In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Clinton Lady Maroons defeated the Maroa-Forsyth Trojans by a final score of 2-1 in a Regional Quarterfinal matchup on Tuesday night in Clinton. 

With the game tied at 0-0 through the first four innings, Kinzey Sickles lined a double to right in the top half of the fifth for Clinton, who played as the away team despite playing on their home turf due to poor field conditions in Forsyth. 

Campbell Bass followed Sickles with a single. A sac bunt from nine-hitter Aliviyah Haynes put two outs on the board, but advanced both runners to scoring position. As the lineup turned over, Riley Fentress hit a ground ball and reached on an error from pitcher Abby Rider that allowed Sickles to score and Bass to advance. Another error, this time from the first baseman, allowed Anelise Thompson to reach and Bass to score to make it 2-0 in favor of the Maroons. 

In the home half of the fifth, nine-hitter Jacy Ravenscraft reached on Hayne’s only walk of the day, and was scored by a double from Kalli Kahler to get one back for Maroa-Forsyth and make it 2-1. 

Bass finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and a run scored. Sickles was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Haynes was 1-for-2. 

Haynes twirled seven innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits, permitting two walks, and striking out four. 

Kahler was 3-for-4 with the lone RBI for the Trojans. Maliyah Hunter and Larner recorded the only other hits for Maroa-Forsyth.

With the win, Clinton improves to 10-19 and will take on the top-seeded Tolono Unity on Wednesday in Forsyth. First pitch is at 4:30 PM. Hear all the action on WHOW and all its digital platforms. 

The Trojans finish the season with a record of 11-18-1. 
 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Cassidee Stoffel twirled a complete game shutout and drove in a run as she led Monticello to a 2-0 victory over Oakwood in Class 2A high school softball regional semifinal action on Tuesday at the Bloomington Central Catholic Regional.

Stoffel was brilliant for Monticello, retiring 19 of the final 21 batters she faced.

The Lady Comets got back-to-back two-out singles in the first inning and only had two base runners after that. The senior struck out eight, walked zero batters, and permitted just four hits.

Stoffel also drove in the ultimate winning run with a bloop single in the third inning.

Annie Robinson drove in a run in the fourth inning. Robinson finished 2-for-2 with an RBI. Stoffel was 1-for-3 with an RBI, earning the State Bank of Bement player of the game. 

Ali Weidner was 1-for-2 with a walk for the Lady Sages, who improved to 23-9 overall. They will play the winner of Wednesday's second Regional semifinal in Bloomington between Central Catholic and Westville. 

Game time on Friday is 4:30 pm from Bloomington. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

PORTA-AC Central scored the final five runs of the game and rallied past Mt. Pulaski 6-2 in high school baseball action on Tuesday in Petersburg.

The Blue Jays fell behind 2-1 when Aaron Volle tied the game with a sac-fly in the third inning, and Luke Martin scored on a passed ball. 

But PORTA-AC Central tied the game in the bottom half of the third and scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to go in front for good.

The Hilltoppers managed just one hit in the defeat. They drew six walks and struck out eight times.

Mt. Pulaski drops to 19-9 overall. They will host Argenta-Oreana on Wednesday. 

Brock Wilson fired a no-hitter as Clinton outlasted the rain and Warrensburg-Latham 3-1 in a Central Illinois Conference high school baseball classic on Monday in Clinton. 

Wilson allowed two walks and struck out eight in a complete-game, one-run outing.

He outdueled Trenton Bridges, who struck out ten in five innings. Bridges permitted three runs - two were earned - while walking seven and allowing two hits.

Wilson drove in two of the three Maroons runs. Josh Bass hit a double, going 2-for-2.

Nathan Southern had the only RBI for the Cardinals. 

Warrensburg-Latham goes to 17-7 overall and 7-2 in the Central Illinois Conference. They travel to Okaw Valley on Tuesday. 

The Maroons go to 18-12 overall and 8-1 in the Central Illinois Conference. They host Maroa-Forsyth on Tuesday.

