Enquirer~Democrat

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Quarter-century ago, a team that shouldn’t have - did the near impossible lead. It went to the bottom of the Sports Extra ninth, and Williams came on to pitch. With two on base, Carter “touched them all” with Eric Becker a walkoff home to win the , everybody’s dream as a child playing in the backyard. As a baseball fan, the summer game two with a walkoff in I sat in my dorm room at East- of 1993 will go down as the most the bottom of the 10th inning. ern Illinois University that Sat- improbable summer of my life. A week or so later, the Phils urday evening a bit shocked and My team I had rooted for swept the Cardinals at the Vet, in a complete state of disbelief as through thick and thin, mostly and St. Louis was virtually bur- to what I had just witnessed. It thin, since 1981, the Phillies, had ied. can’t be 25 years since that team, been cellar dwellers for the bet- Montreal gave the Phillies could it? I was a 20-year-old ter part of five years, including their best shot in September, get- junior at EIU, trying to find my last place in 1992. ting within four games, but the way in journalism. Then something magical hap- Phils got their first division title Although the Phillies would pened, like out of a fairy tale. in a decade on a Monday night in win division titles in 2007, 2008, The 1993 Phillies showed up for Pittsburgh. 2009, 2010 and 2011, and a , and didn’t stop So, it was a good season, as World Series title in 2008, none playing until of the 1993 nobody thought they could actu- of those teams had that mystique World Series some seven months ally beat the high-powered At- of the 1993 team. Wrestling program holds camp later. lanta Braves in the playoffs. It’s by far the most favorite It was the last year of the four- The Braves had to win 102 and entertaining sports team I Carlinville wrestling program hosted a three-day program at the former Fit Club building on Morgan St. division format. Florida Marlins games just to make the playoffs have ever followed. Nothing re- last week. Several helped lead the camp, including CHS coaches Tim Johnson and David Daugherty, along and were new by a game over San Francisco. ally compares to that group of with Daniel Card, Jacob Dixon, Tom Card, Bob Scott and Jake Schwartz. Pictured, front row from left, are to the baseball world. Perhaps that pennant race caused misfits, who could have been Dawson Wise, Riley Smith, Caden Rosentreter, Parker Sampson and Wesley Smith; back row, Jake In fact, Florida was picked by them to be a bit tired come Oc- mistaken for truck drivers or Schwartz, Rylan Wise, James Bray, John Bray, Ayden David, Greyson Davis and Coach David Daugherty. some to finish ahead of Philadel- tober. over-the-hill church league soft- phia by preseason predictors. Kim Batiste had a walkoff hit ball players. From that opening win at the in the first game of the National All who played that year on What's On Tap? Astrodome to that fateful Joe League Championship Series for that team contributed something. A look at upcoming sporting events for Carter in Toronto, the a win, and Williams eloquently The starting pitching was out- county area high school, junior high school CISL playoff 1993 Phils were a team full of won the pennant by striking out standing, using just five main teams and Blackburn College (BC). misfits, castoffs and wild mo- Bill Pecota in Game Six. starters most of the season. Wil- Aug. 11 ments. It was off to the World Series. liams had over 40 saves, albeit as JFL: Carlinville at Litchfield; Southwestern at Vandalia; Hillsboro at Gillespie; East Alton-WR at Staunton. There was Incy, Krukker, The defending champion To- one of the most unconventional Aug. 13 Dutch, The Dude, Wild Thing, ronto Blue Jays stood in the way. relief pitchers you would ever High school boys golf: Carlinville at Hickory Stick winners named D.J. and others. They had an equally awesome a come across in your life. Tournament at Belk Park, 9 a.m. The Central Illinois Sports On the girls side, pitching Junior high baseball vs. Mt. Olive, 4:30 p.m. That wacky cast of characters team, including a loaded lineup. The offense, spearheaded