Luke Guthrie isn’t going to be nervous.

None of the University of Illinois golfers will be.

Guthrie and the Illini head to Windsong Farm Golf Club in Blaine, Minn., this weekend looking to defend the Big Ten Conference championship they won a year ago. Illinois has won three of its last four tournaments and is looking to repeat as Big Ten champion for the first time since winning back-to-back conference titles in 1940-41.

Last year was Illinois’ first title since 1988.

“There’s no pressure,” said Guthrie, the Quincy native who is a sophomore at Illinois and ranks third on the team in stroke average at 72.87. “We just have to go play our game and do our job.”

That’s easier to do with Guthrie fully comfortable.

“I can be a little more calm,” said Guthrie, who finished ninth individually with a 6-over 290 total at last year’s conference championship. “I can use that to my advantage.”

Guthrie heads into the weekend — two rounds will be played Friday and one round each on Saturday and Sunday — third on the team with seven rounds under and four rounds of even par. He has finished as the Illini’s second scorer three times and third scorer four times in 10 tournaments.

His stroke average currently ranks among the top 10 in school history.

Still, he knows it could be better.

“The scores aren’t quite as good as I want,” Guthrie said. “But they aren’t representative of how I’m hitting the ball. It’s a matter of time before that comes along and the scores reflect how I’m playing.”

Guthrie is confident in his game, maybe as confident as he’s ever been.

“I feel like I can hit any shot in the book,” he said.

He just needs a few breaks to go his way, possibly with the putter.

“My putting is fine,” he said. “The putts are coming off like I want them to. They just aren’t falling. They’ll start falling.”

Now would be the perfect time. Following the Big Ten Championships, the 11th-ranked Illini will prepare for the NCAA Regionals and hopefully a spot in the NCAA Championships.

“It’s a five-week season,” Guthrie said. “It’s time to just perform.”

Expect him to perform well.

To track the progress of Guthrie and the Illini, check out golfstatresults.com for live scoring.

Sorting through some tools and fishing equipment in my basement the other day, I took stock of how much space I have and envisioned all of the unique ways I could create my “Man-cave.”

Take your best guess as to when the “Man-cave” ultimately gets finished — with the wedding set for October and other household projects needing completed, the “Man-cave” isn’t on top of the priority list.

But you can’t help but dream.

Every guy needs his own space with his own things. The big-screen TV. The pool table or poker table or both. A refrigerator stocked with your favorite beverages. A library complete with books, albums and movies.

There are certain things every man should have in his collection. A Beatles album. A David Halberstam book. A Robert de Niro movie.

What are the essentials?

Over the next few Sundays, we’re going to take a look at what every man should have in his library, starting with the 10 albums every man should own. I’d love to hear your suggestions for the ultimate library. Either comment below or e-mail me at mschuckman@whig.com.

Now for the list of albums (these are not ranked):

AC/DC — “Back in Black”

Every guy likes to bang his head to some real hard rock. There aren’t many albums that rock quite like this one. There aren’t many better rock anthems than “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

The Beatles — “Let It Be”

I’m partial to this album because “Let It Be” is my favorite Beatles’ track, and it’s vastly different from their early works such as “A Hard Day’s Night.” You can’t go wrong with any Beatles album, but you better make sure you have one in your collection.

Johnny Cash — “At Folsom Prison”

This is a live album recorded at Folsom Prison and featured such hits as “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Jackson.” Cash is one of country’s outlaws and the Man in Black defines cool. “Folsom Prison Blues” is one of his best works ever.

Marvin Gaye — “What’s Going On”

If you want to be a ladies’ man, you have to know what music to play. Marvin Gaye’s smooth, soulful voice is the pefect complement to a romantic night. Marvin never lets you down. “Mercy Mercy Me” is a treat to the ears.

Frank Sinatra — “Sinatra at The Sands”

No matter which genre you appreciate most, you have to pay respect to the past and to great music. Sinatra is a legend, and this album was Sinatra’s first live album to be commerically released. This is 22 tracks of pure bliss. My favorite? “Come Fly With Me.”

The Rolling Stones — “Sticky Fingers”

One of the most influential bands ever — and the Stones are still rocking today. Not sure this is their best album. Regardless, no collection is complete without a Stones album. You choose which one. The No. 1 hit “Brown Sugar” is the highlight of this album.

Elvis Presley — “The Essential Elvis Presley”

The King. Enough said. And this is the best collection of his music. There’s not a song here that will let you down. Picking a favorite isn’t easy, but his soul-filled version of “In the Ghetto” fits the bill.

