Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 13

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2004 DECATUR, ILLINOIS SPORTS B5 Tennis St Anthony chasing sectional www.herald-review.com Warrensburg-Latham pitcher Holly Walden celebrates a big inning with Jessie Buker fights off a pitch during a recent Audra Rodgers has given Clinton another big bat this season. The catcher is hitting .484 to go along with her defensive skills. her teammates. The scene has been repeated over and over this season contest wth Lovington-Arthur. Buker is one of several offensive weapons for the Timberwolves.

as the Cardinals take a 25-3 record into regional play. Teams to watch Lovington-Arthur The Lancers will rely on Nikki Davis (18-2) for her pitching and offense. If the rest of the Lovington lineup gets hot, this will be a difficult team to knock off. Okaw Valley This was the one team to beat Lovington-Arthur pitcher Nikki Davis this year. And the Timberwolves did it twice.

If the Timberwolves can hit Davis, it's a safe bet they can hit anybody. Teutopolis The Wooden Shoes have flown under the radar most of the season, perhaps in part because of the baseball team's success. But T-Town did go through the National Trail Conference undefeated this season. Casey-Westfield Despite a drop in numbers, the Warriors find ways to keep winning. They finished 20-6 this season.

Casey is ranked No. 7 in the last poll of the season. Softball pundits might not expect much of the Warriors, but no program in Illinois history has more softball state titles. Warrensburg-Latham The Cardinals advanced to the super-sectional last year before falling to Beard-stown. Holly Walden (20-2, 0.44 ERA) is just as dominant as she was last year, and the offense will need to find a way to manufacture runs against some of the better pitchers it will sea Clinton Again, strong pitching is the starting point.

Kamren Ferguson has been dominant in helping the Maroons win the Okaw Valley Conference title. Clinton will likely have to beat two-time defending state champion Stanford Olympia to get to state. The teams split a double header earlier in the season. Schedule By TROY HAYES Staff Writer Effingham St. Anthony knows how to win during the regular season.

The Bulldogs haven't dropped a dual meet in almost five years, a span of 71 matches. And Joe Reynolds' squad has had some success in the postseason as well, winning sectional titles three of the last four years and finishing 15th and 13th at state, respectively, the past two seasons. But, it's been a bit more of a struggle for St. Anthony this season. "We had a lot of kids graduate, and frankly, we aren't quite as strong as we have been," Reynolds said.

"The kids we have though work very hard and they have some talent." Reynolds lost Aaron Phillips and Jeff Wendt to graduation, but he returned doubles state qualifier Rob Cornell. Cornell has moved to No. 1 singles and has lost just three times in 19 matches this season. Reynolds thinks Cornell and the doubles tandem of Tyler Murphy and Jeff Ungrund (16-4) should be able to advance though he knows there are upsets. "If we could send a couple of kids to state, I'd be tickled to death," Reynolds said.

"It's such a crapshoot at sectionals, it's just about impossible to predict." The biggest reason for Reynolds hesitance is that 12-1 Teutopolis is also at the Casey-Westfield Sectional that begins Friday at 3:30 p.m. and continues at 9 a.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs beat Greg Brumleve's team two weeks ago, but it was 5-4 and the Wooden Shoes got no bounces according to Brum-leve. "It could have went either way," Brumleve said.

"And sectionals should be the same way. There are a lot of teams that are capable of winning it." Mattoon, Charleston and Effingham also have a shot at the Casey-Westfield team title. Here's where other area teams will compete: Bloomington Sectional Bloomington Central Catholic; Bloomington; Lincoln; Morton; Normal West; Normal; Normal Uni-High; Pekin; Washington Casey-Westfield Sectional Casey-Westfield; Charleston; Effingham; Effingham St. Anthony; Mat-toon; Newton; Paris; Robinson; Teutopolis Centralia Sectional Benton; Carbondale; Carmi-White County; Centralia; Fairfield; Flora; Mt. Carmel; Mt.

