By Greg Halblieb

It’s a bye week for University of Illinois football. The Illini travel to Nebraska next Saturday.

Pontiac girls tennis beat St. Bede 7-2.
U-High is Intercity cross country champion again, sweeping the girls and boys races at Maxwell Park for the seventh straight year. U-High’s Katy Clausen and Jack Franklin were individual champions.

U-High also swept the final girls and boys Corn Belt Conference golf tournaments at El Paso Golf Club. U-High’s Maddison Murphy and Central Catholic’s Tom Egbers were medalists.

Illinois Wesleyan volleyball earned a four set win at North Central for their ninth straight victory. Tyler Brown led the Titans with 13 kills. The Titans moved up one spot in the D-3 volleyball poll to number 16.

Illinois Wesleyan sophomore goalkeeper Katie Denney is the CCIW women’s soccer Defensive Player of the Week.

Dwight Grade School softball is going to the state tournament this weekend in Normal. The Redbirds beat Bishop Mac 7-6 to win the sectional at Kankakee and will play Camp Point Central in the Class A quarterfinals on Friday at 2 p.m. at Champion Fields in Normal.
The Cardinals are in a three-way tie for the final National League wild card spot after beating the Rockies 10-5. Adam Wainwright drove in four runs for the first time in his career to help his cause. The series concludes today with right-hander Luke Weaver on the bump for the Cardinals while the Rockies give the ball to righty German Marquez for his first Major League start.

The Cubs beat the Reds 6-1 as Jon Lester threw seven strong innings for his 18th win, best in the National League. The series continues tonight as right-handers duel at Wrigley Field, Robert Stephenson for Philly and John Lackey for the Cubs.

The White Sox lost at Philadelphia 7-6. The Sox send lefty Chris Sale to the hill tonight against Phillies righty Jerad Eickhoff.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is listed as day to day with a sprained right thumb suffered in Monday’s loss to the Eagles. Six Bears were injured in the game.