Tony Hawley

Wolf tosses three-hitter as Russellville downs Harrisburg

It wasn’t your prototypical three-hitter, but Chandler Wolf was still dominant. The senior right-hander worked around three hit batters and five walks in a commanding 10-strikeout performance that propelled the Russellville Indians to a 5-2 win against the Harrisburg Bulldogs in a Class 2 sectional contest.

MSHSAA members narrowly vote to approve four

If you’re one of those people looking for signs the economy is rebounding, you can take heart with some recent decisions made by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. MSHSAA announced Thursday member schools had voted yes on proposals to add bowling, bass fishing, target shooting and chess as activities sponsored by the association.

Calvary rolls past Versailles in 14-4 victory in five innings

It was one of those moments that can be deflating. Just three outs away from beating the Versailles Tigers by the run rule, the Calvary Lutheran Lions gave up three runs in the top of the fifth to see their lead cut to 11-4. Instead of sulking, the Lions got those three runs back without recording a single out and ended the game early by a 14-4 score.

Lincoln splits doubleheader to end season

On Senior Day, it was only fitting the Lincoln baseball team provided a few fireworks.

Lincoln track added to Hall of Fame

Respect comes in a lot of forms. One way is when people react to beating your “C” team like they beat your first-stringers. Another way is how people may go out of their way to avoid scheduling track meets with you. And if you’re really lucky, it comes in the form of being added to something like the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. All of these examples apply to the Lincoln University track and field program, and the last on that list came Sunday.

Quest for attention pays off for Crede

It’s hard to believe that someone with a World Series ring, a Silver Slugger award and an appearance in an All-Star Game once had trouble getting attention. But that’s how it felt for Joe Crede, who was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on Sunday night.

Hickman 11, Fatima 4

The Fatima Comets fell behind 5-0 to Hickman and eventually dropped an 11-4 decision to the Kewpies in the first round of the Capital City Invitational at Legion Field.

Missouri Western sweeps doubleheader from Lincoln

It was a matchup of David vs. Goliath. Only this time, Goliath won.

March’s madness doesn’t carry over to April

Sports Commentary

This week’s column is going to be about March Madness. However, I’ll stop short of calling it your official column of March Madness, because that would surely get me in trouble with the NCAA.

Missouri Western downs Lincoln

The Lincoln baseball team slowed down the high-octane offense of Missouri Western State University — in a manner of speaking — during Friday afternoon’s game, and the Griffons still managed to put up 15 runs.

Helias tennis still looking to begin play in 2013

It’s been said good things come to those who wait. But what about those who wait, and wait, and wait, and wait?

Jays open tennis season today against Rolla

While the Jefferson City tennis team is full of young players, the Jays have two things going for them: There’s plenty of them, and they’re relatively experienced youngsters.

Lincoln softball splits doubleheader with Lindenwood

The first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association softball game of the season didn’t go so well for the Lincoln Blue Tigers.

Calvary Lutheran opens season today at New Haven

The Calvary Lutheran baseball team is hoping the old adage is true: Big things come in small packages. Or perhaps “little” would be a better word. As in the little practice time the team has had outdoors. Or the little experience the Lions boast. Or the little roster they’ll be using this season. Let’s start with the practice time for the Lions, who begin the season today at New Haven.

Lincoln falls in home opener

The Truman State Bulldogs used a bit of scoreboard symmetry to ruin Wednesday’s home opener for the Lincoln baseball team. The Bulldogs scored six in the sixth inning and seven in the seventh to win the opening game of the twinbill at Lincoln Field by a 17-10 margin. Then in the nightcap, the Blue Tigers managed just a single tally in an 8-1 loss.

Fatima falls in third-place game

The Fatima Comets struggled to find their shooting touch in Friday’s Class 3 third-place game, dropping a 74-47 decision to Lutheran North at Mizzou Arena. Fatima coach Ryan Robertson did his best to find a silver lining after the loss.

Tough fourth quarter dooms Fatima in semifinal loss

Things weren’t exactly even in the even-numbered quarters during Thursday’s game between Fatima and St. Pius X: Kansas City.

Fatima prepares for Class 3 Final Four

What happens when your dreams come true? You get busy trying to set and reach some new ones.

Final Four: Fatima achieves a goal

The last time the Fatima Comets made an appearance in the Final Four, Tanner Gentges was age 2.

Pay attention to the marathons, not the sprints

Sports Commentary

Lest you think sports exist in their own little bubble, it’s worth noting they’re not as sequestered as they seem at first glance.

