Brock Wilson and Josh Bass hit home runs, and Clinton made easy work of Sullivan 15-1 in non-conference high school baseball action on Tuesday in Clinton.

Leading 1-0 in the third, Bass blasted an opposite-field home run into the wind for a 4-0 Clinton lead. Bass added a run-scoring double in the fourth that capped a five-run inning to make it 9-0 Maroons.

In the fifth inning, Jack Manning plated a run with a sac-fly - then Bass added another run-scoring hit to make it 12-1 Clinton. 

Wilson put the exclamation mark on the Maroons route with a three-run home run to make it 15-1.

Bass finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs. Manning and Wilson drove in three runs apiece. 

Brady Stauffer spun five innings of one-run ball for Clinton. He allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out six. 

Clinton is 4-3 on the year. They host GCMS on Wednesday. Hear the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms. Game time is 4:30 pm. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Madison Highland twirled four scoreless innings and went 3-for-3 at the plate as Monticello rolled Decatur St. Teresa 15-0 in a four-inning, run-rule win in non-conference high school softball in Monticello on Tuesday.

Highland drove in two and was on base all four times with a walk. 

She struck out one, walked one, and permitted four hits. 

Highland was the State Bank of Bement player of the game.

Reece Stiger hit a solo home run for the Lady Sages. Isabella Beery had a team-best three RBIs with a two-run single in a seven-run third inning that broke the game open. 

Ali Weidner drove in two for Monticello, and Annie Robinson had a double.

Decatur St. Teresa drops to 5-4 overall. 

Monticello goes to 8-2. They will visit Chatham-Glenwood on Thursday.

Sullivan scored five runs in the sixth inning and pulled away from Clinton 7-2 in non-conference high school softball action on Tuesday in Clinton.

The Lady Maroons led 2-1 before the Lady Redskins went in front for good.

Hadley Humble and Kinzey Sickles had back-to-back run-scoring hits to put the Lady Maroons in front in the fifth. 

Humble finished 2-for-4. Analise Thompson, Avery Smith, and Campbell Bass added hits for Clinton.

The Lady Maroons drop to 3-4 overall. They host Shelbyville on Thursday to open Central Illinois Conference play.

Grant Kiger sacrificed Jax Bailey in the top of the sixth for the ultimate winning ru and Monticello rallied past Tri-Valley 4-3 in non-conference high school baseball action on Tuesday in Downs. 

Grayson Coughlin hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Vikings in front against Kiger. 

The Sages answered with three of their own in the top of the fifth inning. Cole Basak scored two with a base hit to make it 3-2. Koyie Williams promptly doubled in Basak to tie the game at 3-3. 

Coughlin struck out 10 in five innings of work. He allowed three runs on two hits and walked four.

Dawson Gaitros earned the win for Monticello with four innings of shutout ball. He permitted a walk on three hits with three strikeouts.

Monticello is 9-0 on the season. They host GCMS on Friday.

Three home runs powered Rochester past Lincoln 13-1 in a five-inning, run-rule win for the Rockets on Tuesday in Rochester in non-conference high school baseball action.

Sam Ferris, Reece Gade, and Ajay Runkel hit home runs for Rochester. 

Freshman Grady Rutledge plated the only run for Lincoln in the loss. Owen Comstock tripled for Lincoln's only extra-base hit. Karson Komnick, Bryson Vlahovich, and Chase March had hits for the Railsplitters. 

Lincoln goes to 5-4 overall. They visit Chatham-Glenwood on Wednesday.

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Jax Bailey broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run, then finished off a four-run inning with an RBI double, back five scoreless innings from Matthias Rudolph as Moticello beat Lincoln 5-1 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Monticello.

Monticello's Rudolph and Lincoln's Carson Fuiten traded scoreless innings into the fifth when Bailey ended the Railers right-hander's shutout with a blast to left center field to put the Sages up 1-0.

Monticello took a commanding 5-0 lead in the sixth inning when Koyie Williams and Bailey hit RBI doubles.

The Railers got their only run in the top of the seventh when the game was out of reach.

Rudolph danced in-and-out of trouble most of the afternoon, but finished five innings of shutout ball, allowing four hits and four walks. 

Bailey, the State Bank of Bement player of the game, was 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, and two RBIs. Dawson Gaitros was 2-for-3 with a run scored, and Williams and Cole Basak each finished 1-for-3.

Fuiten went the distance for Lincoln. Until his home run allowed to Bailey in the fifth, the right-hander had set down 10 of 11 batters after allowing the first two runners of the game to reach. He struck out one, walked one, while permitting five runs on six hits.

The Railsplitters go to 5-3 overall. They visit Chatham-Glenwood on Tuesday.

Monticello remains unbeaten at 8-0 overall. They visit Tri-Valley on Tuesday.

Four errors proved to be costly and Limestone blanked Normal West 4-0 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Normal

Ty Bachman allowed four runs, one was earned, in six innings for the Wildcats. He struck out six, walked none and permitted four hit.

Bachman was also 2-for-3 to lead Normal West offensively.

Normal West goes to 2-3 overall. They visit Decatur MacArthur on Thursday.

Freshman Keaton Wagler scored 25 points, and the Illinois Fighting Illini ended Iowa Hawkeyes' underdog March Madness run by dominating in the frontcourt, beating the Hawkeyes 71-59 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2005.

This will be the sixth trip to the Final Four for Illinois, which has never won a national title. The Fighting Illini will face either Duke or UConn next weekend in Indianapolis.

The much taller Illini (28-8) outrebounded Iowa 38-21 in the South Region final. David Mirkovic led the way with 12 rebounds.

Coach Brad Underwood’s emphasis on recruiting in Eastern Europe has paid off in this tournament. Tomislav Ivisic of Croatia, who stands 7-foot-1, and his 7-2 twin brother Zvonimir have shined in March.

