A look at the softball statistical leaders in the NewsTribune area for the 2024 season.

St. Bede senior Ella Hermes was dominant in the pitching circle and at the plate, leading to her selection as 2024 NewsTribune Softball Player of the Year.

The Tri-County Conference has released its all-league softball teams for the 2024 season, with the Illinois Valley area dominating the selections.

In an area strong with softball talent, it should come as no surprise the Illinois Valley was well-represented on the 2024 Illinois Coaches Association (ICA) All-State Teams, released over the weekend with the completion of the school season.

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L-P defeated Streator 5-4 in the Class 3A Regional semifinal game on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at Metamora High School. The Lady Cavs will face Metamora in the title game on Friday at 4:30p.m. in Metamora.

Today’s Class 2A Peoria Notre Dame sectional semifinals has been postponed to Wednesday due to the threat of severe storms in central and northern Illinois.

Jessalin Johns struck out 14 and got out of bases-loaded jams in the second and seventh innings, and Newman – despite being outhit – beat Putnam County 4-1 in Saturday’s Class 1A Putnam County Regional final.

A third meeting between two rivals came down to one run Friday evening in the Class 2A Rock Falls Regional title game. In the end, Bureau Valley pulled off its second upset of the week, defeating Bureau County and Three Rivers rival Princeton 6-5 in a thriller.

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St. Bede defeated Midwest Central 3-0 to win the Class 2A Regional title on Friday, May 17, 2024 at Abbot Phillip Davy Field.