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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
Champaign Central’s Ryan Pipkins goes for the throw as Centennial’s Ty Hunt slides in safely to second base on April 28 in a Big 12 Conference baseball game at Spalding Park in Champaign. The visiting Chargers delivered an 8-4 victory, and the two teams could meet again on Saturday in a Class 3A regional championship game.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Centennial and Champaign Central could meet one more time this school year.
➜ 2. If top-seeded Champaign Central baseball (22-12-1) can avoid an upset against seventh-seeded Urbana (6-23) and fourth-seeded Centennial (15-15) can beat sixth-seeded Lincoln (15-16) in two Class 3A regional semifinal games on Wednesday evening at Spalding Park in Champaign, the two programs would meet for the third time this season at noon on Saturday in a regional championship game.
➜ 3. Central is vying for its fifth straight regional title, while Centennial is trying to win the program’s first since 2016. The two teams split their regular-season series, with Centennial winning 8-4 at Spalding Park and Central winning 15-3 at Centennial.
Champaign Central graduate Tanner Gordon started for the Rockies on Friday night and picked up his first MLB win. The right-hander threw six innings and only gave up five hits to the New York Yankees, with the Rockies holding on for a 3-2 win in Denver.
Numbers game: 7
MLB stadiums Tanner Gordon has started a game in. The Champaign Central graduate will add another ballpark to the list on Wednesday night when the 27-year-old right-hander is expected to start for the Colorado Rockies against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. This is Gordon’s third start of the season and first since he won his first MLB game this past Friday when the Rockies held on for a 3-2 win against the New York Yankees at Coors Field in Denver.
Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. puts up a shot over Oklahoma City center Isaiah Hartenstein during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals this past Saturday night at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Shannon, a former Illini in his rookie season, has come off the bench the last two games to provide a spark for the Timberwolves. Minnesota trails 3-1 in the best-of-seven series before Game 5 tips off Wednesday night from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. The IHSA boys’ track and field state meet. Preps coordinator Zach Piatt will be there for all three days in Charleston, with the Class 1A prelims starting at 10 a.m. Thursday before the 2A and 3A prelims take place Friday and then finals for all three classes are on Saturday.
➜ 2. Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder. Former Illini Terrence Shannon Jr. is getting more playing time for the Timberwolves, but they face a 3-1 deficit before Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals tips at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
➜ 3. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin vs. Monticello baseball. Two area Class 2A programs meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday in a Class 2A sectional semifinal game in Decatur.
Braden Phillips, Faces of Spring photo shoot at the News-Gazette in Champaign on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
Ask an athlete
Three questions with Arcola four-sport athlete and 2025 graduate Braden Phillips:
➜ 1. Three athletes I’d like to have dinner with are … Michael Jordan, Larry Bushu and Bo Jackson.
➜ 2. The TV I most like to binge-watch is … 9-1-1.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … arrogance.
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