Sports | The Journal-News

11 From County Earn All-MSM Softball

Six Lady Redskins and five Lady Lancers were among those selected by the softball coaches of the MSM Conference for this year’s all-conference teams. Both Nokomis and Lincolnwood had two … more

6/20/23

Lancers, 'Skins Get 10 On All-MSM Baseball

The Nokomis and Lincolnwood/Morrisonville baseball teams each had five honorees on this year’s MSM Conference all-conference list, including two first-teamers each. Nokomis seniors Matthew … more

6/20/23

Hillsboro’s Archer Durbin picked up a win in the 50cc Beginner Open class at the 2023 North/East Mini Major at Lincoln Trail Motosports on June 2-4 in Casey, one of 10 entries he and brother Huntley had during the event.

Durbins Stay Busy At Lincoln Trail

It was a busy weekend for the Durbin brothers on June 2-4, as Huntley and Archer Durbin competed in the North/East Mini Major at Lincoln Trail Motosports in Casey. The Hillsboro racers competed … more

6/20/23

Hopley Gets Win In Midwest Super Series

Litchfield junior drag racer Greyson Hopley, son of Terra Hamby and Dan Hopley, picked up a win in the season opener of the Midwest Juniors Super Series, held at Kil-Kare Dragway in Xenia, OH, on May … more

6/20/23

Seven-year-old Huntley Durbin, son of Jon Durbin and Jordan Butler, finished first at the AMA Mid-East Youth Regional Qualifier at Baja Acres in Millington, MI, on June 10-11, to earn his spot for nationals later this year at Lorretta Lynn’s Ranch in Tennessee.

Durbin Earns Another Shot At Nationals

Hillsboro seven-year-old Huntley Durbin is heading back to the AMA Amateur National Motocross Championships at Lorretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN, on July 31 through Aug. 5. … more

6/15/23

On just about any Tuesday or Friday morning, plus Thursday evenings, you can hear the sound of plastic hitting paddle at open play for the Panhandle Picklers pickleball group. From the left are Pat Pope, Ginny Brockmeyer, Jean Fuchs, Marcia Osterholt, Sandy Smith, Robin Riggs, Linda Hocking, Kathy Johnson and Rhonda Sanford.

Panhandle Picklers Ready To Have A Ball

If you haven’t heard of pickleball by this point, you’re probably living under a rock. According to an article on pickleball website The Dink , an estimated 36.5 million people played … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/15/23

Run, walk or ride, nearly 50 eager individuals crossed the starting line at the first Tutus and Bow Ties Fun Run to benefit Project Third Day-Panhandle on Saturday, June 10, in Raymond.

Project Third Day 5K Tutu Much Fun

Nearly 50 eager individuals were running for a reason in Raymond on Saturday, June 10, at the first Tutus and Bow Ties Fun Run to benefit Project Third Day-Panhandle in Raymond. The starting … more

6/15/23

Area Racers Off To Strong Start At Lincoln Trail MX

It takes a while to get from Montgomery County to Casey, but several local motocross riders have found the trip worthwhile so far. Four rounds into the Thor Showdown Series at Lincoln Trail … more

6/15/23

Timothy Hearn (second from the right) took his junior dragster to victory lane on June 4, as he won his class at the Midstate Lucky Sevens event at the Central Illinois Dragway in Havana. Pictured with Hearn are his younger brother Brayden, his parents Michelle and David and fellow junior dragster racer Rebekah Motley.

Hearn Takes Top Spot At Havana Race

Litchfield junior drag racer Timothy Hearn picked up a win on day two of the Midstate Lucky Sevens event at the Central Illinois Dragway in Havana on Sunday, June 4, earning the $500 grand prize in … more

6/15/23

Addy Beal, pictured with her parents Angie and Andy Beal of Farmersville, picked up a second place finish in the Jr. Dragster class on Sunday, June 4, at Coles County Dragway in Charleston. Beal also did well the night before, winning the Ray Evans Consolation Bracket.

