An 11-run third inning propelled Normal Community to a 12-0, run-rule five-inning win in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action on Monday in Normal.

Landyn Corbin tossed five innings of shutout ball with seven strikeouts and allowed just two hits.

Max Heineman led the Ironmen, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Drew Stevens and Carter Harris each drove in two runs for Normal Community.

Gavin Swartz tripled and Andrew Naour doubled, each driving in a run. Kyle Baety and Gavin Michaels also drove in runs for the Ironmen.

Normal Community is 4-3 overall and 1-0 in the Big 12. They travel to Peoria Notre Dame on Wednesday. 

Brody Billedo and Carter Foran led Monticello to an 8-2 win over Lincoln in non-conference high school baseball action at Lincoln High School on Monday.

Billedo fired three shutout innings. The senior southpaw struck out five, walked one, and permitted two hits.

Foran followed with four innings of two-run relief. One run was earned. The senior struck out six and allowed four hits and zero walks.

Colton Vance led the Sages, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Brian Wiltgen was 3-for-4 with a run scored. 

Foran was 2-for-4 with a walk and run scored at the top of the order for Monticello. Ike Young was 1-for-2 with a triple, a run driven in, two runs scored, and two walks. Hayden Romano was 2-for-4, and Cole Basak was 1-for-4 with a triple. 

Austin Lucas led Lincoln, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base. Drew Hayes recorded the only RBI of the afternoon for the Railsplitters. Ashton Corley also finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. 

Lincoln falls to 2-5 overall. They will host Springfield Southeast on Tuesday.

Monticello improves to 8-2 overall. They host Tri-Valley on Tuesday.

MJ Hall struck out more batters but took the tough luck loss to Tuscola 2-1 on Monday afternoon in non-conference high school baseball action in Tuscola.

Hall surrendered two runs in the first inning, but the Bombers could not solve the Warriors. 

Jaxon Finch's sac-fly in the top of the first inning scored the only run for Argenta-Oreana.

Hall finished six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and issued two walks. 

Kharsen West was 2-for-3 for the Bombers. Hall, Carter Logue, Ashton Sample, and Lucas Camfiled also recorded hits.

Argenta-Oreana drops to 3-2. They will host Taylorville on Tuesday.

A late surge by Normal West wasn't enough as the Wildcats fell to Champaign Centennial 7-6 in Big 12 high school baseball action in Champaign on Monday. 

The Wildcats found themselve down 4-0 after two innings. Sean Jenkins' base hit in the fourth scored two runs to cut the deficit in half 4-2. After a run-scoring error and sac fly, Normal West tied the score at 4-4.

The Chargers answered with a three-run fourth inning to go up 7-4. 

Cooper Temples scored on a wild pitch, and Chase Knuth's base hit scored a run to bring the Wildcats within 7-6. 

Normal West had the potential tying run picked off at first base in the top of the seventh inning.

Drew Hart was 2-for-2 for Normal West. Knuth, Jenkins, Torin DeLaere, and Nolan Schultz each drove in runs for the Wildcats.

Normal West is 6-2 overall. They start 0-1 in the Big 12. They will host Centennial on Wednesday. 

Tuscola outlasted Argenta-Oreana 8-7 in eight innings in a high school softball thriller on Monday from Argenta.

Gracie Manning drove in five runs for the Lady Bombers, finishing 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in the fourth inning that broke a 2-2 tie. Elyssa Armstrong was 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. 

Brynn Jones and Pyper Jones drove in runs for Argenta-Oreana. 

After Manning's two-run homer to give the Lady Bombers the lead in the fourth, Tuscola tied the score with runs in the top of the fifth. 

The Lady Bombers would go up 6-4 after two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

The Lady Warriors answered with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to lead 7-6. 

Brynn Jones' RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning tied the game at seven for Argenta-Oreana.

Kinzie Cleland gave the Lady Warriors the lead for good in the top of the eighth with an RBI single.

Argenta-Oreana falls to 0-5 on the season. They will host Warrensburg-Latham on Tuesday.

St. Joseph-Ogden made quick work of Heyworth with a nine-run fourth inning and ten-run ruled the Lady Hornets 10-0 in non-conference high school softball action in Heyworth on Tuesday.

Grace Streenz doubled twice for the Lady Hornets, finishing 2-for-2. 

It was the only offense Heyworth could muster against Timera Blackburn-Kell,y who struck out 11 across four innings of shutout ball for the Lady Spartans. 

Emma McKinney drove in six for St. Joe. Blackburn-Kelly was 3-for-4 with a double. 

The Lady Spartans put the game away with a nine-run fourth inning. 

Heyworth falls to 1-3 overall. They will host Hart-Em on Thursday. 

A Clinton High School track and field thrower took home a state championship this weekend. 

Abi Moser won the Class 2A indoor shot put championship. After five throws, she was tenth in the standing, but her final throw was not only a personal best; she set a school record on the throw. 

While unofficial, Clinton track coaches estimate there have been two other state champions for the indoor season.

Clinton's 4x800 relay team of Amerie Hemphill, Lydia Cahill, Averie Fatheree, and Aubrey Peterson finished tenth and set a school record for the indoor 4x800. 

Clinton begins its outdoor season slate this weekend with a home conference meet with Central A&M.

Monticello made easy work of Decatur Eisenhower in an 18-1, four inning, run-rule romp on Friday afternoon in high school softball action from Decatur.

Avery Schweitzer continued her hot hitting, going 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Isabella Beery remained hot during a big week, going 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.

Madison Highland and Thea Key both doubled and drove in two in the win. 

Ali Weidner, Ashley Stiverson, and Sadie Walsh all drove in runs for the Lady Sages.

Monticello has won six straight to start the season and will host Charleston on Saturday. 

A five-run fifth inning allowed Williamsville to pull away from Mt Pulaski in non-conference high school baseball action from Mt. Pulaski on Friday.

Evan Cooper was 1-for-3 with a double and RBI to lead the Hilltoppers.

The Bullets scored five runs in the fifth inning to go up 7-0. They added three more in the sixth inning. 

Chance Payne and Jaeden Jackson recorded the other two Mt. Pulaski hits. 

The Hilltoppers are 1-2 overall. They travel to Pontiac next Tuesday night. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Maroons fell to the Maora-Forsyth Trojans by a final score of 10-0 in five innings of nonconference high school softball action in Forsyth.

The Maroons had no hits or runs in 14 at-bats. The award of Servpro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game was given to centerfielder Ariana Humes, who caught three outs. 

Aliviyah Haynes allowed 10 runs on nine hits and walked six. She struck out one. 
The Trojans were led by Maggie Ravenscraft, who had three hits, two RBIs, and one run. Kalli Kahler scored two runs, had two hits, and two RBIs. Danni Hovey hit a solo home run. 

Danni Hovey pitched five innings and allowed zero hits and zero runs, and walked two batters. She struck out seven. 

The Maroons fall to 2-2 on the season, while the Trojans improve to 4-2

The Trojans will next take on Pana on Monday. 

The Maroons will host Sullivan on Tuesday. 

Sean Burke pitched six sparkling innings and Will Venable got his first win as a big league manager Thursday, directing the Chicago White Sox to an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on opening day.

Andrew Benintendi, Lenyn Sosa, and Austin Slater homered as Chicago began what it hopes will be a more promising season than a year ago, when it went 41-121 to break the post-1900 major league record for losses.

Following an off day, right-handers José Soriano and Jonathan Cannon take the mound on Saturday. Soriano made 20 starts and two relief appearances for Los Angeles last year, going 6-7 with a 3.42 ERA. Cannon had a 4.49 ERA over 124 1/3 innings during his rookie season with Chicago in 2024..

Hear Saturday's action on WHOW. 

Kyle Larson secured his 30th career win at Homestead after a late-race pass of teammate Alex Bowman.

The 2022 NASCAR Cup Series Champ will look to keep rolling this week when racing's top circuit heads to Martinsville for the throwback weekend. 

William Byron took the lead with 73 laps to go and held onto it during a two-lap overtime finish to enhance Hendrick Motorsports’ celebration of its 40-year anniversary last year. Hendrick cars finished 1-2-3-4 last year. 

Practice and qualifying from Martinsville are on Saturday afternoon at 1 pm. Race time is 2 pm on Sunday.

The pride of Riverton, Justin Allgaier, earned his second consecutive XFinity Series win in a dramatic three-way duel with Sam Mayer and Austin Hill in overtime at Homestead-Miami last Saturday. 

Larson dominated the race but a late restart issue for the Spire Motorsports Chevrolet allowed the field the chance at the win.

Despite being nearly 20-seconds back when the caution flag came out late, Allgaier stayed with it and drove to victory in overtime. 

Aric Amirola secured his first win of the year, taking the lead from Sam Mayer after an overtime restart last year from Martinsville. 

Practice and qualifying for the XFinity Series is today at 3:30 pm. Race time is Saturday at 4 pm.

Overcoming a potentially race-ending spinout, Kyle Larson crept his way to the front in the final 10 laps to secure the victory last week from Homestead-Miami in the Craftsman Truck Series.

A dominant weekend started with an impressive late run that allowed the Spire Motorsports Chevrolet to start the weekend with a win. 

Last year at Martinsville, Christian Eckes won in dominating fashion, leading 133 of the 200 laps and bringing in his second win of the season.

Practice and qualifying for the trucks is this afternoon at 1 pm. Race time is tonight at 6:30 pm. 

Jack Manning fired five strong innings and helped Clinton hold onto an early lead in a 3-2 win over Olympia in high school baseball action in Clinton on Thursday.

Manning allowed two runs, one was earned, over five innings. The junior struck out five, walked on,e and permitted eight hits.

Carson Birky got the Spartans on the board with an RBI single. 

Colton Walker's RBI single in the home half of the frame tied the game at 1-1. He would score on a wild pitch later in the frame to put the Maroons ahead 2-1. 

