QCOnline Sports News

State tennis preview

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:55:06 -0500

Where and when: Hersey High School will host, but matches will be at high schools throughout the Chicago suburbs.

Doubles storylines: Moline's Jed Wood and Pranav Puri are in some rarified air, earning A 9-16 seed in

Assumption's Ripslinger is Iowa Gatordade Player of the Year -- again

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:53:17 -0500

Davenport Assumption High School junior Rose Ripslinger is the Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year for the third consecutive season in girls' soccer.
Ripslinger, a University of Iowa commit and 3A state champion in the 100-meter dash, is the

Once a Bear, always a Bear: Urlacher calls it quits

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:27:00 -0500

CHICAGO — Brian Urlacher, former Chicago Bears All-Pro linebacker, announced his retirement from the NFL via Twitter on Wednesday, three days shy of his 35th birthday.

Urlacher was an unsigned free agent but spent his entire career

Checkered flag thrown on Steve Donovan's radio career

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:36:17 -0500

The checkered flag has been thrown on the radio career of Steve Donovan. His last day on the air was last week. Over the years, through a variety of means, Donovan has contributed immeasurably to the Quad-Cities racing scene.

QC Driverâs Spotlight

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:36:01 -0500

Chris Lawrence: #8L Street Stock
Age: 41
Hometown: Colona
Accomplishments:2009 Quad City Raceway Street Stock Track Champion;12 career feature wins;1st career win in 2009 at the Quad City Raceway;2009 & 2010 Rock Island County Fair Race Street

Golden Eagles, Titans set for sectional rematch in Monmouth

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:53:15 -0500

After being swept in a Lincoln Trail Conference doubleheader at Annawan-Wethersfield nearly a month ago, the Mercer County baseball team wasn't sure if it would get another crack at the Titans.

However, the Golden Eagles will have

Augie track team may have memorable weekend

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:34:05 -0500

If the seeds hold out, it could be a memorable weekend for the Augustana College men's track & field team at this week's NCAA Div. III National Championships.

The Vikings come into the three-day event at the

Woods: Garcia comment hurtful, time to move on

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:25:35 -0500

Sergio Garcia apologized to Tiger Woods for saying he would serve fried chicken if they were to have dinner at the U.S. Open, an ugly addition to nearly two weeks of verbal sparring.

What had been a celebration

Artemis crew 'back to work' after sailor's death

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:24:34 -0500

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The head of Artemis Racing says his team will compete in the America's Cup only if conditions are deemed safe on wind-raked San Francisco Bay this summer.

Artemis chief executive Paul Cayard posted his

Bears LB Urlacher announces retirement

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:49:55 -0500

CHICAGO (AP) — Brian Urlacher wasn't sure how dominant he could be any longer, so he's calling it a career after 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

And what a career it was:

—Eight Pro

Eight members of regional champion G-W baseball team earn All-ICAC kudos

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:11:37 -0500

Fresh from its first regional baseball championship, eight members of the Galva-Williamsfield baseball co-op got to enjoy some early All-Conference honors.

With the Wildcats (13-7) competing in two conferences -- the Lincoln Trail and the Inter-County Athletic

Panthers' pitching and defense stirring echoes of 2011's state run

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:11:02 -0500

In his own words, Erie-Prophetstown baseball coach Jason Orman prefers a game that gets down to the sport's fundamental essence.

"I'm a pitching and defense kind of guy. That's the way I like to win,'' said Orman,

Q-C Sports Shorts

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:10:55 -0500

College golf
BHC in second: The Black Hawk College golf team got off to a sizzling start at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Scottsboro, Ala.,on Tuesday. Led by Matt Schlueter's 3-under 69 and a 2-under 70 from

After hard-fought regional-final win, Spartans wary of another No. 3 seed

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:26:49 -0500

At first glance, Ridgewood's opponent in today's Class 1A Bloomington Sectional baseball semifinals would appear to be somewhat less than overwhelming.

