It wasn’t Marquette‘s prettiest game at the plate or defensively, but the Cru did just enough to hold on late against Putnam County on a windy Thursday night at Masinelli Field in Ottawa.

The Hinckley-Big Rock/Somonauk/Leland and Serena/Newark/Earlville co-op girls soccer teams each played solid throughout Thursday 2-2 tie in a match held at Serena High School.

Avah Oertel hit for the cycle, Princeton had 16 hits, including six for extra bases, and five Tigresses had multiple hits in a 15-0, four-inning win over Hall on Thursday

Bureau Valley senior Emily Wright had her signing day on Wednesday to play softball for Coe College next year. She'll be joining her brother, Sam, on campus, who will be a senior baseball player for the Kohawks.

The Princeton softball team defeated Hall 15-0 on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

The Ottawa softball team - behind two home runs from winning pitcher Kennedy Kane - topped Rochelle on Wednesday while the Seneca baseball/softball teams rolled to wins, and the Ottawa girls soccer team set a program record for wins. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The La Salle-Peru baseball team lost a conference game, plus more results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The IHSA released its 2026 softball postseason schedules Wednesday. Here are the paths awaiting teams from across the Illinois Valley, including Seneca, Princeton, Ottawa, La Salle-Peru, Streator, St. Bede, Marquette and more.

Ottawa's Adam Swanson continues to surge, Streator and Serena pitching staffs have been solid, and Marquette to face a pair of solid opponents on Saturday in The Times Baseball Notebook.