Cole Fentress scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the fourth inning to put Clinton up 3-1 and give the Maroons all the insurance they would need. 

Preston Curtis closed the door on the victory with two shutout frames. He struck out three and did not permit a hit or a walk. 

Josh Bass finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Jaeden Bell and Carter Bostic recorded hits for the Maroons. 

Clinton improves to 2-3 overall. They will host Ridgeview on Saturday morning.

Mitch Williams threw six shutout innings, and Maroa-Forsyth blanked Okaw Valley 9-0 in non-conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Bethany. 

Williams struck out 12 and walked two while permitting just one hit. 

Ace Giles drove in a team-high three runs finishing 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Cayden Rose was 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run scored for the Trojans.

Tate Brandenburg finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Gunnar Larner and Colby Parrott drove in runs as well for Maroa-Forsyth. 

The Trojans are 3-3 overall. They will host PBL on Saturday morning.

Lincoln built an early lead and held on late to double up Dunlap 6-3 in non-conference high school baseball action from Dunlap on Thursday.

Lincoln went up 6-0 in the top of the sixth inning. The Eagles got two runs back in the bottom half of the inning and scratched a run across in the seventh, but Carson Fuiten got the final two outs to close out the win.

Drew Hayes was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Ashton Corley was 2-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored, and a walk for Lincoln.

Parker Graue and Karson Komnick drove in runs for the Railsplitters. Austin Lucas pitched into the seventh inning. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs on five hits, three walks, and struck out four. 

Lincoln 2-2. They travel to Eureka on Saturday morning for a twin bill. 

Normal West rallied late for a 6-2 win over Russellville (AL) in the Gulf Shores of Alabama on Thursday morning in high school baseball. 

Trailing 2-1 going into the top of the seventh, Ryder Coone laid down a squeeze bunt to bring home a runner from third and tie the score at 2-2.

From there, a double steal scored Torin DeLaere to give Normal West the 3-2 lead. Chase Knuth capped the scoring with a two-run double later in the inning.

Chase Reinhart fired 3 1/3 innings of two runs - both runs were unearned. He struck out four, walked four, and permitted a hit. Gage Flairty finished the win with 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He struck out three and permitted a hit and a walk. 

Sean Jenkins was 2-for-3 for Normal West. DeLaere walked twice and scored twice, finishing 1-for-1. 

Normal West improves to 6-1 overall. They return to the Midwest next week to take on Champaign Centennial. 

Normal Community outlasted Jefferson City (MO) 9-7 in high school baseball action from Daphne, AL on Thursday morning. 

Kyle Baety and Max Heineman hit back-to-back run-scoring singles in the second inning to put the Ironmen up 4-0.

Jefferson City answered with a four-run frame to tie the score at 4-4. They added three runs in the fourth to lead 7-4. 

The Ironmen saved their best for last. Back-to-back sac flies in the fourth tied the score at 7-7. Two batters later, Gavin Swartz tripled in the go-ahead run for an 8-7 Normal Community lead. 

Heineman doubled in Baety in the fifth to give the Ironmen all the insurance they'd need and held on from there.

Heineman was 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs to lead Normal Community. Baety was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and runs scored. 

Swartz finished 2-for-3 with a double, triple, RBI, a run score,d and walked twice. Drew Stevens drove in a run for the Ironmen.

Normal Community is 3-3 overall. They host Peoria Notre Dame on Monday. 

A seven-run third inning propelled Normal West to a five-inning, 11-1 run-rule win over Gibson County (TN) in high school baseball action from the Gulf Shores in Alabama on Wednesday.

In the seven run third, Sam McCully singled in two, Chase Reinhart doubled in two more, and Cooper Temples singed in two runs. 

Brady Pollet was the only hitter in the Wildcasts lineup to tally multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Temples was 1-for-1 working a walk, driving in two, and stole a base. 

McCully was 1-for-1 with two RBIs and drew a pair of walks. Sean Jenkins scored twice and stole two bases for Normal West.

The Wildcats improve to 5-1 overall. They finish out their Alabama spring break trip with a noon game today. 

Caden Boser scored a season-high 20 points, Chase Walker was named the College Basketball Invitational's most valuable player, and Illinois State beat Cleveland State 79-68 on Wednesday night to claim the championship.

The Redbirds closed the season with a 22-14 record, the program’s first time reaching the 20-win plateau since the 2016-17 season.

Boser was a perfect 7 for 7, including 4 for 4 from beyond the arc for the Redbirds. Johnny Kinziger and Walker each scored 13 points, and Dalton Banks and Ty Pence had 11 apiece.

Tevin Smith led the Vikings (23-13) in scoring, finishing with 16 points. Cleveland State also got 11 points from Chase Robinson and Je'Shawn Stevenson.

Early offense sparked Illinois State over SIUE 9-3 in Edwardsville Wednesday evening. 

The Redbirds scored seven runs across the 1st and 2nd innings to get ahead early. Shai Robinson tripled home Kyle Gibson in the top of the 1st to break open the scoring before Daniel Pacella added a sac fly for an Illinois State 2-0 lead after.

Josh Outlaw's first home run as a Redbird in the top of the second put ISU up 4-0. Judah Morris added an RBI double to make it 6-0.

The Redbirds padded its lead on an RBI groundout by Brayden Bakes and RBI single from Kyle Gibson to go up 8-0 after three.

The lead grew to 9-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Outlaw, his third RBI of the game. 

Josh Outlaw finished 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Kyle Gibson was 3-for-5 with an RBI, and Judah Morris went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. 

The win moves Illinois State to 10-13 in 2025, while SIUE drops to 10-13 overall.

Illinois State returns home to host Murray State in Missouri Valley Conference action from Friday through Sunday. 

Riley Fentress hit a bases-clearing triple in a four-run first inning, jumpstarting a Clinton offensive onslaught and an 11-1 on Wednesday in non-conference high school softball action from Clinton High School.

With the bases loaded, Fentress cleared the bases with a triple to center. She would come around to score on a sac fly. 

She finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored. 

Hadley Humble finished with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored for the Lady Maroons. Aliviyah Haynes drove in two runs with a double and a pair of walks. 

Anelise Thompson, Avery Smith, and Peyton McKinsey added RBIs for Clinton.

The Lady Maroons improve to 2-1 overall. Weather permitting, they will travel to Maroa-Forsyth on Friday. Hear the action on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM/106.5 FM WHOW and all its digital platforms. 

Monticello got contributions up and down the lineup as Monticello rolled Meridian 13-3 in non-conference high school softball action Wednesday in Monticello.

Avery Schweitzer drove in three and went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the win. After a two-homer day Tuesday, Isabella Beery followed it up going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. 

Cassidee Stoffel had six RBIs on Tuesday. She went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Wednesday. Madison Highland and Sadie Walsh each drove in two for the Lady Sages, while Ali Weidner and Ashley Stiverson each drove in runs.

Monticello jumped out to an 8-0 in the first three innings. 

Meridian cut it to 8-3 after five, but Monticello scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning,g and Walsh's sac fly to center ended the game by run-rule.

Monticello goes to 5-0 overall. They will host Decatur Eisenhower on Friday. 

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin scored seven unanswered runs to beat Maroa-Forsyth 7-2 in non-conference high school girl's softball action from Springfield on Wednesday. 

The Lady Trojans jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a Kalli Kahler RBI ground out in the second inning then an Aubrey Steward RBI double in the third.

SHG responded to go up 3-2 in the bottom half of the frame and put the game away with a run in the fourth and three more in the fifth. 

Kahler, Steward, and Maliyah Hunter tallied the only hits for the Lady Trojans. 

They fall to 3-1 overall. They will travel to Mt. Zion on Thursday.

Iroquois West scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to get by Blue Ridge 10-8 in a back-and-forth high school softball tilt in Onarga. 

Iroquois West answered a Blue Ridge run in the top of the first inning with four of its own. The Lady Knights battled back to tie the score at 4-4 in the third inning, highlighted by an Ellie Hayward two-run double. 

Iroquois West responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to go up 6-4.

The Lady Knights weren't done rallying. Karley Fenton reached on an error that scored two runs to put Blue Ridge up 7-6, and Hayward brought in a run on a groundout that made it 8-6, setting up the final rally of the game by Iriqouis West. 

Hayward finished 1-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Fenton was 0-for-3 but had two RBIs and a run scored. Lilli Enger finished 1-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Ellie Schleiper had an RBI for Blue Ridge as well.

The Lady Knights drop to 2-4. They travel to Oakwood next Wednesday.

Central High School (AL) scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off Normal Community 4-3 in the opening of a twin bill for the Ironmen from Orange Beach, Alabama, in high school baseball action on Wednesday. 

Normal Community committed four errors, including a crucial error in the seventh inning that put the winning run on base and ultimately came around to score on a second error in the inning. 

Gavin Swartz led Normal Community, going 1-for-3 with a double and run scored. Gavin Michaels was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Kyle Beaty, Max Heineman, Brady Burkhart, and Andrew Naour collected hits in the loss. 

Landyn Corbin went 2 2/3 innings of one-run ball for the Ironmen. His one run allowed was unearned. He struck out three and allowed zero hits and zero walks. 

In the second game of the day, a late rally fell short in an 8-5 loss to Athens (AL).

Normal Community fell behind 8-0 four innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Ironmen scored five runs highlighted by Corbin Harris' RBI double to make the score 8-2.

Normal Community put two runners on base with the tying run at the plate in the seventh but could not bring them in.

Harris led the Ironmen in the second game, finishing 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Gavin Van Kanegan drove in a run. Drew Stevens and Gavin Swartz each brought in runs during the five-run frame. 

Beckett Weber surrendered five runs in 1 2/3 innings, but only one was earned. He struck out five, walked two, and permitted two hits. The Ironmen committed five more errors in the second game. 

They fall to 2-3 overall. Normal Community returns to the Midwest next week to host Peoria Notre Dame on Monday.