Led Zeppelin — “Zeppelin IV”

The album cover is printed without a title, making it more intriguing. The music made one of the best-selling albums in history. “Stairway to Heaven” is an anthem and there are few rock fans you’ll find who don’t own this album. My favorite track is “The Battle of Evermore.”

Bruce Springsteen — “Born in the USA”

Commercially, this was Springsteen’s most successful album. Hard-core Springsteen fans will likely choose an album with less commercial appeal as his best, but the “Born in the USA” anthem is one to live by. My personal favorite song on the album is “My Hometown.”

Buddy Guy — “Hoodoo Man Blues”

This a collaboration with Junior Wells, for which Wells received critical acclaim. Buddy Guy, though, is master of the blues. After a hard day’s work, grab a cold drink, put on a Buddy Guy album and kick back and relax. You’ll forget all your worries, especially listening to “We’re Ready,” which was written by Guy.

Questions have been raised about the eligibility of Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Arianna Rigg, who plays for the Lady Raiders softball team.

Rigg enrolled at QND in the winter after playing right field for the Palmyra softball team last fall. Her family moved to Quincy between seasons and the QND administration submitted Rigg’s information for an eligibility ruling to the Illinois High School Association before softball season began.

Marty Hickman, executive director of the IHSA, approved Rigg’s transfer and granted her immediate eligibility, according to Eric Orne, QND’s softball coach and assistant athletic director.

Jan Wrigley, Hickman’s assistant, said student-athletes who move from one state to another can be ruled eligible to play the same sport if the states offer the sport at different times.

I was quite surprised over the last couple of days to hear how mixed the reaction was to Saturday’s 20-inning game between the Cardinals and the Mets, a game the Mets ultimately won 2-1.

On one hand, you had the fans who loved every inning.

They were captivated by the intrigue, the strategy, the pitching moves, the pinch-hitters. They waited for the next turn of events or miscue or game-deciding play. They didn’t turn the radio or TV off, sitting through all 20 innings.

I was one of those fans.

On the other hand, you had the fans bored by it all.

No runs for 18 innings. Few hits on the Mets part. The Cardinals’ inability to score with runners on base. Tony La Russa’s reluctance to pinch hit when the Mets walked Albert Pujols. Add it all up and fans turned the channel.

Many more did that than I thought would.

During WGEM SportsCenter on Monday — you can hear the show Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-9 a.m. on ESPN 1440 or streaming live at wgemradio.com — we received more comments from people who turned away from the game than those who watched it in its entirety.

Those fans missed something special.

This game had all of the nuances that make baseball unique. Watching them all play out in one extra-long game made me appreciate the sport even more.

High school baseball coaches should consider themselves blessed.

The crop of talent in West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri is as good as it has been in several years and one of the best collections of the last decade. It proves, once again, this area is more than a hoops hotbed.

I was asked on Thursday which player has impressed me the most. I couldn’t limit my answer to just one, so here are is a look at some of the players who have caught my eye.

Michael Lafferty, LHP, Illini West: Really so surprise here. He’s overpowering. He’s a bulldog. He’s efficient and precise. Wrap that all together and you get the best pitcher in the area.

Devin Diveney, CF, West Hancock: Diveney doesn’t hit the ball. He drives it. He’s not a big bopper, but every hit has sting and he uses all parts of the field. Defensively, he has the wheels to track down line drives and fly balls in the gap.

Luke Stamerjohn, 1B/3B, Quincy Notre Dame: Teammates Brandon Ley and Daniel Weiman receive a lot of attention — understandably so — but the left-handed swinging Stamerjohn may have the biggest upside as a hitter. Smooth and long with his swing, he gets on top of pitches and hits through the ball. Impressive.

Kyle Young, 3B, Quincy High School: Pittsfield coach John Schultz showed what area coaches think of Young, intentionally walking him with the game on the line. You earn that sort of respect by playing the game well and playing the game right. Young does both.

Sean Grosinic, LHP, Central-Southeastern: As a sophomore, he won the game in which Suns coach Dave Swisegood tied the all-time coaching victories record. Now a senior, Grosinic is on the short list of players you want throwing a key game.

Jordan Cawthon, SS, Pittsfield: This region is fortunate to have several high-quality defensive shortstops, but none look as comfortable or as in control as Cawthon. Size, big arm and great footwork make his adept at turning two or handling hard grounders up the middle.

Zach Nichols, RHP/C, Hannibal: The area’s best catcher might be the area’s most surprising pitcher. Nichols has won three North Central Missouri Conference games for the Pirates. He’s still hitting — his average is hovering around .530 — but he’s also showing all his wares.