Normal Community clinched its third straight Big 12 Conference championship on Monday afternoon as the Ironmen made easy work of Bloomington High School, 12-0, at Bloomington High School in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action.

Kyle Glass struck out six across seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and walking one.

The Ironmen scored six in the first inning, capped by a two-run triple from Josh Jones. 

Max Heineman was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Gavin Michaels, Owen Knox, and Andrea Naour drove in runs for Normal Community.

The Ironmen go to 30-2 overall and are 17-1 in the Big 12. They visit Lincoln-Way East on Wednesday.

Peoria Richwoods scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk off Normal West 4-3 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action on Monday afternoon in Peoria.

It was a two-run double that ended the game for the Knights.

Richwoods won a Friday afternoon thriller, 1-0 in ten innings in Normal.

The Knights spoiled a stellar outing from Mayson Aslinger, who spun five innings of two-run ball, allowing five hits, no walks, and striking out six. 

Riley Larkin led the Wildcats, finishing 2-for-4 with all three RBIs and a triple. Sam McCully was 1-for-4 with a double. Calen Riter was 2-for-3. 

Normal West goes to 20-11 overall and finishes 12-5 in the Big 12. They host Mt. Zion on Thursday. 

The high school baseball postseason pairings were released on Wednesday afternoon by the IHSA office.

Clinton and Monticello will each host a Regional in Class 2A.

The Maroons drew a four seed and will take on sixth-seeded Shelbyville in a Regional semifinal on Thursday, May 28 at 4:30 pm.

Maroa-Forsyth is the top seed in the Monticello sub-sectional and was assigned to the Clinton Regional. The Trojans take on the winner of a quarter-final matchup between Olympia and Bloomington Cornerstone Christian Academy on Wednesday, May 27. 

The Clinton Regional Championship is on Saturday, May 30 at 1 pm. 

In the Monticello Regional, Tolono Unity is the two-seed and takes on the winner of Champaign St. Thomas More and Georgetown-Ridge Farm in a quarterfinal matchup.

The Sages will battle Westville in a Regional semifinal on Thursday, May 28 at 4:30 pm. The Regional championship is a 11 am on Saturday, May 30. 

Other Class 2A Regional pairings

@ Pana Regional 

Wed. May 27 
(2) Tri-Valley vs. [(10) Buffalo Tri-City at (7) Bloomington Central Catholic] at 4:30 pm

Thu. May 28

(3) Warrensburg-Latham vs. (5) Pana at 4:30 pm

@ Bismarck-Henning Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) St. Joseph-Ogden vs. [(9) Sullivan at (8) Marshall] at 3:00 pm

In Class 1, Mt. Pulaski earned the top seed in its sub-sectional and will also host a Regional.

The Hilltoppers will play the winner of a Regional quarterfinal game between Ridgview and Blue Ridge on Wednesday, May  27 at 4:30 pm. The other Regional semifinal matchup in the Mt. Pulaski Regional is Heyworth against Springfield Lutheran on Thursday, May 28 at 4:30 pm. 

The Mt. Pulaski Regional Championship is Saturday, May 30 at 11 am with the winner advancing to the Illinois Wesleyan Sectional the following week. 
 
Class 1A Regional pairings

@ Tremont Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) Tremont vs. [(9) Peoria Heights at (8) Delavan] at 4:30 pm

Thu., May 28

(4) Dee-Mack vs. (5) Fieldcrest at 4:30 pm

@ Leroy Regional

Wed. May 27

(2) Argenta-Oreana vs. [(10) Decatur Unity Christian] at (7) Athens at 4:30 pm

Thu., May 28

(3) Decatur St. Teresa vs. (6) LeRoy at 4:30 pm

@ GCMS Regional

Thu., May 28

(4) Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley vs. [(11) Danville Schlarman at (6) Iroquois West] at 4:30 pm

Class 3A Regional pairings

@ Metamora Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) Metamora vs. (8) Kankakee at 4:30 pm
(4) Ottawa vs. (5) LaSalle-Peru at 7:00 pm