Vernon; Olney East Richland; Salem Decatur MacArthur Sectional Eisenhower; MacArthur; St. Teresa; Greenville; Hillsboro; Meridian; Mount Zion; Shelbyville; Taylorville; Vandalia a school with individual entries only Troy Hayes can be reached at or 421-6970. DAVIS Continued from B1 of which were grand slams in the same game. The pitching came naturally. The hitting was something Davis had to convince herself she could do.

She liked winging the ball from the pitcher's circle, but staring down a fastball from the batter's box was a completely different matter. "I was afraid of the ball, afraid of getting hit as I saw a lot faster pitching," Davis said. "It was probably one game, I got a big hit and realized I could hit. I started trying harder and kind it of developed from there." The Little Okaw Valley teams that knew about her presence on the mound learned quickly that Davis can do just as much damage at the plate. "I don't want to sound cocky, but I think I've been intentionally walked in our last three games," Davis said.

"I don't I think go too much overlooked." But Davis' first love is pitching, and it's there that she has continued to hone her skill. Pitching a softball is easier on an arm than the overhand baseball motion. But it still takes a ton of endurance to log the innings Davis has. And she'll throw just as many this summer. "I play in league in the summer, and I throw three to four the scoreboard.

Lovington coach Jean Holmes has spent nine years at the school and hasn't seen a more complete player. "Even on the teams we've played against," Holmes said. Davis' numbers have been stellar. Just don't try telling that to her. "It doesn't feel like my best season.

No-hitters and perfect games don't necessarily matter. It's just last year had a lot more," said Davis, who had 231 strikeouts in 135 innings as a junior. "I'd be able to shut teams out and just kick them when they're down. I don't feel like I've done as good a job as I did last year." Undoubtedly, all eyes will be on Davis. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"It's not necessarily being center of attention. I just like to be a leader. I like to make a lot of things happen on the field," Davis said. "I think the game's about pressure. That's a lot of pressure to put on someone.

"I'm prepared for that. I had pressure all season, winning conference for the third straight year. I think I'm very well prepared for the postseason with that." And Davis wouldn't mind adding a third consecutive regional title, either. Todd Engle can be reached at or 421-7970. 'Ijustliketobethe leader.

I like to make a lot of things happen on the Nikki Davis, Lovington-Arthur pitcher games a weekend, and I've done it since I was, like, 12," Davis said. "The strength built up after a while, and I've been able to do it ever since." Harry, being a catcher, tried to impart bits of knowledge to his daughter. "Even at young age, she was striking out a lot of kids," Harry said. "That's one of the reasons we moved up to more competitive ASA softball. In rec league, she was able to just strike out most of the batters." Harry said Nikki learned how to pitch, not just throw hard, in those ASA games.

He also realized Nikki needed to know more than he could teach about pitching. "Stephanie Fitzpatrick was able to fine tune a lot of little things. I realized then some things I tried to teach her was wrong," Harry said. "She probably brought Nikki along from the time she was 13. She did a real good job with her." As the playoffs begin, Davis will be Lovington's first option at putting runs on the board and keeping the opponent off Thursday's games Argenta-Oreana Regional Game 1 Cerro Gordo vs.

Maroa-Forsyth, 4:30 p.m. Casey-Westfield Regional Game 1 Martinsville at Neoga, 4:30 p.m. Clinton Regional Game 1 lllini Central at Hartsburg-Emden, 4:30 p.m. Effingham St. Anthony Regional Game 1 Beecher City at Stewardson-Stras-burg, 4:30 p.m.

Game 2 Effingham St. Anthony vs. Alta-mont, 4:30 p.m. Flora Regional Game 1 St. Elmo at Louisville North Clay, 4:30 p.m.

Game 2 Clay City at Sooth Central, 4:30 p.m. Greenville Regional Game 1 Vandalia at Mulberry Grove, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 Greenville vs. Staunton, 4:30 p.m. Nokomls Regional Game 1 Ramsey at Mount Olive, 4:30 p.m.