Andrej Stojakovic, who was born in Greece but whose father is Serbian three-time NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic, scored 17 points for third-seeded Illinois. His famous father watched proudly as his son punched his ticket to the Final Four, and Wagler's parents - who met when they played basketball at a junior college in Kansas - cheered wildly throughout for their son, who was named MVP of the region.

Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points for the ninth-seeded Hawkeyes (24-13), who knocked off top-seeded Florida in the second round as part of an impressive run under first-year coach Ben McCollum, a four-time Division II national champion at Northwest Missouri State. Stirtz played for McCollum there, then followed him to Drake and finally Iowa.

The Illini went on an 8-0 run, with four points from Tomislav Ivisic, to take a 58-51 lead with less than five minutes remaining.

Isaia Howard made one of two free throws for Iowa after that, but an alley-oop dunk by Zvonimir Ivisic pushed the lead to 60-52 with about four minutes to go.

Sage Tate hit four consecutive free throws for Iowa to get the Hawkeyes within four with two minutes to go. But Stojakovic added a layup for Illinois before Wagler made two free throws to make it 67-59.

It was the second meeting this season for these Big Ten rivals. Illinois won 75-69 on Jan. 11.

Illinois never led in the first half but took its first lead just after halftime. There were a dozen lead changes before the Illini pulled away.

Jaxson Reynolds drove in four runs, and Clinton used a six-run sixth inning to pull away from Ridgeview 10-4 in non-conference high school baseball action from Colfax on Saturday.

Reynolds two-run single in the sixth scored Grady Douglas and Ryne Pine to put the Maroons up 7-4. 

Jack Manning followed with an RBI triple that plated Reynolds, and then Josh Bass mashed an RBI double that scored Manning to make it 9-4. 

Preston Curtis struck out seven in four innings of one-run ball - the one run was unearned. Brock Wilson allowed three unearned runs on the mound in two innings and struck out three. 

Clinton committed three errors. 

Manning finished 3-for-4. Reynolds was 2-for-5 while Bass was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. 

Clinton goes to 3-3 overall and will visit Sullivan on Tuesday.

The Clinton Lady Maroons could only muster six base runners, and were blanked 10-0 in non-conference high school softball action on Saturday in Clinton.

Avery Smith had the only hit for Clinton on Saturday. Riley Fentress was one of three Lady Maroons to draw a walk, while Sierra Sickles was hit by a pitch twice.

Clinton falls to 3-3 overall. They host Sullivan on Tuesday.

Jake Motsegood plated the winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning and Monticello walked off New Berlin 3-2 in non-conference high school baseball action on Saturday in Monticello.

Dawson Gaitros singled with one out. Cole Basak was then hit by a pitch to set up first-and-second with one out. Koyie Williams hit a hard liner to third for the second out. Grant Kiger walked to load the bases, and Motsegood delivered the game-ending hit to short to preserve Monticello's unbeaten start to the 2026 spring season. 

The Pretzels got two in the first, but Koyie Williams singled home two to tie the score in the fifth.

Jax Bailey doubled twice among his three hits to lead the Sages offensively. Motsegood had three hits as well. 

Forrest Rawdin struck out seven in four innings of work. Zeke Young followed with seven strikeouts in five innings of shutout ball, and Dawson Gaitros earned the win while striking out two in an inning of shutout relief.

Monticello goes to 7-0. They will host Lincoln on Monday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Sadie Walsh hit a walk-off three-run home run as Monticello took down Charleston 10-7 in non-conference high school softball action on Saturday in Monticello.

With two outs and the score tied at 7-7, Meadow Miller singled to center. Thea Key followed with a single to left. 

Walsh followed with a blast to center that helped the Lady Sages hold off a furious comeback by Charleston. 

Walsh drove in a run with a double in a two-run first for Monticello. She scored Miller on a sac-fly in the second, and Cassidee Stoffel singled in a run two batters later to make it 5-0 Monticello.

Charleston would score seven of the next nine runs to tie the score at 7-7 in the seventh.

Key finished 4-for-4 with four runs scored. Walsh was 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Annie Robinson and Reece Stiger each added doubles for Monticello.

Monticello is 7-2. They will host Decatur St. Teresa on Tuesday afternoon. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Tyler Cross scored Preson Cowan, and Mt. Pulaski walked off Litchfield 7-6 in non-conference high school baseball extra-inning action on Saturday in Mt. Pulaski.

With the game tied at 6-6, Cowan drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the eighth. Luke Martin followed with a single to center field. Aaron Volle singled on a shallow flyball to right field that loaded the bases. 

Cross came to the plate and singled to center to easily score Cowan, and the Hilltoppers won their second straight after a contentious contest with Williamsville on Friday afternoon. 

Litchfield jumped in front 2-0 in the first inning, but the Hilltoppers proceeded to score the next four. 

Cross tied the game with a two-run single in the first inning. Mt. Pulask added two more in the second to go up 4-2. 

Litchfield went back in front with two more in the second inning. 

But Jaelen Jackson plated two with a single to right-center field in the third inning to tie the game back up at 4-4.

Litchfield answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning to go up 5-4.

A Luke Martin single to right center in the bottom of the fourth gave Mt. Pulaski a 6-5 lead. 

Litchfield would tie the game in the top of the seventh inning to force extra innings and set up the Mt. Pulaski walk-off in the extra frame.

Martin was 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Hilltoppers. Volle was 2-for-3 with a double, while Cross was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Mt. Pulaski is 2-2 overall. They will host Illini Central/Hart-Em on Tuesday.

A three-run third inning helped back a complete game effort by Karson Komnick as Lincoln took down Eureka 3-2 in the opener of what would be a Saturday double-header sweep for the Railsplitters in Lincoln.

