Normal Community scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and walked off with a ten-run rule win, 13-3 over Plainfield Central in a Class 4A Regional Championship from Moline on Saturday afternoon.

Max Heineman scored Gavin Michaels with a single to put the Ironmen up 13-3. 

Normal Community jumped out to an early 5-2 lead in the first inning. Gavin Swartz hit a two-run single to put the Ironmen up 3-2 in the bottom of the first inning. Two batters later, Gavin Swartz singled in two more to make it 5-2. 

Swartz and Brady Burkhart drove in two runs apiece for the Ironmen. Burkhart finished 3-for-3 with a double. Michaels was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI for Normal Community. 

Heineman and Kyle Beaty had two hits apiece, and eight of the nine starters reached base for Normal Community.

Three pitchers combined to strike out six and overcame seven walks. 

Normal Community goes to 33-4 overall. They will take on Bradley-Bourbonnai on Wednesday at 7 pm in Sectional semifinal action from Illinois Wesleyan University. The Ironmen beat Bradley-Bourbonnais 4-1 back on April 19. 

Champaign Central made easy work of Lincoln 10-0 in a Class 3A Regional Championship on Saturday morning in Champaign. 

Austin Lucas managed the only hit for the Railsplitters. 

Lincoln ends its season at 16-16 overall. 

Class 1A Sectional Championship action Saturday

At Arcola

Salt Fork 8

G.C.M.S. 7

At Peru St. Bede

Heyworth 5

Lexington 11

Class 2A Sectional Championship action Saturday

At Illinois Valley Central

Illinois Valley Central 0

Eureka 3

At Pleasant Plains

Pleasant Plains 1

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 4

At Teutopolis

Teutopolis 5

Effingham St. Anthony 4

Class 3A Regional Championship Action from Saturday

At East Peoria

Dunlap 1

Limestone 0

At Mt. Zion

Rochester 4 F-6

Mt. Zion 14

At Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour 10

Rantoul 0

At Washington

Washington 5

Geneseo 2

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Eric Arnold's fourth-inning RBI double proved to be the game-winner, backing a 13-strikeout effort from Ike Young and Monticello held off Tolono Unity 3-2 in a Class 2A Sectional championship win from the Workman Family Baseball Field at Millikin University in Decatur on Saturday.

Arnold blasted a double to left field that scored Brian Wiltgen who had reached on an error to start the inning. The run put Monticello ahead 3-0.

The Rockets got that run back in its half but it could have been more. Young, who cruised through four innings, started labor in the fifth. The Illinois commit had the inning begin with an error. Then he hit Oliver Rawlings, the Rockets' nine hitter, to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Leadoff hitter Nolan Remole walked to load the bases then Tyler Henry walked in a run to put Unity on the board 3-1.

Young then fell behind Brayden Henry but got him to strikeout. The ball got away from catcher Eli Craft however, Rawlings at third base lost track of the situation and was tagged out by Craft running down the baseline, getting two outs on the play.

Monticello scored two runs to start the game in first. Arnold singled with one out then Craft was hit by a pitch. With Young at the plate, Arnold took third on a pitch that got away from Unity catcher Ryan Cunningham just enough for the senior to leg out the extra base. Zeke Young - running for Craft - took second on the play as well.

That set up Ike Young's sac fly that scored the first run of the game.

After Young's sac fly, Colton Vance hit a chopper that ended up in shallow left-center field for a run-scoring hit to make it 2-0.

Young labored through 6 1/3 innings. The All-State quarterback struck out 13 but walked six, hit two batters, and allowed just one hit. 

Matthias Rudolph worked around a run-scoring error and a walk to get the final out and put the win away for Monticello.

Vance finished 2-for-2 and reached all three times at bat with a walk and a run driven in. Arnold was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Arnold earned the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. 

Unity ends its season 18-13 overall.

Monticello improves to 30-6 and advances to take on Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Monday at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. First pitch is set for 7 pm. 

Friday Class 1A Sectional Championship action

At Argenta-Oreana

Arcola     2    4:30pm

LeRoy     13

Friday Class 2A Sectional Championship action

At Macomb 

Williamsville  3     4:30pm

Auburn          10

Friday Class 3A Regional Championship action

At Jacksonville 

Rochester    3     4:30pm

Jerseyville    0

 At Lincoln

Metamora    10        4:30pm

East Peoria    0

At Mt. Zion

Mt. Zion        12         4:30pm

Charleston    7

At Taylorville

Chatham-Glenwood    9     4:30pm

Mattoon    0

At Washington

Washington    10     4:30pm

Monticello will meet Illini Prairie Conference rival Tolono Unity Saturday afternoon for a Sectional Championship in Decatur at the Workman Family Baseball Field.

The Sages are coming off a 3-1 win on Wednesday over Bismarck-Henning to reach their second straight Sectional championship and their third since 2021. 

While its offense hasn't been nearly as prolific as it was at points in the regular season, pitching has been brilliant for Monticello in the postseason. Carter Foran followed up a six-inning performance in last week's Regional semifinal win over Tri-Valley with five more innings of one-run ball on Wednesday. 

The Sages got timely hits to hold off the Blue Devils in Sectional semifinal action Wednesday.

Monticello will likely turn to Illinois baseball commit Ike Young on Saturday in the Sectional Championship. The All-State quarterback was masterful in a complete game shutout last Saturday in the Sages' win over Maroa-Forsyth in the Regional title. 

The Rockets will look to continue to ride the wave of upsets and revenge games on Saturday. After making easy work of PBL last week in a 12-2 win in Regional semifinal action, Unity upset St. Joseph-Ogden 8-3 in the Regional Championship.

They followed up that performance with a 6-4 win over second-seeded Normal U-High Wednesday evening in Decatur. 

The Rockets' back-end of its schedule was loaded, in including a May 8 loss to St. Joe 10-0, then a May 17 loss to U-High, 6-4. But Unity avenged those losses in upset fashion in the last week when it mattered most, sending the higher-seeded Spartans and Pioneers packing for the summer.

Coming into action at 18-12 overall, it would be a sweet ending to what has been a frustrating run of postseason defeats to Monticello in boys' sports this season for Unity. 

The Rockets lost to the Sages in a Class 3A high school football state semifinal game in November. Then lost a Class 2A Regional Championship game to Monticello back in late February.

Unity also lost in controversial fashion to Monticello in mid-April, 4-3. A close game throughout ended on a catcher's interference call in the top of the seventh in Monticello. 

The Sages come into play 29-6 overall, looking to advance to a Supersectional for the first time since the spring of 2021. 

Action Saturday afternoon from Decatur Millikin is at 1 pm. Hear it all on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

High School Baseball:

Class 2A Sectional Championship action Saturday

At Chillicothe

Eureka 1:00pm

Illinois Valley Central

At Pleasant Plains

Pleasant Plains 11:00am

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin

Class 1A Sectional Championship action Saturday

At Arcola

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 11:00am

Salt Fork

At Peru St. Bede

Heyworth 10:00am

Lexington

Class 3A Regional Championship action Saturday

At Champaign Central

Champaign Central 11:00am

Lincoln

At East Peoria

Dunlap 10:00am

Limestone

At Jacksonville 

Chatham-Glenwood 10:00am

Jacksonville 

At Mt. Zion

Rochester 11:00am

Mt. Zion

At Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour noon

Rantoul

At Washington

Washington 11:00am

Geneseo

Class 4A Regional Championship Action Saturday

At Moline

Normal Community noon

Plainfield Central

High School Softball

Friday Class 1A Sectional Championship action

At Argenta-Oreana

Arcola 4:30pm

LeRoy

Friday Class 2A Sectional Championship action

At Macomb

Williamsville 4:30pm

Auburn

At Tolono Unity

Tolono Unity 11:00am (SATURDAY)

Normal U-High

Friday Class 3A Regional Championship action

At Jacksonville 

Rochester 4:30pm

Jerseyville

 At Lincoln

Metamora 4:30pm

East Peoria

At Mt. Zion

Mt. Zion 4:30pm

Charleston

At Taylorville

Chatham-Glenwood 4:30pm

Mattoon

Washington 4:30pm

Bloomington

At Rantoul

Champaign Central noon (SATURDAY)

Mahomet-Seymour

A seven-run fifth inning helped Lincoln down Champaign Centennial 14-4 in a five-inning, run-rule win on Wednesday in Class 3A high school baseball Regional semifinal action from Champaign.

The Railsplitters' seven-run rally started with two outs and a 7-4 lead. Drew Hayes doubled in Austin Lucas who had singled, then Parker Graue brought in Hayes to make it 9-4. Back-to-back-to-back run-scoring singles from Owen Comstock, Kyle Koehler, and Ashton Corley stretched the lead to 14-4. 

Hayes and Graue each finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Lincoln. Hayes had a double. Koehler was 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. Corley was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Lucas finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. 

Carson Fuiten and Graue combined to limit the Chargers to four runs on four hits with four strikeouts and combined to issue four walks. 

Lincoln goes to 16-16 overall. The Railsplitters advance to Saturday's Regional Championship to take on top-seeded Champaign Central at 11 am at Champaign Central High School.

High school baseball Class 1A Sectional semifinal action from Wednesday

At Arcola

Argenta-Oreana    0

Salt Fork        10

At Peru St. Bede

Varna-Midland    0

Heyworth        2

Lexington    3

Henry-Senachwine    1

High School Baseball Class 2A Sectional semifinal action from Wednesday

At Chillicothe

Eureka    2

Sherrard    1

Illinois Valley Central)    4

Peoria Notre Dame    0

At Millikin U

Tolono Unity    6

Normal U-High    4

At Pleasant Plains

Pleasant Plains    9

Auburn    0

North Mac    1

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin    12

High School Baseball Class 3A Regional semifinal action from Wednesday

At Champaign Central

Champaign Central    13    F-5

Urbana        0

At East Peoria

Dunlap    2

Peoria Richwoods    1

East Peoria    2

Limestone    4

At Jacksonville 

Chatham-Glenwood    4

Springfield Southeast    1

Jacksonville    2

Springfield        0

At Mt. Zion

Rochester    9

Decatur MacArthur    2

Mt. Zion    9

Taylorville    1

At Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour    10    F-5

Danville        0

Bloomington    2

Rantoul    3

At Washington

Washington    6

Metamora    0

Geneseo    10

Morton    3

High School Baseball Class 4A Regional semifinal action today

At Normal West

Normal West         4:30pm

Bradley-Bourbonnais

High School softball Class 2A Sectional semifinal action from Wednesday

At Macomb

Auburn     4

Olympia    0

High School softball Class 3A Regional semifinal action from Wednesday

At Rantoul

Champaign Central    4

Rantoul    1

Mahomet-Seymour    2    F-8

Danville        1

A balk with the bases loaded sent Normal Community past Rock Island 2-1 walk-off win in a Class 4A Regional semifinal, 12 12-inning thriller from Moline on Wednesday. 

Drew Stevens tripled with one out in the bottom of the 12th. Rock Island elected to intentionally walk Gavin Swartz and Andrew Naour to load the bases. 

With Brady Burkhart at the plate, a balk on a 1-0 count scored Stevens from third and gave the Ironmen the walk-off win.

Sophomore Keagan Swain went 10 1/3 innings of one-run ball for the Rocks. He struck out six, walked one, and allowed three hits. 

Gavin Swartz fired 8 2/3 innings for Normal Community. He allowed a run on two hits with 13 strikeouts. 

Jonah Roper struck out five in 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. 

Gavin Michaels was 2-for-4 with a double for the Ironmen. Max Heineman recorded the only RBI of the day for Normal Community. Corbin Harris finished 1-for-4 with a double, and Stevens was 1-for-5 with a triple. 

Normal Community goes to 32-4 overall and will play the winner of Thursday's contest between Plainfield North and East Moline United on Saturday at noon for a Regional Championship.

Graydon Leonard pitched six innings of one-run ball and GCMS rallied past Mt. Pulaski 3-1 to advance in a Class 1A Sectional semifinal game from Arcola on Wednesday. 

Leonard struck out eight and walked two while permitting five hits. Zeb Greer struck out two and worked around a walk to close out the win. 

Luke Martin doubled in the only run for Mt. Pulaski in the third inning but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. 

The Falcons got the run back in the fourth inning when Parker Ballie scored Conner Kinzinger to tie the score at 1-1. 

A two-run error cost the Hilltoppers in the fifth when the Falcons went up 3-1.

Martin was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI for Mt. Pulaski. Eric Cooper, Chance Payne, and Preston Cowan had hits for the Hilltoppers.

Cooper took the tough luck loss for Mt. Pulaski. He struck out eight in five innings. He allowed three unearned runs on six hits and did not walk a batter. 

The Hilltoppers end their season 22-7 overall. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Carter Foran was brilliant again on the mound and led Monticello past Bismarck-Henning 3-1 in a Class 2A Sectional semifinal victory on Wednesday from the Workman Family Baseball Field at Millikin University in Decatur.

Foran went five innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts. He permitted a run on three hits and issued two walks. The senior followed up a brilliant performance last Wednesday in a 2-1 win over Tri-Valley in Regional action.

