Area sports notes: Baker becomes SIU's all-time passer
Nic Baker further cemented his legacy in Southern Illinois University football history as he became the Salukis’ all-time leader in passing yards in SIU’s 27-6 win over Murray State on Saturday in Murray, Kentucky.
The 2018 Rochester High School graduate, who led the Rockets to a pair of Class 4A state football championships in 2016 and 2017, threw for 137 yards on 14 of 23 passing and passed Joel Sambursky’s 2005 record of 7,867 yards. In 37 games played, Baker has thrown for 8,004 yards.
“What makes Nic special in my eyes is he's a complete team player, and these records are a by-product of him being a really good player,” SIU coach Nick Hill said after the game. “He's a sixth-year senior, he's not concerned about things like the NFL. It's about winning a championship.”
More: Rochester's Nic Baker gets national award after SIU comeback win
Baker is an eight-time recipient of the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s Offensive Player of the Week award, including twice this season. He also was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 18.
In high school, Baker was an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 4A All-State pick in 2017. The State Journal-Register named him as its Large School Football Player of the Year in 2017. He was also the SJ-R's Male Athlete of the Year in 2018.
Jacksonville grad Brunstein leads NCAA
Collin Brunstein, a senior receiver on the Illinois College football team in Jacksonville, caught four touchdowns in the Blueboys’ 61-7 homecoming Midwest Conference win over Knox on Saturday.
In doing so, Brunstein became the leader in touchdown receptions in all of NCAA. His 14 touchdown catches surpassed Hamline’s Charlie Wilson, who has 13 TDs caught in six games.
Brunstein, a 2019 Jacksonville High School graduate, also caught four touchdowns in a 52-21 win at Ripon on Sept. 16.
The senior receiver also leads NCAA in receiving yardage with 1,110 in six games. He had 257 yards against Knox, a week after a season-high 313 — with three touchdowns — in a 41-20 win at the University of Chicago on eight catches.
Jake Breitbach of Gustavus Adolphus College is second in NCAA with 1,067 yards.
Illinois College, an NCAA Division III member, is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in the MWC.
More: Rochester tight ends have NIU in their sights — but first, state football pursuits
Cameron’s Carolina commitment
Chatham Glenwood junior Cameron Appenzeller announced on Saturday his verbal commitment to play baseball at the University of South Carolina.
The 6-foot-5 southpaw can’t sign a National Letter of Intent until his senior year.
Super excited to announce that I’ll be continuing my academic and athletic career at the University of South Carolina! Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way.@GamecockBasebll @PBRIllinois @Gtitansbaseball @GbaDevelopment @MaxPitchingLab pic.twitter.com/Ot8S9cw80V
— Cameron Appenzeller (@CamAppenzeller) October 16, 2023
In four appearances for the 27-5 Titans’ baseball team n 2023, Appenzeller carried a 1.62 ERA with a 1-0 record. He struck out 14, walked 10 and allowed no extra-base hits in 8 2/3 innings pitched.
The Gamecocks made the NCAA Tournament field earlier this year and won the College World Series as recently as 2011.
Early dose of Sangamon County Basketball Tournament talk
The Basketball Museum of Illinois and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association will hold a free event at Lincoln Land Community College’s Cass Gymnasium on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. Its focus will be on the annual Sangamon County Basketball Tournament, held at the same gym every January.
Former sports writer for The State Journal-Register Dave Kane, along with Sports Radio 1450’s Tim Schweizer, retired Pleasant Plains state champion basketball coach Cliff Cameron and local sports historian Phil Shadid, will speak, tell stories and take questions.
Donations to the Basketball Museum of Illinois are encouraged. To RSVP, email info@basketballmuseumofillinois.com
Williamsville to host GLVC volleyball tournament
The 42nd annual Great Lakes Valley Conference Volleyball Championship Tournament will be held at Williamsville High School from Nov. 17-19. It had been held at the EastSide Centre in East Peoria for the previous nine seasons.
It is the first time the NCAA Division II conference has held its volleyball tournament in a high school facility, according to GLVC commissioner Jim Naumovich.
Through Monday, the University of Illinois Springfield is 8-10 (overall, 2-3 in the GLVC) and is tied with Truman State for eighth in the GLVC standings. The top-eight teams qualify for the tournament.
Naumovich’s nephew, Nick Naumovich, is the baseball coach at Sacred Heart-Griffin High School.
Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Area sports notebook: Rochester's Baker becomes SIU's No. 1 all-time passer
