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

The Ottawa baseball team - sparked by Adam Swanson's grand slam home run - defeated Sycamore on Thursday, while the Ottawa and Somonauk girls track teams finished runner-up in their respective conference meets. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Dixon baseball rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 4-3 walkoff win over Byron. Sterling girls track took second at the Big 6 meet, Oregon was second at the BNC meet, Fulton was second at the NUIC meet and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

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.

Madisyn Eikenberry had three hits, two stolen bases and a nice diving catch in center field in Rock Falls' 7-4 Big Northern Conference softball win at Dixon. Zoey Silva and Korah Hosler combined for 11 strikeouts in the circle for the Rockets.

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

The IHSA has released the postseason softball schedules. Here is a look at where Sauk Valley area teams are competing. Morrison received a No. 1 seed and will compete at the Newman regional. Oregon and Milledgeville are No. 2 seeds.

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.

Sterling's Adrian Monarrez had three RBIs and Danny Martinez closed the game in a 9-8 baseball win over Geneseo. Oregon's Kendall Boyle had three RBIs in a 10-3 softball win over Rock Falls, and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

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.

The Ottawa baseball team split a pair of games with Sycamore on Tuesday, while Somonauk and Serena both won to share the Little Ten Conference title. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Milledgeville softball beat Morrison 4-3 to take first in the NUIC South. Layla Wright had two home runs for Sterling, Dixon softball beat Oregon 2-1, track and field results, and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

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 Streator baseball team finished a conference series sweep of Reed-Custer on Tuesday, with seniors Cole Winterrowd, Clay Christoff, Joe Hoekstra and Talon Melvin all starring in a 9-2 victory.

Defense and communication made the difference for the Oregon girls soccer team in a 1-0 Big Northern Conference win at Dixon on Tuesday night. Mili Zavala had seven saves and freshman Jaqlynn Rufer scored the lone goal.

Sycamore senior pitcher Bella Jacobs, despite a blister on the thumb of her pitching hand, fired a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts against Ottawa at Peck Park on Tuesday to help the Spartans clinch the outright Interstate 8 Conference championship.

Football players from La Salle-Peru and Ottawa had the opportunity to gain recruiting exposure by participating in IHSA combines, which are new this spring.

Dixon baseball held on to win 9-8 at North Boone in eight innings as Jake Zepezauer scored on an error and Jagger Kemp had the save. Rock Falls baseball fell 4-3 at Byron, Eastland's Tatum Grim had two home runs and more in Monday's Sauk Valley 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.

Streator's Clay Christoff had a huge day at the plate and on the mound to lead the Bulldogs to victory on Monday, while Serena and Sandwich also earned wins on the diamond. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Newman senior softball player Brenleigh Cook is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. She had the game-winning hit in a 9-8 win over Hall and is one of the Comets' top hitters. Here is a Q&A with her.

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.

Dixon’s Sam Gingras was No. 2 singles champion at the Rochelle tennis invite. Sterling baseball beat Eastland 14-11 in nine innings, Polo baseball beat West Carroll 5-4 in nine innings, Dixon baseball split two and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley Roundup.

Seneca baseball and softball both were victorious Saturday, while Earlville and Sandwich softball suffered defeats, all in The Times Saturday Roundup.

Morrison senior Brady Anderson's record-breaking track season continued at the Oregon Hall of Fame Classic. Amboy freshman Ian Hassler won the discus, while Rochelle, Erie-Prophetstown and Oregon also had wins on Friday.

The Henry-Senachwine baseball and softball teams won, the Bureau Valley baseball team swept a doubleheader and more in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

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.

Sterling's Rosie Cantu hit two home runs in an 8-5 softball win at Rock Island. Eastland's Keara Kaus had two home runs, Zoey Silva pitched a one-hitter, Brady Anderson won four races, Newman's Garret Matznick pitched a one-hitter and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Ottawa baseball team fell to Plainfield South in extra innings at Schweickert Stadium in Peru on Friday, while the Newark softball team won big. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Ottawa freshman Teagan Darif smacked a pair of solo homers, and pitcher Addie Russell went the distance in the Pirates' 2-1 victory at Seneca on Friday. The win was Ottawa's sixth straight, while Seneca's loss was its first.

Madisyn Eikenberry led Rock Falls with five RBIs in an 18-3 win. Morrison softball beat Eastland 15-5, Newman softball won, Fulton's Braedon Meyers pitched a one-hitter, Dixon baseball won and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Seneca softball team, behind the hitting of Graysen Provance and pitching of both Tessa Krull and Hayden Pfeifer, improved to 23-0 on the season with a win over Dwight on Thursday, while the Marquette baseball team fell to St. Bede for the Crusaders first loss of the season.

Good situational hitting and a dominant outing on the mound carried Ottawa to a 10-0 win over La Salle-Peru on a rainy Thursday night at Huby Sarver Field, taking home the Illinois River Rivalry trophy and completing the series sweep.

Serena senior Cassie Walsh and Somonauk/Leland freshman Brielle Deacon hooked up in a classic pitchers’ duel on Thursday with the Huskers wrapping up an undefeated Little Ten Conference softball championship with a 1-0 victory over the Bobcats in Serena.

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.

Freshman Hannah Heiberger crushed two home runs Thursday to lead the St. Bede softball team to a 10-0, five-inning victory over Marquette.

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

Ottawa fell behind by four runs early but got its bats going in the fifth inning en route to a 10-7 victory over La Salle-Peru on Wednesday.

Dixon's Brady Lawrence earned a save as Dixon beat Oregon 10-8. Connor Politsch pitched a complete game in a 4-3 win over Dakota, Sterling boys tennis beat Galesburg 8-1 and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Eastin McBroom pitched another gem for Newark baseball, Ottawa baseball made it 2 for 2 against its archrival this season, and Earlville softball outslugged Newark, plus more in The Times Wednesday Roundup.

The Marquette softball team suffered its first Tri-County Conference loss in extra innings to St. Bede on Tuesday, while Serena blanked Somonauk/Leland in a battle of teams previously unbeaten in Little Ten Conference play. Plus more results from around the Times area.

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.

Sterling’s Eli Penne pitched a complete game in a 2-1 win over Quincy. Newman's Evan Bushman and Dixon's Daniel Fordham pitched complete games, Morrison's Ava Duncan pitched a shutout against Eastland, Fulton girls track won and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

After early struggles, Ottawa's Lucas Farabaugh smacked a run-scoring double in the eighth inning to help the Pirates top rival La Salle-Peru in Tuesday's Interstate 8 Conference game at Huby Sarver Field.

Rock Falls senior Carter Hunter hopes to see more passion from the team after an 8-3 loss to North Boone. Hunter led the Rockets with three hits and scored two runs from the leadoff spot.

The last time the Marquette Crusaders lost a baseball game was a year ago, and the opposing starting pitcher was St. Bede lefty Gino Ferrari. This time Marquette came out on top of another competitive meeting, 6-1, to move to 20-0 on the season.

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