Foran was the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. 

The Sages broke a scoreless tie in the third when Brian Wiltgen, Foran, and Eric Arnold hit back-to-back-to-back singles to start the inning - Arnold's single was a bunt single that caught the whole diamond by surprise.

With the bases loaded and nobody out, Eli Craft scored Wiltgen with a sac-fly to center field to make it 1-0. Ike Young then singled in Foran to make it 2-0.

Monticello was thrown out at third base four times to end an inning during the game - squandering opportunities to grow its lead.

They added the final run of the game when Arnold scored from third after Caden Kelemenic balked to make it 3-1.

Arnold finished 2-for-2 with an RBI. Wiltgen was 2-for-3 with a triple while Craft was 2-for-2 with an RBI for the Sages.

Monticello improves to 29-6 overall. They will go for their first sectional Championship since 2021 on Saturday at 1 pm. They play the winner of the Wednesday late game in Decatur between Tolono Unity and Normal U-High. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Coming off its third Regional title in four seasons, Monticello will battle Bismarck-Henning this afternoon at Decatur Millikin. 

Ike Young struck out nine in a complete game shutout, and the Sages' offense took advantage of Maroa-Forsyth miscues in a 5-1 Regional Championship game on Saturday in Forsyth. 

The Sages handled Bismarck-Henning 11-1 back on April 3 at Monticello High School. 

Game time this afternoon is 4 pm. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Class 2A Sectional semifinal action today

At Decatur Millikin

Tolono Unity    6:30pm

Normal U-High

At Pleasant Plains

Pleasant Plains    4:30pm

Auburn

North Mac        7:00pm

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin

Class 1A Sectional semifinal action tonight

At Arcola

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley     4:00pm

Mt. Pulaski

Argenta-Oreana         6:30pm

Salt Fork

At Peru St. Bede

Varna-Midland         4:30pm

Heyworth

Lexington         7:00pm

Henry-Senachwine

Class 3A baseball Regional semifinal action today

At Champaign Central

Champaign Central     4:30pm

Urbana 

Champaign Centennial     6:30pm

Lincoln

At Jacksonville 

Chatham-Glenwood     4:30pm

Springfield Southeast/Springfield Lanphier

Jacksonville    7:00pm

Springfield

At Mt. Zion

RochesTer         4:30pm

Decatur MacArthur

Mt. Zion         6:30pm

Taylorville

At Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour     4:30pm

Danville 

Bloomington    7:00pm

Rantoul

Class 1A Softball Sectional semifinal action Tuesday

At Argenta-Oreana

Arcola    2

Salt Fork    0

LeRoy    13    F-5

Central A & M    2

At Concord Triopia

Concord-Triopia    1

Havana    4

Delavan    3

Liberty    4

Class 2A softball Sectional semifinal action Tuesday

At Macomb

Williamsville    1

Quincy Notre Dame    0

At Tolono Unity

Tolono Unity    4

Marshall    3

Meridian    4

Normal U-High    9

Class 3A Regional semifinal action Tuesday

At Jacksonville 

Rochester    15

Decatur MacArthur    0

At Lincoln

Lincoln    1    F-9

East Peoria    2

At Taylorville

Chatham-Glenwood    15

Decatur Eisenhower    0

Mattoon    12

Taylorville    2

At Washington

Washington    14

Morton    4

Bloomington 7

Limestone    2

Class 4A softball Regional semifinal action Tuesday

At Bradley-Bourbonnais

Rock Island    10    F-5

Normal West    0

Bradley-Bourbonnais    8

Normal Community    0

Class 3A softball Regional semifinal action Tuesday

At Rantoul

Champaign Central     4:30pm

Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour     6:30pm

Danville

Class 3A baseball Regional semifinal action today

At Champaign Central

Champaign Central 4:30pm

Urbana 

Champaign Centennial 6:30pm

Lincoln

At Jacksonville 

Chatham-Glenwood 4:30pm

Springfield Southeast/Springfield Lanphier

Jacksonville 7:00pm

Springfield

At Mt. Zion

Rochester 4:30pm

Decatur MacArthur

Mt. Zion 6:30pm

Taylorville

At Rantoul

Mahomet-Seymour 4:30pm

Danville 

Bloomington 7:00pm

Rantoul

Class 1A softball Sectional semifinal action today

At Argenta-Oreana

Arcola 4:30pm

Salt Fork

LeRoy 6:30pm

Central A & M

At Concord Triopia

Delavan 5:00pm

Liberty

Class 2A softball Sectional semifinal action today

At Macomb

Williamsville 4:30pm

Quincy Notre Dame

At Tolono Unity

Tolono Unity 4:00pm

Marshall

Meridian 5:30pm

Normal U-High

Class 3A softball Regional semifinal action today

At Lincoln

East Peoria 4:30pm

Lincoln

At Mt. Zion

Mt. Zion 4:30pm

Urbana

At Taylorville

Chatham-Glenwood 4:30pm

Decatur Eisenhower

Mattoon 6:00pm

Taylorville

At Washington

Washington 4:30pm

Morton

Bloomington 6:30pm

Limestone

Class 4A softball Regional semifinal action today

At Bradley-Bourbonnais

Rock Island 4:30pm

Normal West

Bradley-Bourbonnais 6:30pm

Normal Community

 After starting NASCAR's longest race from shotgun on the field, Ross Chastain ended his 600-mile journey in Victory Lane when he passed William Byron with six laps to go to win the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chastain's win is the first of 2025, the sixth of his career, and his first in one of NASCAR's crown jewel races.

After cutting a left rear tire and crashing in practice on Saturday, Chastain was forced to miss qualifying and had to start Sunday's race from 40th starting spot.

Using the length of the race to his advantage and working his way through the field, Chastain was able to find the front by the final run, passing Denny Hamlin for second before closing in on Byron, who had the dominant car and led 283 laps throughout the evening. Hamlin then dropped out of the race for the win, as he was forced to come to pit road low on fuel with 12 laps to go.

Then, Hamlin would create Chastain's chance: As Byron came up to lap Hamlin, Chastain was able to mount a run and cut to the inside entering Turn 1, sliding up in front of Byron and pinching his run to the outside off to complete the pass.

In winning the Coca-Cola 600 from a 40th starting spot, Chastain also became the first driver to win a Cup race from an official starting spot of last since Hall of Famer Bobby Allison did so at Richmond in 1969. By extension, Chastain also becomes the first driver in NASCAR's modern era (1972-present) to win from the final starting spot.

In an affirmation of his status as one of the best IndyCar drivers of his generation, Alex Palou took the lead from Marcus Ericsson with 14 laps to go and led the rest of the way to win the 109th Indianapolis 500, earning his first win in The Greatest Spectacle in Racing and his third win in five races to start the NTT IndyCar Series season.

Palou, who has won the IndyCar championship three out of the last four seasons including two in a row, earns his 15th career win and becomes the first driver from Spain to win the Indy 500.

Palou had opened the month of May at Indianapolis by winning the Indianapolis Grand Prix on the Speedway's road course, but to date he had never won IndyCar's signature race, nor had he ever won on an oval.

But after saving enough fuel to go on the attack in the last 20 laps, Palou charged past Ericsson entering Turn 1 with 14 laps to go, then rode in the wake of two cars on the tail end of the lead lap in front of him, using the tow off them to hold off Ericsson and win the 500 for the first time

Masyn Winn homered, Victor Scott II hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Sonny Gray allowed three runs on nine hits and struck out five in six innings in his second career start against Arizona and first since Aug. 28, 2015, for the Athletics. Iván Herrera drove in two runs for the Cardinals.

John King (1-0) and JoJo Romero each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, and Phil Maton worked the ninth for his second save.

Brandon Pfaadt allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings for Arizona, which has lost five straight for the first time this season.

Jordan Walker hit an infield single off Kevin Ginkel (0-2) to lead off the seventh and advanced on a groundout. Scott singled up the middle off Jalen Beeks to make it 4-3.

Herrera's sacrifice fly in the sixth tied the game at 3-all after Arizona pulled ahead in the top half on Pavin Smith’s RBI single.

Winn hit his sixth homer of the season, and first at home, to left field in the third.

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado made a running catch on Ketel Marte's foul popup and fell into the netting protecting the stands for the second out of the ninth. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo successfully challenged that Arenado left the field of play after the catch to allow baserunners to advance to second and third.

St. Louis earned its fourth series sweep of the season and first of the Diamondbacks since Aug. 19-21, 2022 at Arizona.

Diamondbacks: RHP Ryne Nelson (1-1, 4.60 ERA) opposes Pittsburgh LHP Andrew Heaney (3-3, 2.91) to start a six-game homestand Monday night.

Cardinals: RHP Erick Fedde (3-3, 3.77 ERA) faces Baltimore RHP Charlie Morton (0-7, 7.68 ERA) to open a six-game trip Monday.

Seiya Suzuki and Reese McGuire homered in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs rallied for an 11-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Nico Hoerner and Pete Crow-Armstrong drove in two runs apiece as the NL Central Division leaders took their fourth straight three-game series.

Austin Hays had two hits and drove in three runs for Cincinnati, which has dropped four of five.

McGuire - called up from Triple-A Iowa - homered in the second and then tied it at 8 with a solo shot to right off Taylor Rogers (1-2) and the first two-homer game in his eight-year, big-league career.

McGuire became the third player since 1900 to homer twice in his first game with the Cubs after Earl Webb on April 12, 1927, and Jim Marshall on Aug. 24, 1958. The 30-year old catcher was a late addition to the lineup after Carson Kelly was scratched due to illness.

After Ian Happ drew a walk and Kyle Tucker's base hit, Suzuki connected on an elevated sinker by Luis Mey and drove it over the left-field wall to put the Cubs on top for good.

It was the second three-run homer in the series for Suzuki, who went 7 for 12 in the weekend three-game set.

Drew Pomeranz (2-0), the fourth of six Chicago pitchers, got the win with a scoreless inning.

The Cubs trailed 8-4, but began their rally by putting up three in the sixth inning. Hoerner drove in two with a double and came home on a base hit by Michael Busch.

Chicago has 12 games with 10 or more runs, the Cubs’ most through 54 games since 13 in 1898, according to Major League Baseball. Chicago scored 21 of its 28 runs in the series in the seventh through ninth innings.

Cubs: Return home on Monday to open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

Reds: RHP Nick Martinez (2-5, 3.43 ERA) takes the mound for the opener of a three-game set at Kansas City on Monday.

Adolis García hit a two-run double in a three-run ninth inning, and the Texas Rangers stopped a six-game slide with a 5-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Jake Burger hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who had dropped seven of eight overall. Shawn Armstrong (2-1) got four outs for the win, and Robert Garcia worked a rocky ninth for his second save.

The Rangers' ninth-inning rally started when Josh Jung was hit by a 0-2 fastball from Jordan Leasure (0-4). Burger followed with a double to put runners on second and third.

After Alejandro Osuna struck out, Kyle Higashioka reached on an error on first baseman Lenyn Sosa. Jung scored, tying it at 3, and García followed with a drive into the gap in left-center.

The White Sox got one back on Michael A. Taylor's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. But Garcia picked off Taylor and Vinny Capra flied to the warning track in left for the final out.

White Sox right-hander Davis Martin pitched six innings of two-run ball. He allowed four hits and walked three.

Burger went deep in the second. It was his seventh homer of the season.

Miguel Vargas hit his seventh homer in the fourth, and Chicago added two more in the sixth. Austin Slater connected for a leadoff drive against Patrick Corbin, and Luis Robert Jr. hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly later in the inning.

The Rangers brought up Osuna from Triple-A Round Rock to make his major league debut. Joc Pederson was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right hand.

Osuna went 0 for 3 with a walk. He also robbed Chase Meidroth of a hit with a terrific grab for the final out of the fifth.

Chicago was trying for a winning rally when Taylor was picked off.

Meidroth extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a seventh-inning single.

The Rangers haven’t announced Monday’s starter as they begin a six-game homestand with three against the Blue Jays, who will start RHP Kevin Gausman (4-4, 4.03 ERA).

The White Sox begin a six-game trip with three against the Mets. RHP Adrian Houser (1-0, 0.00 ERA) starts for Chicago against RHP Clay Holmes (5-3, 3.13 ERA) on Monday.

Clinton High School junior Abi Moser placed fifth in the shot put Saturday at the State Track & Field meet in Charleston. 

Moser's throw of 11.20 meters earned her All-State honors in Class 2A.

Two freshmen and a sophomore threw in the top five on Friday. 

Moser also finished 18th in the discus preliminaries on Friday. 

Moser will continue her training into the summer - looking forward to a big senior year. 

Luke Martin struck out 12 and drove in a run to help Mt. Pulaski get by Tuscola 2-1 in a Class 1A Regional Championship on Saturday in Tuscola.

Martin tied the game at 1-1 in the first with an RBI base hit, and in the second, Eric Cooper scored Preston Cowan on a sac fly, proving to be the game-winner for the Hilltoppers. 

Martin threw 116 pitches and faced five over the minimum. 

Chance Payne was 1-for-3 with a double while Aaron Volle finished 1-for-2 for Mt. Pulaski. 