However, Lexington's 9-9 record and its No. 3 regional seeding is something Ridgewood coach Seth Spivey

Geneseo tames Ghosts, advances to regional final

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:27:12 -0500

CHILLICOTHE -- A season debut set the tone for the Geneseo softball team on Tuesday night.

Senior Jessica Murray, playing in her first game after missing the entire regular season because of a shoulder injury, singled in

Better late than never, Moline logs comeback victory

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:52:09 -0500

The Moline girls softball team sure knows how to put on a show.

Waiting until the bottom of the sixth to rattle the bats, the Maroons poured it on, beating Pekin 7-2 in their regional opener.

Power surge: Strandgard's seven RBIs paces Tigers in 2A sectional softball romp

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:51:30 -0500

STRONGHURST -- All season, the Sherrard softball team has shown the capability to light up a scoreboard.

After tallying 25 runs in their two Class 2A regional victories, the Tigers upped the ante in Tuesday's West Central

UT soccer can't keep momentum, fall in sectional semis

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:39:11 -0500

PEORIA -- For three minutes on Tuesday evening, the United Township High School girls' soccer team had hope the comeback could be completed.

Morton freshman forward Kayla McCormick quickly extinguished the confidence.

With the

Class 1A state meet

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:13:49 -0500

Where: O'Brien Stadium, Charleston

When: Thursday and Saturday

Times: 11 a.m. (Thursday, prelims) and 10 a.m. (Saturday, finals)

FYI: Mercer County senior Payton Holmes (110- and 300-meter hurdles) and Monmouth-Roseville junior

The 'real' Brooke Prior

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:13:12 -0500

Because of an error in the caption of a file photo, United Township's Brooke Prior was incorrectly identified in Tuesday morning's picture with the "Best of the Big 6'' softball column. The picture that ran with the unofficial awards column

Alleman softball silenced in sectional

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:28:26 -0500

OREGON -- Alleman's five seniors loudly announced their appearance on the local softball scene together as incoming high school freshmen in 2009.

However, Peru St. Bede's Lainie Schweickert made sure their exit was quite quiet Tuesday in

Thunder star Durant makes $1M pledge to tornado relief

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:07:06 -0500

MINNEAPOLIS — Oklahoma City isn't just a place where Thunder star Kevin Durant lives these days. It's home.

So as he watched the horrifying images Monday as a tornado ripped through suburban Moore, the emotions came bubbling

Ridgewood senior Leander looking forward to another memorable weekend

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:28:46 -0500

Last weekend was definitely one for the scrapbooks for Cambridge High School senior and Ridgewood boys' track and field standout Aaron Leander.

On Saturday night, he saw one chapter of his life come to a close when

Moline's Lindauer named first-team All-Big Ten

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:26:13 -0500

Thomas Lindauer, an Illinois junior shortstop, spent part of his Tuesday afternoon participating in a workout at Minnesota Twins' Target Field prior to the Big Ten Tournament, a moment he truly cherished.

"It," Lindauer said of the

Always remember your life jacket

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:52:33 -0500

We're at the middle of National Safe Boating Week and I'm holding two press releases noting that fact. Both of them are pleading with boaters to do one thing-- wear a life jacket.

I was going to

Young shotgunners compete

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:46:44 -0500

The Rock Island/Henry/Mercer/Stark Counties 4-H and University of Illinois Extension hosted a regional shooting sports shotgun competition last Saturday at Bi-State Sportsmens Association, Colona.

"We're told this is the first ever 4-H Regional Shooting Sports Shotgun competition

The 50th Super Bowl goes to San Francisco Bay Area

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:13:01 -0500

BOSTON (AP) The 50th Super Bowl will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area.

NFL owners voted Tuesday for the 49ers' new stadium as host of the 2016 game. That facility in Santa Clara, Calif., is

DLIII British open streak in jepoardy

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:01:09 -0500

PLANO, Texas (AP) — Americans Josh Teater, Scott Brown, Johnson Wagner and Bud Cauley joined Quincy's Luke Guthrie in qualifying for the British Open on Monday at the international final qualifying at Gleneagles Country Club Queens Course.

