4- Beloit 23-26 6GB 5- Cedar Rapids 20-29 9GB 6- Peoria 20-29 9GB 7- Wisconsin 20-29 9GB 8- *Burlington 18-31 11GB

MLB Standings

(Games through 8/14)

AL East

1-Boston 73-46 - 2-New York 72-46 .5GB 3-Tampa Bay 64-55 9GB 4-Toronto 61-59 12.5GB 5-Baltimore 46-72 26.5GB

AL Central

1-Detroit 64-56 - 2- Cleveland 60-57 2.5GB 3- Chicago 60-60 4GB 4-Minnesota 52-67 11.5GB 5- Kansas City 50-71 14.5GB

AL West

Texas 69-52 - 2- Los Angeles 65-56 4GB 3- Oakland 53-67 15.5GB 4- Seattle 52-67 16GB

NL East

Philadelphia 78-41 - 2- Atlanta 70-51 9GB 3- New York 58-62 20.5GB 4- Washington 57-62 21GB 5- Florida 56-64 22.5GB

NL Central

1- Milwaukee 70-51 - 2- St. Louis 65-56 5GB 3- Cincinnati 59-62 11GB 4- Pittsburgh 56-63 13GB 5- Chicago 53-68 17GB 6- Houston 38-83 32GB

NL West

1- Arizona 68-53 - 2- San Francisco 66-55 2GB 3- Los Angeles 55-64 12GB 4- Colorado 56-66 12.5GB 5- San Diego 54-68 14.5GB

 

 

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