Palmyra baseball coach resigns

Mark Loman doesn't need the numbers to know he's had success in eight seasons as Palmyra's head baseball coach.

Still, it's good to have them just in case.

Loman, who recently resigned to to take a teaching position at Odessa (Mo.) High School, compiled a 117-51 record with four straight district titles from 2002 to 2005 and two appearances in the state quarterfinals. The Panthers are 10-7 this season.

"I feel like I'm going out on top and it has nothing to do with wins and losses," Loman said. "It's a great feeling knowing you had a great run and enjoyed a great relationship with the kids."

Loman will not coach baseball at Odessa, opting to be an assistant football coach under former Palmyra skipper Par Pitts and spend more time with his children. He has two daughters -- 8 and 2 years old -- and a 4-year-old son.

"I wanted to just do one sport since my three little ones are begging for attention, too," Loman said. "Being able to work with my kids at home is important to me. Right now, it's the best thing for my family."

QHS secures WB6 title

Regardless of the outcome of Wednesday night's Western Big Six Conference showdown between East Moline and Moline, the Quincy High School girls soccer team could do no worse than share the league title.

Winning it outright, though, is more memorable.

The Blue Devils better thank East Moline for this memory. The Panthers scored with 12 minutes left in regulation to tie the Maroons 1-1 and drop Moline out of a first-place tie in the conference. Moline finishes with a 3-0-2 WB6 record, compared to Quincy's 4-0-1 mark.

"Obviously, this is a big disappointment," Maroons coach Rick Sanchez told the Moline Dispatch. "We played well enough to win, and had a lot of quality chances on goal, but it just wasn't meant to be."

Sulser to serve on MSHSAA board

Highland principal Paul Sulser was recently elected to serve on the Missouri State High School Activities Association Board of Directors, representing the Northeast District. He will serve a four-year term.

Sulser coached girls basketball at North Shelby from 1991 to 1998, compiling a 122-78 record and leading the Lady Raiders to five district titles and second- and third-place finishes at the Class 1A state tournament.

Sulser, who has a career record of 212-135 in 15 seasons, became an assistant principal at Highland in 1998 and was promoted to principal a year later.

QHS soccer players commit

The goalkeepers for both Quincy High School soccer teams will be making saves at the collegiate level next season.

Drew Senior, an All-Western Big Six Conference selection, signed with Maryville University, while Brittany Senator is heading to Webster University in St. Louis.

Last fall, Senior posted 10 shutouts and allowed just 0.86 goals per game to earn team MVP honoros. Senator started the spring with six straight shutouts and is allowing 0.80 goals per game

QND athletes head to college

The leading 3-point shooter in the history of the Quincy Notre Dame boys basketball program is extending his range.

He's stretching it to 48th and Harrison.

Tim Bearden, who finished his career as the 10th leading scorer in school history, recently signed a letter of intent with John Wood Community College. He was one of eight QND student-athletes to sign commitment letters with colleges this week.

Bearden, a 6-foot guard, led the Raiders in scoring as a senior with 12.8 points, while adding five assists per game. He finished his career with 1,065 points.

Matt Welding, who finished his career among the top 30 scorers in school history, signed to play basketball at St. Ambrose. As a senior, Welding averaged 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.

Four soccer players also found collegiate homes. Brett Cramsey, a defender with one goal and 12 assists, is headed to Culver-Stockton College, while midfielder Brian Schneider, who had four goals and eight assists, is going to St. Ambrose.

St. Ambrose scored another QND product by signing midfielder Janell Vermeire, who has 23 goals and 14 assists in her career. She also posted seven shutouts and a 0.76 goals against average in 13 games as a keeper. Kaleena Giesing, a forward with seven goals and seven assists in her career, signed with Maryville University.

Joe Wade is headed to Carl Sandburg College to play baseball. A shortstop and outfielder, Wade is hitting a team-leading .404 this season with 10 doubles and nine stolen bases.

Kyle Eager, a four-year member of QND's cross country team, will run track and cross country next year at Culver-Stockton College. His best 3-mile time was 17 minutes, 40 seconds, recorded last fall at Peoria's Detweiler Park.