Chase Walker scores 20 to help Illinois State beat Presbyterian 78-70 in first round of CBI
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Chase Walker had 20 points to lead Illinois State to a 78-70 victory over Presbyterian in the first round of the CBI Tournament at the Ocean Center on Sunday night.
The Redbirds (20-14) advance to Tuesday's semifinals where they will face the winner of a Monday quarterfinal matchup between Jacksonville and Incarnate Word.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
5 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Eastern Michigan-bound Aidan Nohava doubles to fuel Brother Rice's sectional rally. A green light? ‘I've got you.'
Brother Rice's Aidan Nohava lit up when he saw the coach's sign giving him the green light. The senior first baseman played out the range of scenarios in his head with a runner in scoring position, especially with Illinois State recruit Jackson Natanek following him in the batting order. 'I just wanted to put the ball in play and get the runner over or score him in the best case,' said Nohava, who's committed to Eastern Michigan. 'I knew Jackson was right behind me. 'We looked at each other and we each said that I've got you and you got me.' It all added up to success Wednesday afternoon as Nohava nailed a game-tying double and then scored on Natanek's single as the Crusaders walked off a 2-1 win over Oak Park-River Forest in a Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinal at Triton College in River Grove. Sophomore pitcher Brady Cunningham led off the seventh inning with a double for top-seeded Brother Rice (34-3), which advanced to play at 11 a.m. Saturday for the sectional title against Catholic League rival Mount Carmel (25-13), a 6-1 semifinal winner over Nazareth. The Crusaders' quest for a third state appearance in four years appeared in peril when they trailed 1-0 heading into their final at-bat, but coach Sean McBride wasn't playing the percentages. He allowed Nohava to let loose. 'We're playing to win and Aidan's our cleanup hitter for a reason,' McBride said of giving him that go-ahead. 'I thought he had two really good swings earlier in the game and just missed. 'He's a senior. He's been through this. I knew he'd get a good barrel on the ball.' True to form, Nohava drilled a second-pitch fastball down the left field line. 'They threw me fastballs all days and everything was inside,' he said. 'I knew they weren't going to switch from that. The previous pitch was also a fastball, so I knew exactly where it was.' Natanek, who earned the win with three strikeouts in an inning of relief, typically starts next to Nohava at second base. 'We've been playing in the infield together since my sophomore year and I knew he would pick me up there,' Natanek said. 'He's the best teammate you could ask for. 'He'd pick me up at 3 o'clock in the morning if necessary. I'd trust my life with him.' Two years ago as a sophomore, Nohava also was a starter as Brother Rice reached the state championship game. No moment is ever too big. 'All of the seniors have played in a game like this,' he said. 'Sophomore year in the supersectional, we had a one-run game. I try to have as much fun as I can. 'Baseball is a tough game. I just want to win for my team and for the guys behind me.' Nohava, who's hitting .316, has totaled 31 hits, five homers and 32 RBIs. An only child, he picked up the game when his parents started him in youth baseball. 'My parents put me around great people who helped me get good at the game,' he said. 'I realized then that the game was a lot of fun, I was good at it and just wanted to keep rolling.' His favorite activity outside of baseball is fishing. It fits his quiet nature but also determination. 'Growing up, I never had battles with siblings, so I just had to learn how to be competitive and get good at stuff,' Nohava said. 'I started watching YouTube videos about fishing. 'I just felt like it was something I wanted to do. I was out yesterday and caught a couple of fish.' Now, he has another memory that will last forever. 'This is one of the most important wins I've ever been a part of,' Nohava said. 'This could be my last pitch, my last game. I'm a captain, and (Wednesday) is going to sit heavy with me.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Cardinals' Arenado Asks to be Moved Down in Lineup
Having won 12 of their last 14 games, the Cardinals are one of the hottest teams in baseball. While just about everything seems to be going right for the Redbirds, it's been a rough last week or so for eight-time All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. In his last seven games, Arenado is slashing just .172/.194/.310. He's now hitting .247 on the year, with four homers and 18 RBIs. Advertisement Arenado has been the cleanup hitter for the Cardinals in every game he's played in this season, but that won't be the case for tonight's game against the Tigers. Amid his struggles at the plate and with other guys in the order being red-hot while hitting behind him, Arenado went to manager Oli Marmol, asking to be moved down in the order. Cardinals third baseman Nolan ArenadoPeter Aiken-Imagn Images "Guys are playing well in front of me, or that were hitting behind me, and they should move up in front of me," Arenado said about the lineup change. "It was really nothing more than that. I don't think it's pressure. It's just performance." The guys Arenado is referring to are Willson Contreras and Iván Herrera. Contreras, who is slashing .315/.397/.556 with three homers in his last 15 games, will now assume the role of cleanup hitter. Herrera will move up to the the five-spot, while Arenado will drop to sixth. Advertisement Herrera hasn't missed a beat since returning from the IL. He's slashing an incredible .500/.571/.750 in his last seven games. The Cardinals' offense will look to get things going again after scoring just one run in each of the final two games against the Royals. The Cardinals begin a three-game series with the Tigers tonight in St. Louis. Related: Cardinals Lead MLB in Ever Important Category Related: Cardinals vs Tigers: How to Watch and What to Watch for
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
English Teacher & Backyard Flowers: A Washington shot putter's record-breaking journey
WASHINGTON, Illinois (WMBD) – Joe Atkins may be one of the quietest athletes at a track meet, but his results are certainly loud enough. The Panther senior broke the Mid-Illini conference meet record with a throw of 62 feet, 3 inches. Even though he's ranked second in all of Illinois, he won't be satisfied until he's at the top of the podium. It's a little shaky. I'm not feeling too great about it, but I'm doing my best. I mean, I'm sort of going for gold. [The #1-ranked guy] right now is about a good close to a meter ahead of me. Joe Atkins In middle school, Joe started as a sprinter. His move to shot put came from maybe the last source you would expect. 'My eighth grade English teacher transferred me from sprinting with all my friends, to shot…She said I was a little bigger,' Atkins said. He may not be completing The Odyssey, but Joe's journey did begin right at home. There's nothing too fancy… I got a little extra practice. I do like not the full technique, but I do like some standing throws in my backyard… Try not to hit my mom's flowers. Joe Atkins When asked if he ever hit the flowers, Atkins laughed and said 'I mean if she ever asks, no.' As he focuses for the state meet and a future career at Illinois State, Joe likes the solitude of the ring. 'I'm more of a individual guy, and I just like the fact that, you know, if something happens, it's all it's all on me. And I can make whatever adjustments I need to do by myself,' Atkins said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