A six-run sixth inning sent Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin over Lincoln 12-2 in high school baseball action Tuesday in Springfield.

The Cylcones jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. A passed ball scored Lincoln's first run in the second inning, but SHG stretched its lead to 4-1 in the bottom half of the inning and then added two more in the third inning to lead 6-1.

Austin Lucas' sac fly got Lincoln with 6-2 in the fifth inning. 

Drew Hayes led the Railsplitters going 2-for-3. Ashton Corley walked twice and stole to bases for Lincoln. 

Lincoln drops to 1-2 on the season. They will travel to Dunlap on Thursday.

Illinois (12-10) nearly dug its way out of an early 9-0 deficit, but a late comeback fell short as Missouri (9-14) beat the Illini in the annual baseball 'Braggin' Rights Game' 11-9 at Grizzlies Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois. 

The Illini got three home runs, which were highlighted by Collin Jennings' grand slam in the sixth. Vytas Valincius homered in the seventh, a two-run shot. Jacob Schroeder led off the eighth with a solo blast. 

After being held to just two hits through the first five innings, Illinois got themselves back into the game with six runs in the sixth. Grant Ross started the inning with a walk. Jack Zebig and Kyle Schupmann followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Jennings cleared them with a grand slam, his fourth of the season, to make it 9-4. With two outs, Valincius scored on a wild pitch and Greg LaChance collected an RBI-infield single to make it 9-6.

The Tigers got a run back in the top of the seventh, but Valincius' two-run homer in the home half of the frame made it 10-8.

The two sides would trade runs in the eighth, the Illini getting theirs on an opposite-field shot from Schroeder to make it 11-9.

Zebig started the ninth with a walk, giving Illinois three chances with the tying run at the plate, but were unable to get anything going in the inning, taking the 11-9 defeat.

Nine different Illini took the mound in the contest, getting scoreless appearances from Nolan Girard, Jake Swartz, Reed Gannon, and Zach Bates.

Valincius finished 2-for-5 with a double, home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Coltin Quagliano was 2-for-4 with a double and a run. 

The Fighting Illini return to Big Ten play on Friday when they begin a three-game set at Michigan State at McLane Stadium in East Lansing. 

Illinois State topped Iowa on Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field by a final score of 10-8. 

The Redbirds built a big early lead. Brayden Bakes got the scoring started with an RBI single to right field in the 1st for an early 1-0 lead. 

Luke Stulga launched a no-doubt home run to left field in the 2nd for the 2-0 advantage.

Bakes tallied his second RBI game with a single up the middle in the 3rd to make the score 3-0.

The Redbirds scored seven runs in the 4th, highlighted by a bases clearing triple by Daniel Contreras, to lead 10-0 after four innings.

Iowa got on the board in the top of the 6th with an RBI single. The Hawkeyes added three runs in the top of the 8th with a two-run HR and wild pitch to make it a 10-4 ballgame.

In the 9th, Iowa added four runs to make the scoreline its final margin of 10-8.

Illinois State (9-13) sophomore Luke Stulga provided an offensive spark, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a home run. Bakes finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Contreras was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. 

Carter Monke got the win for ISU. He went six innings of one-run ball on seven hits with four strikeouts and issued a walk.

Iowa drops to 14-9 overall.

Honor Huff led Chattanooga with 21 points and five 3-pointers, and Trey Bonham made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 14.8 seconds left as the Mocs defeated Bradley 67-65 on Tuesday night in the NIT quarterfinals.

Bonham scored 17 points and added six rebounds.

Demarion Burch led the way for the Braves (28-9) with 14 points. Bradley also got 13 points and four assists from Duke Deen. Christian Davis also had 10 points and six rebounds.

Huff scored 11 points in the first ha,lf and Chattanooga went into halftime trailing 38-25. Bonham scored 17 points in the second half.

The Braves will look to build on their recent success with a solid recruiting class coming in for next season. 

Chase Walker had 27 points in Illinois State's 78-73 win over Incarnate Word on Tuesday night in the CBI semifinals.

Walker had eight rebounds for the Redbirds (21-14). Ty Pence scored 15 points while finishing 6 of 11 from the floor and added 10 rebounds. Johnny Kinziger shot 3 of 9 from the field, including 1 for 5 from 3-point range, and went 6 for 8 from the line to finish with 13 points.

The Cardinals (19-17) were led in scoring by Dylan Hayman, who finished with 24 points. Jalin Anderson added 16 points and Davion Bailey finished with 14 points.

ISU advances to take on Cleveland State for the CBI Championship tonight at 4 pm. 

MJ Hall twirled another gem for Argenta-Oreana as the Bombers blanked Meridian 6-0 in non-conference high school baseball action Tuesday in Argenta.

Hall struck out 12 in six shutout innings. He allowed just one hit and issued three hits. 

He struck out 12 in the season-opener last Monday against Central A&M.

The Hawks committed five errors. 

Lucas Camfield led the Bombers with two RBIs. Hall was 2-for-3 with two runs. Carter Logue was 2-for-3 with a double and three runs scored at the top of the order for the Bombers.

Argenta-Oreana goes to 3-1 overall. They visit Tuscola next week. 

Dawson Waterhouse singled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning and Warrensburg-Latham walked off Maroa-Forsyth 7-6 in non-conference high school baseball action from Warrensburg on Tuesday.

Grady Rose brought home the go-ahead run for the Trojans in the top half of the inning to make the score 6-5. 

The two former Okaw Valley rivals went back and forth all afternoon. 

Rose doubled in two in the top of the first inning, but the Cardinals got a run back in the first and tied the score when Trenton Bridges singled in a run in the third.

Warrensburg-Latham's Evan Gottman doubled in two runs in the fourth inning and Kristopher Lawson made the score 5-2 with a base hit to score Gottman.

Gunner Larner's two-run double in the top of the fifth inning brought Maroa-Forsyth within a run at 5-4 setting up the wild finish in the seventh. 

Gottman was credited with the win for Warrensburg-Latham. He tossed 2 1/3 innings of two-run relief with two walks, two strikeouts, and five hits allowed. 

The Cardinals are 5-1 overall. They host Decatur Unity Christian on Wednesday.

The Trojans drop to 2-3 overall. They will travel to Okaw Valley on Thursday. 

Josh Bass hit a home run but that was the extent of the highlights Tuesday for Clinton in a 16-1 loss to Mahomet-Seymour Tuesday in Mahomet. 

Bass' homer to right in the first inning put the Maroons up 1-0. That was the end of the offense for Clinton.

The junior collected both hits for the Maroons to finish 2-for-2. Colton Walker was hit by a pitch. 

Clinton falls to 1-2 overall. They will host Olympia on Thursday. 

Isabella Beery homered twice in an eight-run fourth inning, and Monticello rolled Tuscola 17-0 in non-conference high school softball action Tuesday in Tuscola.

Beery homered to start the inning to make the score 10-0 then homered to cap the inning and made it 17-0. 

Cassidee Stoffel drove in six runs. The junior blasted a three-run homer in the third inning to make the score 4-0. Stoffel got Monticello on the board with a sac fly to center to score Sadie Walsh in the first.

Stoffel drove in two more in the fourth with a double. She finished 3-for-4 with a double, homer, and six RBIs.

Sadie Walsh was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Thea Key went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. 

Stoffel struck out 11 in four innings of shutout ball. She allowed two hits and did not walk a batter.

Monticello is 4-0. They will host Meridian on Wednesday.

Addison Roos led a balanced attack and Blue Ridge held off Decatur St. Teresa 9-6 in non-conference high school softball action Tuesday from Farmer City.

The Lady Knights jumped out to 7-0 lead before St. T got on the board with a run in the fourth. The Lady Knights got two of those back to go up 9-1. The Bulldogs scored five unanswered runs to close out the scoring. 

Six different players had RBIs for the Lady Knights. Lilli Enger drove in two runfinishing 2-for-4. Roos was 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. 

Mya Laidley was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Karlee Fenton, Ellie Heyward, and Ellie Schleiper drove in runs for Blue Ridge.

Schleiper allowed six runs, three of which were earned, on ten strikeouts and two walks. 

The Lady Knights improved to 2-3 overall. Blue Ridge travels to Iroquois West on Wednesday. 

Ryder Coone and Chase Reinhart combined for a two-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over Brookland (AR) in high school baseball from Fairhope, Alabama.

Coone struck out three, walked two, and allowed two hits in three innings. 

Reinhart struck out seven in four hitless, shutout innings.

Two Bearcats errors scored two runs for the Wildcats in the fourth inning and the was the extent of the scoring for Normal West.

Reinhart was 1-for-3 with a stolen base.

In the second game of the afternoon, errors did in the Wildcats in a 9-2 loss to Ariton (AL) in high school baseball action from Fairhope, Alabama.

The Wildcats committed five errors, which led to five unearned runs.

Despite a tough day in the field, Chase Knuth brought in a run for Normal West. Cooper Temples was 2-for-3 with a run and a walk for the Wildcats.

The loss was Normal West's first of the season as they drop to 4-1. They will take on Gibson County (TN) on Wednesday.

Drew Stevens and Max Heineman hit home runs and paced Normal West over Hayden (AL) 6-2 in high school baseball action from Loxley, Alabama. 

Stevens doubled in Kyle Beaty and Heineman in the first inning to put the Ironmen up 2-1. Brady Burkhart made it 3-1 with a single to left.

Heineman's homer to lead off the bottom of the third inning made the score 4-2.

Stevens' two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth scored Beaty to put the Ironmen up 6-2. 

Jacob Engel twirled 4 1/3 innings of hitless, shutout ball with eight strikeouts and issued three walks. 

Luke Klunke allowed two unearned runs with four strikeouts, three hits, and five walks to close out the win.

The Ironmen go to 2-1 overall and will resume action on Wednesday morning in Alabama. 

Maggie Ravenscraft and Peyton Torbert drove in three runs apiece and Maroa-Forsyth Blasted Okaw Valley 20-0 in non-conference high school softball action Monday in Bethany.