Beal 2nd, Consolation Winner At Charleston

Racing season is starting to heat up for 14-year-old Addy Beal of Farmersville, and by the looks of it, the driver of the Bad Addytude is ready. Racing at Coles County Dragway in Charleston on … more

6/15/23

Wood Scores Runner-Up For Litchfield Gang

The drag racers known as the Litchfield Gang recently partnered with Five Star Racewear ( fivestarracewear.com/thelitchfieldgang ) to release new merchandise featuring the cars of Dustin Bryant, … more

6/15/23

Bryant 2nd Twice At I-57

Litchfield racer Dustin Bryant, pictured above with his dad Phil, hadn’t raced since October, but old habits die hard and Bryant put on a show at Ellis I-57 Dragstrip in Benton on May 27-28. … more

6/15/23

About 60 children from the Hillsboro School District and other local communities joined the fun with the Topper football staff and players to learn the fundamentals of football at the Troy Helton Memorial Youth Topper Football Camp.

Youth Enjoy Inaugural Troy Helton Football Camp

The family of the late Troy Helton, who passed away in January 2022, hosted the inaugural Troy Helton Memorial Youth Topper Football Camp June 7-9 at Hillsboro High School. About 60 children … more

6/12/23

The College Report: Major, Blue Angels Post Postseason Wins

Haley Major , a Hillsboro graduate, and her Kaskaskia College teammates earned a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Softball World Series. The Kaskaskia College … more

by Dan Chamness | 6/12/23

From the left, the team of Larry Reincke, Jim Eickhoff, Danny Eickhoff and Denny Hiller finished first at the Roy L. Hertel Foundation For Better Communities golf outing at Indian Springs Golf Course in Fillmore on June 10, shooting a 53.

Fourth Annual Hertel Golf Outing Raises $6,500

On Saturday, June 10, the Roy L. Hertel Foundation For Better Communities held its fourth annual golf outing at Indian Springs Golf Course in Fillmore. After expenses, the group was able to … more

6/12/23

Bill Walker (right) and I on pit road at the Enjoy Illinois 300 on June 4. He probably wouldn't have sent me this if he knew I was going to put it in the newspaper.

Center and Guard: Halt! Imposter!

It’s been more than 15 years since I first started writing for The Journal-News and I’ve had the opportunity to cover some pretty cool things, from state championships to UFC fights to … more

6/12/23

Kyle Busch lights up the rear tires of his #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camero after winning NASCAR's Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison on June 4.

BUSCHHHHHH!

After leading the most laps last year and sharing a surname with one of the men that made St. Louis famous, it was only appropriate that Kyle Busch made it to victory lane in the second annual … more

6/12/23

Hillsboro racer Chase Saathoff (#88) has finished in the top three in each of his last four Progressive American Flat Track Singles races.

Saathoff On A Hot Streak

Few riders in the Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) Singles class were better than Chase Saathoff in the month of May as the Hillsboro motorcycle racer upped his total to five podium finishes on … more

6/8/23

Gillespie racer Collin Johnson catches some air going over a hill near the bridge that crosses the creek at the Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders grounds in White City, during the Little Red Sprint Enduro on Sunday, June 4. Returning from a knee and ankle injury, Johnson took first in the AA class and was the overall winner of the event, beating friend and Morrisonville rider Jhadyn Walker by just 30 seconds in a race that lasts close to two hours.

Johnson First, Walker Second At Little Red Enduro

Gillespie’s Collin Johnson made his enduro return at Cahokia Creek Dirt Riders in White City and came away with a win in this year’s Little Red Sprint Enduro. Johnson, who had been … more

6/8/23

Deadline For Free Litchfield FCA Power Camp Is June 16

Young athletes from all over the area will once again be in Litchfield on June 26 through June 28 for this year's Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Power Camp at the Litchfield High School and … more

6/8/23