Owen Komstock cleared the bases with a double in the third inning that gave Lincoln a 3-2 lead.

Komnick took over from there. He went the distance, allowing two runs on six hits, with a walk and four strikeouts. 

In the second game, Lincoln took advantage of three Dragon errors and erratic pitching to double up Eureka, 6-3.

Cooper Koehler put Lincoln up 1-0 with a run-scoring double in the second inning, and a wild pitch scored the second run of the frame for a 2-0 Railsplitters lead.

After Eureka got on the board in the fourth, a Komnick single would score two to extend the Lincoln lead to 4-1. 

Grady Rutledge struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball for Lincoln in the second game. The Railsplitters used just three arms in the two games, as Tate Aue finished out the win with 1 2/3 innings of one-hit relief with a strikeout.

Austin Lucas was 2-for-2 for Lincoln. Komnick drove in two while Koehler had the only other RBI for the Railsplitters in the second game. 

Lincoln is 5-2 on the season. They will travel to Monticello on Monday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

The Trojans trailed 2-0 going to the fourth inning, but back-to-back six-run frames ended the game in five innings.

Maroa-Forsyth didn't have an extra base hit for the game. Giles was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, while Blunck was 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

Grady Rose added two RBIs for the Trojans. 

Blunck struck out seven innings of shutout relief. 

Maroa-Forsyth goes to 4-1 overall. They host Lemont on Monday at 11 am. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Heyden Roman struck out ten in five innnigs of one-hit ball, Cole Basak drove in six runs with three extra base hits, and Monticello rolled Westville 12-0 in non-conference high school baseball action on Friday in Monticello.

Basak started the scoring for Monticello with a run-scoring triple in the bottom of the first inning. The Sages led 3-0 after the first.

Basak added another run batted in in the second with a double that scored Dawson Gaitros. Monticello led 6-0 after the second inning. 

Basak singled home Jax Bailey in the third to put the Sages up 7-0. 

The big blow of the game was a bases-clearing double that made it 10-0 in the fourth.

Romano allowed just one hit, walked one, and hit a batter while striking out ten across five shutout innings. He was the State Bank of Bement Player of the Game. 

Westville dropped its fourth in a row to go to 3-5 overall. 

Monticello remains unbeaten at 6-0. They will host New Berlin on Saturday. Hear the Sages on WEZC again on Monday when they host Lincoln at 4:30 pm.

Monticello made easy work of Decatur Eisenhower, 18-1 in non-conference high school softball action on Friday in Monticello.

Meadow Miller drove in a game-best five runs to lead the Monticello onslaught. Cassidee Stoffel drove in three and was 2-for-3. Isabella Beery was 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Ali Weidner was 2-for-2 with a triple and two runs batted in, while Reese Stiger added an RBI double. Thea Key and Annie Robinson also drove in runs for the Lady Sages. 

Madison Highland allowed a run on a hit and struck out seven in her four innings of work. 

Monticello goes to 6-2 and will host Charleston on Saturday.

Mt. Pulaski outlasted Williamsville in a contentious, back-and-forth 5-4 win in non-conference high school baseball action in Mt. Pulaski on Friday. 

The Hilltoppers had to rally twice.

They fell behind 1-0 in the first, going ahead for the first time in the second inning, 2-1. Then Mt. Pulaski went in front 4-3.Two runs in the bottom of the sixth put the Hilltoppers in front for good, 5-4.

Tucker Fitzpatrick brought in the ultimate winning run, reaching on an error in the bottom of the sixth. He was 0-for-2 but accounted for two RBIs. 

Chase Roberts and Keoni Charron had RBIs for Mt. Pulaski while Jaeden Jackson hit a pair of doubles.

Williamsville Coach BJ Halford was ejected from the game. 

The Hilltoppers are 1-2. They host Litchfield on Saturday. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Maroa-Forsyth Lady Trojans used a 7-run first inning and a sixth-run second inning to beat the Clinton Lady Maroons 17-2 in non-conference high school softball action on Friday afternoon in Clinton. 

Adelyn Simmons kicked off the game with a solo shot on the game's fifth pitch to start the scoring. The Trojans' offense exploded from there, with six runs driven in from there during the inning. 

After shutting out the Maroons in the bottom half of the inning, Simmons added another two-run homer to grow their second-inning rally to six runs. 

Clinton did not record a hit before their final chance to score in the bottom of the fourth in an attempt to stop the run-rule defeat. Kinzey Sickles reached on a single and was brought home by an RBI double courtesy of Hadley Humble to make the score 17-1. Anelise Thompson reached on the next pitch, and Khloey Riddle singled to drive in Thompson.

Sickles finished the day 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Hadley Humble and Khloey Riddle both went 1-for-2 two with an RBI apiece. 

Simmons finished 3-for-4 on the day with three runs scored and five RBIs. Aubrey Stewart went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Kylee Shoemake went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and four RBIs.

Aliviyah Haynes was in circle for the first three innings of the outing, allowing 13 runs on 10 hits. Despite the defensive struggles, she struck out six batters and walked three. Campbell Bass came in for a single inning of relief and struck out one, walked one, and allowed four runs on two hits. 

Jacy Ravenscraft went the distance for Maroa-Forsyth, holding the Maroons to just two runs on four hits, but struck out none. 

With the loss, Clinton falls to 3-2 while Maroa-Forsyth improves to 3-4 overall. 

The Lady Maroons are back at it again on Saturday at noon when they play host to Dee-Mack. 

Ryan Cunningham homered, and Tolono Unity used a fast start to take down Clinton 7-2 in non-conference high school baseball action on Wednesday afternoon in Tolono.

The Rockets scored three runs in the first inning and three more in the second to open up a 6-0 lead. They added a run in the seventh for its final tally on the day.

