Briefs: Pistol Shrimp announce token auction

The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp announced the collegiate summer league baseball team is releasing a nonfungible token, a type of crypto asset in the form of digital art that comes with perks for the owner.

Tokens, which have an encrypted certificate of authenticity, can take the form of GIFs, tweets, virtual trading cards, images and more.

The first Pistol Shrimp NFT is called “Shrimply Token.” The auction started Monday at www.rarible.com and closes Jan. 30. Bidding begins at $500.

The winning bidder will receive four drinks during every 2022 home game, a reserved parking space at Veterans Park for all 30 home games, an invitation to throw the first pitch at the home opener June 2 and a trip along with a friend on the team bus to attend a road game.

More Shrimp NFTs will drop throughout the spring containing different perks and with lower starting bids or set pricing.

For more information or an auction link, visit PistolShrimpBaseball.com.

Bret Dannis wins 60 hurdles

St. Bede graduate and University of Illinois senior Bret Dannis had a strong start to the indoor season Saturday at the Wisconsin Midwest Invitational at the Gately Indoor Track in Chicago.

Dannins won the 60-meter hurdles in 7.99 seconds. He ran a personal-best 7.96 in the preliminaries.

Rachel Hickey wins mile

La Salle-Peru graduate and Illinois State University junior Rachel Hickey helped the Redbirds win the Coughlan/Malloy Cup on Saturday in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Hickey won the mile in 5:00.68 and placed second in the 800 meters in 2:13.61, just behind teammate Audrey Harrod (2:13.61).

Kamryn Olson earns academic honor

La Salle-Peru graduate and Central Michigan University sophomore Kamryn Olson was one of nine CMU volleyball players to earn a spot on the 2021 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a GPA of 3.2 or better and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s matches.

Olson, a sports management major, had a 3.26 GPA.