In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Maroons defeated the Central A&M Raiders 12-2 in a five-inning Central Illinois Conference run-rule victory on Friday night in Clinton. 

The Maroons struck first in the bottom half of the first. Leadoff and second spot hitters Jack Manning and Josh Bass both singled, and were both brought home by a Jaxon Reynolds RBI Double two batters later to take a 2-0 lead. 

In the second, Cole Fentress advanced on a walk, stole second and third, and came home on an error from the Raiders catcher for the lone run of the inning to build the lead to 3-0. 

Central A&M's Zachary Snow was hit by a pitch in the top of the third, followed by a Kadyn Higgins single. A walk of Ty Burgener loaded the bases, and Logan Kelly hit a single to score Snow and Higgins and make it 3-2. 

In the bottom half of the inning, the Maroons rallied to add three more runs, highlighted by Reynolds second double of the day and a Ryan Pine RBI single. They exploded in the following inning with five more runs to make it 11-2, thanks to Stone Stith's RBI double that scored Brock Wilson and Cole Fentress's RBI single, which scored Mitchell Cornwell.

Reynolds posted a perfect 3-for-3 outing with two RBIs and two runs scored. Stith was 3-for-4 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs. Pine was 1-for-3 but scored twice and batted one in. Fentress added a 1-for-2 performance with a pair of runs and two RBIs. 

On the mound, Jack Manning tossed four innings of two-run ball, allowing two hits while striking out six and walking two. Cooper Massey earned the save with just a single inning pitched, allowing one hit.
 

Zachary Snow was also perfect, going 1-for-1 with a run scored. Kadyn Higgins was 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Logan Kelly went 1-for-2. 

Marshall Minnot started for Central A&M, pitching three innings and allowing six runs on seven hits. He struck out three. Parker Elliot came in for an inning of relief, also allowing six runs on just four hits and walking four.  

With the win, Clinton improves to 10-7 and 3-1 in the Central Illinois Conference, while Central A&M falls to 4-7 and 0-3 in the CIC. 

The Maroons take on Riverton at home on Saturday at 10 AM. 

The Mt. Pulaski Varsity Hilltoppers used a huge early surge and relentless pressure on the base paths to defeat the 2026 Midwest Central Varsity Raiders 7–1.

Mt. Pulaski wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the 1st. Chaos on the bases and aggressive running quickly turned into runs, as Luke Martin and Tyler Cross both came around to score during a sequence fueled by wild pitches and a dropped third strike. Jaeden Jackson added a key RBI single as the Hilltoppers jumped out to an early 3–0 lead.

The pressure didn’t stop there. In the 3rd inning, Mt. Pulaski continued to capitalize on free passes. A series of walks pushed runs across in waves, extending the lead as the Hilltoppers built a commanding 7–0 advantage. The lineup stayed patient, and the Raiders struggled to find answers on the mound as traffic on the bases never stopped.

Midwest Central finally broke through in the 4th. After a balk moved runners into scoring position, Dalton Johnson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing in Ryan Terrill to make it 7–1. That would be the Raiders’ only run of the game, as Mt. Pulaski’s early damage proved too large to overcome.

From start to finish, the Hilltoppers controlled the tempo with patience at the plate and aggressive baserunning, securing a dominant 7–1 win.

Top Performers

Mt. Pulaski Varsity Hilltoppers – Controlled the game early with disciplined at-bats and strong baserunning pressure that created multiple scoring opportunities.
Luke Martin (Mt. Pulaski) – Sparked the early offense with key baserunning and scored in the opening inning.
Jaeden Jackson (Mt. Pulaski) – Delivered an important RBI single in the 1st that helped jumpstart the scoring surge.

The Redskins wasted no time taking control and never let go, powering past Argenta-Oreana Varsity Bombers 7–2 behind a dominant early offensive outburst.

The game opened with the Redskins putting immediate pressure on Argenta-Oreana. In the bottom of the 1st, they struck for multiple runs, highlighted by a double from Aeralyn Thrasher, as the Bombers defense struggled to contain the damage. The inning quickly spiraled as aggressive baserunning and additional opportunities extended the lead before Argenta-Oreana could settle in.