Ravenscraft was 2-for-2 with a double two runs scored and drew two walks. Torbert finished 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Aubrey Stewart went 1-for-1 with two RBIs and two walks. Taylor Crouch added a triple going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Laney Larner had a double as part of a 2-for-3 day at the plate with an RBI and run scored.

The Lady Trojans scored nine runs in the first inning.

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 3-0 on the season. They travel to Mt. Zion on Thursday. 

Mt Zion scored three runs in the first two frames en route to an 8-1 win over Marao-Forsyth Monday in high school baseball action from Forsyth.

Mitch Williams was 1-for-3 with an RBI double, bringing in the only run of the game for the Trojans.

Tate Brandenburg, Ace Giles, Colby Parro,t and Chanlder Trendler had hits for Maroa-Forsyth.

The Trojans fall to 2-2 on the season. They visit Warrensburg-Latham this afternoon. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Monticello used a two-out, four-run rally in the second inning to propel them past Argenta-Oreana in non-conference high school softball from Monticello Monday afternoon.

With the score tied at two and two outs in the second, ninth-place hitter Lucy Leatherwood drew a walk. Sadie Walsh followed with a walk and Thea Key hit a two-run single to put the Lady Sages ahead 4-2. 

Cassidee Stoffel followed with an RBI single and Isa Beery brought in Stoffel with a double to put Monticello ahead 6-2. 

The Lady Sages added an insurance run in the sixth when Key hit a sac-fly to left field. 

Madison Highland worked four innings of two-run ball getting the start in circle for Monticello. Stoffel closed the door on the win with three innings of scoreless relief.

Walsh finished 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Key was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Stoffel was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Beery finished 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. 

The Lady Bombers were led by Sophia Wickland who finished 3-for-4 with three singles. Grace Manning was 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI, and drew two walks. 

Elyssa Armstrong drove in a run and was 1-for-3.

Argenta-Oreana falls to 1-2 overall.

Monticello is 3-0.

Illinois Farm Bureau Director of Business and Regulatory Affairs Bill Bodine offering public comment to the Illinois Pollution Control Board as they consider adopting California emissions limits and EV sales mandates.

Bodine also offered written comments to the Illinois Pollution Control Board.

Koby Brea matched a career high with 23 points and Kentucky beat Illinois 84-75 on Sunday to advance beyond the NCAA Tournament’s opening weekend for the first time since they reached the Elite Eight in 2019.

Kentucky (24-11), the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region, faces No. 2 seed and Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee on Friday in Indianapolis. The Wildcats have already beaten the Volunteers twice this season.

Kentucky overcame a multitude of injuries to get to that point after Pope spent the offseason essentially assembling a roster from scratch.

Brea, a fifth-year senior who spent his first four seasons at Dayton, shot 10 of 16 from the floor and scored 10 straight Kentucky points during one second-half stretch. Otega Oweh had 15 points and Butler added 14 for Kentucky.

Kylan Boswell scored 23 points, Tomislav Ivisic 19 and Kasparas Jakucionis 13 for the sixth-seeded Illini (22-13).

Illinois had looked so impressive in an 86-73 first-round victory over Xavier that it entered Sunday’s game favored by 2 1/2 points, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

But the Illini committed four turnovers in the first 5 1/2 minutes Sunday as Kentucky went on an early 9-0 run to pull ahead for good.

After falling behind by 12, Illinois only trailed 35-32 when Kentucky’s Trent Noah drew a foul on Jake Davis while attempting a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in the first half. Noah made two of the ensuing three free throws to make it 37-32 at the break, and then Kentucky opened the second half with 10 straight points.

Amari Williams capped the spurt by converting a steal into a dunk, giving Kentucky a 47-32 lead with 17:10 left.

Illinois got within 74-68 on Boswell's jumper with 1:36 remaining, but the Illini couldn't get closer.

The Illini's standout players from Friday didn't do enough against Kentucky. Will Riley scored 22 points and shot 8 of 12 against Xavier. He shot 1 of 7 and had five points Sunday. Jakucionis had 16 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the Xavier game. He had two assists and six turnovers Sunday. 

Illinois shot 28.1% (9 of 32) from 3-point range after making 40% of its attempts from beyond the arc against Xavier.

Kentucky beat Tennessee 78-73 in Knoxville on Jan. 28 and 75-64 in Lexington on Feb. 11. This will be the rivals' first March Madness meeting.

Brayden Bakes blasted three home runs and Illinois State secured a series with a 14-2 win, in seven innings, over Belmont on Sunday.

Illinois State (8-13 overall, 2-1 MVC) totaled 14 hits, including four home runs.

Bakes blasted a solo shot off the left field videoboard in the top of the 2nd to even the score at 1-1. 

The Redbirds exploded for 11 runs in the 4th with a home run from Daniel Pacella, an RBI double from Graham Mastros, four consecutive RBI singles from Josh Outlaw, Luke Stulga, Kyle Gibson, and Shai Robinson, a Belmont wild pitch, and a three-run homer by Bakes.

Belmont got a run back in the 4th with an RBI groundout.

Outlaw scored again in the 5th to make it a 10-run game again at 12-2. Bakes' third homer of the game was a two-run shot in the sixth to make it 14-2.

Belmont (9-16 overall, 1-2 MVC) recorded four hits.

Judah Morris extended his on-base streak to 18 games,the  longest by a Redbird this season

Bakes three homers were the first for the Redbirds since Ryan Cermak at Western Illinois in April 2022.

Bakes finished with six RBIs. 

Illinois State returns to Duffy Bass Field for a Tuesday midweek against Iowa.

Chase Walker had 20 points to lead Illinois State to a 78-70 victory over Presbyterian in the first round of the CBI Tournament at the Ocean Center on Sunday night.

The Redbirds (20-14) advance to Tuesday's semifinals where they will face the winner of a Monday quarterfinal matchup between Jacksonville and Incarnate Word.

Walker also snared nine rebounds for Illinois State. Ty Pence added 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor and six rebounds. Dalton Banks scored 10.

Kory Mincy led the way for the Blue Hose (14-19) with 21 points. Kobe Stewart added 15 points and eight rebounds. Quadir Pettaway scored 10.

Illinois State led 33-30 at halftime.

The Redbirds await the winner of tonight's UI-W vs Jacksonville matchup. They will play next on Tuesday. 

Corey Thomas helped lead Bradley over George Mason on Saturday with 21 points off of the bench in a 75-67 victory in the NIT.

Bradley advances to play Chattanooga in the quarterfinals.

Thomas added 11 rebounds for the Braves (27-8). Christian Davis shot 7 for 11, including 5 for 8 from beyond the arc to also score 21 points. Duke Deen went 3 of 13 from the field (3 for 11 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points, while adding six assists.

K.D. Johnson led the Patriots (27-8) in scoring, finishing with 16 points and two steals. Darius Maddox added 15 points for George Mason. Zach Anderson finished with 11 points.

Bradley took the lead with 7:38 to go in the first half and never looked back. The score was 37-28 at halftime, with Davis racking up 13 points. Thomas' 15-point second half helped Bradley close out the eight-point victory.

Bradley advance to the quarterfinals where they will take on Chatanooga at 6 pm Tuesday. 

Clinton earned its first win of the season beating Cornerstone Christian Academy 4-1 in non-conference high school baseball action Saturday in Clinton.

Josh Bass doubled in the ultimate game-winning run with a double in the fifth inning. He finished 2-for-4 and added a stolen base. 

Preston Curtis got the win on the mound leading a solid day of pitching for the Maroons. The junior struck out eight across four scoreless innings of one-hit relief.

John Smock got the start and allowed a run on two hits in two innings of work. He struck out two and walked four. Jaeden Bell struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief. 

Jaxon Reynolds with 1-for-3 with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a run scored for the Maroons. 

Clinton is 1-2 on the season and travels to Mahomet-Seymour on Tuesday. 

Heyden Romano hit his first career home run, Eric Arnold drove in four, and two Monticello pitchers combined to strike out 11 batters in a 16-2 romp over Murphysboro in high school baseball action from Murphysboro Saturday. 

Arnold cleared the bases with a double in an eight-run second inning. The senior finished 2-for-4. 

Romano's two-run home run capped a five-run sixth inning. 

Koyie Williams struck out six in four scoreless innings for the Sages. Zeke Young allowed two runs on two hits, with a walk, and struck out five in two innings of relief.

In the second game of the day for Monticello, Waterloo walked off the Sages 6-5 from Murphysboro.

Eli Craft drove in two for Monticello in the loss. Carter Foran doubled. 

The Sages are 2-1 overall to start the season. They visit Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond on Tuesday. 

Three Maroa-Forsyth pitchers combined to pitch a two-hit shutout in a 7-0 win over Champaign St. Thomas More in high school baseball action Saturday in Forsyth.

Mitch Williams went 3 1/3 innings of shutout ball. He allowed the only two hits to the Bombers on the afternoon. The senior struck out five and walked none.

Colby Parrot fired 2 2/3 innings of hitless, scoreless relief. He struck out two and walked one. Camden Trendler closed out the win by striking out three in a scoreless inning of relief.

Parrot was 2-for-3 with a double for the Trojans. 

Maroa-Forsyth put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth inning. Cayden Rose brought home two with a single. Ace Giles brought in a run on a groundout and Grady Rose singled home a run to make the score 7-0.

Tate Brandenburg finished 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored for the Trojans. 

Maroa-Forsyth improves to 2-1 overall. They travel to Warrensburg-Latham on Tuesday.

Parker Graue drove in three runs and delivered five-plus solid innings on the mound leading Lincoln to a 5-2 win over Olympia in non-conference high school baseball action Saturday in Lincoln. 

Graue's two-run double to left-center field in the fifth inning put the Railers in front 2-1. His run-scoring single to right field finished a three-run sixth inning that put the game out of reach.

