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Caydence Vermillion struck out a career-high 17 batters on Monday (April 22) as the Oakwood softball team clubbed Schlarman Academy, 10-5, in Danville.

Vermillion allowed three hits and walked three batters in the seven-inning game.

Jada Finley and Gracie Hanner each delivered two hits for the Comets. Samantha Dunavan and Vermillion ended with one hit apiece.

Finley delivered two RBI. Hanner, Gracie Enos and Vermillion totaled one RBI apiece.

Dunavan, Hanner and Vermillion all tallied two runs. Sophia Hart scored once as did teammates Enos and Finley.

Hanner stole three bases. Dunavan and Hart both swiped two bases.

Oakwood (5-15) returns to action on Friday (April 26) at home against Chrisman.

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In a bizarre game on Wednesday (April 24), Oakwood’s baseball team scored nine runs in the first inning, but then had to rally from a 10-9 deficit in the sixth inning to secure a 12-10 triumph at home over Paris.

Jackson Dudley pitched two innings of hitless relief and captured the win. Dustin Hughes worked the first five innings and recorded one strikeout.

Offensively, Cort Vermillion led the way with two hits and three RBI. Derek Drews, Bryson Marcinko and Alec Harrison had two RBI apiece. Chase Harrison, Carsen Dudley and Brody Taflinger both knocked in one run.

Drews, Taflinger and Vermillion all tallied two runs. Scoring one run apiece were Jackson Dudley, Chase Harrison, Marcinko, Carsen Dudley, Alex Harrison and Alex Wallace.

Drews, Taflinger, Marcinko and Alex Harrison all finished with one hit.

On Monday (April 22), Jackson Dudley belted four hits and Chase Harrison drove in four runs – two on sacrifice flies – as Oakwood held off Schlarman Academy, 10-8, in a 10-inning Vermilion Valley baseball game in Danville.

Vermillion finished with three hits. Collecting two hits apiece were Taflinger and Wallace.

Dudley and Vermillion both knocked in two runs.

Drews and Vermillion each scored three runs. Taflinger tallied two runs. Both Dudley and Wallace scored once.

Oakwood was 9-for-10 on stolen base attempts. Swiping two bases apiece were Dudley, Vermillion and Marcinko.

Chase Harrison pitched the first 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 and walked three.

Gaining the win was reliever Loudyn Hughes, who threw the final 3 1/3 innings. He walked five and struck out four.

Oakwood (10-13) is 3-3 in Vermilion Valley Conference contests.  The Comets return to action on Friday (April 26) at home against Cissna Park.

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Addy Martinie slugged a home run on Monday (April 22) for the third consecutive game, powering the St. Joseph-Ogden softball team to a 14-2 win at Maroa-Forsyth.

Martinie was 3-for-4, and also clubbed a double. She drove in a game-high four runs.

Timera Backburn-Kelly was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. She pitched a five-inning two-hitter, striking out 10 batters and walking one. She improved her record to 8-1.

Other offensive stalwarts for SJ-O – with two hits apiece – were Grace Osterbur, Emma McKinney, Hayden Dahl and Chayse Palmer.

Dahl clubbed a home run and has hit an extra-base hit in her last four games. Osterbur ripped a triple. Palmer also hit a double.

Dahl delivered three RBI. Osterbur and Palmer both had two RBI.

Dahl scored three runs. Touching home plate twice each were Addison Frick, Osterbur and Ellie Ward. Scoring once were Martinie and Chloe Harper.

SJ-O (18-6) returns to action on Thursday (April 25) at home against Mahomet-Seymour.

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Luke Landrus produced his third three-RBI game in a row on Wednesday (April 24) and teammate Braxton Waller registered his 14^th multi-hit game of the season as St. Joseph-Ogden captured a 10-3 baseball victory at Westville.

Landrus was 2-for-4 and Waller was 2-for 5. Teammates with two hits were Tanner Jacob, Jared Altenbaumer and Kodey McKinney.

Logan Rosenthal and Bryson Houchens each totaled one hit.

McKinney collected two RBI. Driving in one run apiece were Jacob, Waller and Will Haley.

