By Greg Halbleib
The CornBelters fell to Southern Illinois 13-9 in a Corn Crib slugfest. Aaron Dudley collected two home runs including a grand slam and five RBIs. The Belters are now tied for the final wild card spot with River City, where they travel this weekend. The Belters are off today before beginning the final road trip of the regular season tomorrow in Evansville.
The Chiefs lost 2-1 at Clinton as the Lumberkings completed a weekend sweep.
A first half goal was enough as Illinois edged Illinois State women’s soccer 1-0.
Professional basketball is coming back to U.S. Cellular Coliseum as the Midwest Professional Basketball Association has announced the team from Lima, Ohio is relocating to Bloomington. The Bloomington Express will begin play in January, joining new teams in Eureka and Jacksonville and existing Central Illinois franchises in Pontiac and Champaign among the teams for the MPBA’s third season.
Ryan Unzicker of El Paso finished third in the 100-mile stock car race at the Illinois State Fair. Unzicker was driving a car owned by Bill Hendren of Gridley, who has entered a car in the race for a state record 41 years.
The Cardinals shut out the Phillies 9-0 behind home runs from Jedd Gyorko, Stephen Piscotty, Brandon Moss and Jeremy Hazelbaker and seven strong innings on the mound from Mike Leake. The Cards take today off before starting a homestand tomorrow against the Mets.
The Cubs lost in Colorado 11-4 as the Rockies touched Jason Hammell for seven runs in the first inning. Nolan Arenado hit two homers to pass Cub Kris Bryant for the National League lead. The Cubs are in San Diego tonight as lefty Jon Lester makes his first start at Petco Park against Padres right-hander Edwin Jackson.
The White Sox beat the As 4-2, opening the game with a three-run first inning as Jose Quintana pitched into the eighth for his 10th win. The Sox are off and host the Phillies tomorrow.
The U.S. added three gold medals on the final day of the Rio Olympics. Men’s basketball beat Serbia 96-66, boxer Clarissa Shields repeated as gold medalist in the middleweight class and 20-year-old Kyle Snyder became the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champion. The United States ended the games with 121 medals, 51 more than China for the largest margin in nearly a century for an Olympics that wasn’t boycotted.
Kevin Harvick took the lead with 70 laps remaining and didn’t give it back as he won the NASCAR event at Bristol.
Si Woo Kim took his first career PGA victory in the Wyndham Championship with a five-stroke win over Luke Donald.
Alabama is number one in The Associated Press college football preseason poll, followed by Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Michigan, Stanford, Tennessee and Notre Dame.
