The daily pitch from Sports Editor Matt Daniels: Aug. 2, 2025

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

To subscribe, please click here

Want a copy of today's edition? Here's a map of single-copy locations

Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what's going on around the area:

Three reasons we love sports today

➜ 1. Memorial Stadium had its lights on Friday night with the first official practice of training camp for the Illinois football team. Bret Bielema and Co. will get back at it on Saturday night to prep for the Aug. 29 season opener against Western Illinois.

➜ 2. Former Illini TeRah Edwards made a mark in his first NFL preseason game. The rookie defensive tackle with the Los Angeles Chargers had a sack among his two tackles in Thursday night's 34-7 win against the Detroit Lions in Canton, Ohio.

➜ 3. Many thanks to high school football programs at Georgetown-Ridge Farm/Chrisman, Tri-County, Urbana, Villa Grove and Watseka for stopping by our office on Friday to discuss their programs and look ahead to the 2025 season.

Numbers game: 34

career home runs hit by Danville graduate Megan (Burton) Mattingly during five seasons playing college softball at Eastern Illinois from the 2018 through 2022. Mattingly, the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, has a new job title: director of softball operations at Illinois. Illini softball coach Tyra Perry announced the move on Friday, with Burton coming to Champaign after three years teaching and coaching softball at Southridge High School in Huntingburg, Ind.

Crowd control

Three events I'm paying attention to

➜ 1. American Legion state baseball tournament. The Danville Post 210 team will try to win a state championship starting at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex after the Speakers defeated Palos Post 1993 4-1 on Friday.

➜ 2. Utah Championship. Former Illini Adrien Dumont de Chassart is in contention at the Korn Ferry Tour event after shooting a 5-under 65 on Friday that got him to 12-under 128 and into the top five before the weekend.

➜ 3. Baltimore Orioles at Chicago Cubs. Cubs can win the series on Saturday after Cade Horton and four relievers shut out the Orioles 1-0 on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Ask an athlete

Three questions with Heritage senior Faith Latham, who plays volleyball, basketball and softball for the Hawks:

➜ 1. Three athletes I'd like to have dinner with are ... Jennie Finch, Riley Gaines and Montana Fouts.

➜ 2. The TV show I most like to binge-watch is ... "All American."

➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is ... people who have no consideration for others.