The Maroons broke through in the sixth inning. Jack Manning tripled in Jaxson Reynolds. Josh Bass followed with a double that scored Manning to make it 7-2.

Dane Eisenmenger struck out nine across 5 2/3 innings of two-run ball for Unity.

Bass and Manning each finished 1-for-3 for Clinton.

The Maroons are 3-2 overall. They travel to Ridgeview on Saturday morning.

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Monticello pounded out four home runs and a web gem by Meadow Miller to secure the win, giving Monticello a 7-6 win over Meridian in non-conference high school softball action on Wednesday in Monticello.

With the bases loaded and the tying run on third and the go-ahead run at second, a foul ball along the third base dugout was snagged by a lunging Miller, and the Lady Sages held off constant pressure by the Lady Hawks pursuit of a comeback win.

Monticello slugged a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning. The first was Madison Highland's drive to left field, which popped out of the mitt of the Meridian left fielder and went over the fence, scoring Emma Lawhead (running for Cassidee Stoffel).

A catch on the play would have ended the inning, but two batters later, Reese Stiger blasted a two-run shot to left that scored Ali Weidner and put Monticello in front 5-0.

With one out in the second inning, Sadie Walsh blasted a homer to left field to make it 6-0 Monticello.

The Lady Hawks did not go quietly into that good night. With two outs in the third, back-to-back-to-back run-scoring hits cut the deficit to 6-3. 

Meridian added two more runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-5. 

Monticello got its eventual game winner on a solo home run to right center field off the bat of Isabella Beery. 

Stoffel got the win for Monticello. She worked the first four-plus innings, starting the fifth inning before being lifted by Highland.

Stoffel came back into the game for the seventh inning, working through a bases loaded jam to preserve the win. 

No Monticello batter recorded multiple hits in the victory. Beery, Highland and Stiger each drove in two. 

The State Bank of Bement Player of the Game was Highland.

Meridian suffered its first loss of the season to go to 3-1.

Monticello improve to 5-2. They will host Decatur Eisenhower on Friday.

Normal Community used a balanced offensive attack to gradually pull away from North Little Rock (AR) for an 8-3 win in the first of two games on the final day of its annual spring break trip to Alabama in high school baseball action on Wednesday.

Lucas Beaty drove in three runs. UIC-commit Max Heineman doubled and was 2-for-4 as the Ironmen pounded out ten hits and took advantage of seven Charging Wildcat errors.

In the second game, Beckett Weber went yard and the Ironmen exploded for a 14-4 win over Prattville (AL) in high school baseball action. 

Weber's solo shot in the second put the Ironmen up 1-0. 

After falling behind 4-1, Heineman started the scoring in a seven-run third inning with a two-run double to make it 4-3. Then Gavin Swartz tied the game with a run-scoring single. 

Normal Community went ahead for good when Weber brought home Swartz and Drew Stevens with a two-run single. 

Andrew Naour broke the game open in the fourth inning with a three-run double to make the score 13-4.

Gavin Michaels was 3-for-4. Nauor finished with five RBIs while Weber had four runs batted in.

After losing two games in all of the spring of 2025, Normal Community is 5-2 in the early season of 2026. They return to the '309' on and take on Yorkville next Thursday. 

Gehrig Quick gunned down the would-be tying baserunner at second in the bottom of the seventh inning, helping Monticello preserve a 7-5 win over Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond in non-conference high school baseball action Tuesday in Monticello.

The stolen base attempt ended a threat for the Knights, who trailed the entire game. 

Koyie Williams homered and doubled among his four hits while driving in three runs for the Sages.

Heyden Romano and Cole Basak drove in runs with doubles for Monticello and Dawson Gaitros drove in a run and picked up the save in relief. 

Monticello goes to 4-0 overall and will travel to Oakwood on Thursday.

Cassidee Stoffel and Madison Highland combined on a one-hit, 10-0 shutout of Tuscola on Tuesday in non-conference high school softball action in Monticello.

Isabella Beery scored Sadie Walsh on a sac-fly in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game on the run-rule.

Walsh tripled twice and drove in a run among her three hits. Stoffel was 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Beery drove in three runs and was 2-for-3 with a double. Ali Weidner was 2-for-3 with a double and a run driven in for the Lady Sages. Highland also drove in two.

Stoffel struck out four in five one-hit innings. Highland had a strikeout in a 1-2-3 inning of relief.

Monticello is 4-2 overall. They will host Meridian on Wednesday. Hear Wednesday's action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Jacksonville used a six-run fourth inning to break open a 3-3 game and took down Lincoln 10-3 in Central State Eight Conference high school baseball action on Tuesday in Lincoln.

Back-to-back two-run singles for the Crimsons put them up 8-3. 

Austin Lucas was 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Railsplitters while Gage Rutledge hit a triple in the loss. 

Lincoln drops to 3-1 overall. They will host Dunlap on Thursday.

Normal West erupted for nine runs in the first inning, rolling to an easy 16-3 win over Shades Valley (AL) in non-conference high school baseball action on Tuesday in Alabama.

The Wildcats picked up its third win of their annual spring break trip to the Gulf Shores.

Jack Steidenger had four RBIs to lead Normal West. Ty Bachman was 3-for-3 with a double, two triples, and two RBIs. Sam McCully doubled and drove in two. 

Three Wildcat pitchers combined to strike out nine and allow just one hit.

Normal West finishes up the action in Alabama tomorrow night (WED) at 7 pm opposite Bayside Academy.

Elyssa Armstrong allowed an unearned run and went the distance in circle, leading Argenta-Oreana to a 2-1 win over Monticello in non-conference high school softball action on Monday in Argenta.