The Hilltoppers advance to take on GCMS on Wednesday at 4 pm in Arcola. 

Argenta-Oreana blanked unbeaten Arcola in an upset 1-0 win in a Class 1A Regional Championship game in Argenta on Saturday.

Carter Logue went the distance and allowed just two hits with seven strikeouts while working around five walks. 

Lucas Camfield brought in the only run of the game for the Bombers with a base hit in the top of the first inning. 

There were just three hits total between the two teams. 

The Bombers win the Regional Championship and improve to 15-11. They will advance to a Sectional semifinal on Wednesday in Arcola.

The Purple Raiders finish their season 21-1. 

In a game heard on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Ike Young struck out nine in a complete game, two-hit shutout of Maroa-Forsyth, leading Monticello to a 5-0 win in Regional Championship action Saturday in Forsyth. 

The Illinois-commit faced just three over the minimum and was able to work around a lead-off double by Ace Giles in the top of the fourth inning. The All-State football star earned the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. 

Giles finished 2-for-3 with a double to lead Maroa-Forsyth.

Colton Vance was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Sages while Dawson Gaitros was 1-for-1 with an RBI and two walks. Eric Arnold was 1-for-4 with a double while Eli Craft added the other hit for the Sages. 

Monticello took advantage of four errors by the Trojans.

Cayden Rose allowed five runs, but only one was earned in taking the loss.

Maroa-Forsyth ends its campaign 22-9 overall.

Monticello improves to 28-6 and wins its fourth Regional Championship in the last five years. They will battle Bismarck-Henning on Wednesday in Sectional Semifinal action at 4 pm from Decatur Millikin. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Brady Hart singled in Gage Flairty in the top of the seventh inning to break a 1-1 tie and Normal West edged Mahomet-Seymour 2-1 in non-conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Mahomet.

Sam McCully hit a one-out double and Flairty was inserted as a courtesy runner. Hart singled to right, allowing Flairty to score.

Hart went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Wildcats. Chase Knuth was 2-for-4 with a triple while McCully was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Nolan Schultz added a double, going 1-for-3.

Chase Reinhart earned the win on the mound for Normal West, pitching 6 2/3 innings, allowing a run, and striking out six.

Normal West improved to 20-13 on the season. 

Lincoln scored four runs in the third inning and rolled to a 7-1 win over Decatur MacArthur in non-conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Lincoln.

With the game tied a 1-1, Drew Hayes led off the frame with a single and Parker Graue was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced during Jaden Gully's at bat, who brought home Hayes with a ground out to first to make it 2-1 Railsplitters. 

Karson Komnick tripled in Graue followed by a Brady Miller base hit that scored Owen Comstock - running for Komnick - making it 4-1 Lincoln. Kyle Koehler singled in Miller who stole second and third base making it 5-1.

Hayes was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Brady Miller swiped two bags and finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored. Gulley and Koehler had RBIs for Lincoln while Komnick was 1-for-3 with a triple. 

Lincoln is 14-16 overall. They host Springfield Lanphier on Saturday.

Class 1A High School Baseball Regional semifinal action from Thursday

Argenta-Oreana Regional @ Decatur Millikin

Arcola 10

Decatur Unity Christian 0

Argenta-Oreana 9

Cerro Gordo 0

At Dwight

LeRoy 4 F-8

Lexington 7

At Illini Bluffs

Delavan 4

Havana 3

At Heyworth

Roanoke-Benson 12 F-6

Ridgeview 2

Class 2A High School Baseball Regional Semifinal action Thursday

At Auburn

Auburn 5

Pana 1

Olympia Regional @ The Corn Crib

Tremont 1

Prairie Central 2

At Tolono Unity

Tolono Unity 12

Paxton-Buckley-Loda 2

At North Mac

Shelbyville 14

Hillsboro 4

Class 1A High School Softball Regional semifinal action from Thursday

At LeRoy

LeRoy 9

Heyworth 1

Fisher 11

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 1

Class 2A High School Softball Regional semifinal action from Thursday

At Lisle 

Illinois Valley Central 13

Spring Valley Hall 0

Peru St. Bede 8

El Paso-Gridley 6

At St. Joseph-Ogden

Bloomington Central Catholic 5

Westville 10

At Olympia

Dee-Mack 10

Tremont 2

Class 1A High School Softball Regional Championship Action Today

At Illini Bluffs

Illini Bluffs 4:30pm

Delavan

At LeRoy

LeRoy 4:30pm

Fisher

At Villa Grove

Central A & M 4:30pm

Villa Grove

At Tuscola

Tuscola 10:00am (SATURDAY)

Arcola

Class 2A High School Softball Regional Championship Action

At Bismarck-Henning

Seneca 4:00pm

Lexington

At Macon

Meridian 4:30pm

Pana

At Monticello

Tolono Unity 4:30pm

Tri-Valley

At Quincy Notre Dame

Quincy Notre Dame 5:30pm

Buffalo Tri-City

At Olympia

Olympia 4:30pm

Dee-Mack

At St. Joseph-Ogden

Normal U-High 11:00am (SATURDAY)

Westville

Class 1A High School Baseball Saturday Regional Championship Action

At Heyworth (REGIONAL SEMIFINAL)

Heyworth 4:30 pm

Peoria Heights

At Argenta-Oreana

Arcola 11:00 am

Argenta-Oreana

At Illini Bluffs

Illini Bluffs 11:00 am

Delavan

At Heyworth

Roanoke-Benson 11:00 am

Heyworth/Peoria Heights

At Milford

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 11:00 am

Milford

At Tuscola

Mt. Pulaski 11:00 am

Tuscola

Class 2A High School Baseball Saturday Regional Championship action

At Maroa-Forsyth

Monticello 11:00am

Maroa-Forsyth

At Quincy Notre Dame

Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 11:00am

Quincy Notre Dame

At Riverton

Pleasant Plains 10:00am

Pittsfield 

At Olympia

Normal U-High 11:00 am

Prairie Central  

At Tolono Unity

St. Joseph-Ogden 10:00am

Tolono Unity

At North Mac

North Mac 11:00am

Shelbyville

Carter Foran pitched six innings of one-run ball, pacing Monticello past Tri-Valley 2-1 in Class 2A high school baseball Regional semifinal action on Wednesday in Decatur.

Foran struck out six in six innings, permitting three hits and two walks.

The senior was also 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. He doubled with one out in the bottom of the first inning and scored when Eli Craft singled to right field.

In the second inning, Monticello put runners on first and second with nobody out, but only scored one run on a Cole Basak RBI groundout.

Cade Danko drove in Cole Klein for the Vikings' only run of the game.

Monticello improves to 27-5 overall. They advance to Saturday's Regional Championship against Maroa-Forsyth in Forsyth.

Mitch Williams went the distance and led Maroa-Forsyth over Warrensburg-Latham 6-1 in Class 2A high school baseball Regional semifinal action on Wednesday in Decatur. 

The senior allowed a run on six hits and struck out six while walking two. 

Maroa-Forsyth jumped out to an early 5-1 lead. Tate Brandenburg finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Grady Rose was 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs batted in. Cayden Rose drove in the other run for the Trojans.

Trenton Bridges drove in the only run on a triple for the Cardinals while Nathan Southern was 2-for-4. 

Warrensburg-Latham finishes the season 24-6 overall. 

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 21-8 overall and will take on Monticello for a Regional Championship on Saturday. 

Isabella Beery hit a two-run home run and drove in three, but it wasn't enough to spark Monticello in a 13-7 loss to Tri-Valley in Class 2A high school softball Regional semifinal action on Wednesday in Monticello.

Wednesday's game was a makeup of a Tuesday rainout.

Beery's two-run home run in the third cut into a 10-2 deficit for Monticello. 

Sadie Walsh was 4-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored for the Lady Sages. Thea Key finished 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Madison Highland was 2-for-3 with a double.

The Lady Vikings slugged three home runs in the game. They advance to take on Tolono Unity on Friday afternoon for the Regional Championship.

Monticello finishes its season 24-7. 

Mt. Pulaski scored seven runs in the sixth inning and beat Villa Grove 7-1 in Class 1A high school baseball Regional action on Wednesday in Tuscola. 

Liam Smith hit a three-run home run in the seven-run frame. Luke Martin and Aaron Volle hit back-to-back RBI doubles to break the game open. Chance Payne was 2-for-4 for the Hilltoppers.

Evan Cooper allowed an unearned run in a complete game effort. He struck out six while permitting six hits.

Mt. Pulaski goes for a Regional Championship on Saturday.

Tri-Valley scored five runs in the fifth inning - highlighting seven unanswered runs for the Vikings as they rallied past Clinton 7-5 in a Class 2A Regional quarterfinal high school baseball game in Downs. 

Colton Walker started a four-run third for the Maroons with an RBI groundout. Jack Manning followed with an RBI double, then Josh Bass singled home Manning to put the Maroons up 3-0. Jaxson Reynolds reached on an error to bring home Clinton's final run of the frame.

The Vikings scored the game's next seven runs to go up 7-4, but Clinton tried to rally in the seventh.

Walker reached on an error to start the top of the seventh. Two batters later, Bass singled in Walker to make it 7-5. Reynolds followed with a single, but the last two batters struck out to end the game for Clinton. 

Clinton finishes the season at 14-16. 

Tri-Valley advances to take on top-seeded Monticello on Wednesday in a Regional semifinal in Forsyth.

Big 12 Conference champion Normal Community used a trio of big performances to blank Mahomet-Seymour 11-0 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Normal.

.

Gavin Michaels drove in four runs, finishing 2-for-2 with a double and a triple for the Ironmen.

Max Heineman was 2-for-2 with a double, a triple, and an RBI, while Andrew Naour was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and doubles twice. 

Gavin Swartz struck out four in five scoreless frames. He allowed four hits and issued a walk for Normal Community. 

Corbin Harris finished 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs while Kyle Beaty was 1-for-3 for the Ironmen.

Normal Community goes to 31-4 overall. They will host Plainfield North to finish the regular season on Friday.

Ike Young's three-run home run in the fourth proved to be the difference, and Monticello shut out Mt. Pulaski 3-0 in a non-conference high school baseball tune-up ahead of postseason play later this week from Monticello.

Young's home run backed three scoreless innings from Gatsby Grant, and three pitchers combined to close out the victory for the Sages.

Monticello managed just three hits. Dawson Gaitros and Eli Craft had the other hits.

Forest Rawdin, Matthias Rudolph and Carter Foran combined to finish out the three-hitter for the Sages.

Chance Payne, Luke Martin, and Carter Clark had the only hits for the Hilltoppers. 

Clark's only blemish on the afternoon was Young's three-run home run. He struck out three and permitted three hits. 

The Hilltoppers finish the regular season 20-6 and will take on Villa Grove on Wednesday in Tuscola. Villa Grove topped Broadlands-Heritage in Regional quarterfinal action on Monday.

Monticello improves to 26-6 to finish out the regular season and battles Tri-Valley on Wednesday in Regional semifinal action in Forsyth. Tri-Valley rallied past Clinton on Monday in Regional quarterfinal action in Downs.

Hear Wednesday's action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Mt. Zion started fast and didn't look back, topping Normal West 6-2 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Mt. Zion. 

Evan Howley doubled in a run in a four-run first inning. Connor Fox singled in a run and Carter Spangler scored two with a single. 

Andrew Tay pitched in the sixth inning despite six walks for the Braves. He gave up two runs on two hits with six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Torin DeLaere was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Wildcats. Cooper Temples and Drew Hart had the only other hits for Normal West. 

The Wildcats drop to 19-13 overall. They finish out the regular season later this week while awaiting its Class 3A playoff pairings on Wednesday. 

Sidney Ditchen drove in four runs and Gabbie Dow twirled four hitless innings as Heyworth made easy work of Blue Ridge 15-0 in Class 1A Regional quarterfinal high school softball action on Monday in Heyworth.

The Lady Hornets scored ten runs in the second inning to break the game open. 

Ditchen was 2-for-2 with a double and four RBIs to lead Heyworth. Natalie Kopp drove in two while Emily Rogers was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs batted in.

Grace Streenz and Ellasyn Loudenburg drove in runs for the Lady Hornets. 

Dow struck out six in four hitless innings in circle for Heyworth.

Blue Ridge finishes its season 13-12 overall. 

Heyworth advances to take on top-seeded LeRoy tomorrow (Tuesday) in LeRoy. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, Maggie Ravenscraft broke a scoreless tie with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning, Danni Hovey struck out 14 in a complete game shutout, and Maroa-Forsyth beat Clinton 7-0 in Class 2A Regional quarterfinal action on Monday in Maroa.

After Ravenscraft's three-run home run, two batters later, Aubrey Steward doubled in Taylor Crouch to extend the Lady Trojans' lead to 4-0. 

Aubree Berg hit a bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 7-0 Maroa-Forsyth.

Hovey permitted just two hits in circle for the Lady Trojans. 

Peyton Torbert and Adelynn Simmons each finished 2-for-3. 

Avery Smith and Hadley Humble had the only hits for the Lady Maroons.

