Tri-County Conference releases softball all-conference teams
The Times area is well represented on this year’s Tri-County All-Conference softball teams, with eight locals making up the nine-member first team.
League champion Seneca had Maggie Carpenter, Sam Vandevelde, Maddy Klicker, and Zoe Hougas voted to the top squad, while Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell’s Audrey Jenkins and Ella Sibert, Marquette Academy’s Kaylee Killelea and Eva McCallum, and Henry’s Erin Hufnagel also made the first team
The second-team honorees are Sydnee Plesko (WFC), Shae Simons (WFC), Hope Self (Henry), Maddie Mino (Seneca), Keally Braman (Lowpoint-Washburn), Tori Balma (Putnam County), Maggie Richetta (Putnam County), Izz Garkey (Marquette) and Lindsey Kaufmann (Marquette). The honorable mention list includes Paige Cottingim (Marquette), Abby Cheney (Henry), Kara Staley (Putnam County), Sam Schupp (Midland), and Kristen Laroe (Midland).
Four Times-area hoops seniors have been selected to play in the IBCA All-Star games on June 26
Ottawa’s Anthony Cooper, La Salle-Peru’s Drake Weber, Fieldcrest’s Jaxon Cusac-McKay, and Seneca’s Brooklyn Giertz have all been selected to play in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s All-Star games on June 26 at Pontiac Community High School.
Cooper and Weber will play for the Class 3A-4A South squad, Cusac-McKay will be on the Class 1A-2A North team, and Giertz will be a member of the Class 1A-2A North club. Other names local fans will recognize that are scheduled to play are Drew Gaston (Indian Creek), Brandon Ceylor (Dwight), Luke Braman (Roanoke-Benson), Daniel Duncan (Peoria Christian), Brooke Heiman (Indian Creek), Kayla Kodat (Dwight), Mallory Powers (Amboy), Abi Payne (Amboy), and Tessa Prellberg (Hinckley-Big Rock).
The 1A-2A girls will start the day tipping off at 11 a.m., followed by the 1A-2A boys at 1 p.m., 3A-4A girls at 4 p.m., and 3A-4A boys at 6 p.m. Admission to the event is $5.
IBCA announces Coaches of the Year awards
The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association recently released its 2021 Coaches of the Year awards, with a number of Times-area skippers being recognized.
Ottawa’s Mark Cooper (Class 3A, District 12), Streator’s Beau Doty (Class 2A, 12), Fieldcrest’s Matt Winkler (Class 2A, 12), and Somonauk’s Curt Alsvig (Class 1A, 5) all grabbed honors on the boys side, while Serena’s Jim Jobst (Class 1A, 12) and Seneca’s Ted O’Boyle were selected on the girls side. On the Illinois Elementary School Association level, Flanagan’s Josh Rich (Boys 8A) and Woodland’s Kevin Derossett (Girls 8AA) earned honors.
Streator Junior League
Dairy Queen 13, Danchris Nursery 12: Colin Heider drove home Isaiah Missel with a walk-off single as Dairy Queen scored a dramatic come-from-behind victory. Luke Bemont led the DQ offense with a single, a double, an RBI, and two runs scored, while also earning the pitching victory in relief. Quentin Porter led Danchris at the plate with a double, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Danchris Nursery 9, Dairy Queen 8: Aiden Ferris went 3-for-3 at the plate and nearly pitched a complete game as Danchris Nursery staved off a late rally from Dairy Queen. Ferris struck out nine and walked two in the win. Jordan Lukes earned the save by recording the final out with the winning run in scoring position. Quentin Porter also doubled in the win for Danchris. Parker Kendall and Aiden Preidis each had two RBIs.
Ottawa Rec Softball
Monday Night Women
Danchris Nursery 12, Pineapple Escape 1: Megan Valvo had a double and homer for Danchris (1-0), while Van Ness, Stalker, and Mussatto each had two hits. Rachel DiRosa was the winning pitcher. M. Staton and R. Patrick each had a pair of hits for Escape (0-1), while K. Kimes added a hit and scored the lone run.
Silver Slipper 24, Deer Park 9: M. Kueteman and S. Norris each had four hits for Silver Slipper (1-0), while M. Taliani added three hits. Burks, Wren, Ahrens, Hansen, and Seally all had two hits apiece with L. Hansen earning the pitching win. B. Bongartz, R. Bongartz, A. Eisert and K. Doermann each recorded three hits for Deer Park (0-1).
Tuesday Night Men
Manley/Dan Le Music Service 8, LHL Angels 1: Mathis had three hits, Harsted and Miller two hits each, Wheeler a double, and J. Frye pitched the win for Manley/Dan Le (1-0). S. Smith had two hits, while Linn, Siebert, Morris, and Boren added a base knock for LHL Angelshit (0-1).
Berta’s 13, Hometown National Bank 12: Winning pitcher Less hit a two-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh for Berta’s (1-0), with Foreman and Kent each collecting three hits.
Illinois Office Supply 6, Tony’s Butt Shack 5: Killelea had three hits for IOS (1-0), while Feller and Koster each had two hits, and Hettel a triple. Tedford was the winning pitcher. Durdan had three hits to lead Tony’s (0-1).
The Outage 23, PetSmart 1: Gould and Allegrehl each hit two homers each, Morgan went 4 for 4, and McCormick pitched the win for The Outage (1-0). Siebert had a double, while Bland, Burden, and Fletcher each had a hit for Petsmart (0-1).