Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 18

Mattoon (111.) Journal Gazette BS Saturday. May 28.14 Double overtime win lifts Rangers to finals NEW YORK AP) The agonizing ecstasy that is the New York Rangers' quest for the Cup continues. Seeking their first sip of Stanley Cup champagne in 54 years, the Rangers earned their First trip to the NHL. championship round since 1979 with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night in the seventh game of the Eastern Conference final. Stephane Matteau scored at 4:24 of the second overtime, sending the Madison Square Garden crowd into a frenzy and the Rangers into the finals for the 10th of the celebration.

"We go to work onTues-day. The fans are celebrating but we have to keep it in perspective." New Jersey took a 2-0 lead in Game 6, but Messier scored three times in the third period as the Rangers rallied to a 4-2 victory. That set the stage for Friday's dramatics. New Jersey, still looking for its first trip to the finals, also lost in seven games to Boston in the 1988 conference final. Both teams are 2-4 in seventh games over the years.

New York's only other Game 7 victory, in 1992, came in a first-round series against the Devils. couver on Tuesday, has won three titles none since 1940. The Rangers, who had the NHL's best regular-season record, held off their legendary Cup Curse despite allowing Valeri Zelepukin's tying goal with 7.7 seconds left in regulation. "It's an important step to get where we want to get to," Rangers captain Mark Messier said. "It was an incredible series, obviously three overtime games.

Two strong teams going at it." The Rangers outshot the Devils 48-32 and dominated both overtimes but couldn't claim the series until Matteau's unas- sisted goal. Matteau carried the puck behind the New Jersey net and tried to center a pass to Esa Tikkanen. But the puck went off the stick of sliding Devils defenseman Viach-eslav Fetisov and past goalie Martin Brodeur, giving Matteau bis second overtime winner of the series. He alsd scored at 6:13 of the second overtime in Game 3. It capped an unprecedented comeback for the Rangers, who had lost each of their previous 15 best-of-7 series when falling behind three games to two.

They would not go 0-for-16. "It'll end pretty quickly," Messier said time. New York, which plays host dominates leagiieteam TUSCOLA Four Tuscola players were among the 13 first-team picks on the Little Okaw Valley all-conference baseball team, Areola had senior catcher Kevin-Holbaugh and junior pitcher Shane Pullen selected to the second team. Rrstteam '-denotes unanimous choice Pitchers-Caleb Englehardt, Tuscola; Jeremy Welch, Atwood-Hammond; catcher-Jim Bowen, Tuscola; infield-ers-Jim Minor, Lovington; Matt Wingstrom, Tuscola; Chris Cheeley, Villa Grove; John Strack, Bement; Jared Crowe, Atwood-Hammond; out-fielders-Aaron Hastings, Tuscola; Ernie Radmaker, Bement; Jared Thompson, Atwood-Hammond; designated hitter-Korey Hazard, Villa Grove Second team Pitchers-Shane Pullen, Areola; Gilbert Wilson, Bement; catcher-Kevin Hohlbauch; infielders-Jared Welch, Atwood-Hammond; Shane King, Tuscola; Kris Kincaid, Tuscola; Josh Pn-der, Atwood-Hammond; outfielders-Jake Mann, Bement; Ryan Scmierle, Bement; PatQuinn, Tuscola; Matt Rund, Villa Grove; designated hitter-Israel Hilton, Villa Grove Honorable mention Danny Price, Villa Grove; Brett Willoughby, Atwood-Hammond Cairo to Van- Benji Pruitt Class AA BABE RUTH JUNIOR DIVISON Wonder Wash 7, Comer Nissan 6: Hitting: Wonder Wash-Toby Montgomery, Chaifen Eldridge three hits. NOTE: Game ended on a double play Continued from Bl are all great kids.

"It's nice to fight for a state championship and we've had some great teams. But it's just as great to have the kids compete. I've had one go to Wisconsin and graduate. Another went to Eastern. This really helps.

It's hard for these kids." Cairo indeed has had potent teams, with Lubeech Graves helping the Pilots to titles in 1988 and 1990 and the team winning again in 1992. But the significance doesn't do much for modern-day Cairo performers. "I hate to say it," Nesby said. "But I'm a senior and I really don't care what happens next year." Continued from Bl "My main concern is still the triple jump," Topps said. "It's my bread and butter." While Topps had a good day his Decatur MacArthur team's hopes of contending for a trophy were lost when Joe Mickle, a qualifier in the 100 and 200 and key to his team's 800 relay, was suspended from school for missing classes this week.