Clinton finishes its season at 6-19 overall. 

Maroa-Forsyth improves to 12-13 overall. They will take on Tolono Unity in a Regional Semifinal tomorrow (Tuesday) in Monticello.

Liam Smith and Aaron Volle went deep, leading Mt. Pulaski in a 14-2 rout of Warrensburg-Latham on Friday afternoon in Mt. Pulaski. 

Smith started the fifth inning with a solo home run to put the Hilltoppers in front 14-4. Later in the frame, Volle homered to make it 16-4. 

Mt. Pulaski answered a three-run first from the Cardinals with a five-run inning. Carter Clark drove in the first two of his game-high four runs with a single to cut the deficit to 3-2. Tyler Cross walked in the tying run with the bases loaded. The Hilltoppers added two more to go up 5-3.

Preston Cowan doubled in two more in the Hilltoppers' second inning to put them up 7-3. 

Chance Payne doubled in Eric Cooper to put Mt. Pulaski up 9-3 in the third. Later, Clark singled in two more with another single for a 12-3 lead.

Clark was 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Volle finished 1-for-2 with two runs batted in while Smith was 1-for-3. Cowan and Cross each drove in two for the Hilltoppers.

Eastyn McKenzie was 1-for-2 with two RBIs for the Cardinals while Nathan Souther finished 1-for-3 with an RBI double.

Warrensburg-Latham wraps up the regular season at 23-6. They will take on Maroa-Forsyth in a Regional semifinal on Wednesday of next week.

Mt. Pulaski goes to 20-5. They will travel to Monticello for a tune-up game ahead of their Regional action next week. 

Jayden Gulley singled in Lincoln's winning run as the Railsplitters held on to beat Peoria Richwoods 10-9 in non-conference high school baseball action from Lincoln on Friday.

The Railsplitters jumped out to an 8-2 lead in the first inning. Gulley and Shaw hit back-to-back run-scoring hits to put Lincoln ahead 4-2. Ashton Corley capped the frame with a two-run shot to make it 8-2.

Richwoods tied the game at 9-9 with a seven-run fourth inning. 

Maroa-Forsyth fell behind early, and a late rally fell short as Normal U-High held on for a 7-4 win in non-conference high school baseball action from Normal on Friday.

Trailing 7-1 going to the seventh, Gunnar Larner hit a line drive single to left field, scoring Mitch Williams and Tate Brandenburg to bring the score to 7-4. 

The Trojans end the season at 21-8 overall. It is off to Regional action next week in Forsyth. 

Ellie Schlieper struck out ten in five no-hit innings, leading Blue Ridge over Hartsburg-Emden 10-0 in non-conference high school softball action on Friday in Emden. 

Schlieper faced just two over the minimum thanks to two errors from the Lady Knights. 

Ellie Heyward paced Blue Ridge offensively, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Karleigh Fenton was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. Addison Roos was 2-for-4, and Lillie Enger finished 3-for-3 with an RBI. 

The Lady Knights finish the regular season 12-11 overall. It's off to the postseason next week for Blue Ridge. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Thea Key blasted a three-run home run in the seventh inning and led Monticello over Arthur Christian 10-0 in a six-inning, run-rule win on Friday evening in non-conference high school softball action from Monticello. 

The game was delayed an hour and a half due to heavy thunderstorms that impacted central Illinois on Friday.

Key started the game with a triple that scored Sadie Walsh. Cassidee Stoffel doubled in Key, and Ali Weidner added a sac-fly later to put Monticello up early, 3-0. 

Stoffel added a two-run double in the second to put the Lady Sages up 5-0.

Key's three-run blast in the sixth broke the game open 8-0. She finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs to lead Monticello. She was the Serv Pro of Piatt-DeWitt County Player of the Game. 

Stofell was 3-for-3 with three RBIs. Lucy Leatherwood, Madison Highland, and Sadie Walsh each had two hits for the Lady Sages. 

Monticello finishes the regular season 24-6 overall. They will take on Tri-Valley next Tuesday afternoon in Regional semifinal action from Monticello. Game time is 6 pm. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Shelby Oakley went deep twice and went the distance in circle lead Warrensburg-Latham to an easy 15-5 win over Clinton in Central Illinois Conference high school softball action on Friday in Warrensburg.

With her two home runs, Oakley drove in a game-high four runs. 

For the Lady Maroons, Aliviyah Haynes led the way, going 2-for-3, while Anelise Thompson was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Both Avery Smith and Hadley Humble contributed RBIs. Riley Fentress went 1-for-3 and Ariana Humes was 1-for-4.

Clinton ends the regular season 5-16 overall and 1-6 in the CIC. They take on Maroa-Forsyth in a Regional quarterfinal match-up on Monday in Forsyth. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Maroons ended the regular season strong by shutting out the Decatur St. Teresa Bulldogs by a final score of 10-0 in five innings of run-rule non-conference high school baseball action Friday night in Clinton. 

The Maroons struck first when Jaxon Reynolds singled to bring in Brayden Parker, who was running for Josh Bass. 

Both teams would go scoreless in the second, but Clinton came alive again when Jack Manning doubled to bring in two in the third. 

The Maroons put the game out of reach for St. T with a seven-run rally in the bottom of the fifth that started with a Ryan Pine two-run homerun, followed by consecutive doubles from Brady Stauffer, Colton Walker, Manning, and Reynolds. 

The Maroons were led by Walker, who was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Manning went 2-for-4 with three RBIs while Josh Bass was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Stauffer was the Servpro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game, going a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Reynolds also went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Pine was 1-for-3. 

Mitchell Cornwell twirled five innings of scoreless ball for the Maroons, allowing only five hits. He struck out seven and issued five walks. 

The Bulldogs were led by Stephen Kralik, who was 1-for-1. Jax Harrison added a hit, going 1-for-3, while Logan Lynch went 1-for-3. 

With the win, the Maroons finish the regular season at 14-15 while Decatur St. Teresa falls to 15-15. 

Clinton will start regional play on Monday when they travel to Downs to take on Tri-Valley. 
 

Gunnar Larner and Camden Trendler hit home runs, leading Maroa-Forsyth to a 12-1 win over Decatur MacArthur in non-conference high school baseball action from Forsyth on Thursday.

Larner and Trendler both hit home runs in the bottom of the fourth. Larner's home run followed a double by Tate Brandenburg, and then Trendler capped the six-run frame with a two-run shot. 

Brandenburg had a two-run double followed by a Larner RBI double. Later, Grady Rose's RBI single finished off a five-run second inning. 

Issac Hanes earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing just one run on four hits.

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 21-7 overall. They visit Normal U-High this afternoon.

Chance Payne homered and Luke Martin drove in three, leading Mt. Pulaski to a bounce-back 10-0 win over El Paso-Gridley in non-conference high school baseball action on Thursday in El Paso. 

Payne blasted a solo home run in the fifth to put the Hilltoppers up 7-0. 

He started the scoring in the first with an RBI single, bringing home Eric Cooper. Liam Smith added an RBI single, then Martin hit a two-run triple.

Chase Roberts drove two with a double, pushing the score to 9-0 later in the fifth after the Payne home run.

The Hilltoppers lost on Wednesday in a shutout to Havana.

Payne finished 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs for Mt. Pulaski. 

Cooper was outstanding, pitching all five innings and allowing only three hits while striking out four and walking none to earn the shutout victory for the Hilltoppers.

Mt. Pulaski is 19-5 overall. They host 23-5 Warrensburg-Latham this afternoon.

Lincoln pounded out 11 hits - including a pair of home runs - rolling Auburn 15-5 in non-conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Lincoln.

Drew Hayes blasted a two-run home run to left field, spotting the Railsplitters an early 2-0 lead.

Auburn got two back in the third inning, but Ashton Corley launched a solo home run to right field, putting Lincoln back in the lead at 3-2.

An eight-run fourth inning put the game out of reach for the Railers. Parker Graue singled home Ashton Corley. The bases then went loaded with a walk to Jadyn Gulley, and Karson Komnick followed with another walk, forcing in a run. Corley then singled, driving in Owen Comstock and Griffin Shaw. Austin Lucas capped off the offensive explosion with a double that scored both Corley and Komnick, pushing the score to 13-4.

Corley went 3-for-3 with three RBIs - including a home run. Austin Lucas finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a double. Hayes drove in four runs, going 2-for-5, including a home run and a double. Graue went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Komnick earned the win for the Railsplitters, pitching six innings and allowing five runs on ten hits while striking out four.

Lincoln improved to 12-15 overall. They host Peoria Richwoods this afternoon.

Colton Vance's home run was all the offense Monticello could muster, and Champaign Central downed the Sages 5-1 in non-conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Monticello.

Carter Foran, Eli Craft, and Grant Kiger each added one hit for the Sages.

Monticello falls to 25-6 overall. They will take on Mt. Pulaski on Monday in a final tune-up game before Regional action begins next week.

Illinois (28-22, 13-15) opened its series at Ohio State (12-36, 4-24) with 4-3 victory Thursday at Bill Davis Stadium.

Tyler Schmitt improved to 5-2 on the season by tossing his fourth quality start of the campaign. The junior went seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits to go along with five strikeouts. Zach Bates earned his eighth save of the year by stranding one of two inherited runners in the ninth.

Illinois took its first lead of the ballgame in the eighth when Nick Groves singled home Grant Ross, who led off the inning by being hit by a pitch.

With two outs in the ninth, two Buckeye outfielders collided on fly ball hit by Kyle Schupmann to left center, and he raced around the bases to give the Illini an important insurance run.

Jack Zebig (1-for-3) and Groves (2-for-5) tallied an RBI in the ballgame and Schupmann's little league home run in the ninth would prove to be the game winner.

Illinois pitchers limited Ohio State to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.

The series resumes today in Columbus.

Daniel Pacella and Judah Morris each blasted a pair of home runs to lead Illinois State to an 11-4 win over Indiana State on Thursday in Terre Haute. 

Illinois State went back-to-back in the first - Pacella went deep for a two-run home run, then a solo home run from Judah Morris put the Redbirds in front 3-0.

After the Sycamores cut the lead to 3-2, ISU scored the game's next seven runs to make it 10-2. Of the seven runs for the Redbirds, five came via home runs by Pacella - a 2nd inning two-run blast and Luke Stulga's third inning two-run homer, then Morris' fifth of the season was a solo shot. 

Illinois State will continue the series against Indiana State with a 5:30 PM CT first pitch on Friday night at Bob Warn Field.

Clinton High School hosted a singing day for the seven students who are committed to playing sports at the collegiate level. 

Some are staying local, like Talon Thrasher, who signed with Milikin University for track and field, and others are going farther, like Anthony Westbrooks, who signed with St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, for track and football. 

The students are excited to get on campus and begin the next chapter of their lives. Kristian Hibbard is signing with Quincy University for wrestling, and he is looking forward to the outdoor activities around town. Meanwhile, Lydia Cahill, who is signing with Greenville for track and field, is excited for the English program and bookstore. 

Among the other athletes signing to colleges are Colin Jameson signing with Governors State, Dalton Bell signing to Eureka, and Adyson Beebe signing to Monmouth College. Congratulations to all the Clinton High School Athletes who are moving on to the next level. 

Argenta-Oreana scored five runs in the first and second innings and rolled to a 10-0, three-inning run-rule win over Blue Ridge on Wednesday in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school baseball from Argenta. 

The five-run first was highlighted by Mason Markham singling home MJ Hall and advancing Kharsen West to third. Ashton Sample then hit a double, bringing in West and Markham. Later in the frame, Austen Maxey stole home.

Markham went 2-for-2 with 2 RBIs and a double, while Sample had a double and two RBIs.

Argenta-Oreana goes to 13-10 overall and 8-3 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. They will visit Decatur St. Teresa this afternoon.

Mt. Pulaski struggled offensively in a 6-0 loss to Havana on Wednesday in Tomahawk Conference high school baseball action from Mt. Pulaski. 

Liam Smith and Luke Martin recorded the only hits of the day for the Hilltoppers. 

Mt. Pulaski drops to 18-5 overall and 3-1 in the Tomahawk. They travel to El Paso-Gridley this afternoon.

Charlie Severino hit a walk-off grand slam sending Pleasant Plains past Lincoln 8-4 in an eight-inning in non-conference high school baseball thriller from Plains on Wednesday. 

Lincoln rallied to a lead twice. 

Trailing 2-0 in the second, Karson Komnick doubled in Griffin Shaw to bring Lincoln within 2-1.

In the third, Drew Hayes singled home Ashton Corley to tie the game at 2-2. Then Shaw followed with a single to score Hayes to put Lincoln ahead 3-2. 

The Cardinals tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth before Lincoln went back in front in the seventh.

Plains would tie the score in the bottom half before the walk-off grand slam by Severino in the extra frame.

Shaw led the Railsplitters, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Corley was 2-for-3 with a double. Hayes finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double while Komnick was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double.

Lincoln falls to 11-15 overall. They will host Auburn this afternoon.

Peoria Richwoods completed the two-game season sweep of Normal West in a 5-1 Big 12 Conference win on Wednesday in Peoria. 

