Former University of Illinois standout Gia Lewis-Smallwood has won her fourth U.S. Track and Field discus title in the last five years, capturing the crown on her fifth throw of 205′ 6″.
Illini golfer Nick Hardy has earned his first All-American honors. He was named to the second team Ping All-American squad by the Golf Coaches Assocation of America.
Illinois State women’s basketball has wrapped up the first recruiting class for head coach Kristen Gillespie with the addition of 5-5 guard Paige Saylor from the Indianapolis area.
The CornBelters pounded division-leading Florence 10-2 with a 16-hit attack led by four RBIs from Pekin native Justin Fletcher. Lefty Scott Sebald scattered six hits over eight shutout innings for the win. The Belters visit River City tonight.
The Cardinals dropped the road trip finale in Philadelphia 5-1. Former Illinois State Redbird Paul DeJong homered for the only Cardinals score. The Cards return to Busch Stadium tonight to begin a homestand against the Pirates. Pittsburgh sends Jameson Taillon to the mound while the Cards counter with Adam Wainwright.
The Cubs hammered the Marlins 11-1. Addison Russell registered a career-high four hits. The rematch is tonight in Miami with right-handers John Lackey and Jose Urena on the hill. Before the game, the Cubs demoted Kyle Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa after he recorded 12 homers in 64 games but was batting only .171.
The White Sox pounded the Twins 9-0 after waiting out a rain delay of nearly five hours. Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier each hit two-run homers in the opening inning. The Sox host the Athletics tonight with a pitching match-up of right-handers, Jharel Cotton for Oakland and Mike Pelphrey for the South Siders.
Three of tonight’s starting pitchers in majors are from North Central Illinois. Sterling-born and Minooka-raised Mike Foltynewicz starts for the Braves tonight against the Brewers, and Rock Falls native Jake Junis and St. Bede Academy graduate J.A. Happ square off as the Royals host the Blue Jays. Bloomington’s Denny Matthews will call that game for Royals radio.
The Bulls have traded three-time all-star Jimmy Butler to Minnesota in return for guards Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine, plus the Timberwolves’ seventh pick in the draft to get big man Lauri Markkanen from Arizona.