by League recently crowned its sum- machine league champion was Aug. 14 charged out of the gates to a 17-5 In game four, with Toronto , who should Junior high baseball at Southwestern, 4:30 p.m. mer baseball and softball tourna- Staunton (Buehler), followed by record in April, and never looked leading two games to one, the have been league MVP, Darren Aug. 15 ment champions in four age groups. Hillsboro (Reynolds), Bunker Hill Phils and Blue Jays played one Junior high baseball vs. Staunton, 4:30 p.m. back. Daulton, Dave Hollins, John Baseball standings for the Pitch- (Weller) and Litchfield (Belusko). It looked bad in late July, for the ages. Kruk and many others, had as Local/National TV ing Machine league included the The girls 8-10 division winner while in St. Louis. I was at that The Phils took a 14-8 lead to solid a year as you could possi- Schedule (Networks in parenthesis) team of Staunton (Saracco) fin- was Gillespie (Rakers), followed Thursday afternoon game sitting the eighth inning of that fateful bly get from an unconventional JIP - Joined In Progress ishing first, followed by Staunton by Staunton (Boster), Brighton Aug. 9 in the bleachers, as Curt Schil- Wednesday night, only to see cast of characters. Minnesota at Cleveland, noon (MLBN) (Foster), Gillespie (Young) and (Lucas) and Litchfield (Logan). ling got completely lambasted Toronto score seven runs in the I’d like to know of a more un- Seattle at Houston, 7 p.m. (MLBN) Brighton (Robinson). In 10-12 girls age division, Ship- by the Cardinals, and the lead eighth and take a 15-14 win, and likely pennant-winning team in Pittsburgh at San Francisco, 10 p.m. (MLB-JIP) In boys 8-10 year-old division, man (Strohback) was the winner, Aug. 10 in the East ap- command of the World Series. the history of baseball. With the St. Louis at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m. (FSMW) Gillespie (Melchert) was the win- followed by Hillsboro (Smith), peared grim. It was a definite blow to the way that team was assembled, Washington at Chi. Cubs, 1:20 p.m. (NBCS-Chi.) ner, followed by Litchfield (Way- Gillespie (Fellin) and Bunker Hill Cleveland at Chi. White Sox, 7 p.m. (NBCS-Chi.) The next night, after losing Phils, but respond- it is hard to see something like Milwaukee at Atlanta, 6:30 p.m. (MLBN) man), Bunker Hill (Turney) and (Heeren). game one of a doubleheader with ed with a two-hit complete-game that ever happening again in my Aug. 11 Staunton (Kilduff). The 12-14 year-old girls division San Diego at a rain-infested Vet- shutout the next night, keeping lifetime. St. Louis at Kansas City, 6:15 p.m. (FSMW) In boys 10-12 year-old division, winner was Bunker Hill (Searcy), Washington at Chi. Cubs, 3:05 p.m. (FS1, WCIX) erans Stadium, game two didn’t Philly’s season alive. But we do have the cherished Cleveland at Chi. White Sox, 6 p.m. (NBCS-Chi.) Bunker Hill (Girth) was the winner, followed by Gillespie (Niemeyer), start until around 1 a.m. local Toronto led 5-2 in the seventh memories to look back on and Texas at NY Yankees, noon (MLBN) followed by Benld (Sellers), Benld Litchfield (Hickerson) and Gil- inning of game six, only to see Milwaukee at Atlanta, 6 p.m. (FS1) time. realize, it wasn’t a dream. The Oakland at LA Angels, 9 p.m. (MLBN-JIP) (Wargo) and Litchfield (Ryker). lespie (Rife). At around 4:41 a.m. local time, the Fightin Phils again nearly 1993 Phillies were that team at Aug. 12 Bunker Hill (Hines) won the 12- Bunker Hill had three division Mitch “Wild Thing” Williams, do the impossible. They got four shouldn’t have, but almost did, Saint Louis at Kansas City, 1:15 p.m. (FSMW) 14 year-old boys division, followed champions combined, Staunton Washington at Chi. Cubs, 7 p.m. (ESPN) yes, the relief pitcher, ended runs in the seventh to take a 6-5 have its day. Cleveland at Chi. White Sox, 1 p.m. (THIS-TV) by Hillsboro (Mallory), Brighton and Gillespie won two titles and Seattle at Houston, 1 p.m. (TBS) (Kunz) and Litchfield (Dooley). Shipman had one title. Aug. 13 Washington at St. Louis, 7 p.m. (FSMW) Chi. White Sox at Detroit, 6 p.m. (NBCS-Chi.) NY Mets at NY Yankees, 6 p.m. (ESPN) Aug. 14 Have sports news? Washington at St. Louis, 7 