Rosenthal, Altenbaumer, Houchens and McKinney all tallied two runs. Jacob and Earley both crossed home plate one time.

Earley pitched five innings and picked up the win. He walked no one and struck out eight. Trevor Ames worked the last two innings. He walked no one and fanned two hitters.

SJ-O (22-2) returns to action on Thursday (April 25) at Charleston.

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Diverse Musical Offerings in Two-Day Event

The concert series will kick off on Saturday, May 4, at 3 p.m. at the Urbana First United Methodist Church, with the Parkland Chamber Singers joining forces with BACH choir, Heritage, and Centennial High School choirs in a concert titled “London Bridge: Rhythms of Renewal.” Under the direction of Dr. Frank Gallo, the Chamber Singers will perform a mixture of beloved classics and contemporary pieces, including a unique arrangement of “I Love You/What A Wonderful World” by Craig Hella Johnson, and “The Times They Are A Changin'” arranged by Adam Podd.

The BACH Choir, Heritage Concert Choir, and Centennial Choir will also contribute with folk songs and compositions from esteemed composers like Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn. The highlight of the evening will be a collective performance of “Baba Yetu” from the video game Sid Meier’s Civilization IV, a Swahili adaptation of “The Lord’s Prayer” by Chris Kiagiri.

Orchestral and Ensemble Performances

On Sunday, May 5, the Harold and Jean Miner Theatre will host the “SprEngland Zephyr” concert at 3 p.m., featuring the Parkland Orchestra, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble. The Orchestra, under Dr. Rodney Mueller’s baton, will present classics including Edward Elgar’s “Cello Concerto in E minor” and the lively “Overture From The Pirates Of Penzance” by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

Dr. Jonathan Beckett’s Wind Ensemble will thrill audiences with renditions of “Capriccio Espagnol” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and selections from “The Phantom of the Opera” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, arranged by Warren Barker. The Concert Band will not be left behind, with performances planned for pieces like “March from Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber” by Paul Hindemith.

Guitar Melodies

An hour before the orchestral performances, the Parkland Guitar Ensemble will serenade attendees at the Urbana Free Library with tunes ranging from Neil Young’s rock anthem “Rockin’ in the Free World” to the smooth rhythms of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Água de Beber.”

These concerts are free and open to the public, providing a fantastic opportunity for the community to experience the artistic capabilities of Parkland College’s students. For more information, visit parkland.edu/musicensembles.

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The data used was derived from the 2021-2022 school year.

St. Joseph-Ogden High School ranked #3,701 nationally and holds the 136th spot in Illinois. This represents a change from last year, when the school was ranked #107. Heritage High School ranked #4,557 nationally and holds the 162nd spot in Illinois. Oakwood High School ranked #4,557 nationally and holds the 162nd spot in Illinois.

St. Joseph-Ogden High School

Key Metrics for St. Joseph-Ogden High School:

• National Ranking: #3,701
• State Ranking (Illinois): #136
• Metro Area Ranking (Champaign, IL): #5
• Scorecard Performance (based on 2021-2022 data):
  • AP® Exam Participation: 31%
  • AP® Exam Passing Rate: 21%
  • Mathematics Proficiency: 47%
  • Reading Proficiency: 32%
  • Science Proficiency: 69%
  • Graduation Rate: 96%

Heritage High School

Key Metrics for Heritage High School:

• National Ranking: #4,557
• State Ranking (Illinois): #162
• Metro Area Ranking (Champaign, IL): #6
• Scorecard Performance (based on 2021-2022 data):
  • AP® Exam Participation: 57%
  • AP® Exam Passing Rate: 19%
  • Mathematics Proficiency: 25%
  • Reading Proficiency: 25%
  • Science Proficiency: 64%
  • Graduation Rate: 83%

The criteria used for the 2024 rankings included six key factors:

1. College Readiness (30%): Focuses on the proportion of 12th graders who took and passed at least one AP or IB exam.
2. State Assessment Proficiency (20%): Measures aggregated scores on state-mandated assessments.
3. State Assessment Performance (20%): Compares school performance to expectations based on demographic factors.
4. Underserved Student Performance (10%): Evaluates how well students who are Black, Hispanic, and from low-income households perform compared to state averages.
5. College Curriculum Breadth (10%): Assesses the range of AP and IB exams taken and passed by students.
6. Graduation Rate (10%): The percentage of students who graduate in four years.