Ashton Corley tripled in two to put Lincoln up 4-1in the sixth. 

Graue finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. He also fired 5 2/3 innings of stellar ball. He allowed two runs, one was earned, on three hits with five strikeouts, and permitted a walk. 

Corley was 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs, and two runs scored for the Railsplitters. 

Lincoln goes to 1-1 on the season. They travel to Springfield to take on Sacred Heart-Griffin on Tuesday. 

Springfield Southeast scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning and walked off Argenta-Oreana in comeback fashion Saturday in non-conference high school baseball action from Springfield.

The Bombers jumped ahead 3-0 in the third - highlighted by MJ Hall and Lucas Camfield RBI doubles. 

Southeast would take the lead back by getting two runs back in its half of the third and then adding three in the fourth inning to go up 5-3.  

Landon Jackson brought the Bombers within 5-4 with a base hit in the fifth inning. Mason Markham doubled in two and Lian Tipsworth doubled in Markham to make it 7-5. 

Two runs by the Spartans in the sixth inning tied the score and set the stage for extra innings.

Hall finished 2-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, a stolen base, and two runs scored to lead Argenta-Oreana. Carter Logue was 2-for-5 with an RBI, three stolen bases, and a run scored. Camfield finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. 

The Bombers fall to 2-1. They host Meridian on Tuesday. 

Cassidee Stoffel homered, drove in four, and went the distance in circle leading Monticello over Fisher 7-3 in non-conference high school softball action Saturday in Monticello.

Stoffel's three-run blast to center in the third highlighted a four-run frame that allowed Monticello to go comfortably in front, 6-1.

Stoffel doubled in a run in the first.

She also went seven innings allowing three unearned runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts and issued one walk.

Thea Key was 3-for-4 with a double for Monticello. Isabella Beery finished 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs. Ali Weidner was 1-for-3 with a double as Monticello pounded out 12 hits.

The Lady Sages are 2-0 to start the season. They host Argenta-Oreana on Monday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Danni Hovey went the distance in a complete-game shutout of Eureka to lead Maroa-Forsyth to a 7-0 win on Saturday in Forsyth. 

Hovey struck out six, walked two, and permitted two hits. 

The Lady Trojans used a four-run second inning to create separation on Saturday. Aubrey Stewart drove in a run with a double. Maliyah Hutner singled in a run. Kalli Kahler singed in a run and Maggie Ravenscraft doubled in the final run of the frame.

Kahler finished 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and two runs scored. Ravenscraft was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and stole a base. Steward finished 2-for-4  while Hovey drove in a run.

The Lady Trojans are 2-0 on the season. They will travel to Mt. Zion on Thursday.

Micah Wiltz singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning and Ridgeview-Lexington edged past Clinton 3-2 in non-conference high school baseball action Friday afternoon in Lexington. 

Jack Manning threw five sparkling innings for the Maroons. The junior allowed two runs, one was earned, on three hits while permitting three walks and striking out three.

Manning also has a run-scoring hit finishing 1-for-3 with a walk. Josh Bass was 1-for-3 with a walk for Clinton. Cole Fentress was 1-for-2 with a walk.

Maroons batters struck out 13 times against the Minutemen pitching. Blaine Friedmansky struck out seven across four innings of one-run ball. Braden Barber earned the win with three innings of no-hit ball. He permitted an unearned run and walked two while striking out six.

The Maroons are 0-2 to start the season. They had two games this week rained out.

They will take on Cornerstone Christian Academon y Saturday morning.

Monticello opened its 2025 spring baseball slate with a 12-1 win over Anna-Jonesboro in Anna Friday afternoon. 

Brian Wiltgen was 3-for-4 with four RBIs, two doubles, and scored twice for the Sages. Colton Vance hit a solo home run and was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and scored twice. Dawson Gaitros and Cole Basak drove in runs for Monticello.

Matthias Rudolph fired two innings on the mound allowing an unearned run on two hits with five strikeouts. 

Hunter Romano struck out nine in five innings of shutout relief. The junior walked two and permitted two hits.

The Sages are 1-0. They take on Murphysboroon  Saturday morning.

Litchfield scored seven runs in the fifth inning and rolled past Mt. Pulaski 10-2 in non-conference high school baseball action Friday in Litchfield.

Aaron Volle hit a two-run home run to pace the Hilltoppers offensively. He was 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and scored a run.

Eric Cooper was 2-for-3 with a walk for Mt. Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers imroves to 1-1 overall. They host Central A&M on Monday.

Ridgeveiew-Lexington limited Clinton to just two hits and the Lady Maroons committed six errors as the Lady Minutemen rolled to a 16-1, six-inning, run-rule win Friday in non-conference high school softball action from Clinton. 

Hadley Humble was the only offense for Clinton. She finished 2-for-3 with the only RBI for the Lady Maroons. She also doubled. 

Clinton falls to 1-1.

Blue Ridge broke out the bats and outlasted Martinsville 10-6 in non-conference high school softball action in Martinsville Friday afternoon. 

Carsyn Stiger was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Ellie Hayward was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Lillie Enger and Addison Roos doubled for the Lady Knights.

Ellie Schleiper allowed six unearned runs on seven hits with two walks and ten strikeouts. She went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Blue Ridge improves to 1-2 overall. They host Armstrong-Potomac on Monday. 

Kali Kahler hit a home run and Danni Hovey was magnificent in circle to lead Maroa-Forsyth over Heyworth 5-1 in non-conference girls softball action Friday in Forsyth.

Kaler with 3-for-4 with a solo home run in the third inning for the Lady Trojans. 

Hovey struck out seven across seven innings of one-run ball. She allowed four hits and walked one. Hovey also was 2-for-3 at the plate. Peyton Torbert was 2-for-3 for Maroa-Forsyth.

Gabby Dow homered for the Lady Hornets to drive in their only run. 

Heyworth is 1-2. They will host St. Joseph-Ogden on Monday. 

Maroa-Forsyth is 1-0. They host Eureka on Saturday morning.

Eric Cooper and Aaron Volle combined to hold Nokomis to one run and lead Mt Pulaski to an 8-1 season-opening win in non-conference high school baseball action from Nokomis on Thursday.

Cooper fired four innings of one-run ball for the Hilltoppers. He struck out three, walked two, and permitted three hits.

Volle threw three hitless, shutout innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Luke Martin drove in two runs with a double. He finished 1-for-3. Volle drove in two runs while Tyler Cross and Chase Roberts each drove in two. 

The Hilltoppers start the season 1-0. Mt. Pulaski travels to Litchfield on Friday. 

Pitching was strong and a big eighth inning sent Normal West past Limestone 6-1 Thursday in non-conference high school baseball action in Bartonville. 

Sean Jenkins fired six innings of one-run ball for the Wildcats. He struck out seven, walked one, and allowed two hits.

Gage Flairty took the win with two innings of scoreless relief.

A two-run error opened the floodgates for Normal West in the extra frame. With the bases loaded, Sam Cully hit a grounder on the infield. The throw home for the force out went wide, allowing two runs to score.

From there Drew Hart doubled in two more and Torin DeLaere brought home the sixth run of the game for Normal West with a single.

Chase Knuth finished 2-for-3 for the Wildcats. DeLaere was 2-for-4. Ty Bachman scored two runs.

Normal West is 3-0 on the season. The Wildcats will travel to Alabama for a spring break trip next week. 

Joseph Chiarodo homered, drove in three runs, and threw three shutout innings leading Edwardsville past Normal Community in an 11-0, run-rule, five-inning win in non-conference high school baseball action Thursday in Edwardsville.

Chirodo hit a two-run home run in a six-run third inning for Edwardsville. He struck out six on two hits and did not issue a walk in three shutout innings in relief.
Lucas Krebs and Augie Johnes homered for Edwardsville.

Gavin Michaels, Kyle Beaty, and Ben Schweigert mustered the only hits for the Ironmen on Thursday.

Normal Community is 1-1. They are off to Daphne, Florida for a spring break trip where they'll play four games in three days. 

After rain and snow poured onto central Illinois through the last 24 hours, the Clinton Baseball game versus Tolono Unity scheduled for 4:30 PM this evening has been canceled due to a wet field. 

The Maroons will resume the season tomorrow when they travel to Lexington.

Tune into the next Maroons sports broadcast when the Lady Maroons softball team plays host to Olympia on March 24th. The first pitch is at 4:30 PM. 

Darius Hannah led Bradley over North Alabama on Wednesday night with 17 points off of the bench in a 71-62 victory in the NIT.

Bradley (27-8) will play George Mason in the second round.

Hannah also contributed six rebounds for the Braves. Christian Davis scored 13 points and added six rebounds and three blocks. Jaquan Johnson shot 4 of 10 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 2 for 6 from the line to finish with 11 points, while adding four steals.

The Lions (24-11) were led in scoring by Donte Bacchus, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Jacari Lane added 12 points.

Bradley led 39-21 at halftime, with Davis racking up 11 points. Hannah scored a team-high 12 points in the final half.

The Monticello Sages used a productive first inning to take down the Villa Grove Blue Devils in a one-inning non-conference high school softball game in Monticello. The game was canceled after the first due to severe weather. 

The Lady Sages were led by Thea Key who had a hit, a run, and an RBI. Sadie Walsh went 1-1 while Cassidee Stoffel put up a hit and a run. Ali Weidner also had an RBI. 

Stoffel pitched a perfect inning before the game was canceled with one strikeout. 
The Blue Devils had no hits on three at-bats. 

The Lady Sages will take on Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond on Friday, first pitch is at 4:30 PM. 

Illinois (11-7) concluded a season-long five-game homestand with an 8-6 victory over Indiana State (9-12) at Illinois Field on Tuesday.

In the six-run inning, Coltin Quagliano doubled home Collin Jennings. Quagliano scored on an RBI single from Nick Groves. Grant Ross brought home a third run with a sacrifice fly and Jack Zebig capped the scoring with a two-out, three-run, blast, his team-leading sixth of the season, to make it 6-2.