Keith Caldwell, C, Palmyra: He calls a good game, moves well behind the plate and is confident swinging the bat. He understands how to work the count and gives his pitchers confidence to throw anything because of the ability to block pitches.

Others I want to see play again because they impressed include: Illini West’s Jack Carlisle, West Hancock’s Cam Mitchell, Quincy High School’s Blake Genenbacher, Quincy Notre Dame’s Conner Cramsey, Pittsfield’s Gavin Bogan and Palmyra’s Colten Goode.

There are plenty of talented players I didn’t mention and I haven’t seen  yet this season.

Who do you like?

Let me know who has impressed you and why. There may be a diamond in the rough I need to see.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs celebrated their home openers on Monday, giving fans a taste of what’s to come and what has been. These two teams intertwine tradition with hope to create an unbelievable atmosphere, no matter how good or bad the weather is.

Two scenes from Monday celebrated the game better than any other. No matter your allegiance, if you’re a baseball fan, you can appreciate the moments.

First, in St. Louis, the Cardinals’ living Hall of Famers take part in the pre-game ceremony, each adorned in a red suit coat. This year, former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog joined the party. His interaction with Stan Musial, the greatest Cardinal ever, was priceless.

In Chicago, Tom Ricketts and his family are the franchise’s new owners and they’ve already started upgrading facilities. Monday, they got into the spirit of the franchise by collectively singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch.

Randy Mettemeyer’s wait is over.

Ever since getting swept by Rock Island in last year’s Western Big Six Conference-opening doubleheader — the Blue Devils led the second game 3-1 before committing two errors in the seventh inning that allowed the Rocks to rally — Mettemeyer has wanted his team to get another at proving itself in league play.

Quincy High School coach Randy Mettemeyer and the Blue Devils open Western Big Six Conference at home Saturday against Rock Island.

“We’ve been waiting 365 days for this,” the QHS coach said.

It’s finally here. Quincy (4-2) faces Rocky in today’s first WB6 doubleheader of the season. The Rocks shared the league title last season with Moline and return nearly every position player from that team — seven starters are now seniors. They are off to a 10-1 start, but lack of experienced pitching could be their bugaboo.

Still, Mettemeyer knows Rocky coach Andy Campbell will have his team primed to defend the league crown.

“It’s good baseball in this league,” Mettemeyer said. “The coaching staffs are very intelligent and understand the game and understand what it takes to be successful. It’s a very competitive league. Year in and year out, you have to play well every Saturday to be successful.”

This year is no different.

Moline is 8-1 and an offensive juggernaut, led by University of Illinois signee Thomas Lindauer. Alleman returns its top two pitchers in Keelan Prince and Jacob Sharp. Galesburg has a loaded junior class, led by infielder Dalton Davis. And Quincy has kids who understand what it takes to contend.

“They’ve been through the WB6 battles,” Mettemeyer said of seniors such as Nolan Kurfman, Kyle Young and Conner Schaefer. “They know every liitle error gets magnified. I think that’s carried over to the younger guys. I hope it has. I want them to realize how important playing sound baseball is.”

Last year’s trip to Rock Island still serves as a reminder.

“You can’t beat yourself,” Mettemeyer said. “That’s what we’ve done the last few years. That’s allowed teams of this caliber to make you pay for it. You make an error and they’ll burn you for it.”

Mettemeyer also knows what his team is capable of doing. For six innings against Rock Island last year, the Blue Devils proved it.

“If we can go out and play the baseball we’re capable of and not give them extra opportunities, we’ll have success,” Mettemeyer said. “I’m confident we can play well.”

For more on WB6 baseball, check out Ryan Sergeant’s article in the Moline Dispatch by clicking here.

Tiger Woods pulled me in. But would he do it with everyone?

Playing for the first time since the skeletons in his closet come out and a complete meltdown of his persona as a role model for legions of young golfers happened, Woods’ performance in the opening round of the Masters captivated me.

I checked his scores on the Internet, caught some of the ESPN coverage and couldn’t wait to turn on SportsCenter last night to see the highlights.

Was everyone that enthralled?

That was my question when I e-mailed 10 friends on Thursday. Each one of these people said they were avid sports fans, but not one would say golf is one of their favorite sports. And not one of them works in a sports-related industry.

So was Tiger’s tale as intriguing to them as it was us in the media?

Not hardly.

Only two of the 10 said they knew what approxiamte time Woods teed off. Only one planned to watch any of the afternoon action on ESPN. No one had altered their schedule so they could watch the action on Thursday afternoon.

As one of those surveyed said, “What happens Thursday doesn’t matter. It’s all about Sunday.”

Now, nine of the 10 had altered their schedule so their could watch basketball during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Six of them made plans to watch the Cardinals or Cubs this week.