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During the first quarter of 2024, home sales in the area were down 4.5 percent compared to the same period last year. In March alone, the decline was even steeper with a 17.1 percent drop in sales, translating to 176 units sold compared to 209 in March of the previous year. This trend is reflective of a broader state-wide downturn in home sales, which fell by 11.9 percent.

Despite the reduction in sales, home prices continue to climb. The median home sale price in March rose by 10 percent to $192,500, while the average price soared by 17 percent to $242,445, up from $207,042 a year earlier.

The inventory of available homes as of April 21, 2024, stood at 635 properties, marking a decrease from 649 the previous month and a significant drop from 825 two years ago — a 30 percent reduction.

Jim Waller, president of CCAR, noted the tightening market conditions. “With shrinking inventory levels, this spring is poised to be another competitive market with strong competition among buyers for properties,” he said. Waller emphasized the benefits for sellers listing in the current high-demand season, noting that well-presented homes are likely to receive multiple offers, often above the asking price.

The number of new listings in March also declined by 23 percent year-over-year, with 188 new properties on the market compared to 245 last year. Pending home sales dropped by 6.5 percent to 200, down from 214 in March 2023.

Mortgage rates are also on the rise, with the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage reaching 6.82 percent in March, up from 6.54 percent a year earlier. As of mid-April, the rate edged up to 6.88 percent, marking the first weekly gain of the year.

Doug Duncan, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Fannie Mae, noted a cautious consumer outlook on mortgage rates, which may be reacting to their recent upward trend. Despite this, he observed a slow upward drift in sentiment on whether it’s a good time to buy or sell.

As the market dynamics continue to evolve, potential buyers and sellers in Champaign County are navigating a challenging landscape marked by limited inventory and rising costs.

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Parkland Community College is gearing up to host the much-anticipated Native Plant Festival and Sale on May 4, 2024, aiming to educate and engage the community in sustainable gardening and environmental conservation. The event, scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the college’s W Building (Tony Noel Agricultural Building), is set to attract garden enthusiasts, environmentalists, and families alike.

Admission to the festival is free, and it offers a golden opportunity for attendees to purchase native plants suited to Illinois climates, participate in workshops, and engage with experts on creating pollinator-friendly gardens. The event’s primary goal is to provide resources and knowledge necessary for establishing pollinator gardens, thus supporting biodiversity and environmental health.

Leading environmental organizations such as Pollinator Partnership, Xerces Society, and the Illinois Natural History Survey will set up booths to educate visitors on various ecological topics, including wetland preservation and environmental restoration. The Master Naturalist/Gardener program will also be on-site to share insights into sustainable gardening practices.

The festival promises an interactive experience with various crafts and games designed to enlighten attendees about the wonders of nature. A series of workshops will cover diverse topics such as biodiversity, plant photography, and the significance of local flora like oak trees and prairies. Each workshop will be available twice during the day to ensure all interested attendees can participate.

Adding to the green shopping experience, local vendor the Wild Midwest will offer a selection of native plants ideal for various growing conditions, from sunny spots to moist soils. They will also feature eco-friendly products like rain barrels. Other environmentally-focused businesses such as RBKL Honey, Piper Pottery, and Berries and Flour Bakery will showcase their nature-inspired products, ranging from locally sourced honey to pottery and baked goods made from edible native plants.

For those looking to deepen their understanding of sustainable practices and embrace a greener lifestyle, the Native Plant Festival and Sale is an event not to be missed. Further details can be found on the festival’s official Facebook page and website, where updates and additional information are regularly posted.

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Rylan White scored a run and Brennan Struck had a hit for the Heritage baseball team on Thursday (April 18), but the Hawks dropped a 12-1 decision at home to Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond.

White pitched 4 2/3 innings and suffered the loss. He walked one and struck out six.

Heritage (0-13) returns to action on Monday (April 22) at home against Blue Ridge.

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