Bob Hunt Photographer

Bradley University freshman Ahmed Albitar won in his first career match at No. 1 singles and the Braves (8-10) breezed by Chicago State (0-16) with a 7-0 dual-match decision Friday afternoon at the David Markin Tennis Courts. Chicago State used only five players in Friday afternoon’s match, so the Braves began the day with a 1-0 lead and needed to win just one doubles match for a 2-0 advantage.  Albitar teamed with sophomore Hamish Weerasinghe to quickly secure that second point as the Braves duo cruised to an 8-0 win at No. 2 doubles. After Kevin Keiner earned a 6-0, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles, Arthur Romanet secured the team victory minutes later with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 4 singles.  The straight-set victories continued for the Braves with Weerasinghe claiming a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 3, Albitar with a 6-4, 6-3 triumph at No. 1 and concluding with Ashton Kalhorn‘s 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 2.  Justin Abrams was credited with a default victory at No. 6 singles.

-Bob

Monroe College (31-6) captured its second straight national championship on Saturday in the NJCAA Division II women’s basketball finals at Lorene Ramsey Gymnasium, with a 78-73 victory over Lake Michigan (30-5). Breauna Rivoli-Johnson finished with a game-high 27 points, shooting 10-for-13 from the field with five three point shots for the Lady Indians. Jasmine McRoy iced the game for the Mustangs, knocking down a pair of free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to seal the victory for Monroe. Aivah Parham scored 22 and McRoy added 21 points for the Mustangs, who shot 43.1 percent from the field. “I think this year was tougher than last year,” said Monroe coach James Robinson. “I couldn’t have come to the national tournament with a better group of girls. I am so proud of them.”

-Bob

Ninth seeded Monroe College (30-6) from New Rochelle, NY outlasted the fourth seeded Louisburg (30-2) lady Hurricanes from Louisburg, NC 74-69 to advance to the championship game. The Mustangs had 4 players in double figures, led by Aivah Parham with 18 points, Jasmine McRoy with 16, Kashay Barnes with 15 and 6’5″ center Verdine Warner added 14 points along with 14 rebounds. Louisburg’s Jazmine Parker scored 19 points, Olivia Gaines added 15. Monroe will try to defend there 2011 NJCAA Div. II championship against Lake Michigan (30-4) Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on the Lorene M. Ramsey Gymnasium on the campus of Illinois Central College.

-Bob

Eureka College sophomore shortstop Grant DeWitt belted his first career home run in the fourth inning, highlighting Eureka’s best offensive output in nearly a year and lifting the Red Devils to a 17-14 non-conference victory over Illinois College, Wednesday afternoon at Henry Sand Field. The Red Devils (2-6) put together a huge first inning, sending 12 batters to the plate to build an 8-0 lead.  Sophomore second baseman Jordan Hodel put the hosts on the board after two walks and a base hit loaded the bases, coaxing a four-pitch walk to score DeWitt for a 1-0 advantage.  The next five Red Devils reached base safely, four of which came on a single, to push the advantage to 8-0 and drive IC starter Ian Richardson from the ball game.  The Blueboys committed two errors in the inning, but only one of Eureka’s eight runs in the frame were unearned. Illinois College (9-4) looked to be in danger of falling to the 10-run rule before engineering a six-run seventh inning to climb back into the contest. Dave Dalfonso and Terry Davis drove in runs early in the frame before Nick Visconti drilled a grand slam over the right field fence to pull the Blueboys back within three runs. Click here for the box score.

-Bob

Creighton University freshman Bri Lingl was 4-for-7 with three runs batted in, including an eighth-inning home run in the nightcap, leading the visiting Bluejays (11-10, 2-0 MVC) to a doubleheader sweep at Bradley (10-14, 0-2 MVC) in Missouri Valley Conference softball action Saturday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park. With the score tied, 1-1, the Braves had a chance to earn a walk-off win in the second game after center fielder Julie Sherman legged out a 1-out single and took second on a Jackie Roth sacrifice bunt.  Creighton pitched around catcher Bailiegh Basham, who drew five walks in the doubleheader, setting the stage for Madeline Lynch-Crumrine.  The sophomore designated player delivered with a line drive single into left field, but Creighton’s Ellen Homan fielded the ball on one hop and her throw home beat Sherman to force the extra inning. Click here for  Final Stats: Game #1 Box Score, Game #2 Box Score.

-Bob