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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Illinois State athletics
Unity graduate Elyce Knudsen, left, has helped spark the Illinois State women’s basketball team to the WNIT semifinals.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Former Illini Michael Massey had a productive Monday, with the Kansas City Royals second baseman going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI as the Royals routed the host Milwaukee Brewers 11-1.
➜ 2. Former Unity standout Elyce Knudsen helped the Illinois State women’s basketball team reach the WNIT semifinals after Monday night’s 78-70 quarterfinal win against Louisiana Tech. Knudsen did her part by scoring a game-high 21 points. The Redbirds (24-12) will host Troy (23-13) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
➜ 3. Many thanks to Illinois women’s gymnastics coach Nadalie Walsh, along with former Unity football coach Scott Hamilton and current Unity football coach Tony Reetz, for joining ‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ at the Esquire. Listen to the podcast right here.
Kyle Schupmann has a team-high seven home runs for Illinois baseball before it hosts Illinois State on Tuesday night in Champaign.
Numbers game: 40
home runs the Illinois baseball team has hit this season going into Tuesday night’s home game with Illinois State at Illinois Field in Champaign. A season after hitting a program-record 104 home runs during the 2024 season, that mark is fifth in the Big Ten. Third baseman Kyle Schupmann has a team-high seven home runs for the Illini (14-11).
Kaitlyn Helm and the Champaign Central softball team is off to a 3-0 start heading into Tuesday afternoon’s game at Rantoul.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Western Illinois at Illinois softball. The Illini (13-17) are trying to end a seven-game losing skid when the Leathernecks (8-23) visit for a 5 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday. And bragging rights are on the line for the Goler family: Illini assistant coach Brendan Goler is the younger brother of WIU coach Alisa Goler.
➜ 2. Centennial at St. Joseph-Ogden baseball. A quality nonconference game should take place at Meier Field in St. Joseph at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday between the host Spartans (6-2) and Chargers (3-3).
➜ 3. Champaign Central at Rantoul softball. The Maroons (3-0) try to keep their unbeaten start going at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday against the host Eagles (3-3).
Austin Bridgman during his Armstrong-Potomac cross-country career in 2018.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Armstrong-Potomac cross-country coach Austin Bridgman, a 2019 A-P graduate now in charge of the same Trojans’ program he ran for:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Los Angeles Lakers.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Mike Smith, Andrew Craycraft and Mike Krzyzewski.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … athletes skipping their warmup.
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