One of them wrote, “Baseball is our pasttime. It deserves our attention. Golf will get our attention when it matters. On Sunday.”

This is just a small sampling of sports fans, but it illustrates the point that Tiger doesn’t make the world go round, even if it seems like it this week.

Something to think about

Travis Dinkheller realized he pushed the Quincy High School girls soccer team harder Tuesday night than it had been during its five-game win streak to start the season.

“Tired legs kind of caught up to us at the end,” the second-year QHS coach said.

Yet, even in a 2-0 loss to Quincy Notre Dame at Flinn Stadium, Dinkheller liked what he saw from his team’s attack, especially in the final 20 minutes. That’s when Dinkheller employed a three-forward attack, something the Blue Devils hadn’t done this season.

“We didn’t want to do it too early,” Dinkheller said. “We were trying to pick the right time. We were hoping to create an opportunity for us to have some success.”

QHS got a lift from the extra attacker, but more importantly, Dinkheller and his staff saw things to like and dislike about the three-forward attack. Now they can tweak it to their liking with a pivotal Western Big Six Conference showdown with Moline looming on Saturday.

All hands on deck

QND coach Mark Longo finally has his entire lineup as his disposal.

And what a lineup it can be.

Senior midfielder Brooke Burgess and senior defender Jamie Pyatt — both are returning starters — were part of the group that went on a school-sponsored trip to Spain. They missed the first five games and sat out the first half Tuesday night.

Their addition means more experience and depth for an already loaded team.

“Everyone who stepped in, they all did great,” senior midfielder Claire Obert said. “It’s going to be nice to have more depth.”

Longo praised some of his underclassmen, such as junior defender Paula Holm, who played like veterans during the opening six games and gave him confidence to use them in any situation.

“I think we can throw a lot of people in and be just fine,” Longo said.

Tough roads ahead

This is just the start of a tough four-game stretch for the Blue Devils. On Thursday, they travel to Jefferson City, Mo. On Saturday, they take on Western Big Six Conference foe Moline and follow that with a home game against Jefferson City Helias.

QND’s schedule isn’t any easier. The Lady Raiders face Alton Marquette in the St. Louis Showcase at Parkway North High School on Friday and go to Chatham Glenwood next Tuesday.

Pink Night is success

The organizers of Quincy High School’s Pink Night for Breast Cancer added a couple of new twists to the fund-raising efforts. One was raffling off a press box suite to watch the game from, and it included food and beverages.

They also raffled off pink soccer balls signed by players from each team.

Both teams also wore pink uniforms with the Blue Devils sporting pink jerseys and the Lady Raiders sporting pink shorts.

The boxscore

QND 2, QHS 0
QND QHS
12 Shots 7
2 Saves 6
7 Corners 2
17 Fouls 8
0 Offsides 0
QND 1 1—2
QHS 0 0—0
QND—Shannon Foley (Paula Holm), 6:00
QND—Claire Obert (Leigh McLaughlin), 44:00

The Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer team's victory over Quincy High School in the 2008 regional title game — Alicia Bower, hugging a team on the left, won the game in sudden-death penalty kicks — is considered one of the best games in the intra-city series. (H-W File Photo)

The Quincy High School girls soccer team last beat Quincy Notre Dame 3-2 in the sectional championship in 1999. Since, the Lady Raiders have gone 21-0-3 in the intra-city series. Here is a game-by-game look at how it has played out:

April 4, 2000 — QND 1, QHS 0
May 10, 2000 — QND 5, QHS 1
May 30, 2000 — QND 2, QHS 1
April 7, 2001 — QND 2, QHS 1
May 8, 2001 — QND 1, QHS 0
May 25, 2001 — QND 4, QHS 2
April 9, 2002 — QND 1, QHS 0
May 7, 2002 — QND 4, QHS 2
May 5, 2003 — QND 2, QHS 0
May 12, 2003 — QND 3, QHS 0
April 6, 2004 — QND 3, QHS 1
May 11, 2004 — QND 3, QHS 1
April 6, 2005 — QND 0, QHS 0
May 10, 2005 — QND 1, QHS 0
April 4, 2006 — QND 1, QHS 1
April 4, 2007 — QND 2, QHS 0
May 8, 2007 — QND 3, QHS 0
May 18, 2007 — QND 4, QHS 1
April 1, 2008 — QND 3, QHS 2
May 6, 2008 — QND 1, QHS 1
May 16, 2008 — QND 1, QHS 0
April 7, 2009 — QND 5, QHS 0
May 12, 2009 — QND 1, QHS 0
April 6, 2010 — QND 2, QHS 0