@ Galesburg Regional

Wed. May 27

(2) East Peoria vs. (7) Galesburg at 4:30 pm
(3) Washington vs. (6) Limestone at 7:00 pm

@ Dunlap Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) Dunlap vs. [(9) Peoria at (8) Peoria Notre Dame] at 4:30 pm
(4) Morton vs. (5) Geneseo at 6:30 pm

@ Normal U-High Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) Normal U-High vs. (8) Urbana at 4:30 pm
(4) Rantoul vs. (5) Bloomington at 7:00 pm

@ Lincoln Regional

Wed. May 27

(2) Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin vs. (7) Springfield Southeast at 4:00 pm

Thu. May 28 

(4) Lincoln vs. (6) Springfield - 4:00 pm

@ Champaign Central Regional

Wed. May 27

(2) Champaign Central vs. (7) Danville at 4:00 pm
(3) Normal West vs. (6) Champaign Centennial at 6:30 pm

@ Chatham-Glenwood Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) Chatham-Glenwood vs. (8) Springfield Lanphier at 4:30 pm
(3) Mahomet-Seymour vs. (5) Mt. Zion at 7:00 pm

Class 4A 

Regional pairings

@ Moline Regional

Wed. May 27

(1) Normal Community vs. [(9) Rock Island at (8) Plainfield South] at 4:30 pm

Avery Smith and Hadley Humble led an offensive onslaught as Clinton rolled Shelbyville 13-1 in a Central Illinois Conference win on Wednesday in high school girls softball from Shelbyville. 

The Lady Maroons exploded for six runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

Smith was 3-for-5 with three RBIs while Humble was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Lainey Nichols also doubled in the win. 

Riley Fentress was 1-for-2 with three walks, an RBI, and three runs scored for Clinton. Kiera Sickles, Campbell Bass, Analise Thompson, and Aliviyah Haynes each drove in runs. 

Haynes twirled seven innings of one-run ball for the Lady Maroons. The senior permitted seven hits and a walk while striking out three. 

Clinton is 7-18 overall and 2-5 in the CIC. They visit Central A&M on Thursday. 

Luke Martin struck out 11 across six innings of three-run ball, Jaeden Jackson had three hits as Mt. Pulaski outlasted Havana 5-3 in non-conference high school baseball action on Wednesday in Havana.

Martin struck out 11 to just one walk and six hits. 

The Hilltoppers cleaned up the defense, committing just one error.

Jackson was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

After Aaron Volle doubled in the first run of the game for the Hilltoppers in the first, Jackson singled in Volle to make it 2-0. 

A two-base, two-run error from Martin made it 4-1 Hilltoppers in the second. 

The Ducks cut the deficit to 4-3 in the third, but Jackson's double in the fifth inning scored Martin to make it 5-3 Mt. Pulaski.

Chase Roberts was 2-for-3 with a double for the Hilltoppers. Volle finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a double.

Mt. Pulaski goes to 17-8 overall. They host El Paso-Gridley on Thursday.

Dawson Waterhouse singled in Trenton Bridges, and Warrensburg-Latham walked off Williamsville 2-1 on Wednesday in non-conference high school baseball in Warrensburg. 

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Nathan Southern scored Waterhouse on a groundout to even the score at 1-1. 

Bridges singled to start the seventh inning and was sacrificed to second. Camden Auten was intentionally walked before Waterhouse singled to left to bring home the game-winning run.

Casen Reynolds pitched into the sixth inning and struck out ten. His only run allowed was unearned in the first inning. 

Reynolds also finished 2-for-3 at the plate.

The Cardinals go to 16-6 overall. They host Shelbyville in Central Illinois Conference action on Friday.

An eight-run third inning propelled Heyworth to a 13-2 win over Bloomington Cornerstone Christian Academy on Wednesday in non-conference high school baseball action in Bloomington.

Ridge Braden was 1-for-3 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Hornets. Braydon Laesch, Caleb Zellers, and Braxton Denning each finished with two RBIs.

