Coal City Courant

Lady Coalers build a foundation during youth camp

Published by admin on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 4:31pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Interest in Coal City girls basketball is increasing based on the number of youngsters who participated in the summer camp last week.
About 40 girls in grades 4-8 showed up, a good sign says Coal City varsity coach Brad Schmitt.
“That is something we struggled with before I took over the program is having solid numbers,” said Schmitt. “It’s something that we have turned around. We have good numbers now. We have kids interested.”

Babe’s Tap wins memorial softball tournament second time in three years

Published by admin on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 4:29pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The rain delayed the annual Josh Cumming Memorial Softball Tournament so often that the team who was undefeated was declared the winner of the entire tournament. Babe’s Tap was that team for the second time in three years.
“It was a wash,” said tournament organizer Todd Cumming. “We got rained out with three teams left. It dumped on us. We probably got over an inch of rain in a few minutes.”

Group looking for alternate teams for ‘cup-in-hand kickball’

Published by admin on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 4:25pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Community Foundation for Wilmington Parks & Recreation for Improvement and The Wilmington Park District are seeking alternate teams as back-ups for a cup-in-hand kickball tournament.
The tournament will take place on the South Island during Catfish Days which are July 25-28.

Hutchings, Hopwood compete in High School Baseball National Championship

Published by admin on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 4:22pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Wilmington senior Keaton Hopwood and Coal City senior Payton Hutchings competed in the High School Baseball National Championship on Team Illinois Monday.
Hutchings batted 4-for-4 with four runs driven in while starting on the mound.
He pitched three innings and gave up three earned runs against a powerful California team. The southpaw also fanned one and walked one as Team Illinois fell to Team California, 11-8.

Kankakee River Valley Fishing Derby to start Friday

Published by admin on Tue, 06/25/2019 - 4:19pm

Anglers registered for the 36st annual Kankakee River Fishing Derby are hoping the river continues to recede as the 10-day contest opens Friday.
The river crested at 4.13 ft in Wilmington last week and has dropped 6 inches as of Monday. The National Weather Serice forecast is predicting a warmer dry spell and organizers are hopeful river levels remain stable. If not, it may be a derby year when catfish catches are predominate.
That will fit right for a new category added to the Big Board portion of the derby. Flathead catfish will have its own category on the Big Board.

Grundy Sheriffs office investigating stabbing in Goose Lake

Published by admin on Wed, 06/19/2019 - 7:54am

The Grundy County Sheriff released the following information 

         On Monday, 6/17/2019 at approximately 11:46 pm, Grundy County Sheriff’s Deputies were called to the area of Island Drive in Morris, Illinois for a report of a stabbing.

Littleton awarded Pitcher of the Night during CG shutout

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2019 - 5:26pm

by shawn long
staff writer
Former Coal City pitcher Brad Littleton has been lighting it up on his semi professional baseball team, earning the pitcher of the night honors with the Rockford Rivets on Tuesday.
Littleton pitched a complete game shutout, fanning nine Kenosha Kingfish batters during Rockford’s 5-0 win.
Littleton has been one of Rockford’s best arms all year with a record of 2-1 and a 1.83 earned run average through 19.2 innings. He has also struck out 15 batters while walking five.

Lady Coalers fall in third place consolation

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2019 - 5:12pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Coal City girls basketball team came up short during the Braidwood Shootout tournament losing the third place consolation game to Wilmington.
During their first game on Tuesday, the Lady Coalers were unable to get past the good defense of Seneca, falling 38-10 in the opening round.

Coalers cruise past Woodland, fall in consolation

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2019 - 5:10pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Coaler boys basketball team started out strong in the Braidwood Shootout tournament but needed more muscle in the end.
That muscle could have been provided by three starters who were absent due to a travel baseball tournament.

Lady ‘Cats scratch Coal City, third in consolation

Published by admin on Tue, 06/18/2019 - 5:09pm

by shawn long
staff writer
The Wilmington girls basketball team competed in the Braidwood Shootout on Tuesday where they ended up placing third in the consolation bracket.
The Lady ‘Cats played a tough first round but were down to the eventual runner-ups, Peotone, and fell in a 10-point deficit, 36-26 that put them in the consolation bracket right off the bat.