Zebig went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and a walk. Vytas Valincius and Jennings each had two hits. Jacob Schroeder went deep Tuesday.

Jake Swartz picked up the victory out of the bullpen for the Illini. Swartz tossed 1.0 innings and allowed two runs on two hits to go along with two strikeouts. Evan Clark, Zach Bates, Luke Weber and Reed Gannon each worked scoreless frames in relief, with Gannon turning in a shutout ninth to record his first save of the season.

Illinois travels to Northwestern for a weekend Big Ten series. 

SIU-E completed a seven-run comeback, defeating Illinois State in a 14-12 decision in 11 innings at Duffy Bass Field on Tuesday.

Illinois State was clicking on all cylinders before the 6th inning.

The Redbirds (6-12 overall) led 12-5 after five innings but thanks to nine straight runs across the final six innings, SIUE (7-12 overall) earned their first win in Normal since 2018.

ISU got a pair of home runs as senior Noah Smith hit his 2nd home run of the season while junior Shai Robinson added a grand slam for his 6th home run of the season.

Illinois State will travel to Nashville to kickstart MVC play with a three-game series at Belmont.

Tate Brandenburg and Ian Haynes drove in three runs apiece and Maroa-Forsyth made easy work of Meridian in an 18-1, three-inning romp Tuesday in high school baseball action from Forsyth.

Brandenburg was 2-for-2 with a double, triple, and three runs scored in addition to his three runs driven in. Reid was 0-for-2 but had a sac fly. 

Caden Rose, Grady Rose, and Cayden Parrott drove in two runs apiece.

The Trojans used a nine-run first inning to get out early and kept the pressure on with four more in the second inning and five more in the third to activate the 15-run mercy rule. 

Grady Rose, Ace Giles, and Camden Trendler hit doubles for Maroa-Forsyth.

Reid pitched three innings of one-run ball. He struck out six, walked one, and allowed three hits.

The Trojans even their record at 1-1. They visit Tuscola this afternoon. 

MJ Hall struck out 13 and was dominant over six innings leading Argenta-Oreana to a 3-1 win over Central A&M in season-opening high school baseball action from Moweaqua Tuesday.

Hall allowed an earned run on two hits and walked one. 

Jaxon Finch was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Mason Markham drove in two for the Bombers.

Argenta-Oreana starts the season 1-0. They host Tri-Citon y Wednesday. 

Torin DeLaere's walk-off double secured a 3-2 win for Normal West over Rochester in non-conference high school boys' baseball action Tuesday in Normal.

Sam McCully singled to start the seventh inning. Nolan Schultz came on to run for McCully who stole second base to get into scoring position. 

Normal West got two runs in the first, which was highlighted by an RBI single from Chase Knuth.

Rochester got runs back in the third and fifth innings to tie the game at 2-2. 

The score stayed that way until the seventh inning.

Ty Bachman picked up the win for the Wildcats with five innings of one-run relief. He stuck out eight, walked none, and permitted three hits. 

McCully finished 2-for-3 with an RBI for Normal West who is 2-0 on the season.

They travel to Limestone on Thursday. 

Max Heineman's two-run home run highlighted a five RBI afternoon leading Normal Community to an 11-7 win over Morton in non-conference high school baseball action Tuesday in Morton.

Heineman's two-run shot in the fourth inning put the Ironmen up 5-3. Morton would get those two back in the half of the fourth and added two more in the fifth to lead 7-5. 

Normal Community scored six runs in the seventh inning, including an RBI single from Heineman.

Heineman brought in two runs in the second inning as part of a three-run frame that tied the score at 3-3. 

Kyle Beaty scored three runs and drove in a run on a bases-loaded walk.

Brady Burkhart, Andrew Naour, Gavin Born,e and Gavin Swartz had RBIs for the Ironmen.

Normal Community starts the year 1-0. They host Pekinon on Wednesday.

Bloomington jumped out in front early and Lincoln could not recover in a 7-2 season-opening loss in Bloomington Tuesday in high school boy's baseball action.

The Raiders answered an early Lincoln run to tie the game at 1-1 in the first.

Bloomington scored two in the second and three in the third to lead 6-1.

Drew Hayes was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Railsplitters. Parker Graue finished 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Ashton Corley was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.

Lincoln starts the year 0-1. They travel to Tri-Valley on Wednesday. 

A late offensive surge sent Heyworth past Delavan 12-4 in non-conference high school softball action from Delavan Tuesday afternoon. 

The Lady Hornets scored nine runs over the final three frames to put the game away.

Sidney Ditchen's three-run home run in the sixth inning was the big hit of the afternoon. She finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. 

Grace Streenz was 3-for-5 with three doubles, two RBIs, and a run scored for Heyworth.

Gabby Dow and Haley Rogers all drove in runs for the Lady Hornets.

Heyworth is 1-1 on the season and hosts Central A&M on Thursday. 

Rantoul jumped out early and never looked back dispatching Blue Ridge 7-1 in season-opening high school softball action in Blue Ridge Tuesday.

Bionca Walton struck out ten across seven innings of one-run ball. The lone run she surrendered was unearned and permitted just two hits.

Addison Roos and Ellie Schleiper accounted for the only hits for the Lady Knights.

Blue Ridge begins its season 0-1. They visit Martinsville on Friday.

A five-run fourth inning allowed Delavan to get by Clinton 12-6 in non-conference high school boy's baseball season-opening action from Delavan Monday.

Clinton used a four-run third inning to answer a three-run third by Delavan and tie the score at 4-4. But the Panthers scored five runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth to open the game up.

Delavan was led by Braden Arrenholz who finished 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, stole a base, and scored a run. Ninth-place hitter Corrie Green was 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Kelton Nafziger, Wyatt Pierson, Corbin Soldal, and Cameron McMullen drove in runs for Delavan. 

Pierson was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored.

Brock Wilson led the Maroons' offense finishing 2-for-2 with a double, three runs scored, and two stolen bases. Jack Manning drove in three runs finishing 1-for-2 with a double.

Delavan starts the season 1-0.

Clinton is 0-1. They will travel to Heyworth on Wednesday.

Austin Ulmer hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and Shelbyville walked off Maroa-Forsyth 5-3 in non-conference high school boy's baseball season-opening action from Shelbyville on Monday.

Trailing 3-2, back-to-back walks set up Ulmer's heroics on a windy day in Shelbyville. 

Gunnar Larner's solo home run in the top of the seventh inning put the Trojans up 3-2. 

Caden Rose was excellent on the bump for Maroa-Forsyth going four innings of shutout ball. He struck out eight, walked one, and allowed three hits. 

Ace Giles took the loss for the Trojans. 

Tate Brandenburg finished 2-for-4 for Maroa-Forsyth. Larner was 2-for-3 and Mitch Williams drove in a run while Rose was 1-for-3 with a double.

The Trojans fall to 0-1 on the season. Shelbyville starts the year 1-0.

Maroa-Forsyth has a quick turnaround with its home opener against Meridian this afternoon.

Normal West opened the spring baseball season with a 4-3 win over Morton on Monday in Normal.

Chase Reinhart picked up the win for the Wildcats going 5 2/3 innings of hitless, shutout ball. He walked one and struck out nine. 

The Wildcats picked up a run in the fourth inning on a Torin DeLaere triple which scored Reagan Williams from first who was running for Sam McCully after his lead-off walk. Normal West tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning and held on in the top of the seventh as Morton rallied for three runs before the Wildcats closed out the game on a ground ball to shortstop Cooper Temples.

Gage Flairty picked up the save.

McCully was 1-for-2 with a double. Brady Hart, Drew Hart, and Gage Flairty had singles. Cooper Temples picked up an RBI on a bases-loaded walk.

The Wildcats are 1-0 on the season and will play host to Rochester tomorrow at 4:30 pm.

Riley Fentress drove in four runs and Aliviyah Haynes was excellent in circle for Clinton as the Lady Maroons opened the 2025 spring softball season by rolling Decatur Eisenhower 14-1 in non-conference action Monday in Clinton.

Haynes struck out ten across five innings of one-run ball. 

Fentress was 2-for-3 with a stolen base and two runs scored.

Peyton McKinsey was 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Anelise Thompson was 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored. Heidi Humble drove in two runs and scored three times while going hitless. 

The Lady Maroons are 1-0 on the season. They will host Cerro Gordo on Wednesday.

Kylee Snearly's base hit scored the winning run and Central A&M walked off Argenta-Oreana in a back-and-forth offensive showcase Tuesday in season-opening non-conference softball action in Moweaqua. 

Central A&M scored six runs in the second inning to go up 6-2.

Each team pushed a run across in the third to make the score 7-3. The Bombers answered with a four-run fourth inning to tie the score at 7-7. 

The Raiders made the score 8-7 with a run in the fourth. They would tack on another in the fifth to go up 9-7.

The Bombers scored four runs in the sixth to go up 11-9. A&M got a run back in the sixth setting up the two-run seventh and Snearly's walk-off heroics.

Kayala McPeek hit a solo home run for the Raiders. McPeek, Sophie Roe, and Riley Hazelwonder had three hits apiece for A&M.

Addison Maiden led Argenta-Oreana finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs. Gracie Manning was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. 

The Bombers fall to 0-1 on the season while A&M starts 1-0.

Argenta-Oreana hosts Williamsville on Wednesday.

A seventh-inning rally fell short for Heyworth in a 6-4 loss to Pleasant Plains Tuesday in non-conference, season-opening high school softball action Monday in Pleasant Plains.

Trailing 6-2, the Lady Hornets got two runs in the top of the seventh inning but could not get any closer.

Emily Rogers led Heyworth going 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Natalie Kopp was 2-for-4 with a triple and run scored. Grace Streenz was 2-for-4. 

Kayden Skinner went the distance for the Lady Cardinals. She allowed four runs, one was earned, with eight strikeouts and permitted nine hits. 