The Wildcats struggled to generate offense, managing only three hits in the game. 

Cooper Temples doubled in Nolan Schultz for the lone Wildcats' run in the fifth inning.

Temples was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Schultz went 1-for-3 while Chase Knuth was 1-for-2.

Normal West drops to 19-11 overall and 13-5 in the Big 12 Conference. They host Chatham-Glenwood on Saturday.

Argenta-Oreana pulled away from Arcola 13-2 in an Lincoln Prairie Conference high school softball win on Wednesday in Argenta.

Elyssa Armstrong pitched a complete game in circle for the Lady Bombers, allowing only three hits and two runs while striking out 11.

Kharma Giles hit a fifth-inning home run for Argenta-Oreana. 

Emmy Reynolds went 3-for-4 while Armstrong drove in four runs for the Lady Bombers. Angelina Madrigal and Pyper Jones hit doubles in the win. 

The Lady Bombers ran the table in the Lincoln Prairie to finish 10-0 in league play and improved to 15-11 overall. They will host Riverton this afternoon.

Eureka rolled to an easy 14-2, ten-run rule win over Clinton on Wednesday in non-conference high school softball action from Clinton.

The Lady Maroons scored in the bottom of the first inning when Hadley Humble singled to left, scoring Anelise Thompson.

Clinton added another run in the bottom of the second inning when Anelise Thompson flew out to center field, allowing Adrianna Casarez to score.

Humble was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Anelise Thompson finished 1-for-3 for the Lady Maroons. 

Clinton drops to 5-16 overall. Wednesday was the regular season finale for the Lady Maroons. They will take on Maroa-Forsyth in Regional quarterfinal action on Monday in Forsyth. Hear the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms.

A four-run second inning helped Heyworth rally past Decatur St. Teresa 7-4 in the regular season finale of non-conference high school softball action on Wednesday in Heyworth. 

After St. T went 2-0 in the first, Heyworth responded in the bottom of the second with four runs driven in by a hit-by-pitch and two walks with the bases loaded, followed by a sacrifice fly. 

The Lady Hornets added another run in the sixth inning. 

Gabby Dow was 0-for-2 with two RBIs on walks, Sidney Ditchen finished 2-for-4 and Haley Rogers had an RBI.

The Lady Hornets finish the regular season 10-16 overall. It's off to Regional action next week.

Mattoon scored four runs in the first inning and it proved to the difference as they held off a late Monticello rally in a 4-3 win in non-conference high school softball action on Wednesday in Mattoon.

TrailiI=Ng 4-0 in the top of the sixth, Sadie Walsh and Cassidee Stoffel led off the inning with singles. Two batters later, Isabella Beery doubled in Walsh for the Sages' first run.  Ali Weidner followed with a single that scored both Beery and Lawhead -running for Stoffel - pulling Monticello within one run at 4-3.

Beery was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Weidner finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Stoffel pitched a complete game for Monticello, allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out nine.

The Lady Sages drop to 23-6 overall. They host Arthur-Okaw Christian on Friday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

In a game heard on WHOW, 95.9 FM WEZC, and all their digital platforms, the Monticello Sages rolled the Clinton Maroons by a final score of 12-1 in run-rule non-conference high school baseball action from Clinton. 

The Sages started hot, scoring three runs in the top of the first courtesy of Dawson Gaitros, Carter Foran, and Eli Craft. The Maroons responded in the bottom half of the inning when Ryan Pine hit an RBI double that scored Colton Walker. 
It was all Monticello from there, as seven of nine Sages batters came across the plate during the outing. 

The Sages were led by Foran, who was one of two Servpro of Piatt/DeWitt County Players of the Game. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored three runs. Grant Kiger went 1-for-1 with two runs scored. Craft, Colton Vance, and Eric Arnold all went 1-for-3 while Gaitros went 1-for-4 with a run scored. 

The Maroons were led by Colton Walker, who was also the Servpro of Piatt/Dewitt Counties Player of the Game, going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Cole Fentress went 1-for-2 while Carter Bostic was 1-for-1. 

On the mound for Monticello was Carter Foran. He allowed one run on three hits, struck out six, and walked two.

With the win, Monticello improves to 24-5 while Clinton falls to 13-15. 

The Sages' next outing will be today when they play host to Champaign Central. 

Clinton will host Decatur St. Teresa on Friday. Hear the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms, first pitch is at 4:30 PM. 

A five-run outburst in the third inning propelled Lincoln over Decatur MacArthur 10-0 in a five-inning, run-rule win in non-conference high school baseball action Tuesday from Decatur.

Ashton Corley and Austin Lucas hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Drew Hayes reached on an error, scoring Corley.

With two on and one out, Jayden Gulley tripled in two to make it 4-0 Railsplitters. Griffin Shaw reached on an error, scoring Gulley, and a misplayed fly ball in right field scored Shaw to make it 6-0 Lincoln.

Graue struck out seven across 4 2/3 innings of three-hit ball. Gulley led Lincoln going 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs, while Lucas finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Corley went 2-for-3 for the Railers, and Owen Cornstock had the other Lincoln hit and RBI. 

The Railsplitters go to 11-14 overall. They travel to 25-5 Pleasant Plains on Wednesday.

Warrensburg-Latham scored ten runs in the third inning to put away Argenta-Oreana 15-0 in a run-rule, 3 1/2 inning win on Wednesday in Warrensburg.

Brody Brown singled in two after back-to-back walks, a base hit, and a bases-loaded walk started the inning.  Nathan Southern followed with a bases-clearing double to put the Cardinals up 11-0.

Nick Shelsta added an RBI single, and later in the frame, Peyton Garver doubled in a run. 

Southern paced Warrensburg-Latham, going 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Gotman and Kristopher Lawson were both 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Garver was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs batted in. Brown finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

For the Bombers, only Bryson Cameron, MJ Hall, and Kharsen West recorded hits.

Garver got the win for the Cardinals, going four shutout innings on three hits with three strikeouts. 

Warrensburg-Latham is 22-5 overall. They visit Williamsville today. 

Argenta-Oreana drops to 12-10 overall. They host Blue Ridge this afternoon.

Sullivan gradually pulled away and eventually put away Blue Ridge 13-0 in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school softball action on Tuesday in Farmer City.

Lilli Enger paced the Lady Knights going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Addison Roos was 2-for-3. Karlee Fenton with a run batted in for Blue Ridge. 

The Lady Knights drop to 11-11 overall and 5-5 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. They conclude the regular season on Friday at Hart-Em.

Josh Outlaw hit a walk-off double in the 11th inning and Illinois State took down Eastern Illinois 6-5 on Tuesday at Duffy Bass Field.

The Panthers rallied to tie the score in the 9th with four runs off five hits.

The Redbirds jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Leading 1-0 in the second, a two-run home run from Brayden Bakes and a sac fly from Noah Smith moved it to 4-0. An RBI single by Smith added to the lead in the fifth. 

Illinois State (25-25 overall) was led by senior Noah Smith and freshman Brayden Bakes, both of which totaled multiple RBIs.

Smith had a hit and two RBIs while Bakes recorded a home run and a single.

Eastern Illinois drops to 26-20 overall.

The Redbirds head on the road for their final MVC series of 2025 at Indiana State from May 15-17.

Miguel Vargas hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 Tuesday night in a game delayed nearly two hours at the start because of rain.

Cincinnati's Elly De La Cruz hit a 435-foot solo homer, his seventh, to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth.

Chase Meidroth gave the White Sox the lead again with his RBI single.

Vargas connected on the next pitch from Emilio Pagán (0-2) for his third homer.

Chicago got its other run after a scary play in the fourth. Vargas hit a shallow flyball to center for a double after shortstop De La Cruz slid into center fielder TJ Friedl, who tumbled to the ground. 

Ed Quero followed with an RBI single. 

Chicago's Jonathan Cannon threw six scoreless innings, giving up four hits and no walks while striking out six. 

Steve Wilson (1-0) worked the ninth.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott went six innings, giving up one run on four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts.

De La Cruz played in his 300th game and has 116 steals and 118 extra-base hits, becoming the first major leaguer since 1900 to play 300 games with at least 115 in each category.

Connor Joe doubled in the eighth but was thrown out by Quero trying to steal third when Joe’s hand came off the bag and Vargas made the tag.

The Reds were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Davis Martin (1-4, 4.01 ERA) pitches for the White Sox on Wednesday against the Reds' Nick Lodolo (3-3, 3.23).

Nico Hoerner had an RBI single and Justin Turner followed with a two-run double, all in the ninth inning, as the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Miami Marlins 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Kyle Stowers hit a solo homer in the second and Connor Norby went deep in the seventh for the Marlins. Javier Sanoja knocked in a run with a ground out and Jesus Sanchez added an RBI single for Miami, which carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Chicago's comeback started when Hoerner hit a line drive to center that cut the deficit to one run. Two pitches later, pinch-hitter Turner doubled into the left field corner, scoring Vidal Bruján and Hoerner.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Carson Kelly each had two hits for Chicago. Crow-Armstrong hit his 11th homer in the third inning.

Chris Flexen (1-0) allowed one hit over the final two innings and earned his first victory.

Miami’s Jesus Tinoco (2-1) blew the save opportunity, allowing two hits, three runs - two earned - and a walk while recording just one out in the ninth.

Turner's line-drive two-RBI double into left field for the walk-off win.

The Cubs struggled with runners in scoring position before taking advantage in the ninth inning. Chicago was 0 for 4 in the first eight innings, but 2 for 2 with runners on second or third in the ninth.

The Marlins will send LHP Ryan Weather (0-0) against Chicago RHP Jameson Taillon (2-2, 4.53) in the series final on Wednesday night.

The second game of a three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed on Tuesday because of inclement weather.

The game will be made up as part of a split day/night doubleheader on Wednesday.

Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde will face Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola in the first game of the doubleheader. Neither team has announced a starter for the second game.

St. Louis right-hander Sonny Gray was scheduled to face Philadelphia left-hander Jesus Luzardo on Tuesday before the postponement.

The Cardinals have won nine straight games after Monday night's 3-2 win over the Phillies.

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Maroons struck first, but the Maroa-Forsyth Trojans answered and ran away with an 11-3 win in non-conference high school baseball action Tuesday night from Forsyth. 

In the top of the first, leadoff hitter Colton Walker reached on an error and was eventually scored by a base hit from catcher Josh Bass to take the lead 1-0. 

The Maroons would hold the lead until the bottom of the third inning when the Trojans put five runs up, highlighted by a double from Ace Giles that drove in two. In the bottom of the fourth, Maroa-Forsyth added four more runs to Clinton’s one in the top of the inning, to make the score 9-2. 

The Maroons would go on to add one more in the top of the sixth, but the Trojans answered with two to take the 11-3 win. 

The Maroons were led by Ryan Pine, who was the Sevpro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. He went 2-for-3 on the day with an RBI. Colton Walker went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and he also pitched an inning and a third of relief, striking out two. Josh Bass added two runs and an RBI with his 1-for-2 outing. Mitchell Cornwell and Jaxon Reynolds also contributed hits. 

The Trojans were led by Mitch Williams, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Ace Giles was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Gunnar Larner and Grady Rose both went 1-for-3 with two runs apiece. 

On the mound for Maroa-Forsyth was Cayden Rose, who pitched 6 and ? innings, allowing three runs on seven hits. He struck out 10 and issued only three walks. 
With the loss, Clinton falls to 13-14 while Maroa Forsyth improves to 21-7. 

Tune into WHOW and 95.9 WEZC on Wednesday afternoon as the Clinton Maroons play host to the Monticello Sages, first pitch is at 4:30 PM. 

Clinton beat the weather and El Paso-Gridley 5-4 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Clinton

With the weather bearing down on Clinton, the game was shortened after five innings, and the Maroons were in the lead.

The Titans took an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the third.

Clinton responded in the bottom of the inning when Ryan Pine singled, driving in Jaxon Reynolds, making the score 3-1. Clinton added another run in the bottom of the 4th when Jack Manning's single scored a run and closed the gap to 3-2. 

Reynolds went 1-for-2 with a double while Pine was 1-for-3, driving in one. Jack Manning was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Colton Walker also scored a run in his 1-for-2 outing.

Manning earned the win on the mound for the Maroons, pitching five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Clinton is 15-15 overall. They will travel to Forsyth to take on Maroa-Forsyth on Tuesday. 

A three-run fourth inning propelled Normal Community over rival Bloomington 4-2 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action on Monday at Normal Community High School.

The rally began with Brady Burkhart hitting a double on a line drive to right field. Then, Luke Beaty hit a hard ground ball and reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Andrew Naour and tying the game at 2-2. 

The go-ahead and eventual winning runs scored when Kyle Beaty singled on a pop fly to right field. An error by the right fielder on the play allowed both Luke Beaty and Burkhart to score, giving the Ironmen a 4-2 lead. 

Gavin Swartz pitched a strong six innings for the Normal Community, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out eight. Luke Beaty pitched a scoreless final inning to secure the victory.

Kyle Beaty was 1-for-3 with an RBI while Burkhart was 1-for-3 with a double to lead the Ironmen.

