Sportsshorts for Thursday, March 15, 2013

Three locals to play in Shrine Game

Newman’s Kyle Moore, Rock Falls’ Jonas Robbins and Erie-Prophetstown’s Zach Inskeep have all been selected to play for the West team in the 2013 Illinois High School Shrine Game. 

The game will take place at 6:30 p.m. on July 13 at Tucci Stadium on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University. 

LOCAL BASKETBALL

Newman to host Summer League

Newman High School will host both a boys and girls summer basketball league. The boys will play on Thursdays in June. The girls will play on Tuesdays. 

Cost is $350 per team. If both levels of boys and girls play from one school, there is a $25 discount for each team. For more information, contact Tim Nelson at 815-718-5374 or at nhscoach1@gmail.com.

SEMI-PRO BASKETBALL

Waller named PBL player of week

Kwan Waller of the Sauk Valley Predators has been named IBA-PBL player of the week. Waller averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists per game in the Predators’ season-opening wins Saturday and Sunday.

MEN’S SOFTBALL

Coloma hosting organizational meeting

The Coloma Park District will hold an organizational meeting at 7:30 p.m. on March 20 at the Park District Office for its 38th annual men’s slowpitch softball league. 

Games will played on Mondays at Centennial Park, and each team will be required to pay a $275 entry fee. For more information, contact the Park District at 815-625-0272.

NFL

Bears cut TEs
Davis, Spaeth

The Chicago Bears’ signing Tuesday of tight end Martellus Bennett to a 4-year, $20 million contract made veterans Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth expendable, and both were released Wednesday.

The Bears also are expected to release veteran defensive tackle Matt Toeaina.

Urlacher flirting
with Vikings

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher has been flirting with the enemy, specifically the NFC North division rival Vikings.

A Vikings source confirmed talks with Urlacher’s camp, but said the team was “monitoring” the situation and still believed Urlacher eventually would remain with the Bears.

Mendenhall lands with Cardinals

Running back Rashard Mendenhall has agreed to a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

A former Illinois and Niles West star and a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mendenhall had his most productive NFL seasons under the watch of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, and rejoins his former coach in Arizona.