Pleasant Plains is 1-0. Heyworth falls to 0-1. They travel to Delavan this afternoon. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, the Monticello Sages fell behind early but rallied in the 5th inning to beat the Leroy Panthers by a final score of 10-7 in the Season Opener from Monticello High School. 

Ashley Stiverson led the Sages with two runs, three hits, and two RBIs and was the Servpro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. Cassidee Stoffel pitched 7 innings and allowed 10 hits while putting up three hits and an RBI. Avery Schweitzer had a hit, two runs, and an RBI. 

The Panthers were led by Morgan Fleming, who had two hits, two runs, and an RBI. Lilly Long and Khloe Builta allowed 14 hits, with a combined 10 strikeouts and four walks.

Stoffel struck out seven batters and walked one. 

With the win, the Sages improve to 1-0 while Leroy falls to 0-1. 

Tune in on March 24th when the Sages Softball team takes on Argenta-Oreana, first pitch is at 4:30 PM. Hear the action on 95.9 WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

The Clinton Maroons are hoping the experience will help them return to a Regional Championship as they get set to open the 2025 spring baseball season this afternoon.

The Maroons had a banner year in 2024 with an appearance in a Class 2A Regional Championship in Monticello. Coach Nate Ennis says it's a unique opportunity with seven of its nine starters from last year's team back this year.

Unfortunately for Coach Ennis, the injury bug is biting early. Last year, the Maroons were pleased to see a trio of sophomores make huge progress and with those kids returning, he feels they should have good experience at the top of the pitching staff.

For Coach Ennis, pitching was very strong last year but sometimes the offense was not there. He hopes to see improvement this year.

The Maroons have been able to practice outdoors nearly every day during the first two weeks of the spring season. The JV baseball field will host the varsity for the first several weeks of the season as the varsity field gets turf installed.

The second-year coach points out that numbers in the program are up this year thanks to a big freshman class. He hopes to see a few of those athletes contribute at the varsity level this year.

Rodney Rice scored 26 points, Derik Queen had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 11 Maryland routed No. 24 Illinois 88-65 on Friday night in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.

The Terrapins (25-7) will face the winner of the late quarterfinal between Michigan and Purdue in the semifinals.

Ja’Kobi Gillespie added 12 points and nine assists for Maryland. Jordan Geronimo scored 11 points, and Julian Reese had 10.

Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley each had 15 points for the Illini (21-12). Kylan Boswell had 14.

Geronimo hit a 3-pointer to cap a 13-0 run that made it 29-10. Maryland scored the final eight points of the half to take a 57-31 lead.

Maryland's largest lead was 36 points at 84-48 with 9:41 remaining.

Maryland: The Terrapins were efficient offensively and committed just three turnovers. Illinois had 17 turnovers, leading to 22-0 edge in points off turnovers for the Terrapins.

Illinois: The Illini had just 10 points in the first 9 1/2 minutes after a 106-94 victory over Iowa in the second round.

With the Terrapins leading 16-10, Rice hit a 3-pointer to start the 13-0 run,.

Maryland had a 17-0 edge in points off turnovers in the first half. The Terrapins didn’t commit a first-half turnover, and the Illini had 11.

Maryland will meet the Purdue-Michigan winner in the second semifinal Saturday. Illinois awaits its seeding Sunday in the NCAA Tournament.

The Clinton Junior High School girl's volleyball program won its Class 3A Regional championship Thursday night at Maroa-Forsyth Grade School.

With the win over Meridian, it is the school's first Regional Championship in volleyball in 11 years.

(Photo courtesy of Melissa Morris)

The girls will advance to the Sectional next week when they take on Tri-Valley at Forrest-Prairie Central at 6:30 pm.

The girls are coached by Dave Donnelly. 

Kylan Boswell scored a career-high 24 points and four other Illinois players finished in double figures as the 24th-ranked Fighting Illini beat Iowa 106-94 in a wild second-round Big Ten Tournament game on Thursday night.

Tre White had 22 points and Tomislav Ivisic added 19 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as Illinois (21-11) won its fourth straight. The Illini face No. 11 Maryland in Friday's third quarterfinal game in Indianapolis.

Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery wasn't on the bench when Iowa guard Payton Sandfort tied the league's single-game tourney record for 3-pointers. McCaffery was ejected with 13:33 left to play after drawing two technical fouls when he left the coach's box to argue with referees.

Sandfort made eight 3s, matching a mark done twice previously, to tie a career high with 30 points. Josh Dix added 21 points.

The 15th-seeded Hawkeyes (17-16) trailed 69-60 when McCaffery left. But Illinois made all four free throws and fended off a brief momentum swing as Iowa cut the deficit to single digits.

The Fighting Illini put on a shooting clinic, making nearly 55% of their shots. They've been on a roll since losing to Duke.

McCaffery's ejection. Iowa did manage to gain some momentum after the free throws, but it dissipated fast and the team never recovered.

Sandfort had the big game, but Illinois offset it by making 12 of 26 3s.

Illinois will try to extend its winning streak against the Terrapins.

Christopher Bell became the first to win three straight races in the NextGen car, edging teammate Denny Hamlin by 0.049 seconds in Phoenix Raceway’s second-closest finish.

The Oklahoma driver will look to make it four in a row at another track he's strong at when NASCAR heads to Las Vegas this weekend.

Bell became the first driver to win three straight races since Kyle Larson in 2021. He’s the fourth driver in Cup Series history to win three times in the first four races — first since Kevin Harvick in 2018.

Bell will try to become the first Cup Series driver to win four straight races since Jimmie Johnson in 2007.

Last year,  Larson led a race-high 181 laps, surviving a late surge from Tyler Reddick that earned him his third-straight win in Vegas.

Practice and qualifying is at 12:30 pm on Saturday. Race time is 2:30 pm on Sunday.

Aric Almirola claimed an overtime victory in Phoenix after a dramatic last-lap pass of Alex Bowman.

The XFinity Series, like Cup, stays out west to race at Las Vegas. 

John Hunter Nemechek earned his first Las Vegas victory, leading a race-high 99 laps in a wind-swept race with gusts up to 70 mph.

Practice and qualifying is at 5 pm tonight. Race time is 3:30 pm on Saturday.

After a two week layoff, the Craftsman Truck Series is back tonight. 

Kyle Busch pulled away from Stewart Friesen in the final seconds in Atlanta, earning him his 67th series victory.

Last year in Las Vegas, Rajah Caruth took the win from the pole position, becoming the third Black driver to win a NASCAR series race.

Practice and qualifying is this afternoon at 2:30 pm. Race time is tonight at 8 pm. 

Illinois (8-6) used a seven-run eighth to claim a midweek victory over Western Illinois, 11-4, at Illinois Field on Tuesday.

With two out in the eightn, pinch-hitter Drake Westcott walked to load the bases for Nick Groves, who was hit by a pitch. 

Greg LaChance and Grant Ross then drew back-to-back walks to bring home two more runs. 

Jack Zebig reached on an error to extend the inning and score another run, and Cameron Chee-Aloy drew the third bases-loaded walk of the inning. 

Schupmann capped the scoring with a two-run single to make it 11-4.

Evan Clark then worked a scoreless ninth to secure Illinois' second-straight victory.

Trailing 1-0, Schupmann doubled into the left center gap to tie the game and came around to score on Coltin Quagliano's sacrifice fly.

The Illini added two more runs in the third when Jack Zebig was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Vytas Valincius following with an RBI-groundout.

Western Illinois tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh.

Schupmann went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, and three RBI. Nick Groves finished 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Eight different Illini recorded an RBI in the contest.

Payton Hutchings got the win out of the bullpen for Illinois, working 2.0 innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits, allowing no walks, and striking out three. 

Ryan Daly took a no decision in the start and went 3.0 innings, surrendering one run, unearned on one hit, walking two, and striking out three.

The Fighting Illini continue this five-game homestand with a three-game weekend set against Valparaiso.

Class 1A

Peoria Christian    66

Greenfield        49

Chicago Hope Academy    47

LeRoy    44

Class 2A

Williamsville    29

 Tyler Lundblade had 14 points in Belmont's 76-63 win against Illinois State on Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

Carter Whitt added 12 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists. Jonathan Pierre had 11 points.

Dalton Banks led the way for the Redbirds (19-14) with 19 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals and three blocks. Johnny Kinziger added 12 points.

Belmont took the lead with 17:55 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. Whitt led his team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 41-18 at the break. Lundblade scored a team-high 10 points after intermission.

The Redbirds season is done while Belmont advances to Saturday's semifinal round.

Darius Hannah had 17 points in second-seeded Bradley's 70-62 victory over seventh-seed Murray State in the quarterfinal round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Friday.

Hannah also contributed nine rebounds for the Braves (25-7). Duke Deen added 16 points. Jaquan Johnson had 11 points.

Kylen Milton led the Racers (16-17) in scoring, finishing with 23 points. Nick Ellington added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Murray State. AJ Ferguson finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Deen scored eight points in the first half and Bradley went into the break trailing 28-27. Bradley turned a five-point second-half advantage into a 12-point lead with a 7-0 run to make it 63-51 with 2:24 left in the half. Hannah scored 12 second-half points in the win.

The Braves advance to Saturday's semifinal round to face the winner of the quarterfinal battle between third-seeded Northern Iowa and 11th-seeded Valparaiso.

Kasparas Jakucionis hit a 3-pointer with 40 seconds left to put Illinois ahead for good, and the Illini rallied past No. 18 Purdue 88-80 on Friday night.

Illinois (20-11, 12-8 Big Ten) trailed 63-53 with 11:34 to go, but outscored the Boilermakers 13-1 in the final two minutes to win its third in a row after losing three straight.

Will Riley led five Illinois players in double figures with 22 points. Tre White had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Jakucionis had 10 points and seven assists.

Trey Kaufman-Renn scored 29 points for Purdue (21-10, 13-7), and Braden Smith had 18 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, falling just short of the second triple-double in team history.