Pleasant Plains Regional Game 1 Auburn at Virden, 4:30 p.m. Robinson Regional Game 1 Robinson at Lawrenceville, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 Olney East Richland at Bridgeport Red Hill, 4:30 p.m. Sullivan Regional Game 1 Shelbyville at Atwood Hammond, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 Sullivan vs.

Areola, 4:30 p.m. Tolono Unity Regional Game 1 Flthian Oakwood at Heritage, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 Georgetown at Danville Schlarman, 4:30 p.m. Villa Grove Regional Game 1 Paris at Marshall, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 Villa Grove vs.

Hume-Shiloh, 4:30 p.m. Warrensburg-Latham Regional Game 1 llliopolis at St. Teresa, 4:30 p.m. Game 2 Central at Mount Pulaski, 4:30 p.m. Saturday's games Argenta-Oreana Regional Game 2 Lovington-Arthur vs.

Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 3 Tuscola vs. Argenta-Oreana, noon Casey-Westfield Regional Game 2 Casey-Westfield vs. Winner Game 1, noon Game 3 Hutsonville vs. Dieterich, 2 p.m.

Clinton Regional Game 2 Clinton vs. Winner Game 1, Game 3 Heyworth vs. Farmer City, 1:30 p.m. Effingham St. Anthony Regional Game 3 Teutopolis vs.

Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 4 Oblong vs. Winner Game 2, noon Flora Regional Game 3 Flora vs. Winner Game 1, 2 p.m. Game 4 Noble West Richland vs.

Winner Game 2, 5 p.m. Greenville Regional Game 3 Hillsboro vs. Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 4 Bunker Hill vs. Winner Game 2, noon Nokomls Regional Game 2 Carroliton vs.

Winner Game 1, noon Game 3 Nokomis vs. Pana, 2 p.m. Pleasant Plains Regional Game 2 Pleasant Plains vs. Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 3 Meridian vs.

Divernon, 11:30 a.m. Robinson Regional Game 3 Cumberland vs. Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 4 Newton vs. Winner Game 2, noon Sullivan Regional Game 3 Okaw Valley vs.

Winner Game 1, 9 a.m. Game 4 Monticello vs. Winner Game 2. 11 a.m. Tolono Unity Regional Game 3 Westville vs.

Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 4 Tolono Unity vs. Winner Game 2, 11:30 a.m. Villa Grove Regional Game 3 St. Joseph-Ogden vs.

Winner Game 1, 10 a.m. Game 4 Catlin vs. Winner Game 2, 1230 p.m. Warrensburg-Latham Regional Game 3 Warrensburg-Latham vs. Winner Game 1, 11 a.m.

Game 4 Springfield Ursuline vs. Winner Game 2, 1 p.m. Monday's games CLASS A REGIONALS Argenta-Oreana Regional Game 4 Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 4 p.m. Casey-Westfield Regional Game 4 Winner Game 2 vs.

Winner Game 3, 4:30 p.m. Clinton Regional Game 4 Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 4:30 p.m. Effingham St. Anthony Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs.

Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Flora Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Greenville Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m.

Nokomls Regional Game 4 Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 4:15 p.m. Pleasant Plains Regional Game 4 Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 4:30 p.m. Robinson Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs.

Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Sullivan Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Tolono Unity Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m.

Villa Grove Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Warrensburg-Latham Regional Game 5 Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 4:30 p.m. Coming attractions Ray will run for Western Illinois next year Notes Braves will look to continue their perfect season in a non-conference double header.

Baseball Class A Regional Semifinals A number of area venues will host games, including Moweaqua, Clinton, Warrensburg-Latham, Hillsboro and Monticello. mmnm Softball, baseball Class A Regional Finals The first round of hardware is doled out in the quest to find the state champions. Track and field Area Best Meet, 4 p.m. The threat of rain postponed the meet on its scheduled date of May 18. Organizers will try to regroup and get the meet in.

TUESDAY Baseball Mount Zion at Springfield Sacred-Heart Griffin, 4:30 p.m. Class A baseball and softball are in a one-day break before sectionals. Class AA regionals have yet to begin. Right now, it's the only game on the schedule. WEDNESDAY Baseball, softball Class A Sectionals begin, 4:30 p.m.