Class 2A Peoria Notre Dame Sectional preview capsule

Tue, 21 May 2013 01:01:06 -0500

Where: Notre Dame High School, Peoria
Today's semifinals: United Township vs. Morton, 5 p.m.; Peoria Notre Dame vs. Dunlap, 7 p.m.
Championship: 7 p.m. Friday
FYI: The Panthers (10-7) have reached the sectional for the first time

Big 6 softball leaders

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:34 -0500

Final (corrected)

Batting: 1. Kellie Smet, Moline, .640; 2. Jasmine Ragusi, RI, .588; 3. Lecy Waldbusser, Moline, .517; 4 (tie). Jordan de los Reyes, Moline & Lexi Ferrari, Alleman, .515; 6 (tie). Courtney Markin, UT & Brooke

Quincy native Guthrie British Open-bound

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:45:18 -0500

The state of Illinois will be represented at this year's British Open by at least one golfer.

Quincy native Luke Guthrie earned an invitation to his first major tournament on Monday, surviving a four-person playoff during a

QC Football Club wins pair in Wisconsin

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:33:01 -0500

The Quad Cities Football Club Men's National Premier Soccer League Team kicked off the 2013 season with back-to-back road victories last weekend. The Eagles opened their season with a 3-2 victory over the Eau Claire (Wis.) Aris Football Club on

Prior winner dominates 'Best of Big 6' softball

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:17:00 -0500

Regionals start locally today in Class 3A and 4A. Alleman also begins 2A sectional play.

In other words, it's time to release our "Best of the Big 6" softball awards.

A reminder these unofficial

3A/4A regional softball preview

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:57:40 -0500

What & where: Moline (Class 4A) and Chillicothe (3A) host events of local interest this week.

4A Moline schedule: Today: No. 1 Moline (22-6) vs. No. 4 Pekin (9-18), 4:30 p.m. Wednesday: No. 2 United Township (19-7)

WIU-bound Ward the sparkplug that drives Sherrard's softball machine

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:06:48 -0500

Alex Ward's full-tilt style of softball frequently evokes comparisons by Sherrard High School fans to a former Major League Baseball great who answered to the nickname of "Charlie Hustle."

First-year Sherrard coach Mike DeLoose enjoys having his

George's bat, glove power Rocks into regional semis

Mon, 20 May 2013 21:06:37 -0500

During Monday evening's Class 4A Normal Community baseball regional game at Rock Island, Rocky's Cullen George had what his coach Jay Wayland equated to baseball's version of a triple-double.

George was the driving force in Rock Island's

IHSA Baseball Sectionals

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:49:13 -0500

Class 2A Monmouth-Roseville Sectional
Wednesday: West Hancock vs. Eureka, 4 p.m. Thursday: Mercer County vs. Annawan-Wethersfield, 4 p.m. Saturday: Championship game, 11 a.m. Note: All games will be played at Monmouth College's Glasgow Field.

Directions: For

After regional near-miss last spring, Alleman's future is now as sectionals await

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:37:56 -0500

Last year, the Alleman Pioneers came oh-so-close to breaking what was then a five-year dry spell between regional softball titles, only to have a 2-0 shutout by Sherrard deny that bid.

Now, after exorcising the spirit of

IHSA Class 2A Softball Sectionals

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:42:29 -0500

Oregon Sectional
Today: Alleman vs. Peru St. Bede, 4:30 p.m.; Pecatonica vs. Stillman Valley, 7 p.m. Saturday: Championship game, 11 a.m.

Directions: Take I-88 to the Dixon exit, then head north onto Illinois 26 and head into town. When you

Rams' Mosher enjoys record-setting senior softball season

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:29:53 -0500

As the only senior on the Riverdale High School softball team, pitcher Sadie Mosher was expected to set the example on the field for her younger teammates. She did all of that, and then some.

