Maroons stay perfect with four-inning rout over Peoria Lions

Champaign Central's first-inning outburst rocks host Peoria in conference softball win.

by Ben Robertson
The Sentinel

PEORIA — Champaign Central kept its unbeaten streak alive on Saturday afternoon, overpowering host Peoria 21-0 in a four-inning victory to improve to 8-0 on the season.

The Maroons set the tone early, scoring 10 runs in the opening frame and piling on six more in the second before closing out their scoring with five in the third. Central tallied 19 hits and 16 RBIs in the win, while eight players combined for eight stolen bases.

Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Helm led the offensive effort with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, recording two triples and driving in multiple runs. Helm also crossed the plate four times.

Molly Kloeppel delivered a standout performance, driving in four runs on three hits, including a triple in the first inning and a two-run home run to center in the third. Kloeppel also tripled during the opening frame, contributing to the Maroons' early scoring burst.

Grace Bandy added a triple and a double, scoring multiple runs, while Maisie Bowers went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Bowers also earned the win in the circle, tossing three hitless innings and striking out five. Peoria was held without a hit across the abbreviated contest.

The Maroons’ first-inning outburst featured extra-base hits from Bandy, Helm, and Kloeppel, a walk drawn by Mya de la Cruz to bring in a run, and an RBI double from Bandy in her second at-bat of the inning. Central continued its production in the second inning with RBIs from Jaila Davis, Kennedy Hedrick, Helm, and Bowers.

Central sealed the win in the third with a six-hit inning, highlighted by Kloeppel’s homer and Bowers’ two-run double.

Champaign Central returns to action on Monday at Mattoon against the Green Wave to extend its perfect start to 9-0.

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Tigers' 5-game streak interrupted, Raiders hold UHS scoreless

All photos Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Avoiding a challenge for the ball from Bloomington's Finn Moore, Urbana's Winner Nana pushes the ball up the field during first-half action in the Tigers' home match on Tuesday. UHS, who enjoyed a five-game win streak heading into the contest, and the Raiders finished the day with a scoreless draw. Nana and the Tigers are back on the pitch next Tuesday, hosting Champaign Central. Two days later, they will travel to the other side of Champaign to take on Centennial.


~ More match photos ~

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Urbana dominates Normal West for conference tennis win

Urbana's Karl Bonito hits a volley back over the net in their home match against Uni-High last month. Teamed up with Santi Lleras in the #2 doubles slot, the pair defeated Tyler Cunningham and Dane Schlipmann in their road conference match at Noral West, 8-4. The Tigers' varsity tennis team brought home the W after dominating the Ironmen, 6-3.

Sentinel/Clark Brooks
NORMAL - There is no better feeling than walking away with a pair of wins after a varsity tennis match. You can bet Urbana's Ian Peters and Xander Ashley were happy campers after helping UHS pick up a 6-3 team win over host Normal West on Tuesday.

After dropping a first close set 7-5 at #1 singles for Urbana, Ashley rallied back to win the second set 6-2 to force a tiebreaker. Having West's Rolen Schlipmann's number, and the momentum still in his favor, he took the third set 10-5.

Later, paired up with doubles partner Luke Pankau at #3 doubles, the duo rolled past Ironmen Nolan Lampert and Andrew Cunningham for breadstick, 8-1.

Like Ashley, Peters also dropped his first set during his singles match against Normal West's Tyler Cunningham. The senior recovered from the lopsided 6-1 loss to take the second set 6-3. Still in command in the 10-point tiebreak, he took the match with an impressive 10-3 win.

With teammate Joe Solava as his doubs partner, the two ground out a hard-fought victory over Ironmen duo Rolen Schlipmann and Evan Pattelli, Normal West at #1 doubles, 8-6.

Also picking up wins for the Tigers were Dominic Urban at #6 singles and # doubles pair Santi Lleras and Karl Bonita.


BOX SCORE ~

Singles:
No. 1 - Xander Ashley, Urbana def. Rolen Schlipmann, Normal West, 5-7 , 6-2 , 10-5
No. 2 - Evan Pattelli, Normal West def. Joe Solava, Urbana, 2-6 , 6-4 , 10-2
No. 3 - Ian Peters, Urbana def. Tyler Cunningham, Normal West, 1-6 , 6-3 , 10-3
No. 4 - Dane Schlipmann, Normal West def. Santi Lleras, Urbana, 6-3 , 3-6 , 10-4
No. 5 - Nolan Lampert, Normal West def. Karl Bonita, Urbana, 6-3 , 7-5
No. 6 - Dominic Urban, Urbana def. Michael Zaleski, Normal West, 6-2 , 6-7 (5), 10-8

Doubles:
No. 1 - Joe Solava - Ian Peters, Urbana def. Rolen Schlipmann - Evan Pattelli, Normal West, 8-6
No. 2 - Santi Lleras - Karl Bonita, Urbana def. Tyler Cunningham - Dane Schlipmann, Normal West, 8-4
No. 3 - Xander Ashley - Luke Pankau, Urbana def. Nolan Lampert - Andrew Cunningham, Normal West, 8-1

FINAL: Urbana 6 - Normal West 3

Sentinel Signature Announcements

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Area winter storm cancellations & changes

This page will be updated as we receive information from Athletic Directors and event organizers. Refresh this page to see the latest updates.