The momentum carried into the 2nd inning, where the Redskins continued to capitalize on mistakes. Walks, wild pitches, and defensive errors helped push the lead to 7–0 before the middle innings, giving the Redskins full control of the game early.

Argenta-Oreana showed life in the 6th when Kaylynn Madrigal delivered an RBI single to bring home Sophia Wicklund. In the 7th, Wicklund added another hit and helped generate a second run after an error, but the rally came too late to close the gap.

Despite the late push from the Bombers, the Redskins’ early offensive explosion proved too much to overcome as they secured a 7–2 victory.

Top Performers

Aeralyn Thrasher (Redskins) – Sparked the early offensive surge and contributed key hits in the opening innings.
Harmony Ray (Redskins) – Played a major role in the early scoring with a double and strong baserunning pressure.
Kaylynn Madrigal (Argenta-Oreana) – Provided the key RBI hit that helped lead the Bombers’ late offense.

If you like offense, this one had plenty of it.

Monticello and St. Thomas More went back-and-forth all night, combining for 24 runs, but it was the Sages who delivered the final push in a 13-11 win.

Monticello struck first in the opening inning with an RBI single from Jax Bailey, but St. Thomas More answered right away and kept applying pressure. The Sages built an early cushion with strong production in the second and third innings, highlighted by RBI hits from Zeke Young, Cole Basak, and a two-run single from Dawson Gaitros to make it 7-2.

But the Sabers had a response of their own.

St. Thomas More erupted in the fourth inning, putting together a huge rally fueled by a three-run double from Ashton Hill and additional RBIs from Wil Karduck and Henry Karduck to take a 9-8 lead. They kept the momentum going into the fifth, with Michael Roesel and Brodie Grey delivering key hits to extend the lead to 11-10.

Monticello didn’t fold.

After tying the game in the fifth, the Sages came through with the decisive inning in the sixth. Grant Kiger ignited the rally with a game-tying triple, Matthais Rudolph followed with an RBI double, and Cole Basak added an RBI single to push Monticello ahead 13-11.

From there, the Sages held on, closing out the high-scoring contest and securing the win.

Monticello’s ability to answer every punch and deliver in the clutch proved to be the difference in a game full of momentum swings.

Top Performers

Monticello Varsity Sages

• Cole Basak: Multiple RBI singles, key insurance run late
• Matthais Rudolph: Double, multiple hits, clutch RBI
• Grant Kiger: Game-tying triple, sacrifice fly
• Dawson Gaitros: 2-RBI single, strong offensive night
• Zeke Young: RBI single, run scored

St. Thomas More Varsity Sabers

• Ashton Hill: 3-run double, multiple RBIs
• Wil Karduck: RBI single, run scored
• Michael Roesel: RBI single, multiple runs scored
• Brodie Grey: RBI single during late rally
• Ben Ruffatto: RBI single, active at the plate

In a game packed with momentum swings, Lincoln Varsity Railsplitters stormed back late and walked it off for an 11-10 win over Champaign Central.

Champaign Central came out firing, getting on the board in the first with a leadoff home run from Pipkins. They broke things open in the fourth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing triple from Timmons that pushed the lead to 7-3 and gave Central full control.

But Lincoln chipped away.

The Railsplitters answered in the third with a big two-run single from Kane Komnick, then continued to close the gap in the fifth. Cooper Koehler and Bryce Vlahovich delivered key RBI singles, and Chase March tied the game at 7-7 with a clutch hit to center.

Lincoln grabbed the lead in the sixth when Owen Comstock came through with an RBI single, putting the Railsplitters up 8-7.

Still, Champaign Central wasn’t done.

In the top of the seventh, Central surged back ahead behind a two-run single from Timmons and another run-scoring play to make it 10-8. With their backs against the wall, Lincoln delivered one final rally.

In the bottom of the seventh, Grady Rutledge came through with a two-run single to tie the game at 10-10. Moments later, Owen Comstock stepped up again and delivered the biggest hit of the night—a walk-off RBI single to center field that scored Austin Lucas and completed the comeback in dramatic fashion.

