Local Scores
Wilmington's baseball team downed Coal City 9-0 to win its third straight regional title, Manteno came back to beat Sandwich 9-7 to claim its second straight regional crown and Milford had its season come to an end with a 5-2 loss to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley.
Down to their last out, Marquette's Anthony Couch delivered a walk-off two-run home run to give the Crusaders a 4-3 win over host Bishop McNamara in Saturday's Class 2A regional title game.
In the Class 2A and 3A prelims at the IHSA Track and Field State Championships, Bradley-Bourbonnais' LyZale Edmon advanced to the finals in the 200 meters and as part of both the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams while Manteno's Briggs Cann qualified in the 400 meters.
Bishop McNamara's Malachi Lee, Cale Hamilton and Brock Clott were three of six area boys track and field athletes to advance to Saturday's state finals from the Class 1A prelims at Eastern Illinois University. This and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.
After getting an out at home plate to end the top of the sixth inning, Bishop McNamara saw Nick Pignatiello deliver the go-ahead, two-run single in the bottom of the inning as the Fightin' Irish scored a 7-5 win in Thursday's regional semifinal battle.
The Sandwich baseball team got a one-hit shutout from senior Nick Michalek, with help from timely defense, in a 9-0 win over Beecher in Thursday’s IHSA Class 2A Manteno Regional semifinal.
Maddie Simms had 17 strikeouts to lead Gardner-South Wilmington softball to a win in the IHSA Class 1 Indian Creek Sectional semifinals, Clifton Central baseball walked off Momence in the 1A Clifton Central Regional semifinals and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.
In the regular-season finale for both teams, Beecher got three hits and RBIs from both Chase Maher and Noah Hanson to best Gardner-South Wilmington in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.
Junior high track and field athletes from across the area claimed 10 state titles spanning classes 1A through 4A at the IESA state meets held over the last two weekends in East Peoria.
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