As heard on New Country 104.1, the #5 Taylorville Tornadoes lost to conference rivals #3 Mt. Zion 9-1 in the first round of the playoffs.  Andrew Tay of Mt. Zion struck out 11 Tornadoes, and Evan Howley hit a grand slam in the victory.  The Braves jumped out to a 1-0 lead early thanks to a Sammy Driscoll triple and a Jackson Beiler sacrifice fly.  Driscoll had a fantastic day at the dish going 3-3 with two triples and one base hit.  He was intentionally walked in the sixth.

The Tornadoes cut the deficit to 1 in 5th inning, to trail 2-1 but Driskell scored on a Howley sacrifice fly and Jaxon Nickell hit a towering 2 run homerun off of Colton Gatton in the bottom of the fifth. The grand slam from Howley in the bottom of the sixth inning sealed the win for the Braves who move on to face Rochester on Saturday morning at 11 AM.

For Taylorville Maxx Grieme was named the Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the game as he went 3-3 with a double and two base hits. He was also significant behind the plate and nearly nailed Driscoll coming home on the sacrifice. Baron Odam also had two spectacular catches out in left field saving at least two runs. 

                   1  2   3   4  5  6  7  R  H   E

Taylorville 0  0   0  0   1  0  0   1  5   1
Mt. Zion    1  0   1  0   3  4  X   9  7   0

W Andrew Tay
L Colton Gatton

Taylorville finishes their season 19-10. Congratulations to all of the Taylorville baseball seniors and wish them the best moving forward. 

The Central A&M softball team's season is over after a run-rule defeat against LeRoy in the sectional semifinals in Oreana.  The Panthers scored in each of their four innings at the plate as they made quick work of the Raiders. 

Central A&M got off to a good start, loading the bases with no one out in the top of the first before Kylee Snearly hit a sac fly to score Sophie Roe.  LeRoy started their half-inning similarly but with four runs.  The first three came from a Natalie Loy double.  The Panthers scored one run in the second inning followed by five in the third.  In the third inning, seven straight plate appearances ended in either the hitter reaching base or a runner scoring.  Three more runs in the following inning put LeRoy in run-rule range.  Snearly drove in her side's other run in the third, but the Raiders' next seven at-bats turned into outs as they had no more of a response. 

Four Panthers collected multiple hits on the day.  They include Lilly Long who had a double, single, and run.  She also pitched the final inning of the game and was named Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Jacey Hageman earned the win, giving up just four hits and one walk while striking out three.  Gwyn Hardimon - who pitched all but two innings for Central A&M over their playoff run - took the loss.  She gave up one walk, hit one batter, and struck out another.

With the defeat, Central A&M finishes the season 15-16.  LeRoy will face Arcola in the sectional final, with the latter winning their semifinal 2-0 over Salt Fork.

The Taylorville Tornadoes quietly limped into the postseason and left them with a whimper. The Tornadoes took on the Mattoon Green Wave who 10-runned them in 5 by a final score of 12-2. The Green Wave jumped out to a 5-0 lead with all the damage coming after two outs when Peyton DeMichael gave up a few hits but a walk and three errors led to 5 runs coming across the plate. 

DeMichael kept the Green Wave in check for the next 3 innings.  In the fourth, Taylorville clawed their way back into the run column after a couple errors led to two runs scoring leading to a 5-2 lead for Mattoon heading into the fifth inning.  Taylorville didn't score in their top of the fifth and in the bottom of the fifth, Taylorville gave up one run and it was 6-2 with two outs.  

Mattoon would go on to score 6 more runs all with two outs to beat Taylorville 12-2 to end the Tornadoes season.  Peyton DeMichael was named the Nicole Patrick Country Financial Player of the Game.  She went 2-2 at the plate and was fairly decent on the circle while most of the runs she gave up were unearned. 

Congratulations to the Taylorville Seniors and wish them the best moving forward.  Congratulations to Lily Harden, Sophia Rogers, Liv Havera, and Kyleigh Heimsness.  The Taylorville Tornadoes baseball team takes on Mt. Zion in the first round of their playoffs on Wednesday in Mt. Zion. 

The Central A&M softball team is a regional champion thanks to a late comeback in the final.  The Raiders overcame a seven-run margin to beat Villa Grove in extra innings.  As the administrative home team thanks to playoff seeding, Central A&M secured a walk-off win on their opponent's turf. 

The Blue Devils got off to a dream start as leadoff hitter Izzy Dodd homered to right.  On the next at-bat, Hayden Thomas hit a triple and would later score.  The same two players scored the Devils' next two runs in the third inning thanks to a throwing error from Raiders starting pitcher Gwyn Hardimon.  Dodd scored again in the fifth inning and drove in her side's two sixth-inning runs with a double. 

Central A&M left three runners on third base across the first five innings but could not force any across the plate.  Down 7-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Raiders were staring at the end of their season.  That's when the tide shifted. 

