Tom Johnston

Dispatch/Argus sports writer who covers variety of sports in Quad-Cities area. Main beats are golf (local & John Deere Classic) and all QC small college sports

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Articles

IFL preview: Quad City Steamwheelers (6-0) at Green Bay Blizzard (3-3)

5 days ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

The gameThe Quad City Steamwheelers (6-0, 6-0 Eastern Conference) trek north to Green Bay to battle the Green Bay Blizzard (3-3, 3-2 Eastern Conference) in an Indoor Football League contest on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. for the Blackout Breast Cancer Awareness Day contest. Watch partyThere will be an away-game watch party on Saturday at Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge in downtown Davenport. The event, which begins at 3 p.m., is open to all ages.
Rough night for River Bandits in setback to Lake County Captains

5 days ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

EASTLAKE, Ohio — Much of this season has been smooth sailing for the Quad Cities River Bandits, who have the best record in the High Class A Midwest League. On Thursday, however, the River Bandits had one of those games to forget. The hosting Lake County Captains jumped out to a first-inning lead and never looked back as they handed the Bandits a 9-1 loss at Classic Auto Group Park. The win snapped their three-game losing streak.
Rough night for River Bandits in setback to Lake County Captains

6 days ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

EASTLAKE, Ohio — Much of this season has been smooth sailing for the Quad Cities River Bandits, who have the best record in the High Class A Midwest League. On Thursday, however, the River Bandits had one of those games to forget. The hosting Lake County Captains jumped out to a first-inning lead and never looked back as they handed the Bandits a 9-1 loss at Classic Auto Group Park. The win snapped their three-game losing streak.
Quad-Cities area talent powering the Augustana softball program

1 week ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

It’s no coincidence that four of Augustana College’s seven softball players to earn All-CCIW recognition this week are former local preps. John Nelson, who took the head coaching reins at Augie ahead of the 2024 season after an incredible run at Rockridge High School, knew the local talent pool and understood where his recruiting needed to start. “This is a hot bed for fastpitch softball,” he said knowingly, “so we try to start our recruiting here.
Hunter Patteson deals again as River Bandits already reach 20 wins

1 week ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

EASTLAKE, Ohio — For the first time this season, the Quad Cities River Bandits hit home runs in back-to-back games. Trevor Werner made that happen on Wednesday with a prodigious blast in the top of the seventh inning for his third long ball of the season.
Pitching, defense, Carter Frederick's first HR carry River Bandits to another victory

1 week ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

EASTLAKE, Ohio — Pitchers Drew Beam, Nate Ackenhausen and A.J. Causey did something that has been customary on Tuesday evening. Carter Frederick did something that he hadn’t done yet this season in a Quad Cities River Bandits uniform. Combined with stellar defense, those two aspects helped the River Bandits to a 3-0 High Class A Midwest League victory over the hosting Lake County Captains at Classic Auto Group Park.
Storm protect strong nucleus of 13 in looking ahead to 2025-26 season

1 week ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

With the group of players that the Quad City Storm finished the season with, first-year coach Shayne Toporowski felt as if he had a group that could do big things. He may get a chance to find out if he was right. The Storm submitted their protected list of players for the 2025-26 SPHL season and even that group has brought a sense of excitement to those with the local SPHL team.
River Bandits insider: Erick Torres at home at top of batting order

1 week ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

Erick Torres has found a home on top of the Quad Cities River Bandits’ batting order of late. And that says a lot about the future of the rising Royals prospect who just turned 20 years old last December. Starting the season in the bottom of the order, the talented outfielder assumed the leadoff duties and has taken off. “You know he just scraps away and gets his pitch and normally when he gets his pitch he doesn't miss it,” said Kyle MacKinnon, Bandits assistant hitting coach recently.
Quad Cities River Bandits drop series finale vs. Great Lakes

1 week ago | qctimes.com | Tom Johnston

MIDLAND, Mich. — The Quad Cities River Bandits got off to a great start on Sunday, but the hosting Great Lakes Loons had plenty to counter that in the High Class A Midwest League contest. Great Lakes scored in five of its eight at-bats in the finale of the six-games series to salvage a 7-3 victory at Dow Diamond after the Bandits had already secured the series victory 4-2 with Saturday’s doubleheader sweep.
Steamwheelers battle adversity to remain lone IFL undefeated team

1 week ago | qconline.com | Tom Johnston

FISHERS, Indiana – Remaining undefeated for the 2025 Indoor Football League season proved to be much more challenging for the Quad City Steamwheelers Saturday evening than just winning a football game. The Wheelers had to overcome a feisty and hungry Fishers Freight expansion squad looking to snap a three-game losing streak. QC also had to stare down adversity and battle through some tough situations.