Friday

• Rantoul Eagles at Prairie Central rescheduled

• Urbana - Peoria Notre Dame game canceled

• St. Joseph-Ogden's home game against Pontiac has been postponed

Game will be now be played on Feb. 2.

• IPC Conference Wrestling at Unity cancelled

• Unity's home game against PBL changee

This will be a varsity only contest tonight starting at 5:30 PM.


Saturday

• SJO home game against Maroa-Forsyth time changee

This will be a varsity only contest starting at 4 PM


Sunday

• Urbana Park District's S'mores Social and Stroll cancelled

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Homecoming hit: Tigers fall 58-6 to Maroons

Urbana's CJ Blanden
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Urbana's CJ Blanden keeps Central's Tyson Hines out of the Tigers' backfield on a pass play during last Friday's homecoming game. UHS played an impressive first quarter but fell prey to inexperience and lack of depth in key positions suffering a conference loss to the Maroons, 58-6. Blanden, a sophomore center, and the Tigers (0-5) travel to Normal this Friday to take on the 4-1 Pioneers. More photos from this game from the Centennial coming soon.

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Photo Gallery | Urbana is back, Tigers lose first game in two years

After a two-year hiatus, the Urbana football program is back in action in the Big 12 Conference. As expected, the road to rebuilding a quality football program will be brutal for the Tigers. With just six players - Lucas Pankau, Jaydon Riggs, Ayden Palmer, Tahaji Haymer, Aveon Vann, and Seth Pierson - who make up the senior class on this year's squad, the Tigers haven't won a game after the first three weeks of play in the regular season.

This past Friday, Urbana fell 92-0 to the Peoria High School and dropped their Week 2 contest a week earlier to Peoria Notre Dame, 72-0.

Those scores might be a cause for concern, but keep in mind the program's youth and varsity inexperience outside of the efforts of a lone senior, it is the team's underclassmen doing the heavy lifting in the stat book.

Sophomore Sorrell Darough, Jr., has 116 all-purpose yards so far, and freshman Christian Porter has tallied 70 yards after making appearances in two games for Urbana. Kyree Hillsman, who has 23 rushing and 12 passing yards, is also a sophomore.

Pankau is leading the Tigers' offensive effort in his final season of eligibility with 198 yards.

Riggs, the starting quarterback, has completed 16 of 54 passes for 233 yards and has tallied 13 yards rushing.

Below are photos from the team's season opener against Centennial on Saturday, August 26. Despite a running clock in the second half, Urbana scored two touchdowns during the fourth quarter in the 49-14 loss.


Urbana football team walks on to Tommy Stewart Field

Locked arm-in-arm, (left to right) Kamario Kersch (So.), Tahaji Haymer (Sr.), CJ Blanden (So.), Jaydon Riggs (Sr.) and Kyree Hillsman (So.) lead members of the 2023 Tigers football team on to Tommy Stewart Field to take on the Centennial Chargers in their season-opener. The group is the first to represent the Urbana athletic program in two years. Keeping in mind, not one athlete on the team saw time on a varsity squad, Urbana played with heart and determination displaying occassional glimpses of their future potential.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Sorrell Darough, Jr., is wrapped up by Chargers' defender during first quarter action. After three games, the sophomore is averaging 3.8 yards per carry for the Tigers.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Jaydon Riggs drags a Centennial player on a play during the first quarter. The senior ran for six yards and went 6-for-14 for 119 yards passing.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Tiger's CJ Blanden provides pass protection during a first half play.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Tigers' defensive back Jaydon Riggs drags down a Charger ball carrier for a loss.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Sorrell Darough, Jr., is tackled by a Centennial Charger. UHS trailed 14-0 after the first quarter of the game. Darough would go on to finish the game with six carries good for 51 yards.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Surrounded by the opposing team, Jaydon Riggs looks for running room against the Chargers. The senior would score the team's only rushing touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Despite their team's struggle on the field in front of them, Urbana student fans were supportive and cheered enthusiastically at every opportunity.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana sophomore ball carrier Anthony Portis hangs on to the ball after taking solid licks from Centennial defenders while returning a kickoff.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana fans watch their team during the season-opener on Saturday in Champaign.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Centennial cornerback Trunique Harvey breaks up a pass play to Urbana's Alexander Davis.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

The Urbana Tiger plays rock-paper-scissors with a Tiger fan during halftime. At the break, UHS was down 42-0.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana head coach Curtis Blanden

Urbana head coach Curtis Blanden goes over the team's second half game plan with Kyree Hillsman. The sophomore carried the ball twice gaining 15 yards in the conference loss.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

A young football fan shows off his dance moves during a timeout while music is played over the P.A. system during the fourth quarter.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Sorrell Darough, Jr., races to the end zone to score the first, and so far, only passing touchdown of the season. The sophomore made two catches for a total of 59 yards against the host Chargers.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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