Armstrong outdueled Madison Highland for Monticello. Highland went four innings of two-run ball, one was earned.

Armstrong struck out three and allowed seven hits. 

The only Lady Sages run was scored in the sixth inning when Ali Weidner scored Emma Lawhead with a double.

Sadie Walsh was 2-for-4 for Monticello. 

Monticello falls to 3-2 overall. They host Tuscola on Tuesday.

Mt. Pulaski's defensive struggles continued Monday afternoon, as an error in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed St. Joseph-Ogden to score the winning run and walk off the Hilltoppers 4-3 in non-conference high school baseball action in St. Joseph.

Trevor Ames grounded on the infield, and an error on the play allowed Logan Rosenthal to score the winning run.

Ames was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Rosenthal was 2-for-4 for the Spartans.

Aaron Volle was 1-for-2 with a double for Mt. Pulaski, who drops to 0-2 overall.

The Hilltoppers' season-opening loss to Nokomis was marred by a late-game meltdown, including several errors. Luke Martin, Carter Clark, and Tyler Cross had RBIs.

The Hilltoppers will look to right the ship when they host Williamsville on Friday.

Normal West scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning and rallied to its first win of the season, a 6-4 victory over Chilton County (Clanton, AL) in non-conference high school spring break baseball action in Alabama on Monday.

Trailing 4-2,  Chase Reinhart doubled in a run to cut the Wildcats' deficit to 4-3. Three batters later, Sam McCully singled in the tying run and an error on the play scored a second run to put Normal West up 5-4 in the opener of two from Alabama. 

Reinhart was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while McCully was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Jack Steidenger and Drake Rumps each had a double while Charlie Hanks added a triple.

In its second game of the day, a six-run fifth inning propelled Normal West to a 12-5 win over Jasper (AL) on Monday in high school baseball action in Alabama.

McCully homered to lead off the frame and put the Wildcats up 4-1. Later in the inning, Steidenger walked in a run, and Ty Bachman cleared the bases with a single, and a duo of errors scored all three base runners to put Normal West up 9-1. 

McCully drove in four for the game, going 4-for-5. Bachman was 4-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Jasper Pomis drove in two for Normal Community, going 2-for-4. 

The Wildcats are 2-2 overall. They are back in action in Alabama on Tuesday morning at 11:30 am opposite Shades Valley.

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Monticello scored 14 runs in the first inning and rolled to an easy 18-0, four inning run-rule win over Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond in non-conference high school girls softball action from Monticello on Friday.

Sadie Walsh was 3-for-4 for Monticello with two RBIs and two runs scored. Madison Highland drove in three runs. Ali Weidner had three RBIs while Reese Stiger hit a two-run home run in the second inning. Cassidee Stoffel had two RBIs.

Lillie Burse threw three innings of shutout relief for the Lady Sages. She struck out five in relief of Highland in circle after the 14-run outburst.

Monticello goes to 2-1. They travel to Fisher on Saturday morning.

Brett Hayes singled in the tying run and scored the winning run on a wild pitch as Lincoln rallied to a 5-4 win over Riverton in non-conference high school baseball action Friday afternoon in Lincoln.

The Railsplitters went ahead 3-0 early in the game. The Hawks rallied with a three-spot in the top of the fifth inning and went ahead 4-3 with a run in the sixth.

But the Railers quickly got its lead back thanks to Hayes. 

Hayes finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Grady Rutledge and Bryce Vlahovich each finished 2-for-3. Karson Komnick added an RBI, finishing 1-for-2.

Lincoln goes to 2-0 on the season. They travel to Olympia on Saturday morning. 

Grant Kiger hit his second home run of the season among four extra base hits for Monticello in an 11-0 over Anna-Jonesborough on Friday afternoon in non-conference high school baseball.

Kiger's homer put the Sages up 7-0 in the second inning.

Dawson Gaitros was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI at the top of the order. Cole Basak was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Jake Motsegood had a double and an RBI while Colton Shubert added a double, finishing 2-for-3.

Heyden Romano, Jake Robinson, and Koyie Williams drove in runs for the Sages. 

Basak fired two innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts and permitted just one hit and one walk. Forrest Rawdin went three innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts. The junior allowed two hits and a walk.

Monticello takes on Murphysboro on Saturday.

Blaine Friedmansky hit two home runs and Braeden Barber fired five shutout innings leading Lexington over Clinton 8-0 in non-conference high school boys baseball action on Friday afternoon in Clinton.

Friedmansky's home run in the second inning to make the score 3-0 and his second homer in the sixth made it 7-0. 

Brock Wilson, Jack Manning and Jaxon Reynolds collected the only hits for the Maroons. 

Barber went five innings of shutout ball in relief of Friedmansky. Barber struck out eight, permitted three hits and issued just one walk. 

The Maroons are 0-2 on the season. The Maroons have a double dip in round-robin action Saturday with Bloomington Cornerstone Christian Academy and then Tri-Valley early in the afternoon. 

LeRoy used a three-run fourth inning to slip past Monticello 4-1 in non-conference high school softball action on Thursday. 

Despite a strong performance in circle from Cassidee Stoffel, the Lady Sages’ bats were held in check for much of the afternoon.

The game remained a defensive battle early on until the Sages cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Thea Key sparked the rally with a line-drive single to center, and Cassidee Stoffel followed suit with an RBI double to deep center field, scoring Key and tying the game at 1-1.

However, LeRoy answered immediately in the top of the fourth, plating three runs on four hits to reclaim a lead they would not relinquish.

Sadie Walsh and Key led the Lady Sages, each turning in a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. Stoffel and Isabella Beery accounted for the remaining two hits in the contest.

Stoffel went the distance in the circle, taking the tough-luck loss. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits while striking out seven and walking only one over seven full innings.

