After powering the Boilermakers to back-to-back regional championships against some of the best teams in the state, Bradley-Bourbonnais' Cody Freitas is the Daily Journal Baseball Player of the Year.

Lydia Hammond capped off one of the best pitching seasons in the state with a Class 4A postseason run for the ages, earning the title of Daily Journal Softball Player of the Year.

Whether at the plate, on the mound or in the field, top-tier players abound on this year's Daily Journal All-Area Baseball Team.

With 27 all-state standouts and several more all-conference selections that helped fuel spostseason runs, the Daily Journal All-Area Softball Team is as good as it gets.

Roy Cordes retired this spring after 17 years announcing for Kankakee Community College Athletics, becoming know as the "Voice of the Cavaliers" during his time there.

With Wilmington's Kyle Farrell having his high school sports career come to an end, it also brings an end to the time he and his father Chad Farrell have spent representing the Wildcats together as player and coach.

From goalkeeper to forward and everywhere in between, this year's Daily Journal All-Area girls soccer team features some of the state's top stars.

One of four local all-state players and the leader of a Peotone team that was two wins away from a trip to state, Allie Werner is this year's Daily Journal Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

The Illinois Hall of Fame held its inaugural induction ceremony last weekend, where longtime Bishop McNamara football coach Rich Zinanni and Beecher Muskies manager Fred LeSage attended as two of six inductees with local ties.