Two fielding errors presented Central A&M with a chance to put runs on the board.  Five hits in the next six at-bats drove home five runs, with two coming off the bat of Brookelyn Jackson.  She then scored on a Lyndi Woods sacrifice, bringing the score to 7-6. 

After a scoreless top of the seventh, Raider catcher Kylee Snearly led off the bottom half with a double.  Brookelyn Smedley pinch-ran for her, stole third, and scored the tying run on another sacrifice, this time from Kayla McPeek.

Tied 7-7, the regional final proceeded to extra innings.  Hayden Thomas led off the ninth by reaching second on an error and third on a wild pitch with no one out.  Gwyn Hardimon, still in the circle for Central A&M, struck out two batters and forced a groundout to keep Villa Grove off the board. 

Blue Devils pitcher Piper Kiser pitched two outs in the bottom of the ninth before walking Kayla McPeek.  The center fielder stole second with designated player Riley Hazelwonder at the plate.  Hazelwonder launched a fly-ball to left field which dropped in front of Kinleigh Pellow.  With two outs, McPeek ran full force and easily scored the region-winning run, capping a miraculous turnaround which Central A&M will not soon forget. 

McPeek went two-for-three with two stolen bases and the same number of RBI's - including on the game-tying play - and runs - including the winner - and was named Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Hardimon pitched all nine innings, striking out 13.  Her punch-out of Pellum to lead off the third inning was the pitcher's 200th of the season. 

For Villa Grove, Izzy Dodd went four-for-five with three RBI's and three runs.  Piper Kiser also threw a complete game, including five strikeouts. 

Central A&M's season continues with the Argenta-Oreana sectional semifinal.  They will face the winner of the LeRoy regional, with first-pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

As heard on Cruisin' 98.3 WSVZ...

Shelbyville Rams - 14 vs. Hillsboro Hilltoppers - 4 (6th Inning)

Shelbyville's Will Stirrett held the Hilltoppers to just 1 run through 4 innings of work. The 4th inning for the Rams saw the bats explode to the tune of 11 runs on multiple extra base hits. The Hilltoppers would score 3 needed runs in the top of the 5th to stay in the game. The Rams went on to score in the bottom of the 6th and win by the run rule (10 runs.)

Gameday Custom T's and Apparel Player of the Game: #2 Will Stirrett

Shelbyville moves on to play North Mac High School on Saturday, for the third round of regional play.

As heard on Genuine Country 94.3 WMKR...

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg - 11 vs. Central A&M - 0 

Following a thrilling opening round game against Okay Valley, Central A&M loses to the #1 Seed Hatchets in the second round of the Altamont sectional. The Raiders finished the regular season with a 5 - 19 record, going 1 -1 in playoff baseball.

Outgoing Seniors: #40 Paul Brown (Committed to ICC)

- 14 potential returning players for the program

Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game: #25 Parker Elliott

The Central A&M softball team comfortably beat Chrisman 14-0 in Villa Grove to advance in the regional playoffs.  Every Raider starter except for one crossed the plate as Wayne Jordan's side made quick work of the Cardinals. 

The Raiders scored two runs in the first, third, and fourth innings.  They plated ten runners in the second thanks in part to a stretch of six hits in seven at-bats, including doubles by Callie Robertson and Kayla McPeek.  McPeek also hit a one-out triple in the third inning to bolster her side's lead. 

In the circle, Gwyn Hardimon pitched three shutout innings, giving up just one hit and striking out four in the start.  Robertson pitched two perfect innings in relief, which - on top of her 4-RBI performance at the plate - earn her the title of Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game. 

Central A&M will face either Villa Grove or Shiloh in the next round of the playoffs on Friday. 

The Lake Land College Lakers Baseball team defeated Iowa Western Community College on Saturday, May 17 to win the NJCAA Division I Midwest District Championship.

After losing the first game in the tournament, the Lakers rallied to win four straight, including a thrilling 19-18 victory over Southwestern Illinois and back-to-back wins over Iowa Western to clinch the championship.

With the championship victory, Lake Land secured an appearance in the NJCAA Division I World Series. The tournament begins Saturday, May 24 in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Entering the World Series Tournament for the first time since 1988, the Lakers will look to continue one of the most successful baseball seasons in school history. The team currently holds an overall record of 42-18, including a record of 21-9 in region play. Earlier in May, Lake Land won its first Region XXIV (A) Championship since 1998 with a victory over John A. Logan College.  

The Central A&M baseball team snuck past Okaw Valley 5-4 in a thrilling encounter in the first round of regional playoffs.  The Raiders pulled ahead in the seventh inning thanks to a pair of uncaught third strikes before nearly letting it slip in similar fashion.

Central A&M entered the game with half the number of wins as their opponent but scored in the opening frame.  A Marshall Minott triple led off a third inning in which he scored to double his side's lead. 

