By Greg Halbleib
Illinois State women’s soccer hits the road for a first NCAA match at Michigan on Saturday night. The Redbirds earned the automatic berth by winning the Missouri Valley Conference tournament in Normal on Sunday.
Illinois Wesleyan women’s soccer stays home for its first round NCAA match, hosting Hanover College on Saturday afternoon at 1:30. Titans Skyler Tomko, Sarah Trach, Alison Seger and Ellie Crabtree were named to the CCIW first team, while Crabtree was named Freshman of the Year and coach Dave Barrett earned his second straight Coach of the Year award, his fifth overall.
Illinois Wesleyan volleyball did not receive an NCAA bid but placed sophomore Tyler Brown on the CCIW first team and Rachel Burkman and Kyleigh Block on the second team.
The Bulls clobbered the Orlando Magic 112-80 behind 20 points from Jimmy Butler.
The Seattle Seahawks beat the Buffalo Bills 31-25 in a tense Monday Night Football showdown.
Finalists for the Major League Baseball individual awards have been announced. Cub Kris Bryant, Daniel Murphy of Washington and Corey Seager of the Dodgers are finalists for National League Most Valuable Player, while the American League MVP finalists are Jose Altuve of Houston, Mookie Betts of Boston and the Angels’ Mike Trout. Cy Young Award finalists are Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks of the Cubs and Max Scherzer of the Nationals. AL Cy Young finalists are the Indians’ Corey Kluber, Rick Porcello of the Red Sox and Justin Verlander of the Tigers. The Cubs’ Joe Maddon is a finalist for National League Manager of the Year.
Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler says he will file for free agency, while White Sox pitcher James Shields will keep his contract with the White Sox instead of entering free agency after tying the Major League lead with 19 losses.
Longtime Chicago baseball announcers Ken Harrelson and Pat Hughes are among the eight finalists for the Ford C. Frick Award that rewards broadcasting excellence.
The Cubs say they’re sorry, but they have to get rid of the chalk messages and artwork left on the outer walls of Wrigley Field because of offseason construction that’s about to begin. The Cubs plan to take final photos of the walls and display them publicly at some point.
After 22 years as commissioner of the PGA, Tim Finchem is stepping down. Total prize money in his tenure has grown from about $52 million to nearly $300 million this season, and that doesn’t include the four majors.