With the loss, Bloomington drops to 18-11 overall and 11-6 in the Big 12 Conference. 

Normal Community is 27-4 overall and 16-1 in the Big 12 Conference. The two will play again on Wednesday at Bloomington High School. 

Monticello did not get a chance to try for a comeback in a 3-0 loss to Effingham St. Anthony in a rain-shortened, non-conference high school baseball game in Monticello on Monday.

The game, originally slated to be played in Effingham, was moved to Monticello due to wet field conditions in Effingham. A brief, but strong rainstorm forced the game to be called off after four innings.

Ike Young allowed three runs - one was earned - across four innings for the Sages. The Illinois-commit struck out one and walked two, permitting five hits. 

Eli Craft, Colton Vance, and Cole Basak had hits for Monticello. 

The Sages are 24-5 overall. They will visit Clinton on Wednesday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Chance Payn and Luke Martin drove in three runs apiece, leading Mt. Pulaski past Buffalo Tri-City in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Buffalo. 

Martin led the Hilltoppers' attack, going 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and three RBIs, while Payne finished 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and three RBIs.

Liam Smith went 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

Chase Roberts pitched four strong innings, allowing four hits and no runs while striking out seven and walking one to earn the win.

Mt. Pulaski goes to 18-4 overall. They will host Havana on Wednesday. 

Argenta-Oreana answered a grand slam by Okaw Valley, but the Timberwolves answered the Bombers' four runs with another four-run frame for an 8-4 win in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school baseball action on Monday in Bethany.

Daulton Vanausdoll hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning.

The Bombers were able to get all four back in its half of the third but the Timberwolves responded with another four, and blanked the Bombers the rest of the way. 

MJ Hall was touched up for eight runs, four were earned, over three innings for Argenta-Oreana. He was also 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Landon Jackson, Kharsen West, and Lucas Camfield drove in runs for the Bombers in their four-run third. 

Carter Logue was 2-for-3 with a triple for Argenta-Oreana. 

The Bombers are 12-9 overall and 7-2 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. They visit Warrensburg-Latham on Tuesday.

Normal West mustered just one hit in a 5-0 shutout at the hands of Peoria Richwoods on Monday in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action in Normal. 

Torin DeLaere recorded the lone hit for the Wildcats.

Normal West drops to 19-10 overall and 13-4 in the Big 12. They will try to avenge Monday's loss on Wednesday at Richwoods. 

Isabella Beery raced around the bases on a single that featured two errors and propelled Monticello over Olympia 5-2 in non-conference high school softball from Stanford on Monday.

Cassidee Stoffel singled to start the sixth inning with the score tied at 2-2. 

Beery singled to right field. Dacey Kooi, running for Stoffel, took third on an error, allowing Beery to take second base. Another error allowed both Kooi and Beery to score and put the Lady Sages ahead 4-2. 

Beery added an insurance run for Monticello with an RBI single in the top of the seventh. She finished 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Stoffel was 2-for-4 with an RBI while Ashley Stiverson and Lucy Leatherwood each drove in a run. The Key was 1-for-4 with a double.

The Lady Sages go to 23-5 overall. They visit Mahomet-Seymour on Tuesday. 

Fisher took down Blue Ridge 8-4 in non-conference high school softball action from Fisher on Monday.

Presley Hardesty hit a solo home run in the third for the Lady Knights, getting them on the board. But Blue Ridge struggled to string together hits, managing only five in the game. 

Hardesty was 1-for-3 with a home run while Macy Laidley went 2-for-2.

Ellie Schleiper pitched for Blue Ridge, going six innings, allowing eight runs - six earned - on four hits, striking out six and walking six.

With the loss, Blue Ridge drops to 11-10 overall. They will host Sullivan on Tuesday.

Mahomet-Seymour took down Heyworth 8-3 in non-conference high school softball action on Monday from Heyworth. 

After falling behind 2-0, Grace Streenz doubled on a line drive to right field, driving in Natalie Kopp and Paylin Williams, tying the score at 2-2. 

Mahomet-Seymour responded with more runs to retake the lead and secure the win.

Kopp led the Lady Hornets, going 2-for-3, while Streenz had a double and two RBIs. Haley Rogers also contributed with a hit and scored a run.

Kopp pitched a complete game for Heyworth and took the loss.

The Lady Hornets drop to 9-16 overall. They host Decatur St. Teresa on Wednesday.

Issac Haynes walked with the bases loaded to bring in the winning run, capping a Maroa-Forsyth rally over Prairie Central 7-6 in non-conference high school baseball action on Saturday in Forsyth.

Prairie Central jumped out to an early lead, scoring one run in the first and four more in the second to take a 5-0 advantage. The Trojans began to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs, and added another two in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 5-4 in favor of Prairie Central. The Hawks added another run in the top of the fifth, extending their lead to 6-4.

Trailing 6-4 going to the bottom of the seventh, Tate Brandenburg reached on an error, followed by a single from Gunnar Larner.

Grady Rose then walked to load the bases. Camden Trendler drew another walk, forcing in Brandenburg to tie the game at 6-6. 

Hanes drew a walk, forcing in the winning run. 

Hanes earned the win, pitching two scoreless innings of relief.

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 19-7 overall. They begin the final week of the regular season with a match at Arthur-Okaw Christian on Monday. 

Normal Community swept a Saturday doubleheader from United Township 10-3 and 8-2 in non-conference high school baseball action from East Moline. 

The Ironmen jumped out early with four runs before the Panthers responded with a run, making it 4-1. Normal Community scored six of the final eight runs to win the opener.

Drew Stevens was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Kyle Beaty was 2-for-3 while Carter Harris was 1-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Normal Community. Luke Beaty was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and Brady Burkhart finished 3-for-4. 

Jacob Engel led a trio of Ironmen arms, firing three scoreless innings.

In the second, Normal Community rolled to an 8-2 victory. 

Holden Baldwin was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gavin Van Kanegan finished 3-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. 

Caleb Hendren was 1-for-3 while Gavin Borne went 3-for-5 with an RBI. 

Andrew Naour struck out seven in three scoreless innings, while Luke Klunke earned the win, striking out six.

With its wins Saturday, Normal Community improves to 26-4 overall. They host Bloomington in Big 12 Conference play on Monday. 

Washington used solid pitching to roll Bloomington in a doubleheader Saturday, 11-1 and 8-2 in non-conference high school baseball action from Washington. 

Leading 1-0 going into the last of the third, Camden Prina led off with a double. After Prina advanced on a groundout, Anson Zaiser was hit by a pitch. A subsequent pop fly by Sam Peters was misplayed, allowing courtesy runner Andrew Strickler - running for Zaiser - and Prina to both score to put the Panthers up 6-0 after three.

Prina went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Eli Roedell added a triple and two RBIs, going 1-for-2. Gavin Lawrence chipped in with a double and an RBI while finishing 1-for-3. 

Thomas Diederich earned the win on the mound for Washington, going five innings and allowing just one run on four hits with six strikeouts.

In the second game, Prina again led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Tyler Humphrey also finished 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Cash Wisher drove in three runs, going 2-for-3.

Zane Skulte earned the win, pitching four innings and allowing one hit and one unearned run while striking out four.

After two losses Saturday, Bloomington falls to 18-10 overall. They will visit Normal Community on Monday. 

Clinton scored early and often in taking care of Shelbyville 13-7 in Central Illinois Conference high school softball action on Saturday from Shelbyville.

The Lady Maroons' scoring began with two outs in the second inning. Ariana Humes laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Adrianna Casarez to score. Adrianna Casarez hit a ground ball and reached on an error, allowing Chelsea Brown to score. Lainey Nichols then singled, bringing Brown across the plate before Aliviyah Haynes singled, scoring Olivia Webb, capping off the four-run, two-out rally for a 4-0 Clinton lead.

Clinton added two more runs in the third when with the bases loaded, Riley Fentress drew a walk, scoring Webb before Nichols hit a double, scoring Webb and Brown to make it 7-2 Lady Maroons. 

In the fourth inning, Clinton added three more runs, highlighted by Haynes' run-scoring double, bringing in Fentress for a 10-2 lead. 

In the sixth inning, run scoring singles from Hadley Humble singled Casarez extended its lead and in the seventh inning, Clinton added two runs when Humble doubled, scoring Avery Smith followed by another Haynes' run-scoring single. 

Humble paced the Lady Maroons, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Nichols was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs while Haynes finished 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Casarez was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Smith was 2-for-5 and Fentress went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

On circle, Haynes pitched a complete game for Clinton, earning the win. She went seven innings, allowing 10 hits and two earned runs while striking out six and walking just one.

The Lady Maroons improve to 6-15 overall and 2-6 in the Central Illinois Conference.

Maroa-Forsyth built a 6-0 lead, but Tri-Valley chipped away and rallied to a walk-off 7-6 win in non-conference high school softball action from Downs on Saturday.

In the first inning, Aubrey Stewart scored Maggie Ravenscraft, then Danni Hovey brought in both Stewart and Taylor Crouch to put the Lady Trojans up 3-0.

In the third inning, with two outs, Lainey Larner had an RBI sac fly, scoring Aubrey Berg - running for Hovey. Blake Osborn reached on an error to bring in a run-scoring Stewart to put Maroa-Forsyth up 6-0.

It was all Lady Vikings after that. Tri-Valley walked it off, trailing 6-5, with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. 

Ravenscraft was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for the Lady Trojans.

Maroa-Forsyth falls to 11-10 overall. They will host Taylorville on Tuesday. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Maroons went back and forth with the Lincoln Railsplitters but ultimately lost, falling 13-8 after seven innings of non-conference high school baseball action Friday night in Clinton. 

The Maroons started hot with Colton Walker and Jack Manning scoring in the bottom of the first to make it 2-0, but Lincoln answered with two runs in the top of the second to tie the game. 

Tied at four heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Maroons scored three to take the lead 7-4, but the Railers' offense opened up with six runs to the Maroons' one in the sixth to make the score 10-8. 

In the top of the seventh, Lincoln added three more insurance runs to seal the victory. The Maroons were led by Jack Manning, who went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Josh Bass had a solo homerun, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Colton Walker, Cole Fentress, Ryan Pine, Jaeden Bell, and Brady Stauffer all recorded hits for the Maroons. 

Jaxon Reynolds was the Servpro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties player of the game. He went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an impressive 4 RBIs. 

The Railsplitters were led by Ashton Corely, who homered twice, one of which was a grand slam, and put up 6 RBIs going 2-for-4. Parker Graue was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. 
With the loss, the Maroons fall to 12-13 while Lincoln improves to 11-14. 

The Maroons will play host to El Paso-Gridley on Monday while Lincoln travels to Rantoul. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Heyden Romano fired a complete game, one-hit shutout, leading Monticello to a 5-0 win over Olympia in non-conference high school baseball action from Monticello on Friday.

Romano's only blemish was a second-inning single to Owen Alford. The junior sat down 21 of the 22 batters he faced with 12 strikeouts. His stellar outing earned him the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. 

Eli Craft singled in a run in the first to make it 1-0, Monticello.

Brody Biledo scored on a passed ball in the second inning. 

Eric Arnold had a run-scoring single in the third.

The Sages tacked on two more in the sixth in an RBI groundout by Zeke Young and another passed ball scored Biledo again for the 5-0 lead.

Arnold paced the Sages' offense, going 2-for-3. Dawson Gaitros, Carter Foran, Colton Vance, and Biledo had hits for Monticello.

The Sages go to 24-4 overall. They travel to Effingham on Monday to take on St. Anthony.

Mitch Williams fired a complete game, four-hit shutout, leading Maroa-Forsyth over LeRoy 4-0 in non-conference high school baseball action on Friday in Forsyth.

Williams struck out ten and walked two. The senior was 3-for-4 with two RBIs at the plate. 

Ian Haynes doubled in Cayden Rose in the second inning. Williams followed that a base hit that scored Haynes to put the Trojans up 2-0.

It was all the offense the Trojans would need. 

Cayden Rose's sac-fly in the third scored Grady Rose to make it 3-0 Maroa-Forsyth.

The Trojans put the game out of reach with a three-run sixth. Another Williams base hit scored Cayden Rose. A pair of wild pitches allowed Colby Parrott and Williams to score to make it 6-0. 

Tate Brandenberg was 1-for-4 with a double. Haynes was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 18-7 overall. They host Prairie Central on Saturday. 

Mt. Pulaski blanked Pawnee 10-0 in non-conference high school baseball action Mt. Pulaski on Friday.

A five-run second inning broke open a 1-0 game for the Hilltoppers. Chance Payne and Luke Martin hit back-to-back run-scoring singles. Aaron Volle scored Payne with a double, and Carter Clark added a run-scoring single. Tyler Cross brought in a run on a ground out to end the scoring in the frame. 

Martin added a two-run single in the third inning, and an error two batters later brought in a run to make it 8-0 Mt. Pulaski. 

Clark brought in the game-ending run with a base hit that scored Payne to give the Hilltoppers the run-rule win. 