Mosher made

Snappers rally to sweep Bandits

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:28:42 -0500

Quad Cities River Bandits pitcher Mike Hauschild did all he could on Monday afternoon to help his club avoid a four-game sweep to the Beloit Snappers.

Hauschild was stellar, tossing five no-hit innings and walking just two

Eight locals place at state wrestling

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:51:38 -0500

The Quad Cities crowned a pair of champions at USA Wrestling's Illinois State Freestyle Finals earlier this month.

Moline's Adarios Jones (juniors) and Rockridge's Kody Brower (schoolboy) led a group of eight local finishers at the tournament,

Moline's Smith a rare four-time first-team pick in soccer

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:10:29 -0500

Sweeping conference foes en route to the Western Big 6 girls' soccer title also helped the Moline Maroons sweep up plenty of league adoration.

The Maroons went 5-0 in Big 6 play and had a correlating five

Repeat picks Sedlock, Whan top Alleman's All-Big 6 baseball haul

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:05:25 -0500

Alleman and Galesburg tied for the Western Big 6 Conference baseball title this spring.

The Pioneers and the Silver Streaks also share the distinction of having the most players named to the all-conference first team with four apiece.

Repeat selections

Prime Minister of Aruba gears up support at Cordova Dragway

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:59:13 -0500

CORDOVA—The American Drag Racing League invaded the Cordova Dragway Park during the weekend and brought with it a million free tickets, the usual variety of fast cars, crazy sounding car classes, Arnie "the Farmer" Beswick, an Olympic swimmer, the Hooters

UT's Prior, Alleman's McGuire rare 4-time All-Big 6 performers

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:15:35 -0500

United Township won the Western Big 6 Conference softball title for a third time in four years this spring.

Moline, the state's eighth-ranked squad in Class 4A, is seeking a fourth straight state trophy when the postseason

Boys' track and field state qualifiers

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:42:51 -0500

Class 1A Annawan-Wethersfield: DeAngelo Washington (long jump); Carter Pillen (pole vault); Ben Foster (shot put); Michael Cook (800, 1600); Rashaun DeBord (200)
Erie-Prophetstown: Devin Johnson (long jump, 400); Jarred Cole (pole vault); Kyle Pannier (pole vault); Ethan Oleson (shot

Pioneers ready to take a step up in class

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:58:25 -0500

The Alleman baseball team was the Class 2A state runners-up a season ago.

This season, the Western Big 6 Conference co-champs will try to top that feat in a higher class, taking on 3A competition this postseason.

A happy homecoming: Moline's Bacus beats Bandits

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:59:33 -0500

Dakota Bacus' first pitch on the Modern Woodmen Park mound was a called strike on Sunday afternoon, a sizzling fastball right down the middle. The second one was a little errant, with the catcher reaching high to grab the pitch.

Sports' top hits for the week

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:05:40 -0500

According to the number of click-throughs on QCOnline.com, these were the most popular sports stories for the past week.

1. Girl's state track and field updates: Track beat writer Daniel Makarewicz offered live updates online this weekend

Cardinals 3B future playing out in Peoria

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:18:11 -0500

A develop-from-within approach orchestrated by the St. Louis Cardinals led to the club's minor-league system being rated No. 1 in Baseball America's yearly rankings, a reward for their depth at every level.

One glance at low-A Peoria

Hawks lose home ice, but does it matter?

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:18:00 -0500

When you have it, you cherish it.

When you lose it, you act like it's no big deal.

It's home-ice advantage and after working all season to obtain it, it's what the Blackhawks yielded

Our local boys of summer

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:56:04 -0500

This is a weekly update on 2009 Moline graduate Dakota Bacus and 2006 Rockridge graduate Tyson Blaser, who are both playing in the minor leagues. Bacus is a pitcher for the low-A Beloit Snappers and Blaser a catcher with the