The St. Bede softball and baseball teams won big in nonconference action, Hall baseball swept a doubleheader and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Hall softball team topped Princeton, L-P softball beat No. 4 Dunlap, the Bureau Valley boys and girls track and field teams swept the Lincoln Trail Conference Meet and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Johnathon Stunkel threw a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and Putnam County executed two squeeze bunts in a 3-0 win over Mendota on Friday.

Putnam County defeated Mendota on Friday, May 8, 2026 at Putnam County High School. Putnam County's Johnathon Stunkel threw a 1-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and no walks in the game.

The Hall, St. Bede and La Salle-Peru baseball teams won conference games, plus more in Thursday'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.

Henry-Midland's Daniella Bumber won four events at the Tri-County Conference Meet, Mendota baseball beat Bureau Valley and more in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Earlville softball team won by a run, the Henry-Senachwine baseball team earned a nonconference win and more in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Illinois Valley's girls soccer clubs – La Salle-Peru, Ottawa, Streator, DePue-Hall, Mendota, Princeton and the Serena and HBR co-ops – have learned their postseason paths, with regionals opening May 15.

The St. Bede baseball team won a conference game, the La Salle-Peru boys and girls track teams won a quad and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

The St. Bede baseball team beat Marquette to end the Crusaders' 39-game winning streak, the St. Bede boys track team won its own home meet, the Mendota soccer team blanked Serena and more in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Newman baseball team faced an early deficit again against Mendota, but the Comets took advantage of walks while Michael Morse and Liam Nicklaus threw strikes. Newman won 9-2 in five innings due to rainy conditions.

Newman baseball beat Mendota 9-2 in a soggy home game in varsity baseball Thursday, April 30, 2026.

The Putnam County softball team topped Dwight, the Mendota softball team won big and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The St. Bede softball team won in extra innings, Keely Lawson hit two home runs in Princeton softball's win, Bureau Valley track and field won its own senior night meet and more in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Marquette's Todd Hopkins, Woodland's Connor Kaminke and Mendota's Steve Wasmer will be among the 2026 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coaches of the Year.

A look at the baseball statistical leaders in the NewsTribune area.

Mendota track and field athlete Greyson Lane is 'stable and communicating' at Lurie's Children's Hospital in Chicago after being struck by a shot put at practice.

The Mendota softball team won three games at the Byron tournament, Fieldcrest baseball earned a walk-off win and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Bureau Valley girls track team won the Rock Falls Invite, the Mendota baseball team earned a walk-off win and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota's Esten Otero hit two homers in a win, the Putnam County baseball and softball teams had walkoff wins and more in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P girls soccer team won a conference game, St. Bede's Ranbir Saini threw a shutout, Fieldcrest baseball earned a walkoff win and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

St. Bede senior standout Lily Bosnich broke three meet records at Hall’s Rollie Morris Invite on Saturday. BV's Elise House, Mendota's Sabastian Carlos and LaMoille's Olivea Glaspar have also broken school records this season.

The IVCC softball team swept Sauk Valley, the Putnam County baseball and softball teams beat Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell, and more in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Hall and Putnam County softball teams won conference games, the St. Bede and Putnam County baseball teams won by shutout and more in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

Rock Falls won seven events with four seconds to beat out host Princeton. The Tigers' Landen Hoffman swept the throws while teammate Casey Etheridge won both hurdles events.

The St. Bede softball team went 2-1 at the Elgin Larkin tournament, Earlville softball won big, Henry baseball earned a nonconference win and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

St. Bede senior Lily Bosnich set three meet records, the Bureau Valley girls won and the Storm boys took second at the title at Saturday's Rollie Morris Invitational.

Hall beat Putnam County in baseball, St. Bede topped Hall in softball, the Mendota baseball and softball teams each won in five innings and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota's Sebastian Carlos set the school's 400 record, L-P baseball and softball won, Earlville softball edged Putnam County and more in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

From the very start, this did not look like the same two teams and pitching matchup that saw Princeton rack up a 14-1 victory over Mendota on Monday. Princeton’s offense came to life, scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth and six more in the sixth en route to a 12-4 win

Hall baseball beat Kewanee, St. Bede and Henry softball won big, IVCC softball swept a doubleheader and more in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Keighley Davis scored two goals as Princeton improved to 9-0 with a 2-1 victory over Mendota on Tuesday.

Jack Oester's two-run single gave Princeton baseball a win over Mendota, the DePue-Hall and Mendota girls soccer teams won, and more in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P girls track and field team won its invitational, Princeton girls soccer won its tournament, Geno Dinges threw a two-hit shutout for St. Bede baseball and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Mendota baseball and softball teams beat Earlville, three L-P softball players hit home runs in a win over Rock Falls and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Princeton will be hosting a 2A baseball regional as part of the Chillicothe IVC Sectional and St. Bede Supersectional. Putnam County and L-P will host softball sectionals. See where all of the Bureau County area teams were assigned.

The Hall baseball (12-1) and softball (7-2) swept Mendota on the Spring Valley diamonds while Bureau Valley swept Abingdon-Avon on Thursday. Princeton girls track team won their own Howard-Monier Invite. This and more in Thursday's NT roundup.

Sterling girls soccer fell to Mendota 2-1 Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Sterling High School.

Briza Cervantes and Kamilah Preciado each scored for the Trojans with Zariah Escatel making one assist. Ariana Sanchez had six saves in goal. The Mendota baseball and softball teams also win and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup

Carson Rowe had a leadoff single, took third on a double by Jacob Miller and scored the game-winning run for Henry on a wild pitch. The L-P and Princeton baseball and the Princeton and Hall softball teams also win. This and more in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup

Leah Henkel went 4 for 4, Lexie Saylor was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs and Eva Beetz (2 for 4) and Karson Doyle (double) each drove in three runs to lead Mendota (2-3, 1-0) to a 14-4 Three Rivers East win over Hall. Princeton and Henry softball also win.

Leah Henkel went 4 for 4, Lexie Saylor was 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs and Eva Beetz (2 for 4) and Karson Doyle (double) each drove in three runs to lead Mendota (2-3, 1-0) to a 14-4 Three Rivers East win over Hall. Princeton and Henry softball also win.

The Hall Red Devils have five games in six days this week and are looking to string some wins together. Luke Bryant got them off to a good start Monday, spinning a five-hit shutout in a 15-0 win in five innings in a Three Rivers East contest at Mendota.

A look at the boys track and field teams in the NewsTribune area for the 2026 season.

A look at the girls track and field teams in the NewsTribune area for the 2026 season.

Braden Curran delivered on the mound and at the plate to lead the Red Devils to a 13-2 Three Rivers Conference crossover victory Friday in Orion. Putnam County was also a winner on the diamond, while the L-P and Mendota track teams opened their outdoors season.

A look at the best boys basketball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

A look at the top girls basketball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

The Hall softball team earned its first win, area athletes medaled at Illinois Prep Top Times and more results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.