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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
From left, Greg LaChance, Vyats Valincius and Jack Zebig have all played a role in helping the Illinois baseball team compile a 7-2 record in April. Next up: a three-game series starting on Friday night at Washington in the Illini’s first trip to Seattle in program history.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. The Illinois baseball team is up to 52 home runs on the season after hitting five during the Illini’s 17-6 win against SIUE on Tuesday night. The Illini (21-13) can add more starting Friday night when they begin a weekend series at Washington.
➜ 2. Polls close at noon on Thursday for our latest high school Athletes of the Week, powered by Copper Creek Contractors. You can vote right here.
➜ 3. The boys’ finalists are Preston Curtis (Clinton baseball), Aiden Frerichs (Milford baseball), Hunter Madigan (St. Thomas More tennis) and Kolton Wright (Prairie Central track and field). The girls’ finalists are Savannah Finley (Urbana soccer), Jacey Hageman (LeRoy softball), Brooklynn Kellems (Fisher softball) and Lauren Shaw (Unity track and field).
Kaden Feagin is a main option the Illinois football team will use at running back in 2025.
Numbers game: 744
career rushing yards by Kaden Feagin at Illinois. The former Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond standout, who started four of the five games he played in last season before needing hip surgery, is now the leader in that category after Josh McCray took his 1,370 career rushing yards with the Illini and entered the transfer portal on Wednesday.
Illinois men’s gymnastics coach Daniel Ribeiro and his team will compete Friday evening at the NCAA Championships in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Washington baseball. The Illini (21-13, 9-6 Big Ten) are tied with the Huskies (19-19, 9-6 Big Ten) for fifth place in the Big Ten before playing at picturesque Husky Ballpark at 9:02 p.m. Friday. The weekend series marks the Illini’s first trip to Seattle in program history.
➜ 2. NCAA men’s gymnastics championships. Illinois is one of 12 teams vying for a national title, beginning Friday at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. Six teams will advance from Friday’s qualifiers to compete in Saturday’s finals.
➜ 3. Big Ten women’s golf championships. The Illini tee off Friday at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, Md., to begin the three-day tournament.
Brandon Zaayer and his wife, Lacey, with their three daughters: Dottie, Denim and Daylin.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Westville softball coach Brandon Zaayer:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Westville Tigers.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Phil Jackson, Joe Maddon and Patty Gasso.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … excuses.
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