Laesch had two stolen bases. 

Heyworth goes to 11-12. They host Olympia on Thursday. 

Mayson Aslinger allowed an unearned run in a complete game win, leading Normal West past Peoria Notre Dame 7-1 in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action on Wednesday in Normal.

Sam McCully and Ty Bachman went deep, backing Aslinger's complete game. Aslinger struck out seven, walked zero, and permitted seven hits. 

Bachman hit a two-run shot in the first inning to stake the Wildcats to a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, McCully went deep to make it 3-0.

Calen Riter was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for Normal West, while Drake Rumps hit a double.

The Wildcats are 19-11 overall and 11-5 in the Big 12. They host Peoria Richwoods on Friday. 

Sophomore Kreston Shultz went the distance in a 5-0 shutout effort of Lincoln on Wednesday in non-conference high school baseball action from Lincoln High School.

Shultz struck out five, walked one, and allowed three hits. 

Owen Comstock was 2-for-3 for the Railers. Bryce Vlahovich had the other hit for Lincoln. 

Lincoln goes to 18-9 overall. They travel to North Mac on Friday. 

Karissa Cook homered, leading a Heyworth power surge in an 11-4 win over Decatur St. Teresa on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference high school softball from Decatur.

Cook was 2-for-5 with two RBIs for the Lady Hornets - who pounded out six extra base hits in the contest.

Natalie Kopp doubled twice and drove in three runs, finishing 3-for-4. Lauren Streenz, Haley Rogers, and Alia Riddle added doubles for Heyworth. 

Kopp overcame five errors and six walks in circle to fight through seven complete innings. She struck out eight and permitted four hits. 

Heyworth goes to 17-11 overall. They visit Champaign St. Thomas More on Thursday. 

Monticello fell behind 6-0, but a late comeback bid fell short as Mattoon escaped with a 6-5 win on Wednesday in non-conference high school softball action in Monticello.

Back-to-back run-scoring passed balls in the fourth inning allowed the Lady Sages to get within 6-2.

Cassidee Stoffel reached on a run-scoring error an inning later to make the deficit 6-3. 

In the seventh, trailing 6-3, Annie Robinson started the inning with a triple. Meadow Miller followed with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 6-4. Sadie Walsh singled home Miller to clear the bases and make it 6-5. 

Down to its last out, Stoffel would single, but Isabell Beery hit a comebacker to the Mattoon pitcher to end the rally and the game. 

In addition to Robinson's triple and Miller's double, Ali Weidner hit a double for Monticello.

The Lady Sages go to 21-9 overall. They finish out the regular season on Friday, hosting Arthur Christian before going into Regional action next week at Bloomington Central Catholic High School.

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Forrest Rawdin fired six innings of two-run ball as the Monticello offense scored early and often to get by Clinton 7-2 in non-conference high school baseball action on Wednesday in Monticello.

Rawdin allowed two unearned runs while allowing four hits, a walk, and striking out six. 

The Sages scored three runs in the first inning, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Cole Basak and Heyden Romano. Jake Robinson hit into a run-scoring fielder's choice.

Grant Kiger scored two with a base hit in the second inning to up the Sages' lead to 5-0. 

Zeke Young belted a run-scoring triple in the third, and Dawson Gaitros followed with a run-scoring hit to cap the Sages' scoring and make it  7-0. 

The Maroons were led by Mitchell Cornwell, who was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Stone Smith was 2-for-4 with a double. Jaxon Reynolds, Xander Reynolds, and Josh Bass had hits for Clinton.

Cole Fentress fired three innings of shutout relief with four strikeouts while permitting three hits and two walks.

Clinton drops to 16-12 overall. They host Meridian on Friday.

Monticello goes to 27-2 overall. They visit Champaign Central on Friday.

Ryan Pine went deep, and Josh Bass drove in five runs as Clinton scored 17 runs in the seventh inning to blow by Central A&M 22-1 in Central Illinois Conference play from Moweaqua on Monday.