The Lady Sages fall to 1-1 overall. They return to the home diamond tomorrow to host Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond at 4:30 PM. Hear the action Friday on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Beckett Weber tallied three hits and drove in two runs, helping Normal Community survive a late push from O’Fallon for a 5-4 victory in the first game of a Thursday, season-opening doubleheader in high school boys baseball action in O'Fallon.

The Ironmen went ahead in the second inning when Carter Harris hit a two-run home run to left field, putting Normal Community up 2-0. Later in the frame, Lucas Beaty singled and stole second, setting the stage for a Beckett Weber RBI double to push the lead to 3-0.

O’Fallon answered with three runs in the third to tie the game, but the Ironmen reclaimed the lead for good in the fourth. Jacob Engel scored on an RBI single from Weber to break the tie, and Drew Stevens followed with a clutch RBI double to left, scoring Weber and extending the lead to 5-3.

Weber led the hit parade, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Carter Harris provided the power with his two-run homer, while Drew Stevens and Max Heineman each recorded a hit.

On the mound, Josh Jones earned the win, striking out three over three innings of work. Landyn Corbin provided strong relief, fanning three batters and allowing just one run in his three innings on the hill. Beaty closed the game out with a striking out to seal the season-opening win.

Normal Community exploded for four runs in the first inning and relied on a committee of arms to secure a 6-4 victory over O’Fallon, completing a doubleheader sweep on Thursday in O'Fallon.

The Ironmen wasted no time in the nightcap, hanging a four-spot on the board in the top of the first. 

Nico Salvati led the offensive effort, finishing 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Owen Knox also doubled and drove in a run, while Luke Potts, Tyce Beckman, and Malakai Kinsey each recorded hits in the balanced eight-hit attack.

On the mound, five different Ironmen contributed to the win. Jacob Engel started the contest, followed by effective relief appearances from Chase Hendren and Owen Weaver. Kyle Glass earned the win, throwing two scoreless frames with a strikeout, and Oliver Vercruysse moved from first base to the mound in the seventh to record the save.

Normal Community starts the season 2-0 overall. They return to action this weekend.

A nightmare seventh inning and seven total errors spoiled a dominant pitching performance as Mt. Pulaski fell to the Nokomis Redskins 8-2 in their season opener on Thursday in high school boys baseball action in Mt. Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers appeared to have the game under control heading into the final frame. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Chase Roberts ignited the rally with a line-drive double to center. After Preston Cowan reached on a hard-hit single to left, Roberts moved to third, setting the stage for Jaeden Jackson. Jackson delivered the biggest hit of the young season, a ground ball single to right that chased home both Roberts and Cowan, giving Mt. Pulaski a 2-1 lead.

However, the lead proved short-lived. In the top of the seventh, the Hilltopper defense faltered, committing a string of errors that opened the floodgates for a seven-run Nokomis explosion - leading to a Redskins six-run lead.

Chase Roberts led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Jaeden Jackson finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Preston Cowan contributed a 1-for-2 performance with a walk and a run scored.

On the mound, Jaeden Jackson was spectacular in his season debut. Jackson went five strong innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits while striking out seven. Aaron Volle was tagged with the loss in relief, and Preston Cowan pitched the final inning.

Mt. Pulaski (0-1) will look to bounce back and clean up the defense as they hit the road on Monday to take on St. Joseph-Ogden.

The Morton Potters used a seven-run second inning to build an early cushion and held off a late rally from Normal West for a 10-5 win in non-conference high school baseball action Thursday in Morton.

Morton broke the game open in the second with seven runs.

Sam McCully delivered a two-run double to center field, driving in Mayson Aslinger and Ty Bachman to make it 10-4.

McCully led the Wildcat offense, finishing 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a double. Charlie Hanks was a bright spot at the top of the order, going 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Jack Steidinger and Drake Rumps each added hits for West.

Normal West falls to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats will head into spring break action Monday against Chilton County in Alabama.

A four-run second inning proved to be the difference as Heyworth topped Clinton 5-3 in the Maroons season opener on Wednesday afternoon at Clinton High School in non-conference high school baseball action.

The Hornets jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second. With two runners on, Parker Bell reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Caleb Troha score on an error to open the scoring. Carter Brooks then helped his own cause with an RBI single to left, scoring Keegan Gresham.

Braydon Laesch then grounded out to second, allowing Bell to cross the plate. Jackson Law capped the frame with a sharp single to second base, scoring Brooks to give Heyworth a commanding 4-0 lead before they even took the field.

But the Maroons clawed back in the third. Jaxon Reynolds sparked the rally with a single and stole second and third base. Josh Bass drove him in with a single to shortstop to put Clinton on the board.

Later in the frame, with two runners on, Cole Fentress delivered a two-run double to center field, bringing home Ryan Pine and Collin Bostic to cut the deficit to 4-3. 

The Hornets added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to push the final margin to 5-3.

Carter Brooks earned the win on the mound, striking out four over three innings of work. Laesch fired four shutout innings of relief. The junior struck out seven and allowed just one hit to secure the victory.

Brooks finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to lead the Hornet bats. Law was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Denning and Troha each added a hit.

Jack Manning took the loss, striking out five over five innings of work. Jaeden Bell fanned four and allowed just one run over the final two frames.

Cole Fentress led the offense, going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Bass finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Reynolds and Manning each added hits for the Maroons.

Heyworth starts the season 1-0. They will travel to Central A&M tomorrow for a non-conference matchup.

Clinton starts the season 0-1. They look to bounce back this Friday when they host Lexington at 4:30 PM. 

An eight-run third inning propelled Monticello to a season-opening 15-4 win over Villa Grove in non-conference high school baseball action Wednesday in Villa Grove.