p.m. (FSMW) Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs, 1:20 p.m. (NBCS-Chi.) Chi. White Sox at Detroit, 6 p.m. (THIS-TV) Submit it to Boston at Philadelphia, 6 p.m. (MLBN) Aug. 15 Washington at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m. (FSMW) This Week in Milwaukee at Chi. Cubs, 1:20 p.m. (Fox-55) [email protected] Chi. White Sox at Detroit, noon (NBCS-Chi.) Carlinville Sports UPCOMING START DATES OF FALL SPORTS QUARTER MILLION Monday, August 13 CMS Baseball – Mt. Olive – H – 4:30 p.m. CHS Golf – Hickory Stick Tournament – Belk Park – 9 a.m. ______Monday, August 20 POINT$ CHS Boys Soccer – East Alton Wood River – A – 5 p.m. ______Thursday, August 23 GIVEAWAY CHS Volleyball – Auburn – A – 5 p.m. ______Friday, August 24 The more you use your cards, the more chances you have to win. Each time you make an eligible CHS Varsity Football – Hillsboro – H – 7 p.m. “credit” or signature-based purchase with your ______UCB Everyday Points Debit and Credit Cards Saturday, August 25 between August 1 and August 31, 2018, you are automatically entered to win! CMS Cross Country – Williamson Invite – A – 9 a.m. CHS Freshman Football – A – 10 a.m. For more information, visit ucbbank.com/ sweepstakes or ask your banker for more ______details. Monday, August 27 CHS JV Football – Hillsboro – A – 6 p.m. ______Tuesday, August 28 854-4755 CHS Cross Country – Carlinville Early Meet – H - Fairgrounds – 4:15 p.m. ______UCBbank.com Brought to you by: The Leader of Community Banking

Thursday, AUGUST 9, 2018 Macoupin County Enquirer~Democrat 11 sports Card Camp offered for throwers Youngsters got a real eye-opener on how they can improve going forward. at UC-Davis and the University of what it takes to be a successful track “It’s nice to throw with someone Wisconsin. and field thrower last weekend at Carl- with experience who can watch and Daniel Card just wrapped up a suc- inville High School. help correct any issues - throwing takes cessful high school career at Carlin- U.S. Olympian Kelsey Card, a 2011 a lot of work and good balance,” Card ville High School, participating in graduate of Carlinville High School, said. “We are hoping to do more of wrestling, football and track and field. her brother Daniel Card and her hus- these clinics in the future.” He advanced to state in track and field band Andrew Bartsch hosted a free Card is a four-time IHSA state in his final three years. shot put and discus clinic at Carlinville champion at Carlinville High School High School. in the shot put and discus, and holds  Carlinville High School alum and The four sessions included 10 mid- the IHSA record for longest discus toss US Olympian in the discus, Kelsey dle school aged students and 12 high at 167-feet-four inches. Card and her husband, Andrew school aged students for a total of 44 In college at the University of Bartsch hosted a free clinic for shot athletes. Wisconsin, Card was a seven-time put and discus throwers at Carl- Card said that the athletes came from first-team All-American, and a Big inville High School. The clinic had as far away as Riverton, Springfield, 10 record holder in the outdoor shot four sessions, two on Friday and Tuscola, East Alton, and Highland. put (60-feet-10.75 inches) and discus two on Saturday. Middle school stu- “It was warm out but we had plenty (208-feet-five inches). She was 2016 dents were given instruction in the of rest breaks,” Card said. NCAA outdoor champion in the dis- morning and high school students Those participating were given the cus. were given instruction in the after- opportunity to have their form tech- Bartsch, currently Madison, Wisc. noon. The sessions consisted of niques evaluated with instruction on Club throws coach, is a former thrower around 10 campers for each.

Cavies Football practice underway Monday was the first official day that high school football teams could participate in football practice for the upcoming season. Carlinville Cavaliers’ gathered on the practice field Monday morning in preparing for the season, which starts Aug. 24 with a home game against Hillsboro at 7:05 p.m.

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12 Macoupin County Enquirer~Democrat Thursday, AUGUST 9, 2018