3 non-conference home games highlight EIU men's schedule
CHARLESTON -- A home schedule with three non-conference teams with recent NCAA Tournament experience mixed alongside a veteran team that returns 89 percent of its scoring from last season makes for an exciting 2009-2010 season as Eastern Illinois released its men’s basketball schedule.

McElroy back with Bears, still running youth camp
MATTOON -- Ray McElroy grew up in Chicago before heading to Eastern Illinois to play football. After four years with the Panthers, McElroy played six seasons in the NFL with four teams including a stint with the Chicago Bears in 2000.

EIU players, coach help with Mattoon camp
MATTOON -- Eastern Illinois has a strong presence at the Ray McElroy Professional Football Youth Camp this year. Not only is McElroy a former EIU football player, but he also has the help this year of two current players and one former player now current EIU assistant. Both Chaz Millard (current EIU All-American offensive lineman) and Nick Kray (current defensive assistant) worked McElroy’s camp last year with defensive back Nick Martinez joining the coaching staff this year. All told, McElroy said he was pleased to be working with the current crop of Panthers’ representatives.

Former Bears receiver at football camp
MATTOON -- Fabien Bownes played six years in the NFL, three with the Chicago Bears and three with the Seattle Seahawks. That experience alone would qualify him to coach at any youth football camp. Yet Bownes has chosen to coach at just one camp the past four years. Ray McElroy’s camp.

Back-to-back homers highlight Mattoon Cal Ripken win
MATTOON -- Austin Warrem, Carson Hyland and Tanner Scott combined to allow just one hit and Mattoon opened play in the Cal Ripken 12-year-old State Tournament (South division) with a 15-4 victory over Wabash Valley of Oblong at Lawson Park.

Millard tabbed second team All-American
PHILADELPHIA -- Eastern Illinois senior guard Chaz Millard picked up his second preseason All-American nod as the Sports Network released its preseason All-America team on Thursday. Millard was a second team pick by the national organization.

Early innings, pitching helps MDC top Danville
MATTOON -- Moultrie-Douglas County American Legion Post 479-429-27’s baseball team scored all five of its runs in the second and third innings and the pitching of Adam Carver, Paul Hrvol and Tyler Frerichs held Danville Post 210 to two runs as MDC won 5-2 Thursday at Lake Land College.

Charleston Chill tryouts set
CHARLESTON -- The Charleston Chill softball organization is to have tryouts for the 2010 season Aug. 2 at the Neco Softball Complex in Charleston.