Fatima to face gifted Strafford in Class 3 quarters

With many basketball teams, there’s two or three players you have to worry about when they have the ball. That’s just the start of the problems when it comes to the Strafford Indians. When Fatima faces Strafford in today’s 6 p.m. Class 3 quarterfinal game at Drury University in Springfield, every one of the Comets better be prepared to guard well. That’s because Fatima head coach Ryan Robertson said almost every one of the Indians can shoot the ball well.

Crusaders will take win anyway they can get it

There’s a certain wonderful simplicity when it comes to this point in the basketball season.

Schnieders leads Fatima to win against Hartville

Patrick Schnieders' 35 points pearheaded Fatima’s 62-46 win over Hartville.

Norton injured as Rock Bridge downs Helias

It was basically a perfect second half for the Rock Bridge Bruins — except for one huge play.

Roberts ends career with championship

Blair Oaks’ Eli Roberts capped off a magical senior season by notching a 6-4 decision in the title match of the 182-pound weight class Saturday at the Class 1 state meet.

Strope makes Fatima history with state title

There may be others who come after him, but he’ll always be the first name on the list. The “him” is Fatima’s Ryan Strope, who Saturday became the first Comet to even capture a state wrestling title.

St. Elizabeth overcomes tough shooting to defeat Calvary Lutheran

In girls basketball

You don’t often win basketball games shooting 29 percent from the field, but that’s exactly what the St. Elizabeth Lady Hornets did Friday night. The main reason why? The Lady Hornets held the Calvary Lutheran Lady Lions to just 20 percent. So even though St. Elizabeth came out on top of a 45-18 decision, it wasn’t the type of win to make their coach very happy.

St. Elizabeth uses strong rebounding to down Calvary Lutheran

In boys basketball

The Hornets made just 29 percent from the field Friday night at the Trinity Lutheran gym, but they grabbed 15 offensive boards to give themselves extra opportunities in a 42-34 win over Calvary Lutheran.

Falcons catch fire at state meet

After a morning session that was so-so, the Blair Oaks wrestling team was more go-go in the afternoon.

Eight Falcons set for Class 1 state wrestling tourney

WARDSVILLE — With the success the Blair Oaks wrestling team has had the past few years, the Falcons’ “firsts” are in short supply.

Defensive play by Voss ices Falcons’ win against PIntos

The Blair Oaks Falcons and California Pintos fought tooth and nail until the game’s final possession, when Brett Voss of the Falcons blocked a game-winning 3-point attempt, securing a 46-44 win for Blair Oaks.

Lincoln baseball looks for improvement this spring

It was the kind of year you automatically want to forget, and yet, the Lincoln University baseball team doesn’t want to forget last season. After scuffling through an 8-40 campaign in 2012, the Blue Tigers are doing everything in their power to make sure 2013 looks nothing like that. Especially the group of 14 seniors that got the bulk of the playing time in those 48 games.

Blair Oaks tops Versailles

Trying to hold off a late-game charge by the Versailles Tigers, the Falcons canned 9-of-10 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter — and 13-of-16 for the game — to salt away a 77-61 victory.

Lincoln opens softball season today

As the softball season gets started today for the Lincoln Blue Tigers, one thing is clear — this is not last season.

Falcon wrestlers ready to win

Season-ending injuries are always tough to stomach. But when they come when the end is in sight, then they’re that much more painful.

Mexico picks up win against Helias

The Mexico Bulldogs had a brilliant two-pronged attack Tuesday night against the Helias Crusaders. During the first quarter — the only period when the Bulldogs seemed to miss any shots — they made up for any misses by dominating the offensive boards. In the three quarters after that, Mexico put on a shooting clinic and rolled to a 60-48 win at Rackers Fieldhouse.

Calvary falls to St. Paul

There was no secret what held the key to Saturday’s basketball game between the Calvary Lutheran Lions and the St. Paul Lutheran Saints.

Blair Oaks knocks off Hogan Prep

WARDSVILLE — You can have the best game plan in the world, but if you can’t execute it, you’re sunk.

After missing two years with injuries, Gish returns for Helias

The last time anyone saw Dylan Gish play a varsity game for the Helias Crusaders, it was March 2, 2011.

Blair Oaks outlasts Eugene in three overtimes

The Blair Oaks Falcons and Eugene Eagles battled through three overtimes, with players making big shot after big shot, before the Falcons emerged with a 79-77 victory.

It’s best to earn something instead of just given to you

Sports Commentary

Last Wednesday, we received a press release detailing how former Missouri basketball coach Norm Stewart will be honored in March when he’s named — wait for it — an SEC Basketball Legend.

Stories by Tony

Sports Commentary

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In girls basketball

In boys basketball

Sports Commentary