The Timberwolves responded with a run of their own.  Dalton Vanausdoll singled with two outs before stealing second, advancing to third on a throwing error in the effort to catch him, and scoring on a passed ball.  Central A&M restored the two-run lead in the fourth thanks to a double-steal with runners on the corners, where indecision from Okaw Valley's infielders left both runners safe. 

Okaw Valley - a team which sees regular success - needed runs to keep their season alive.  A sacrifice fly halved the deficit again before a pair of wild pitches allowed Vanausdoll to score his second run.

Marshall Minott, who started the game for Central A&M, was withdrawn mid-at bat in the sixth after walking Wyatt Hildebrandt.  He scored when a later base-steal led to an error, giving him time to race home.  This gave Okaw Valley the lead for the first time in the game. 

In the seventh inning, Braden Montgomery came to the mound for Okaw Valley in place of starter Seth Forlines, looking for the save.  One strike from the win, he forced Emett Stenger to chase on a full count, but the ball got away from catcher Rase Bennett.  It allowed Stenger to advance to first and keep the game alive.  The next batter, senior Paul Brown, reached second when center fielder Tanner Lofland's attempt at a diving catch missed the ball, allowing Stenger to score the tying run.  Another uncaught third strike, this time with Zach Snow at bat, meant he reached first and Brown scored the go-ahead run. 

Now the Timberwolves came to the plate, needing runs themselves.  Alex Ravellette nearly reached on an uncaught third strike the other way, but catcher Jamesly Jesse responded quickly and made a perfect inside throw to first for the out.  Dalton Vanausdoll singled but was thrown out stealing before Braden Montgomery - minutes after blowing the save for his side - flew out to end a wild playoff game. 

Marshall Minott's triple at the plate and quality start on the mound earned him the title of Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Zach Snow pitched in relief for the Raiders, seeing out an inning and two-thirds and earning the win.

As for the home side, Dalton Vanausdoll went 3-4 with every hit being a single.  Seth Forlines pitched six innings, giving up just one earned run and recording three strikeouts, all in the second inning. 

With the dramatic win, Central A&M will face Stewardson-Strasburg in the next round on Wednesday. 

The Central A&M Raiders baseball team snapped a seven-game losing streak after beating the Villa Grove Blue Devils 6-4 in a see-saw game Tuesday afternoon.  Runs throughout the game, aggressive base-stealing, and consistent performances from hitters on both sides led to an entertaining contest. 

The Raiders struck first with two runs in the first inning before the away side used their next two innings at bat to draw level.  Central A&M took the lead again in the third inning, as a single from Parker Elloit drove in two runs.  They added another two in the next inning through RBI-singles from Emett Stenger and Marshall Minott.  Villa Grove cut the lead in half with a two-run sixth inning, which Cooper Clark led off with a double.  In a thrilling finish, Villa Grove loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh.  However, Marshall Minott - moved to the mound from shortstop to close the game out - struck out Jackson Gire to preserve the win. 

In addition to earning the save, Minott went 3-3 at the plate, earning the title of Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Zachary Snow pitched the other six innings, giving up the same number of hits.  Cooper Clark threw a complete game for the Devils, striking out nine.  Central A&M's lone senior Paul Brown went 1-3 with two runs and was honored after the game for his contributions to the team. 

This game was the last in the 2025 regular season for Villa Grove.  The Raiders travel to Brownstown/St. Elmo before turning their attention to the playoffs. 

As heard on Cruisin 98.3 WSVZ, the Shelbyville Rams defeated the Warrensburg Latham Cardinals in 9 innings yesterday 5-4 in a game for first place in the Central Illinois Conference. The Rams (15-5) got on the board first with a homer from Chase Wells in left center. The Cardinals would answer with a homerun themselves before pulling ahead 3-2 with a couple runs scored later.   A successful suicide squeeze would tie the game at 3-3 as WIll Stirrett scored and Rylan Murphy would score later on to give the Rams a 4-3 lead in the sixth.  

The Cardinals would tie it up with a solo shot in the seventh from Brody Brown and the Rams would leave a runner on in the seventh as the teams would head into extras.  In the bottom of the ninth, Hampton Petska would get a basehit scoring Myles Hammond (who pitched beautifully in relief for Chase Wells) from second base to walk off with a 5-4 win. 

Rams improve to 15-5 and move into sole position of first place in the CIC.  Warrensburg falls to 21-4 and second place in the conference. Shelbyville will take on Meridian at home tomorrow. 


Picture: Chase Wells at bat in the seventh.   

As heard on Cruisin' 98.3 WSVZ...

Shelbyville - 7 vs. Central A&M - 2

Shelbyville scored 5 big runs in the bottom of the 3rd helping them coast to their 14th victory of the 2025 season. Coach Sam Mehl of the Shelbyville Rams continues to stack up the wins with the Rams Program. Mehl now has 300 victories to his name, a milestone at any level of baseball. Congratulations Coach Sam Mehl!

Gameday Custom T's and Apparel Player of the Game: #5 Chase Wells (1 and 2/3 IP - 4 SO - 1 ER) (HR + 2 RBI)