Pine drove in a game-best six runs and finished 4-for-4 - a triple shy of the cycle. Bass was 2-for-4 with a double and five RBIs.

Stone Stith had a double and drove in two. Jack Manning tripled and drove in two runs as well. Mitchell Cornwell and Xavier Reynolds had two RBIs for the Maroons. 

Pine struck out four in three innings of shutout ball. Cornwell struck out six in three scoreless innings. 

Clinton is 16-11 overall. They will visit Monticello on Wednesday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

In a game heard on WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com, Olympia's Gabby Frye outdueled Monticello's Cassidee Stoffel in a 1-0 win in non-conference high school softball action on Monday in Monticello.

Stoffel and Frye went toe-to-toe, each going the distance in circle.

Frye struck out the final two batters she faced to finish with 11 strikeouts while permitting only four hits.

Stoffel struck out ten, walked one, but worked out consistent trouble throughout the game. Her only blemish was a Finley Hoffman RBI single in the fourth inning.

Kennedie Finchum was 2-for-4 to lead Olympia.

Thea Key, Sadie Walsh, Stoffel, and Reece Stiger had the only hits for the Lady Sages.

Olympia is 25-7 overall. Monticello drops to 20-8. 

Mt. Pulaski jumped out big early and never looked back as they routed Buffalo Tri-City 12-2 in a five-inning, run-rule win on Monday in non-conference high school baseball action in Mt. Pulaski.

Tyler Cross drove in a team-best three runs. Luke Martin drove in a pair of runs with a double. Keoni Charron had two RBIs and added a double for the Hilltoppers.

Mt. Pulaski overcame seven errors in the win. 

Preston Cowan struck out four in five innings of two-run ball; both runs were unearned. 

Mt. Pulaski is 16-8 overall. They travel to Havana on Wednesday. 

Chase March's run-scoring base hit scored two runs, and Lincoln walked off Rantoul 3-2 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Lincoln.

March's single scored Gage Rutledge, and Tate Aue ended up scoring on an error in the outfield. 

Carson Fuiten struck out nine in a complete game effort. The senior allowed two runs, one was earned, on four hits with just one walk.

Karson Komnick, Austin Lucas, Sampson Kurka, and Kane Komnick each had a pair of hits for the Railsplitters, who honored Kurka, Komnick, Fuiten, and Lucas for senior day before the game.

The Railers go to 17-8 overall. They visit Springfield Southeast on Tuesday. 

Kyle Glass drove in five runs, and Normal Community pounded out 12 hits and drew 12 walks as they made easy work of Peoria High School, 22-0 in a three-inning, run-rule win on Monday in Big 12 Conference high school baseball action in Normal in the opener of a doubleheader. 

Owen Knox drew a team-best four walks and drove in two runs. Chase Hendren and Nico Salvati drove in three runs for the Ironmen.

Hendren struck out nine in three perfect innings for Normal Community. 

In the second game, Carter Reiners drove in four runs as Normal Community followed up its opening win with a 17-0 victory in the second game. 

Reiners doubled twice. Salvati added another double in the second game. Glass drove in two as well. 

Normal Community played its JV lineup on Monday.

The Ironmen are 26-2 overall and 15-1 in Big 12 play. They take on Normal U-High on Tuesday. 

A four-run fourth inning allowed Effingham St. Anthony to get by Monticello 5-3 in non-conference high school baseball action on Monday in Monticello. 

After St. Anthony went ahead 4-1 in the fourth, Forrest Rawdin blasted a two-run shot that made it 4-3. 

Grant Kiger brought in a run to put the Sage in front 1-0 in the first. He later doubled. 

Dawson Gaitros, Cole Basak, and Koyie Williams had the only other hits for the Sages. 

Monticello falls to 26-3 overall. They host Clinton on Wednesday. Hear the action on 95.9 FM WEZC and online at dewittdailynews.com. 

Normal West built an early lead, but Peoria Notre rallied for an 8-5 win in Big 12 Conference High School baseball action on Monday in Peoria. 

