Ava Balestri hit a bases-clearing in the sixth inning to help the St. Bede softball team rally to beat Prairie Central 5-3 to claim its fifth straight regional title.

Taylor Vescogni struck out 11 in a three-hitter, and Anna Riva homered and turned a diving double play as La Salle-Peru defeated Sterling 4-1 in their Class 3A Sterling Regional opener on Tuesday.

Lasalle-Peru beats Sterling 4-1 Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in the Sterling Class 3A softball regional semifinal.

St. Bede defeated Dwight on Friday, May 15, 2026 at St. Bede Academy.

Henry-Senachwine played Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Woodland High School.

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.

Thanks to a rainout earlier in the week, Mother Nature gifted Kairi Lantz a game on her 18th birthday Thursday. The Sycamore senior catcher gifted herself and Spartan softball teammates a two-run home run, her 11th of the year, in a 7-0 win over La Salle-Peru.

The LaSalle-Peru softball team traveled to Sycamore Thursday to take on the Spartans in a rainy Interstate 8 Conference matchup.

Ottawa defeated L-P 10-7 on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.