A game that looked in hand for Champaign Central turned into a resilient, never-quit performance from Lincoln, who had the final answer when it mattered most.

Top Performers

Lincoln Varsity Railsplitters

• Owen Comstock: Walk-off RBI single, multiple RBI, key late-game hero
• Grady Rutledge: Game-tying 2-RBI single in the 7th
• Bryce Vlahovich: RBI single, run scored
• Cooper Koehler: RBI single, run scored
• Chase March: Game-tying RBI earlier in comeback

Champaign Central

• Timmons: Bases-clearing triple, 4+ RBI, 2-run single in 7th
• Pipkins: Leadoff home run
• B McDaniel: RBI single
• Krone: RBI single

Monticello wasted no time taking control and never let up, erupting offensively in a 15-1 rout of St. Thomas More.

The Sages set the tone early in the first inning as Sadie Walsh and Madison Highland each drove in runs to give Monticello a quick 2-0 lead. St. Thomas More answered with a solo home run from Schweighart, but that would be the only spark for the Sabers all game.

From there, it was all Monticello.

The Sages broke things open in the third inning with a massive rally fueled by extra-base hits. Madison Highland, Ali Weidner, and Reese Stiger all delivered doubles, while Isabella Beery added an RBI single as Monticello piled on runs and stretched the lead out of reach.

They didn’t slow down in the fourth or fifth innings. Beery and Weidner continued to produce at the plate, while Sadie Walsh and Cassidee Stoffel added more RBIs in a relentless offensive attack. In the fifth, Weidner capped off her standout day with a two-run double, pushing the total to 15 runs and sealing the blowout.

Monticello’s lineup consistently found barrels, racking up hits all over the field and taking advantage of opportunities, while their defense held St. Thomas More in check after the opening inning.

Top Performers

Monticello Varsity Sages

• Ali Weidner: Multiple doubles, 3+ RBI, dominant at the plate
• Madison Highland: Double, RBI single, multiple runs driven in
• Sadie Walsh: Double, RBI, multiple runs scored
• Isabella Beery: Double, RBI single, strong all-around game
• Reese Stiger: RBI double

St. Thomas More

• Schweighart: Solo home run

What looked like a comfortable win turned into a back-and-forth thriller, but Heyworth Varsity Hornets had the final say, walking off Warrensburg-Latham 9-8 in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Heyworth came out hot early, putting up four runs in the first inning behind RBI swings from Karissa Cook, Haley Rogers, and Grace Streenz. They continued to apply pressure in the fourth and fifth innings, building what became an 8-4 lead thanks to contributions from Streenz, Alia Riddle, Natalie Kopp, and a sacrifice fly from Leenah Hunt.

Warrensburg-Latham didn’t go quietly.

The Cardinals chipped away in the fourth with a two-run blast from Kelsey Oakley, then took advantage of defensive miscues in the fifth to tighten the game. Still trailing late, they erupted in the top of the 7th inning. Bella Ground sparked the rally with a two-run single, followed by Audree Denton and Elliana Park each delivering RBI knocks to tie the game at 8-8 and force extras.

With momentum seemingly on the Cardinals’ side, Heyworth stayed composed.

In the bottom of the 8th, the Hornets put together the final push. Lauryn Streenz reached, and Leenah Hunt stepped up in the clutch, lining a single to left field that brought home Riley Bardon for the game-winning run, sealing the dramatic 9-8 victory.

Heyworth’s early offense set the tone, but it was their resilience after surrendering the late lead that defined the win, answering immediately when it mattered most.

Top Performers

Heyworth Varsity Hornets

• Leenah Hunt: Walk-off RBI single, sacrifice fly
• Natalie Kopp: RBI single, multiple runs scored, active on the bases
• Grace Streenz: RBI groundout, RBI single
• Haley Rogers: RBI single, run scored
• Karissa Cook: RBI single

Warrensburg-Latham Varsity Cardinals

• Bella Ground: 2 RBI single to spark 7th inning rally
• Audree Denton: RBI single, key late-game production
• Elliana Park: Game-tying RBI single
• Kelsey Oakley: 2-run home run