Evanston had the most qualifications for finals, advancing eight individuals and two relay teams. The Wildkits' Danyel Cecil Martin leads all shot putters at 57-8 V2 while Robert Simmons turned in the second best 200 dash. Rock Island advanced six individuals plus the 400 and 800 relay teams with Friday's fastest times. The Rocks' Aaron Taylor had the fastest 200 dash time at 21.71 while teammate Jerry Harris' 10.73 in the 100 tied Boling-brook's Corey Day for the day's best. In addition to its sprint strength, Rock Island has Brad Wilson, who won his 1,600 run heat with a 4:18.67, second to Stanford Olympia's Troy Weaver's 4:18.17 on the day.

Wilson is also in today's fast heat of the 3,200, which has no prelimrace. "Yeah, this is one thing East St. Louis doesn't have but they also have people in events we don't," Wilson said. East St. Louis Senior, the defending team champion, ended up not advancing in some of the spots most expected.

Orlando McKee, whose 23-1V2 was the state's best sectional long jump, failed to qualify with his 21-6Mj Friday, and also was eliminated in the triple jump. They wouldn't let him get his steps in," East St. Louis Senior Say it in a letter to the editor I'LIFE CAR FARM HEALTH HOME Li LI Greg Fairchlld SHELTER INSURANCE 11 20 Lake Land Blvd. Suite 4 (217)258-6012 Mattoon (89. ioig.nvii;i;jj;gr i in 1 1 I 1 -v coach John Davis said.

"He went to run his race and then he had to come back and just jump from feel." Carl Wilson, who was top- seeded in the 200 after sectionals, bowed out finishing fourth in his semifinal heat, limping away with a sore leg. "He has been complaining about it for the last two weeks but this is the state," Davis said. "You" have to put that behind you." Still, East St. Louis Senior ad-l: vanced in three individual and all four relays. The Flyers'-, Demarcus Smith turned in FrP.

day's best 800 time of 1:54.67. "Our key is we're in all four re-r lays," Davis said. "And we can some juggling there." Springfield Southeast eight qualifications while Thorn- ridge and Bolingbrook had sevea'-apiece. i Thornridge was led by sprinter Ray Fouchea, who at'; least for a few minutes to be the star of the day. O'Brien Stadium's scoreboard clock showed Fouchea winning his 100 semifi-.

nal in 9.9 seconds, which would'; beaten the national high record of 10.18 by Roy Martin of; Roosevelt, Texas in 1985. However, the Accutrack; showed Fouchea running only a'1 10.82, which was beaten by three 1 others in semifinals. If some naive fans were fooled, Fouchea wasn't. "I pretty much knew I couldn't have run a 9.9," he said. "I had a pretty decent start but I didn't: run all out." He is looking for a gold medal, not a national record today.

"I think if I get a good rest tonight I can run a 10.4, 10.5 in the 100 and a 21.7, 21.6 in te 200," Fouchea said. "I think in the 100 1 can win it and in the 200 I'd like to place high." 100 FINANCING 100 FINANCING 100 FINANC- SALE ON MAINTENANCE FREE VINYL SIDED BUILDINGS $300 OFF PRICE Expires May 31, 1994 Send To: 1510 W. Fayette Rd. Effingham, IL. 62401 (217) 342-4510 or (217) 347-2808 D0LLOOEI ononscs Quality Since 1952 100 FINANCING 100 FINANCING 100 FINANCING $1169 14-Oz.

Insulated Sparta's Neil Birchler in the 400 with a time of 49.91 and his 1:57.87 is slightly behind Burlington Central's Mark Ludemann (1:57.86) in the 800. Eldorado's junior Parks twins each won a heat of the run preliminaries and Joseph Parks said sectional times are misleading. Though ranked high in the 1,600, the twins are 14 seconds off the pace in the 3,200. "We're planning to win the whole thing," he said. "I've run the best two-mile time in the state, but nobody knows it.

