.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Community Sports

  • Dallas Gray in the world long drive finals
    As a youth, Dallas Gray would watch the Remax World Long Drive Championship with his parents, Gary and Dianna Gray. “That’s going to be me someday,” his mother said. That “someday” for Gray is Oct. 30. The graduate of Vandalia Community High School and Blackburn College is headed for the long drive finals after having the longest drive at a local qualifier at Red Tail Golf Course in Decatur and placing second at the regional competition at Crystal Springs Quarry Golf Club in Maryland Heights, Mo.
    Click here to read more...
  • Former MLB pitcher Hobbie dies at 77
    A former Major League Baseball pitcher who lived in the area has passed away. Glen Hobbie, who played in the majors from 1957-1964, died on Aug. 9 in Springfield. He was 77. Hobbie played most of his career with the Chicago Cubs, debuting at age 21 and pitching in 271 of his 284 career games with the club before being traded to St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the 1964 season. He pitched in 13 games for the Cardinals before being demoted to the minors. St. Louis would win the World Series that year.
    Click here to read more...
  • The Freight is third at state tourney
    The Freight once again came out of retirement and posted a strong finish at the Illinois Amateur Softball Association state wooden bat tournament by finishing third for the second straight year. The two-time fast-pitch national champions based in Vandalia went 2-2 in the event from Aug. 2-4. In game one, Bryan Hobbie had a home run and Alan Meinhart struck out five and allowed four hits in a complete game in a 2-1 win against the Pinckneyville Falcons.
    Click here to read more...
  • Blythe wins at Carbondale
    Hannah Blythe, who will be a sophomore on Vandalia's tennis team, won the Saluki Junior/Adult Open on Saturday in Carbondale. She defeated Katie Ranie, 6-4, 6-3, and Carlie Kopkins, 6-1, 6-3, to win the Girls 16 Championship.
    Click here to read more...
  • MG shooting team has openings
    The Mulberry Grove shooting team has openings for youth shooters, coaches and board members. Several youth shooter positions are open on the team, and students from surrounding areas such as Vandalia, Greenville and Hillsboro may join the team. There are also coaching openings and two board positions up for re-election. The board election will be held on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Mulberry Grove community building, and the coach will be selected by the board prior to October.
    Click here to read more...
  • Local man finding success in quest to run 13 marathons
    In most circumstances, it’s much easier to run 338 miles over a calendar year as opposed to 2,012. Just don’t tell that to Rick Myers. The Vandalia resident achieved his goal of running 2,012 miles during 2012 with four days to spare, but when he started to talk to people about his goal for 2013, the distance became much shorter, but the task became a lot more challenging. Talking at church with Pastor Dan Rush and his friend Matt Roberts, an idea was floated, and Myers said he was just crazy enough to give it a try.
    Click here to read more...
  • More gold for Josie
    Josie Earnest’s collection of international medals has gotten even larger. Representing Team USA at the Lee Evans Tournament of the Americas, Earnest teamed with Brittani Hamilton to dominate the field in women’s doubles last Wednesday. The two former Vanderbilt University teammates shot a 1,256 and a 1,246, respectively, to take the gold medal by 113 pins. The duo only trailed after the first game of the six games. Earnest’s 257 in game five was the highest game among women and the third best score among men and women.
    Click here to read more...
  • Registration open for fall youth sports at Family YMCA
    Registration is open for the Family YMCA of Fayette County’s fall soccer and flag football programs. The deadline to register for the flag football league is Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. Late registration through 8 p.m. on Aug. 22 is available for an extra $20. Registration cost for kids in grades 2-4 is $35 for YMCA members and $70 for non-members. All kids will receive a T-shirt that will serve as their uniform, and a mouthpiece. Mouthpieces are required to be worn by all participants.
    Click here to read more...
  • Atwood, Harmon are co-MVPs in slo-pitch
    Justin Atwood and Jordan Harmon were named co-MVPs of the Vandalia men’s slo-pitch softball league after leading BCH Auto Detail to the regular-season championship. Team awards were given to Riedle Law Firm/Thomas Farms for sportsmanship and most improved team. The league’s single-elimination tournament concluded on Wednesday, and a double-elimination championship tournament begins next Monday and continues through next Wednesday.
    Click here to read more...
  • Goin' Slideways
    VANDALIA – One of the best remote-controlled racing dirt tracks in the state is right here in town, and will soon begin its first championship points series. The Slideways RC club recently completed work on an outdoor RC track by the Kaskaskia Dragon on Rock Island Avenue, and will be hosting an open house at the track on Saturday to give anyone in the community a chance to try it out. Anyone who owns any type of RC car can drive around the track from noon-3 p.m.. Following an hour of maintenance, practice will be held for the 6 p.m. feature races.
    Click here to read more...