The chase for state titles begins in earnest with the beginning of sectionals. Class AA Regionals begin It's been an eventful year in prep sports. The last state tournaments begin in the afternoon. TODAY Girls soccer Charleston Regional Final, 4 p.m., Mount Zion vs. Urbana The Braves stunned Charleston to reach the regional final.

Rochester Regional Final, Warrensburg-Latham vs. Rochester, 5 p.m. Warrensburg has been among the most consistent teams in the area. It will need to be at its best if it wants to knock off a high-scoring Rochester team. FRIDAY Girls track and field State Meet, O'Brien Stadium, Charleston, 9 a.m.

The girls track and field season ends with the state meet at Charleston. Tuscola thrower Johanna Wienke, Central sprinter Alberta Douglas and Cumberland distance runner Chandel Ray are among the state title hopefuls. Boys track and field Sectional meets, 4 p.m. The top boys athletes across the state will try to punch their ticket to Charleston. SATURDAY Girls track and field State Meet, Charleston The state champions will be crowned in the day-long event.

Softball Class A Regional Semifinals Most of the top-seeded softball teams across the state see their first bit of action. Mount Zion at Washington, 11 a.m. The place in one season and is five off the state record. Among the five players at 71 is Major Leaguer Cliff Floyd (Thornwood). The team home-run total of 58 is sixth best and 10 off the state mark.

If the Warriors can win the Tolono Unity Regional which they are seeded to do they will have home-field advantage when hosting their own sectional. Fitzgerald selected for national event Eisenhower sophomore Allison Fitzgerald was one of more than 2,220 softball players nation-wide to apply for a national tournament in Hawaii this December. Fitzgerald recently found out she was one of 160 players selected for the trip. Despite recovering from knee surgery, Fitzgerald is hitting .453 with two home runs and 30 RBIs. She's also 3-4 on the mound with a 2.22 ERA.

She will need to raise $2,978 for the nine-day trip to Hawaii. The Fitzgerald family is accepting donations. Contact the Fitzgeralds at 428-4216 or fitzgeralds86aol.com for more information. Todd Engle can be reached at or 421-7970. By T00D ENGLE Staff Writers Chandel Ray spent her high school career etching her name on the record book at Cumberland.

The work paid off as Ray recently signed to run with Division I Western Illinois in Macomb. Ray owns the school record in the 800-, and runs. She's also a part of the school record team. In addition, she also became the first female cross country runner to win all-state honors when she finished eighth at the state meet last year. Ray was also considering Eastern Illinois.

"It was a hard decision. I like the coaches at both places. The Western coaches made me feel comfortable from the beginning," Ray said. "I always hoped I would run at the Division I-level. I couldn't see myself not ninning at college." Three Lovington athletes sign Spring is the time for graduations.

It's also the time for athletes to declare their collegiate intentions. A trio of Lovington athletes declared their intentions recently. Softball standout Nikki Davis will play for Gulf Coast Communi- ty College next season, joining former Monticello players Ginger Reeser and Kelly Baxter. Whitney Nelson, Davis' teammate, will go to Olney Community College. And Kristana Bolson has signed to play volleyball at Illinois Community College.

Nothing wrong with the offense Maybe it was the short field. Maybe it was the ever-present wind. But more likely it's just that the Tuscola baseball team knows how to hit. The Warriors averaged more than 10 runs per game this season, and put a hurting on baseballs just about everywhere they went. Andy Pollock leads the area with 20 home runs.

Teammate Wade Hoey is second with 14. Pollock is also hitting a robust .552, with an area-leading 68 RBIs. Naturally, Hoey is in second place with 52. Closing in on record book According to IHSA records, Andy Pollock's home-run total is already third on the single-season list. Scott Riley hit 23 for Pittsfield in 1999 to lead the category.

The 68 RBIs is tied for eighth.