Local Sports Digest: Ottawa Dolphins swim to 2nd; Shepherd boys hoops wins league title

Dolphins runners-up at Snowball Invite

The Ottawa Dolphins YMCA youth swim team placed second of 17 teams at the Snowball Invitational in Springfield, scoring 1,667 team points to the champion Knox County Krocodiles’ 1970.5 and third-place Heartland Hurricanes’ 1,552.5.

Breckyn Jobst scored a first-place finish for Ottawa in the girls 8U 25 backstroke, adding a second-place swim in both the 50 backstroke and 25 butterfly while scoring the third-highest point total in her age division.

Finley Jobst (12U 200 freestyle), Anna Weitl (12U 50 breaststroke) and Bo Weitl (14U 100 backstroke) also earned second-place finishes. Dolphins swimming to thirds included Lucas Farabaugh, Elizabeth Hansen, Anna Weitl and Finley Jobst.

Ottawa’s finals qualifiers for the event included: Addisyn Budnick, Evelyn Clayton, Lillian Clayton, Lucas Farabaugh, Kailey Goetsch, Finley Jobst, Dawsynn Kettman, Lewis Kuiper, Kaiden Lemke, Gabe Marini, Paige Marks, Lily Mustered, Jonathan Neu, Griffin Sharp, Anna Weitl, Bo Weitl, Clara Weitl and Quinn Wilkinson.

On sale: Pistol Shrimp NFT

The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are selling the first NFT in team and Prospect League history.

NFT stands for nonfungible token, a type of crypto asset in the form of digital art that comes with perks for the owner. NFTs are unique and not mutually interchangeable. Each token is a one of a kind digital collectible and carries a different value. The token comes with an encrypted certificate of authenticity, including its own unique number, much like a serial number.

The Pistol Shrimp’s first drop will be only one token, making it potentially valuable. The winning bidder will receive perks with the purchase of the token, including four drinks during every 2022 home game, a reserved parking space at Veterans Park for all 30 home games and an invitation to throw the first pitch at the home opener on June 2. The winner also will get to bring a friend on the team bus with the players for a road trip to attend an away game, including food and beverages.

The first Pistol Shrimp NFT is called “Shrimply Token.” This auction is available at rarible.com and will close Jan. 30. Bidding opened at $500. For auction link or more information, visit PistolShrimpBaseball.com.

Ransom St. Michael 7s enjoy 3-0 week

The Ransom-St. Michael seventh grade boys basketball team won all three of its contests last week – 51-35 over Nettle Creek (Colin Byers 18 points, Brennen Stillwell 15, Jack Studnicki 14); 39-26 over Cornell (Byers 13, Studnicki 11, Stillwell 10, Evan Graff five); and 28-20 over Marseilles (eight apiece from Graff, Stillwell and Studnicki).

Rutland-Milton Pope spikers split openers

The Rutland-Milton Pope fifth and sixth grade volleyball team defeated Waltham in straight sets to open the season, led by Aubrey Carrera (nine service points including five aces), Abbie Halsey (eight points) and Cora Chapman (six points).

The Rutland-Milton Pope 7s and 8s fell in three sets, despite Bailey Witte’s 15 points (three aces) and Brenna Hughes’ six points.

Seventh grade Rams win conference tourney

The seventh grade Shepherd Rams boys basketball team (16-1) defeated Northlawn, 35-14, for the Starved Rock Conference Tournament title, paced by Griffin Dobberstein’s 10 points as well as eight courtesy of Landon Mangold, six from Dane Schmitz and five off the hands of Kaden Konwinski. In the semifinals, the Rams bested Bureau Valley, 40-30, paced by Schmitz’s 12 points, 11 from Dobberstein, 10 courtesy of Michael Schulz and George Shumway’s five.

The Shepherd 8s finished fourth with a 31-18 loss to Bureau Valley despite Archer Cechowicz’s five points. The semifinals saw the 8s fall, 40-25, to Lincoln (Lucas Farabaugh seven points, Jaxsen Higgins six).