The Illini joined Gonzaga, Houston and San Diego State as the only teams in the country to have at least 20 regular-season wins in each of the last six years.

Riley made a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer to end a personal seven-point run and get Illinois within 42-40.

The teams combined for 32 3-pointers in their previous game, with the Boilermakers making 18. But Purdue went inside against Illinois this time, outscoring the Illini 44-28 in the paint while going 5 of 18 from behind the arc. Illinois was 11 of 30 on 3s.

Both teams begin Big Ten Tournament play on Thursday.

Class 1A Sectional Championship action tonight

Tuscola 7:00pm

Effingham St. Anthony

Princeville 7:00pm

Peoria Christian

LeRoy 7:00pm

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley

Class 2A Sectional Championship action tonight

Auburn 7:00pm

Williamsville

Kankakee McNamara 7:00pm

Bismarck-Henning

Peoria Manual 7:00pm

Sherrard

Teutopolis 7:00pm

Warrensburg-Latham

Class 3A Sectional Championship action tonight

Chatham-Glenwood 7:00pm

Mt. Zion

Metamora 7:00pm

Peoria

Class 4A Sectional Championship action tonight

Quincy 7:00pm

Normal Community

Johnny Kinziger had 13 points in Illinois State's 70-54 victory against Missouri State on Thursday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

Kinziger added six rebounds for the Redbirds. Dalton Banks added 12 points and eight assists. Chase Walker finished with 11 points.

The Bears (9-23) were led in scoring by Vincent Brady II and Michael Osei-Bonsu with 10 points apiece.

Illinois State took the lead with 9:33 left in the first half and did not give it up. Kinziger led his team in scoring with 13 points in the first half to help put them up 38-23 at the break. Illinois State extended its lead to 56-35 during the second half, fueled by an 8-0 scoring run. Malachi Poindexter scored a team-high 11 points in the second half.

Illinois State (19-13) advances to play No. 4 seed Belmont on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Class 1A Sectional semifinal action Wednesday

Peoria Christian 61

Illini Central 30

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 69

Danville Schlarman 39

Class 2A Sectional semifinal action Wednesday

Williamsville 57

Staunton 35

Lawrenceville 43

Warrensburg-Latham 47

Sherrard 65 F-OT

Tri-Valley 63

Class 3A Sectional semifinal action Wednesday

Lincoln 30

Mt. Zion 32

Peoria 51

LaSalle-Peru 36

Illinois State baseball fell in a midweek matchup at Oral Roberts, 5-3, Wednesday, as the Golden Eagles scored four runs over the 5th and 6th innings to secure the victory.

Illinois State (2-8) got a trio of home runs as part of a 12-hit afternoon for the Redbirds.

The Redbirds would get the scoring started with back-to-back home runs from Judah Morris and Graham Mastros in the top of the 2nd for a 2-0 lead.

Oral Roberts quickly responded with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 2nd to trim the margin to 2-1 after three innings.

The Golden Eagles gained the lead in the bottom of the 5th with an RBI double and single to take the 3-2 advantage.

Oral Roberts added a pair of runs in the 6th with a two-run RBI single to push the lead to 5-2 after six innings of play.

Illinois State would cut into the deficit with a solo shot from Shai Robinson in the 7th as the Birds made it 5-3.

Oral Roberts moves to 7-4 overall.

Illinois State remains in the Sooner State for a weekend series at #25 Oklahoma State in Stillwater from Friday to Sunday. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 pm CT.

Class 1A Sectional Semifinal action tonight

Dieterich         7:00 pm

Tuscola

Argenta-Oreana    7:00pm

LeRoy

Class 2A Sectional Semifinal action tonight

Auburn         7:00pm

Pleasant Plains

Peoria Manual     7:00pm

Macomb

Monticello         7:00pm

Teutopolis

Class 3A Sectional Semifinal action tonight

Champaign Central     7:00pm

Chatham-Glenwood

Kankakee         7:00pm

Metamora

Class 4A Sectional semfinal action tonight

Normal Community    7:00pm

Rock Island

Class 1A girl's basketball Supersectional scores

Decatur St. Teresa    35

Cissna Park    47

Class 2A Girl's basketball Supersectional scores

Peoria Notre Dame    67

Stillman Valley    56

Class 3A girl's basketball Supersectional scores

Washington    58

Sterling    54

Zek Montgomery scored 13 points as Bradley beat Northern Iowa 73-56 on Sunday to break a tie for second-place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Darius Hannah scored 11 points and added six rebounds for the Braves (24-7, 15-5 Missouri Valley Conference). Ahmet Jonovic had 10 points while adding eight rebounds.

Ben Schwieger finished with 11 points for the Panthers (20-11, 14-6). Max Weisbrod added 11 points for Northern Iowa. Tytan Anderson also recorded nine points.

Bradley took the lead with 3:50 remaining in the first half and did not relinquish it. Jaquan Johnson led the team in scoring with eight points in the first half to help put them up 45-36 at the break. Bradley pulled away with a 13-0 run in the second half to extend an eight-point lead to 21 points. The Braves outscored Northern Iowa by eight points in the final half, as Montgomery led the way with a team-high 11 second-half points.

Bradley takes second place and Northern Iowa finishes third in the MVC regular season. Both teams have a first-round bye and play on Friday in the conference tournament. Arch Madness begins on Thursday in St. Louis.

Tre White had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Illinois to a 93-73 rout of No. 15 Michigan 93-73 on Sunday.

Kylan Boswell and Kasparas Jakucionis each scored 17 points for the Illini (19-11, 11-8 Big Ten), who have beaten Michigan (22-7, 14-4) nine straight times.

The Illini struggled to make shots throughout, but 19 offensive rebounds led to 30 second-chance points.

Vladislav Golden had 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting for the Wolverines, who lost for the second time in four games. Michigan's other four starters scored 28 points on 11-of-29 shooting.

Illinois scored 31 points in the first half, but reached that total in the second half on Jake Davis' 3-pointer with 9:51 left. That gave the Illini a 62-50 lead and they made it a 17-point lead on a 3 by Jakucionis with 8:41 remaining.

Another 3 by Jakucionis made it 75-55 with 6:20 to go and the Wolverines didn't have an answer.

The game was tied at 41 with 16:05 left, but Illinois outscored Michigan 8-0 over the next three minutes to create some separation.

Illinois led 31-30 at the half despite shooting 32.4% (12 for 37) from the floor. The Illini were 8 for 11 in the paint, but 4 for 26 on shots beyond the lane. However, they grabbed 10 offensive rebounds that led to 10 second-chance points.

Illinois is off until Purdue comes to Champaign on Friday.

Dalton Banks' 13 points helped Illinois State defeat Evansville 62-53 on Sunday.

Banks added six rebounds and five steals for the Redbirds (18-13, 10-10 Missouri Valley Conference). Malachi Poindexter added 11 points. Johnny Kinziger finished with eight points.

The Purple Aces (11-20, 8-12) were led in scoring by Tanner Cuff, who finished with 15 points and four assists. Connor Turnbull added 14 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks for Evansville. Gabriel Pozzato finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

A three-point lead turned into an 18-point advantage for Illinois State in the first half thanks to a 15-0 scoring run. Poindexter scored nine points before the break as his team held a 34-23 halftime advantage. Illinois State took the lead for good with 7:58 remaining in the second half on a 3-pointer from Jordan Davis to make it a 48-45 game.

Both teams are at the Missouri Valley Tournament this weekend in St. Louis.

15th-ranked Texas used a nine-run sixth inning to rally past Illinois 15-6 in the finale of the Las Vegas College Baseball Classic.

Nick Groves went 2-for-3 at the dish, posting the only multi-hit game for the Illini.

Collin Jennings went 1-for-3 with a run, home run, and three RBI, his home run the first of his collegiate career.

Illinois dropped its Friday contest against Texas Tech but rallied to beat Washington on Saturday. 

The Fighting Illini return to Illinois Field on Tuesday, hosting in-state foe Eastern Illinois. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. CT.

Illinois State gave up a trio of runs and was unable to come back, falling 4-2 in the series finale at Lindenwood on Sunday at Lou Brock Sports Complex.

The Redbirds (2-7) saw both Daniel Pacella and Nolan Barry tally a pair of hits at the plate as Kyle Gibson, Graham Mastros, Eric Machej, and Luke Stulga notched a hit for the Birds.

Junior Thomas Harper threw 4.0 innings of relief to keep the score within reach as Ryan Weaver got the start, going 4.0 innings with four hits allowed and one strikeout.

Kyle Gibson reached base for the 9th straight game, the longest by a Redbird this year.

Illinois State dropped its Friday contest before winning Saturday over the weekend. 

Illinois State heads to Oklahoma for a midweek at Oral Roberts on Wednesday.

Christopher Bell passed Kyle Busch with five laps to go, then held off Daytona 500 winner William Byron to win NASCAR’s first road course race of the season Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas.

The late-race drama produced his second consecutive victory after his overtime win in Atlanta a week earlier.

Once Bell cleared Busch, the Oklahoma driver had to make a desperate bid to keep his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in front of the hard-charging Byron in his Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet and the Toyota of 2023 race winner Tyler Reddick of 23X1 Racing.

Bell raced to his 11th career victory and is a multiple-race winner for the fourth consecutive season. Busch, who led 43 of 95 laps in his Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, faded to fifth as his winless streak stretched to 60 races dating to 2023.

Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott, started third and quickly dropped to the back when he spun by Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain in the first turn, but fought his way back through the field to fourth.

Connor Zilisch had a wild day in his Cup Series debut for Trackhouse. The 18-year-old started 14th and dropped back with contact in the first lap. He recovered to get back within in the top 15 by the start of the third stage.

That’s when his day ended. Zilisch couldn’t avoid a spin by teammate Daniel Suarez in lap 50, smashed into the wall, and had to scramble out of his car when it caught fire.

The Cup Series returns to ovals next Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.