By Greg Halblieb

Pontiac 7th grader Dani Grace Schrock won the Illinois Elementary School Association girls golf title with a 79 at Kellogg Golf Course in Peoria. Eureka’s Allison Pacocha was third, Jaiden Mapugay of Metcalf was seventh, Jadyn Spinks of Chiddix was eighth and Reagan Kennedy of Epiphany tied for ninth.

Pontiac tennis edged Kankakee 3-2.

ISU’s Jaelyn Keene and Courtney Pence have been named Missouri Valley Conference volleyball players of the week after the Redbirds’ sweep of the UNI tournament. Keene was named Offensive Player of the Week, while Pence was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Week.

Illinois State football has taken an expected hit in the polls after Saturday’s loss to Eastern Illinois. The Redbirds dropped from fifth to ninth in the STATS poll and from fifth to 12th in the coaches poll. The Birds open Missouri Valley Football Conference play on Saturday at Indiana State.
The Bears gave up 26 straight points and turned the ball over three times in the second half as the Eagles won 29-14 at Soldier Field. Jay Cutler left the game in the second half with a thumb injury. The Bears have now lost six straight games at Soldier Field.

The Cardinals won 5-3 at Colorado to move back into a tie with the Giants for the last National League Wild Card spot. Carlos Martinez worked five innings and helped his own cause with a two-run double to break a tie in the fourth inning. The Cards continue at Colorado tonight with Adam Wainwright on the mound for St. Louis against the Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa.

The Cubs came from behind to beat the Reds 5-2. Tonight at Wrigley Field, right-hander Josh Smith starts for the Reds against Cubs lefty Jon Lester.

The White Sox dropped an 8-3 decision at Kansas City. The Sox continue the road trip tonight at Philadelphia with James Shields facing Jake Thompson in a match-up of right-handers.