The Wildcats went up 3-0 in the top of the second inning, but Poeria Notre Dame scored eight of the game's final ten runs to come away with the win. 

Mason Ahslinger drove in three to lead the Wildcats. He was 2-for-4 with a triple. 

Sam McCully drove in a run for Normal West. 

The Wildcats to go to 17-11 overall and 9-5 in the Big 12. They visit Danville on Tuesday before returning home to host Peoria Notre Dame on Wednesday. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, Hadley Humble hit a two-run homer in the fourth that helped the Clinton Maroons defeat the Shelbyville Rams by a final score of 9-7 in Central Illinois Conference high school softball action on Monday afternoon in Clinton. 

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Hadley Humble launched a two-run homer that also scored Riley Fentress, and sparked a game-winning rally for the Maroons. Kinzey Sickles and Lainey Nichols singled, and Khloe Riddle was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out on the board. 

A disputed infield fly ruling involving nine-hitter Aliviyah Haynes eliminated a potential inning-ending double play for Shelbyville. Still trailing 3-1 with the bases loaded and one out on the board, a flurry of singles and a double by Avery Smith made the score 6-3 and set up a 2 RBI triple for Riley Fentress that made it 8-3. 

Shelbyville got on the board first with a solo HR from Alex Jokisch. They got three runs back in the top of the fifth with singles from Kenzie Jones, Adison Musser, an RBI double from Claire Canada, and an RBI single from Tailyn Hancock to cut the Maroons' lead to 8-6. 

In the home half of the fifth, Haynes scored Nichols with a sac fly to add an insurance run and make it 9-6, although Shelbyville got one back with a second solo homer in the top of the sixth from Jokisch.

Fentress led the Maroons offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Humble was also 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Sickles, Nichols, Thompson, and Riddle all added hits in the outing. 

Haynes went the distance in circle, allowing seven runs on 12 hits, struck out eight, and committed seven errors. 

Jokish was 3-for-4 on the day for the Rams with two RBIs and three runs scored, including two solo homers. Aylah Logan, Canada, and Hancock all posted 2-for-4 days while Jones and Musser each added singles. 

Karli Boehm pitched six innings, allowing nine runs on 10 hits, struck out four, and walked one. 

With the win, Clinton improves to 8-17 and 3-5 in Central Illinois Conference play. Shelbyville falls to 6-12 and 2-6 in the CIC. The two teams will face off once again on Wednesday in Shelbyville. 

In a game heard on WHOW and all its digital platforms, the Lincoln Railsplitters capitalized on pitching errors in the first to beat the Clinton Maroons 3-0 in non-conference high school baseball action on Friday in Lincoln. 

Lincoln leadoff hitter Karson Komnick reached in the bottom of the first after being hit by a pitch. An error from second baseman Preston Curtis helped Austin Lucas reach. Komnick was scored after Byrce Vlahovich was hit by a pitch, and Lucas came around on an RBI single from Chase March. 

The third Railers run was an RBI double from Kane Komnick in the fourth that scored Tate Aue. 

Josh Bass, Ryan Pine, Mitchell Cornwell, and pinch hitter Emmett Brown combined for four Maroons hits on the day. 

Brock Wilson went the distance in the loss, twirling six innings while allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out three and walked three. 

Owen Comstock, Vlahovich, Cooper Koehler, and Kane Comnick all recorded a hit in the victory. Aue went 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Karson Komnick and Lucas both went hitless but both scored a run.

Karson Komnick had a shaky start on the mound for Lincoln, giving up three hits in three innings, walking four, and striking out two. Aue earned the win, coming in for four innings of relief, allowing just one hit and recording one strikeout. 

With the loss, Clinton falls to 15-11 while Lincoln improves to 16-8. 

The Maroons are off until Monday when they take on the Central A&M Raiders in Moweaqua in a Central Illinois Conference tilt. 

Tune in to WHOW and all its digital platforms to hear the Clinton Lady Maroons take on the Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Lady Falcons on Monday afternoon in Clinton. First pitch is at 4:30 PM.