Martin was 2-for-3 with three RBIs to lead Mt. Pulaski. Cooper was 3-for-4. Clark finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Volle was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Cooper went six innings of one-hit ball for Mt. Pulaski. He struck out two. 

The Hilltoppers are 17-4 overall. Mt. Pulaski travels to Buffalo to take on Tri-City on Monday.

Normal Community downed Peoria High School twice with run-rule wins on Friday in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action in Peoria.

The Ironmen made quick work of the Lions in the first game, 17-0 in three innings. 

Chase Hendren finished 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs to lead Normal Community. Gavin Van Kanegan was 1-for-2 with three RBIs. Jacob Engel was 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs while Ethan VanOpdorp and Becket Weber doubled and drove in a run each.

Brody Reeves got the win with three innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts.

In the second game, the Ironmen needed five innings to run-rule Peoria 11-1. 

Landyn Corbin led the Normal Community offense, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Chase Hendren was 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Holden Baldwin drove in two, finishing 2-for-2. Jackson Roper and Weber recorded doubles for the Ironmen

Van Kanegan struck out eight in three scoreless innings. Tyler Swanson fired two innings of one-hit, scoreless relief with two strikeouts for Normal Community.

The Ironmen improve to 25-4 overall and 15-1 in the Big 12 Conference. They travel to East Moline United on Saturday. 

Normal West scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and rallied past Peoria Notre Dame 4-3 in Big 12 high school baseball action on Friday in Normal. 

Cooper Temples and Brady Hart hit back-to-back one-out singles. After Chase Knuth struck out, the Wildcats went to work. 

A balk scored Temples. After Drew Hart walked, Ryder Coone hit a two-run single to give Normal West its first lead of the game, 4-3. 

Chase Reinhart went the distance, allowing three runs, one was earned, on seven hits with 11 strikeouts and a walk. 

Knuth hit a game-tying home run in the fourth inning. He went 1-for-3. No Wildcats hitter had multiple hits. Coone was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Temples, Hart, and Gage Flairty had hits for Normal West.

The Wildcats improve to 19-9 overall and 13-3 in the Big 12. They host Peoria Richwoods on Monday. 

A three-run fifth inning was the difference as Monticello doubled up Rantoul 6-3 in Illini Prairie Conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Rantoul.

In the decisive fifth, Eli Craft doubled, scoring Matthais Rudolph, and later in the inning, an error allowed Eric Arnold to reach base and score, also bringing in courtesy runner Zeke Young. 

The Sages got on the board in the top of the first when Arnold singled, scoring Dawson Gaitros. 

In the third, after a leadoff single by Gaitros, Craft hit a sacrifice fly to score Gaitros, and Ike Young followed with a single to bring in courtesy runner Matthais Rudolph, making it 3-0 Monticello

Ike Young led the Sages going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Carter Foran was 2-for-3. Gaitros had two hits and scored two runs. Arnold was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Craft was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Brody Billedo, Heyden Romano, and Grant Kiger each added hits.

On the mound for Monticello, Carter Foran earned the win, pitching six innings and allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Rudolph pitched one scoreless inning in relief, allowing no hits and striking out two while walking one.

The Sages improve to 23-4 overall and are 7-2 in the Illini Prairie Conference. They host Olympia on Friday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Ashton Corley's solo home run in the sixth inning proved to be the game winner as Lincoln rallied past Peoria Notre Dame 8-6 in non-conference high school baseball action from Lincoln on Thursday. 

Corley launched a solo home run to left field, making it 8-6 Railsplitters. 

Drew Hayes connected for a solo home run to left field, giving the Railers an early 1-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, Austin Lucas singled to right field. Then, Drew Hayes doubled to left, advancing Lucas. Parker Graue then singled, scoring Lucas. 

Jadyn Gulley then hit a three-run home run to left field pushing the Lincoln lead to 5-2.

The Railers improve to 9-14 overall. They visit Clinton on Friday. Hear the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms. 

Monticello scored ten runs in the first inning and rolled Rantoul 14- 1 in Illini Prairie Conference high school softball action on Thursday in Rantoul. 

Sadie Walsh started the game reaching on an error, immediately followed by Thea Key's two-run home run. 

Ashley Stiverson and Avery Schweitzer drove in runs while Walsh added a single that brought in two more. Key added another single, plating two additional and a fielder's choice and a single capped off the frame, giving Monticello a commanding 10-0 lead.

Key finished 2-for-3 with the homerun and four RBIs. Walsh was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Schweitzer was also 2-for-3 two RBIs while Isabella Beery went 2-for-2 with an RBI single. Madison Highland chipped in with a 1-for-1 performance, scoring a run. 

Ali Weidner went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Ashley Stiverson earned an RBI via a walk while Cassidee Stoffel contributed an RBI with a groundout.

Stoffel earned the victory in circle twirling five innings and allowing just one run on four hits, striking out four.

The Lady Sages improve to 22-5 overall and 8-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference. The win secures Monticello a co-share of the Conference championship - its first since 2014. They travel to Olympia on Monday. 

Normal West made quick, easy work of Danville in a 16-0 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action Thursday in Danville.

Torin DeLaere led the Wildcats going 3-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored. Drew Hart drove in two while Sam McCully went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Gage Flairty scored three runs, and Cooper Temples scored twice. 

On the mound, Sam McCully fired three hitless innings and struck out six. Reagan Williams followed with two scoreless innings, striking out three.

Normal West improves to 18-9 overall and 12-3 in the Big 12. They host Peoria Notre Dame on Friday. The Wildcats beat PND 13-5 on Wednesday. 

Argenta-Oreana scored nine runs in the fourth inning and rolled to a 16-2 win over Villa Grove in 16-2 in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school softball action from Argenta.

Elyssa Armstrong led the Lady Bombers going 2-for-3 with a triple and four RBIs. Emmy Reynolds was 3-for-4 and drove in one run. Sophia Wicklund finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Pyper Jones went 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Kharma Giles also drove in a run. Angelina Madrigal added two hits.

Armstrong earned the win, twirling five innings and allowing just two runs - one was earned - on five hits, while striking out seven.

The Lady Bombers go to 13-11 overall and 9-0 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference.  The visit Arcola on Monday.

Normal West held off Heyworth 9-7 in non-conference high school softball action Thursday from Normal.

In the top of the seventh inning, Heyworth traield 9-5. Haley Rogers walked with the bases loaded scoring Sidney Ditchen, making it 9-6. Then, Emily Rogers grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Ellasyn Loudenburg to score, bringing the Lady Hornets within one run at 9-7. However, the rally ultimately fell short when Lauryn Streenz hit a ground ball and reached on an error, allowing Lauren Toohoill to score, but the inning ended when Rogers was thrown out at third. 

For the Lady Hornets, Natalie Kopp was 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs. Streenz was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Sidney Ditchen was 1-for-3 and scored two runs.

Gabby Dow took the loss for Heyworth, pitching six innings. Paige Warwick earned the win in relief for Normal West

The Lady Hornets drop to 9-14 overall. They host Elmwood-Brimfield on Friday. 

Eli Craft hit a home run leading Monticello over Tuscola 9-3 in non-conference high school baseball action on Wednesday in Tuscola.

Craft's fifth-inning leadoff home run extended the Sages' lead to 5-0. 

Monticello scored four runs in the second when a sacrifice fly by Grant Kiger scored Jake Motsegood. Cole Basak then singled, bringing in Colton Vance. Dawson Gaitros followed with a hard ground ball that resulted in an error by the Tuscola third baseman, allowing Basak and Motsegood to score, making it 4-0. 

Later in the fifth after the Craft home run, Basak singled in Vance to make it 6-0. 

In the top of the seventh, Young singled, scoring Vance, then later scored on a wild pitch to bring the final score to 9-3.

Young led the Sages, going 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI, while Basak was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Vance scored three runs.

On the mound for the Sages, Gatsby Grant earned the win, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Brody Billedo pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing no hits and striking out one.

Monticello improves to 21-4 overall. They travel to Rantoul this afternoon. 

A four-run second inning helped Lincoln get by Heyworth 5-3 in non-conference high school baseball on Wednesday in Lincoln. 

Ashton Corley went 1-for-3 while Drew Hayes was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Parker Graue finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Kyle Koehler was 1-for-2 with an RBI single.

Graue went six innings , allowing three runs - two earned - on ten hits, striking out two and walking one. Austin Lucas closed out the game in the seventh, pitching a scoreless inning, allowing no hits, and recording one strikeout.

The Railsplitters go to 8-14 overall. They visit Peoria Notre Dame on Thursday.

Jonah Roper was brilliant in tossing a complete-game shutout as Normal Community blanked Normal U-High 3-0 in non-conference high school baseball on Wednesday in Normal. 

Roper allowed just a hit and no walks - going the distance - while striking out five.

The Ironmen scored three runs in the third. Max Heineman doubled to right field, allowing Kyle Beaty to score the game's first run. Drew Stevens followed with a single, scoring Gavin Swartz to extend the lead to 2-0. Gavin Michaels, who had a solid day at the plate with two hits, then singled home Max Heineman, making the score 3-0.

Swartz led Normal Community, going 2-for-4.

The Ironmen are 23-4 overall. They visit Peoria High on Friday for a doubleheader.

Normal West downed Peoria Notre Dame 13-5 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action from Normal on Wednesday. 

The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the first when Brady Hart singled in Cooper Temples for an early 1-0 lead. 

Peoria Notre Dame responded with two runs in the top of the second, but Normal West's offense came alive in the bottom half of the inning, scoring eight runs.

The rally began with Chase Knuth doubling to left field, bringing home Temples and Brady Hart. Later in the inning, Drew Hart connected for a double to center field, scoring Brady Hart and Knuth. Coone then singled to center, driving in Drew Hart. 

The Wildcats would add five more runs in the frame.

Normal West added a run in the third and three more in the sixth to secure the 13-5 victory.

Sam McCully led the Wildcats, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Temples was 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Drew Hart finished 1-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Coone went 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Knuth had a double and an RBI, going 1-for-2. Brady Hart chipped in with an RBI single and a run scored.

Normal West is 17-9 overall and 11-3 in the Big 12. They visit Danville on Thursday.

Cassidee Stoffel was brilliant again in circle and led Monticello over Maroa-Forsyth 5-1 in non-conference high school softball action on Wednesday in Forsyth. 

Stoffel went the distance, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out nine while walking only two.

Monticello took an early lead in the third inning when Sadie Walsh hit a double, scoring Lucy Leatherwood and making it 1-0.

The Sages extended their lead in the fifth inning when Cassidee Stoffel hit a double, bringing in both Leatherwood and Thea Key, pushing the score to 5-0.

Walsh led the Lady Sages, going 2-for-4 with the RBI double. Stoffel finished 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Leatherwood was 2-for-3 and scored two runs.

The Lady Trojans drop to 10-9 overall. They visit Warrensburg-Latham on Friday.

Monticello goes to 21-5 overall. They visit Rantoul today.

Blue Ridge held off Arcola 7-5 in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school softball action on Wednesday from Farmer City. 

The Lady Knights jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs. Arcola miscues helped Addison Roos and Karlee Fenton get into scoring position, allowing Lillian Enger to drive in Roos with a single. Fenton later scored on an RBI groundout by Ellie Hayward.

Arcola responded, but Blue Ridge added another run in the bottom of the third. Carsyn Stiger was hit by a pitch, advanced on a groundout, and then scored on an RBI single by Fenton.

The Lady Knights extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two more runs. Presley Hardesty singled and stole second, Macy Woliung singled then Carmen Ellis delivered a clutch two-RBI triple to put Blue Ridge ahead 6-3.

The Lady Knights added their final run in the bottom of the sixth. Fenton led off with a single, advanced on a passed ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hayward.

In circle, Ellie Schleiper went the distance for Blue Ridge, striking out ten batters.

Fenton led the way for the Lady Knights, going 3-for-3 with an RBI. Roos had two hits while junior Ellis had the key two-RBI triple.

Blue Ridge is 11-9 overall and 5-4 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. They are off until Monday when they visit Fisher to begin the final week of the regular season.

Brayden Parker scored the winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning and Clinton rallied thrice to top Central A&M 10-9 in Central Illinois Conference high school baseball action on Tuesday at Clinton High School. 

The Maroons went up 3-0 on a Cole Fentress two-run home run. 

In the bottom of the third, Josh Bass stayed hot with a solo home run.

Trailing 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh, Fentress scored the tying run on a Raiders' error. Then, with Parker on third, he scored the winning run on a wild pitch, securing the thrilling victory.

Jack Manning led Clinton going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Bass was 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Fentress finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, and two RBIs. Ryan Pine contributed a double and two RBIs while Jaxon Reynolds had a double and an RBI. Colton Walker added a double. 

The Maroons even its record at 12-12 overall and  6-4 in the Central Illinois Conference. They host Lincoln on Friday. Hear the action on WHOW and all our digital platforms. 

Maroa-Forsyth blanked Riverton 10-0 in Sangamo Conference high school baseball action on Tuesday in Forsyth.

The Trojans' offense got off to a quick start, plating two runs in the bottom of the first inning and adding three more in the bottom of the second to go up 5-0. 