Leading 5-0, the Sages blew the game open with eight runs in the third. After Forrest Rawdin scored on a wild pitch, Gehrig Quick grounded out to score Matthais Rudolph. Cole Basak then doubled to score Dawson Gaitros - who singled, followed by a Koyie Williams RBI single. Grant Kiger capped the rally with a two-run home run to left field to put the Sages up 11-0.

Rawdin and Rudolph later added RBI singles in the frame to complete the eight-run outburst and put Monticello up 13-0.

Connor Himes earned the victory on the mound, allowing one run on two hits over three innings of work. The junior struck out five and walked three. Dawson Gaitros pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out four.

Williams finished 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, and four RBIs. Kiger was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

Basak and Gaitros each finished with a hit, while Heyden Romano added a double for the Sages.

The Sages are 1-0 and travel to Anna-Jonesboro on Friday.

Monticell overpowered Villa Grove 18-7 - pounding out 18 runs on 19 hits - in season-opening non-conference high school softball action Wednesday in Villa Grove.

Thea Key and Madison Highland each launched a home run in the offensive onslaught. Key finished 4-for-6 with two doubles and five RBIs, including a two-run blast to left field in the second inning. 

Highland added her own three-run shot to center in the second, part of a four-RBI performance.

The Lady Sages set the tone in the first inning, jumping out to a 5-0 lead. Sadie Walsh sparked the rally with a lead-off triple, followed immediately by an RBI double from Key. Isabella Beery and Ali Weidner kept the pressure on with RBI singles, and Kaylin Matthews capped the opening surge with an RBI double to right.

Weidner was 3-for-4 on the afternoon with four RBIs. Beery finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Cassidee Stoffel reached three times, scored three runs, and added two stolen bases.

In circle, Stoffel earned the win, striking out four over 3 1/3 innings of work. Highland took over in relief, navigating the final 3 2/3 innings to lock down the victory.

The Lady Sages start the year 1-0. They are back in action tomorrow as they continue this early season road stretch at Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond.

Lincoln used timely hitting and a dominant start from Carson Fuiten to sneak past Tri-Valley 2-1 in its season-opener on Wednesday in Lincoln in non-conference high school boys baseball.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, the Railsplitters evened the score after Chase March doubled to left and Karson Komnick drove him in with a single to right. 

Lincoln scored the go-ahead run in the fifth when Austin Lucas drew a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then swiped third before coming home on the same play to make it 2-1.

March led the offensive effort, finishing 2-for-3 with that key double. Komnick, Tate Aue, Lucas, and Cooper Koehler each added a hit for the Railsplitters.

Carson Fuiten fired six innings of one-run ball, scattering seven hits while striking out six. Grady Rutledge threw a hitless seventh to secure the save.

The Railsplitters start the season 1-0. They will host Riverton this Friday at 4:30 PM.

Normal U-High used a high-powered offense and a dominant pitching performance to shut out Normal West 10-0 in non-conference high school baseball season opening for both teams Wednesday at Wildcat Field in Normal.

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning and added another in the third. U-High extended the margin with two runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings to pull away, while holding the Wildcats to just four hits on the afternoon.

Landon Stelte led the Wildcat offense, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Sam McCully and Jack Steidinger each added a hit for West. Ty Bachman and Stelte both recorded stolen bases in the contest.

Bachman took the loss on the mound, striking out six batters over 2 1/3 innings of work. Jasper Pomis provided a long relief appearance, striking out six and allowing two earned runs over 2 2/3 innings.

Parker Roop earned the win for the Pioneers, striking out four and allowing just one hit over 3 2/3 innings. Caleb Hornbrook led the U-High attack - going 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Griffin Meyer and Roop each added two hits in the win.

Normal West falls to 0-1 on the season. U-High is 1-0. The Wildcats are back in action Thursday afternoon as they travel to take on Morton at 4:30 PM before heading to Alabama next week.

The Mt. Pulaski baseball team has been hungry to return to the State Championships since its first appearance in 2022. 

This year's team returns most of its experience from last year's team that fell in a 1A Sectional championship. Senior Luke Martin says while they lost two big-time contributors from last year's team, he's confident in the group they have this year to get back to the State finals.

Aaron Volle emerged as a reliable contributor as a sophomore and is looking to be more of a contributor in 2026. He credits Chance Payne and Liam Smith as two players who helped guide him in his first dip into varsity experience.

Senior Eric Cooper believes this might be the most balanced team he's seen in his four seasons at Mt. Pulaski, from freshman through seniors. He is hoping his four years at the varsity level will pay off for him this season.

Coach Troy Burgard is challenging his team early this year with baseball powerhouses in 1A and 2A. He believes those challenging games early will be crucial down the stretch of the season.

Mt. Pulaski travels to Nokomis on Thursday to open the spring baseball season. 
 

The LeRoy Panthers will be leaning on a core of three experienced seniors among an otherwise young team. 

Head Coach Wayne Meyer explains that he graduated seven starting seniors from last year's 19-9 team, so his three current seniors will have to work hard to fill the void in leadership and production. While he does have a good group of juniors, none of them has varsity experience. 

It's every team's goal to be playing their best baseball as the postseason arrives. Coach Meyer says accomplishing that is all about pairing individual progress with team progress and getting better as a group.

Despite some inexperience, Meyers does not feel that they will struggle with depth on the offensive or defensive side of the game. He is focused more on process and development than wins and losses. 

Coach Meyer has been happy with the attitude and determination of his kids this year. The LeRoy Panthers kick off the season next Friday when they take on the Meridian Hawks at home. First pitch is at 4:30 PM. 
 

Clinton's baseball team graduated just one senior from last year's squad, and an experienced group is excited to see what they can accomplish this spring. 

Head Coach Nate Ennis calls it easy when you return seven seniors from the previous year. He says it is all about shooting for the highest of highs - while managing the low moments. 