We're sneaking up on everybody." Both looked strong in their heats. Jeremy Parks has the top overall time with 4:22.88 and Joseph Parks is third overall at 4:24.76, behind Westmont's Chris Bailey who ran in Jeremy Parks' heat. "I could have run faster if somebody was pushing me," Joseph Parks said. Today, that somebody could be his twin brother. Then the pair that has alternated wins during the season may have to battle it out.

Other battles are forming. Elder Continued from Bl pointed competitor on the day. After clearing 13-6 in the sectional, Poe had high hopes of advancing to the finals in the pole vault, but it just wasn't meant to be as he failed to clear 13-0. All 12 competitors who advanced to the finals vaulted 13-3. Poe cleared the opening height of 12-0 on his first try and then jumped 12-6 on his second attempt, but failed on all three tries at 13-0.

"I felt all right," Poe said. "But I don't know what happened." There were some happy area competitors Friday. Sullivan's Mike England ran his personal best time in the 200-meter dash to advance to the semifinals, but couldn't get past there. England finished fourth in his preliminary heat with a time of 23.19 and then ran a 24.51 in the semis. He was proud of the way he ran and wasn't disappointed about not advancing to the finals.

"I didn't expect to qualify for finals," England said. "I stayed relaxed the whole time and never tightened up. In my own mind I thought I ran a decent race. I was ready to race and whatever came to me, came to me." England credited his coach and family for helping him qualify for state this season. "I just want to thank coach (Derik Eaton) for pushing me the last three years to get me to this E3 C3 How to Class A Continued from Bl "I'm not real happy yet," Nesby said.

"I don't have the long jump down yet." He didn't hit the board on jumps of 22-312 and 22-212. He also was off slightly in his triple jump, but vows that today will be different. "I'm going all the way out," Nesby said. "It's hard to defend your title. A lot of people would be happy to beat you, but I'm going to keep my titles." He first must contend with Knuffman.

"I knew he could jump," Nesby said. "I just didn't know he could jump 23." Jones had history on his mind when he decided to attempt a difficult mix of sprint and distance by aiming to win the 400 and the 800. "The significance struck me," Jones said. "That is pretty much why. It's just for the fun of it, I guess." Jones is the defending Class A 400 champion and also was a high finisher at the state cross country meet.

He looked good, winning his heats of both races. He is behind t'i i list .1 tt -i. ft1 two hits each. Comer Nissan- Harrisburg Robinson, Rockford Christian Life and Herscher are among the leaders looking for a team title. Christian Life finished third last year.

"It's most important to get a lot of seconds and thirds," Christian Life sprinter Marlon Russey said. "Even if we don't finish high, being here is a privilege. We're here to have fun and if you came all the way here and didn't have fun, you must be crazy." Christian Life also is expected to get points from sophomore Jonte Edwards. Robinson is counting heavily on junior sprinter Kyle Johnson, among the leaders in the 100 and 200 and a key cog on the 400 and 800 relay teams. "We have a good shot at it," Robinson said.

"I think I have the best shot in the 200. 1 felt really strong when I came off the curve. I may not have enough speed to win the 100, but I may just have the strength to win the 200." Robinson last won state in 1978. "We're definitely hoping for a team title," Johnson said. "That means a lot for the school." point," England said.

"I also want to thank my mom and my dad and my grandparents for helping me to get to this point also." England's teammate David Elder got everything out of the state meet that he wanted too, although he didn't advance to the finals. "I came here to have fun and to do my best," Elder said. "And I did that. It was great to be one of the best discus throwers in the state. That is quite an honor." Elder's best throw on the day was 135-4, which was well off his personal best throw of 147-0.

"The wind was pushing the discus down," said Elder, who has signed to play football at Millikin University next fall. "The weather was real nice, but the wind wasn't good to throw the discus in." Oakland's Scott Walsh and Casey-Westfield's Jason Cox both failed to make it to the finals in the shot put. Walsh's best throw was 47-5Va and the best Cox could come up with was 46-Vi. Casey's Ian Noyes and Sullivan's Nick Parks will compete to-day in the run, which has no preliminary race. Class A field events begin at 12:45 p.m.

today with the pole vault, long jump and shot put. Track events start at 1:15 p.m. with the relay. The 100th IHSA boys' state track and field meet celebration will start at 11:15 a.m. 1 I Signature- Name Address.

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