Leading 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Gunnar Larner hit a double to center field, bringing home Mitch Williams and Tate Brandenburg. Grady Rose followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Ace Giles to score. Cayden Rose later singled to center field, driving in Kaden Blunck to cap off the scoring and end the game with a 10-0 victory.

Cayden Rose was outstanding on the mound for the Trojans, pitching a complete game five-inning shutout. He allowed just three hits and struck out seven.

Larner paced Maroa-Forsyth going 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Rose finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Giles was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Mitch Williams and Brandenburg were each 1-for-4 while Colby Parrott went 1-for-3 with a double.

The Trojans go to 17-6 overall and 7-1 in the Sangamo Conference. They visit Tri-Valley on Wednesday. 

Monticello scored eight runs in the fourth inning rolling to a 14-5 win over Sullivan in non-conference high school softball action on Tuesday in Sullivan. 

Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Monticello's bats came alive. The rally began with a single by Cassidee Stoffel, scoring Sadie Walsh and Lucy Leatherwood. Ali Weidner followed with a double, bringing in Thea Key and Stoffel.

The extra-base hits continued as Avery Schweitzer doubled, scoring Ashley Stiverson and Weidner. Lucy Leatherwood then added another double, driving in Schweitzer. The inning's offensive fireworks concluded with a double from Sadie Walsh, scoring Leatherwood and pushing Monticello's lead to 11-4.

Stoffel led the offensive charge, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs. Walsh added two doubles and two RBIs. Schweitzer and Leatherwood each added a double and two RBIs.

The Lady Sages go to 20-5 overall. They travel to Maroa-Forsyth on Wednesday. 

Kalli Kahler doubled in Danni Hovey in the first, and Maggie Ravenscraft blasted a home run to center field in the second inning. 

Jacy Ravenscroft earned the win for the Lady Trojans, pitching four innings and allowing three runs on five hits while striking out three.

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 10-8 overall and 4-4 in the Sangamo. They host Monticello on Wednesday. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Lady Maroons led 7-6 heading into the top of the 7th, but allowed the Central A&M Lady Raiders to score three and fell 9-7 in Central Illinois Conference high school softball action on Tuesday night in Clinton.

The Maroons were led by Riley Fentress, who was the Servpro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties player of the game. She went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored and was walked once. Anelise Thompson was 1-for-4 with two RBIs while Avery Smith went 1-for-4 with a run scored. 

Aliviyah Haynes spent all seven innings in circle for the Maroons. She allowed nine runs on 10 hits and struck out five. 

Central A&M was led by Sophie Roe, who was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Olivia Kerby was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Holly Paradee went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

With the loss, the Maroons fall to 5-15 and 1-6 in the CIC. 

Central A&M improves to 12-13 and 4-4 in the Central Illinois Conference.

 
The Lady Maroons have a break until Friday when they take on Rantoul, first pitch is at 4:30 PM.

The Clinton Maroons defeated the Decatur MacArthur Generals by a final score of 11-0 in five innings of high school non-conference baseball action Monday in Clinton. The Maroons got out to an early start with two runs in the second inning, then exploded with four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to seal the victory. 

The Maroons were led by Catcher Josh Bass, who went a perfect 3-for-3 and brought in 5 runners and homered twice. Jack Manning went 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, Jaeden Bell and Brady Stauffer also added two runs each. 

Mitchell Cornwell pitched all five innings, allowing only one hit. He struck out five and issued one walk. 

The Generals were led by Sean Abraham, who recorded the only hit for the team, going 1-for-1. 

With the win, the Maroons improve to 11-12 while MacArthur falls to 3-14. 

Warrensburg-Latham Varsity beat Clinton 10- 3 in Central Illinois Conference high school baseball action on Friday in Warrensburg. 

Clinton was led by Colton Walker, who finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jack Manning was 1-for-4, and Cole Fentress was 1-for-3 while Josh Bass went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

The Maroons drop to 10-11 overall. They host Eureka on Saturday. 

Chance Payne drove in six runs, leading Mt. Pulaski to a 10-0 win over Cornerstone Christian Academy in non-conference high school baseball action from Mt. Pulaski on Friday. 

Payne capped a six-run third inning with a three-run double. He was 3-for-4 with a double and six  RBIs. 

Liam Smith was 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, and scored three runs. 

Eric Cooper, Aaron Volle, and Carter Clark combined to shut out Calvary Christian.

The Hilltoppers are 16-3 overall. They host Springfield High on Tuesday. 

Tyler Swanson was steady on the mound, helping Normal Community roll to an 11-0 win over Urbana in Big 12 Conference high school baseball on Friday in Urbana.

In the bottom of the first inning, Andrew Naour delivered a double to left field, scoring Gavin Michaels around to score and giving the Ironmen a 4-0 lead.

The Ironmen then broke the game open in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a Gavin Borne double to left field, scoring Michaels and Brady Burkhart to make it 10-0.

Swanson pitched effectively for the Ironmen, allowing just three hits over five innings to earn the win.

Normal Community goes to 19-4 overall and 12-1 in the Big 12 Conference. They will host Moline for a doubleheader on Saturday. 

Maroa-Forsyth fell short to St. Joseph-Ogden 6-1 in non-conference high school baseball on Friday. 

The Trojans lone run came when Mitch Williams singled to center field, driving in Cayden Rose. 

Williams, Ace Giles, Gunnar Larner, Rose, and Isaac Hanes each recorded hits. 

Maroa-Forsyth falls to 15-5 overall. They host Riverton on Tuesday. 

Normal West shut out Danville 11-0 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball from Normal on Friday.

The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the second when Brady Hart hit an RBI single, scoring Cooper Temples.

The floodgates opened in the bottom of the third, as Normal West exploded for six runs. Cooper Temples led off the inning with a triple. Later, Hart drove in Temples with a single. Sam McCully then blasted a triple, scoring Chase Knuth. 

The Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 11-0 victory.

McCully finished 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and three RBIs. Temples was 2-for-4 with two triples. Hart had an RBI. 

Hart went five shutout innings allowing just one hit and striking out nine.

Normal West goes to 16-8 overall and 10-3 in the Big 12. They host Maine South on Saturday. 

Lincoln fell short to Metamora 3-2 in non-conference high school baseball action Friday from Metamora. 

The Cardinals jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Lincoln staged a late rally in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two runs - highlighted by Brady Miller's solo home run.

Ashton Corley led the Railsplitters, going 2-for-4. Austin Lucas finished 1-for-3, Jadyn Gulley went 1-for-3, while Owen Comstock and Parker Graue had hits for Lincoln.

Lincoln drops to 6-14 overall. They will host New Berlin on Monday. 

Heyworth made easy work of Fieldcrest 17-0 on Friday afternoon in Heart of Illinois Conference high school softball action from Fieldcrest. 

The Lady Hornets scored 16 of their first 17 runs in the first two frames. Sidney Ditchen cleared the bases with a triple in the first to cap a nine-run inning. Gabby Dow and Layne Toohill hit back-to-back run-scoring singles to cap a seven-run second inning. 

There were zero Lady Hornets hitters with a multi-hit day. Ditchen was 1-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs. Grace Streenz was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Natali Kopp and Lauren Streenz drove in two runs apiece for Heyworth. 

Dow struck out five across four innings of three-hit ball for the Lady Hornets. 

Heyworth is 9-11 overall and 2-7 in the Heart of Illinois Conference. They will host LeRoy on Monday. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Colton Vance hit a two-run home run, and Monticello pulled away late to get by Bloomington Central Catholic 9-3 on Thursday in Illini Prairie Conference high school baseball action from Monticello.

The Sages jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The lead was extended in the bottom of the fifth when Colton Vance hit a home run, scoring Eric Arnold.

Vance earned the ServPro of Piatt/DeWitt Counties Player of the Game. 

Dawson Gaitros was 1-for-2 and scored two runs, Eli Craft finished 1-for-2 and drove in a run. Grant Kiger came off the bench and laced a triple to right center field and finished 1-for-2 with a run. Eric Arnold also scored two runs, going 1-for-2. 

Gatsby Grant pitched five solid innings for the Sages, earning the win. Brody Billedo closed out the final two innings on the mound. 

The southpaw induced a game-ending double play on a comebacker off the bat of Crayton Schnierle. Biledo fired to Gaitros, who threw a strike to first baseman Vance.

Monticello picks up its 20th win of the season and goes to 20-3 overall - winning its tenth straight. They also improved to 6-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference. 

The Sages host St. Joseph-Ogdon Monday, who are also 6-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference. 

Mitch Williams pitched into the seventh inning, and Tate Brandenburg had a big day at the plate, leading Maroa-Forsyth to a 2-0 win over Auburn in Sangamo Conference high school baseball action on Thursday in Auburn.

Williams struck out eight across 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball. He walked just two. 

Camden Trendler struck out the final two batters of the game to close out the win. 

The Trojans scored their only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Gunnar Larner singled home Brandenburg for a 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Kaden Blunck - running for Larner - scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0. 

Brandenburg was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Lanrer finished 1-for-3 with an RBI while Williams and Trendler had the other two hits for the Trojans. 

Maroa-Forsyth improves to 14-5 overall and 5-1 in the Sangamo Conference. Thursday's win is the fifth straight for the Trojans. They will travel to St. Joseph-Ogden for a non-conference showdown on Friday afternoon. 

Monticello toppled Bloomington Central Catholic 7-2 in Illini Prairie Conference high school softball action on Thursday in Monticello. 

Cassidee Stoffel was again outstanding in circle - twirling a complete game and allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out six.

Monticello's offense broke a scoreless tie with a three-run rally in the third inning. Beery then drove in Thea Key with a single. Then, with Madison Highland and Beery on base, Ali Weidner hit a double to left field, scoring both runners to extend the Lady Sages lead to 4-0.

The Sages added three more runs in the fourth inning. Cassidee Stoffel hit a double to score Lucy Leatherwood. Then, Bloomington Central Catholic struggled with passed balls during consecutive walks to Ali Weidner and Madison Highland, allowing Emma Lawhead - running for Stoffel - and Thea Key to score, making it 7-2.

Offensively, Stoffel led the way with a double and an RBI, while Weidner's double drove in two runs. Beery had two hits and an RBI.

Monticello improves to 18-5 overall and 6-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference. They have a showdown with St. Joseph-Ogden on Monday. Hear Monday's action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Ellie Schlieper struck out 11 across five innings of shutout ball and Blue Ridge run-ruled Okaw Valley 11-0 in five innings in Lincoln Prairie Conference high school softball action on Thursday in Farmer City.

The Lady Knights scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning. The rally started on a triple by Addison Roos. Carsyn Stiger and Lilli Enger had singles, then a double by Fenton, and another single from Hayward drove in multiple runners and extended the Blue Ridge lead to 7-0. 

Roos went 2-for-4 and drove in a game-high four runs, including a key triple. Junior Ellie Hayward drove in four runs with two hits. Junior Karlee Fenton continued her strong hitting, tallying two doubles and scoring twice, while junior Enger blasted a solo home run.

Schleiper allowed just four hits and no walks in circle for the Lady Knights.

Blue Ridge goes to 9-9 overall and 3-4 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference. 

They are off until next Tuesday when they travel to Broadlands-Heritage. 

Auburn blanked Maroa-Forsyth 8-0 in Sangamo Conference high school softball action on Thursday in Auburn. 

Auburn's offense got going early, scoring a run in the first and then exploding for three runs in the third inning. 

Maroa-Forsyth struggled to generate offense, managing only two hits in the contest. Danni Hovey and Taylor Crouch each recorded a hit for the Lady Trojans. 

Thursday's shutout was the third straight for Maroa-Forsyth, and they lost their fifth in six tries.

The Lady Trojans fall to 9-8 overall and 3-4 in the Sangamo Conference. They are off until Monday when they host Argenta-Oreana. 

Landyn Corbin was dominant on the mound, and Normal Community scored eight runs in the fifth inning to power past Peoria Richwoods 1-1 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball on Wednesday evening. 

Normal Community got on the board early in the bottom of the first. and extended it lead to 2-0 after the second. 

The game remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Ironmen offense exploded. The inning began with Brady Burkhart drawing a walk. Carter Harris then singled, advancing Burkhart to second. Luke Beaty walked, loading the bases, and Kyle Beaty followed with another walk, forcing in Burkhart - making the score 3-1. 

After Andrew Naour flew out for the first out, Gavin Swartz delivered a clutch single to right field, scoring Harris and Luke Beaty and pushing the lead to 5-1. Max Heineman then singled home Luke Beaty and Swartz, making it 7-1. 

Drew Stevens then singled home Heineman, increasing the lead to 8-1. Finally, Michaels singled home Stevens, bringing the score to 9-1. 

Holden Baldwin grounded out, scoring Michaels - who stole third - making the score 10-1.

Corbin allowed just three hits over five innings, striking out 14.

Swartz was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. 

Normal Community goes to 16-4 overall and 11-1 in the Big 12 Conference. They visit Urbana on Friday before hosting Moline for a twin bill on Saturday.