Athleticism is a strength for the Maroons this year. With 30 players on the team, Coach Ennis has the most kids the school has had in the program in 10 years. 

The Maroons should have plenty of pitching depth and experience. Coach Ennis says the emphasis is on getting outs and not just 'eating innings'. 

Clinton will get to play this season on a brand new turf field, which Coach Ennis and the team are excited about. Hear the season-opening action this afternoon when the Maroons kick things off against Delevan on WHOW and all its digital platforms. First pitch is at 4:30 PM. 
 

A lot of potential that will experience full-time varsity baseball for the first time is setting up an intriguing spring baseball season in Monticello.

The Sages graduated a D-I pitcher in each of the last two seasons; however, this season will have several players who have a lot of potential but not much varsity experience. Coach Chris Jones says he's excited about what he's working with, but there's a lot of inexperience.

Senior Hayden Romano's season ended on a sour note last year after a tough outing at the Supersectional against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin. He is excited to get back on the mound after a strong summer season.

Senior Koye Williams is coming off Tommy John Surgery on his pitching elbow. While he won't be on the mound until May at the earliest, he is hoping to contribute with his bat this spring.

Weather permitting, Monticello opens its season against Effingham this afternoon. Game time is 4:30 pm. If there is baseball today, hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com.

Check out ILSportsWire on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for complete spring sports coverage of Monticello baseball, softball, soccer, and track. And be sure to follow ILSportsWire throughout the spring sports season for video highlights of Sages' sports. 
 

Two things the Monticello Lady Sages softball team won't be short on this season is power in the lineup and experience across the roster.

The Lady Sages enter the season with nearly its entire lineup intact from last year, where they were knocked off in a Regional semifinal by Tri-Valley. Coach Lauren Richardson says that first-round exit in the Regionals left a real sour taste in the mouth of her team, and they are ready to take a big step forward.

One of the Lady Sages' top hitters last season was Isabella Beery, who returns as a senior this year. She is eager to do more when the postseason rolls around.

Cassidee Stoeffel has been in circle for Monticello since she was a freshman. She is going to be leaning on her experience from the first three years in her senior season.

The Lady Sages are at Villa Grove on Wednesday to open the spring softball season.

The Lady Sages will return to the  WEZC airwaves this spring for a 'game of the week' broadcast. The first Monticello softball game on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com is Friday, March 20, against Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond at 4:30 pm. 

Check out ILSportsWire on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for complete spring sports coverage of Monticello softball, baseball, soccer, and track. And be sure to follow ILSportsWire throughout the spring sports season for video highlights of Sages sports. 

Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley had a pair of strong seasons in 2024 and 2025, and now they're looking to continue that success in 2026. 

Head Coach Dustin White says his team is hungry after a fourth-place finish in the State in 2024 and a Sectional Semifinal exit in 2025. He feels that after a few bad habits are cleaned up, they can be an exciting team this season. 

White feels that his players know exactly what kind of hard work being a successful program takes. Not only are his six returning starters bigger and stronger, but they are also becoming better leaders. 

Pitching speed and accuracy will be a strength of the team this year. He notes that his pitcher, Graydon Leonard, recently threw 91 mph, which is not often seen at the 1A level. He adds that they have a lot of talent in their "early week" pitchers. 

The GCMS Falcons are scheduled to begin the season against the Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals in Warrensburg. First pitch is at 4:30 PM on Tuesday.
 

The Normal Community baseball team will undoubtedly be one of the most talented teams in the State of Illinois - and with that talent comes big expectations.

The Ironmen were on the cusp of a State championship appearance last spring, and Coach Ryan Short indicates that with a ton of experience and depth, the focus this year is preparing for the best of the best for when the postseason rolls around. 

The depth for the Ironmen starts at the catching position, where Coach Short has two D-I commits and a junior who is highly regarded in recruiting circles in Illinois. Additionally, his pitching staff features a duo of D-I pitchers.

Coach Stevens believes he has a team that loves baseball, loves to practice, and is driven to get better.

The Ironmen open the baseball season next Thursday, taking on O'Fallon. 
 

The Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals will be leaning on their five returning players this baseball season from last year's squad. 

Head Coach Chris Elston explains that last year's postseason loss to Maroa-Forsyth is one his returning players remember, as those athletes take a greater leadership position within the team. He notes that pitching experience will give his squad an edge this year. 

The team is returning some strong hitters. Elston hopes that they can get senior Nathan Southern in good form early on, and notes that the team's hitter in the ninth spot last year, Brody Brown, was a unanimous first-team all-conference selection. 

The Cardinals graduated the team leader in homers and RBIs last year, Christopher Lawson, and Elston feels that losing him will mean they will have to find ways to get on base. 

The Warrensburg-Latham Cardinals kick off their baseball season on Monday when they play host to Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond. First pitch is at 4:30 PM. 
 

When Normal West opens its regular season next week on the baseball diamond, Coach Christopher Hawkins will be working with one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams he's had in his nearly 30 years of coaching.

Coach Hawkins had a strong group of seniors from last year's team, and unfortunately for him, only a handful of underclassmen saw playing time at the varsity level.

There are a few sophomores that the team will rely on this year that Coach Hawkins is very excited about. He says this will be the youngest team he's probably had in his nearly 30 years at Normal West.

On top of being young, Coach Hawkins indicates he is going to be without his top returning pitcher, who is down to Tommy John Surgery. The hope is he can maybe be in the lineup as a DH later this spring.

The Wildcats will be dropping down to 3A this year. Coach Hawkins hopes that while the record may not end up where it traditionally does, his hope is that his team is battle-tested through a rigorous non-conference slate and Big 12 Conference schedule to turn some heads when the postseason arrives.