A look at the top games to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area for the 2025 football season.

A look at the top boys track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Alex Rodriguez competed in the recent USATF Illinois Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held at Proviso East High School in Maywood, placing first in the hammer throw (41.91m), second in discus (45.71m), and third in shot (15.52m).

This week, the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association unveiled its 2025 All-State Team, celebrating standout athletes, including Class 1A champions Marquette’s Alec Novotney and Sam Mitre.

A look at the best baseball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the NewsTribune area's baseball stat leaders for the 2025 season.

The Tri-County and Heart of Illinois released their baseball and softball all-conference teams.

Putnam County junior Alex Rodriguez was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after winning two medals at the Class 1A state track and field meet.

Princeton's Ian Morris and Bureau Valley's Landon Hulsing won discus state titles, five area throwers brought home six medals and St. Bede's Greyson Marincic was runner-up in the 110 hurdles at the IHSA boys track and field state meet.

Ottawa senior Weston Averkamp had a day to remember at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field, as the EIU recruit finished third in the Class 3A 300 hurdles and seventh in the 110 hurdles for Ottawa's best state place since 2006.

Putnam County junior Alex Rodriguez qualified for the state finals in discus and shot put, along with more state track and field and boys tennis state tournament results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

St. Bede's Lily Bosnich and Henry-Midland's Daniella Bumber advanced to the finals in the Class 1A state track meet and more track, baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

With eight runs in the first two innings of its Class 1A home regional final, the Fulton Steamers cruised to their second straight 20-win season and first postseason plaque since 2018.

The Henry-Senachwine and Earlville softball teams advanced in regional play, area boys track and field athletes qualified for state out of the El Paso-Gridley Sectional and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Fieldcrest's Pru Mangan and Macy Gochanour qualified for state track along with baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Henry-Senachwine softball team improved to 20-3, the Hall baseball team scored late to win and more baseball, softball, tennis and soccer results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Putnam County baseball team is using technology to communicate, L-P's Taylor Vescogni and Henry's Lauren Harbison reached strikeout milestones and more in the NewsTribune baseball/softball notebook.

The L-P softball team clinched the outright Interstate 8 Conference title and more softball, baseball, soccer, tennis and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

Henry senior Lauren Harbison broke the school record for career strikeouts in a nonconference win and more softball and baseball results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Mendota and St. Bede baseball teams won in their last at-bat and more baseball, softball and track and field results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam won three conference titles in track, St. Bede softball won and more baseball, softball, track and field and soccer results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Gino Ferrari threw a two-hit shutout as St. Bede edged Putnam County 1-0 on Thursday.

St. Bede defeated Putnam County on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at St. Bede Academy.

Drew Carlson and Valeria Villagomez were named as 2024-25 Athletes of the Year at Putnam County High School’s awards ceremony.

St. Bede's Lily Bosnich broke the 20-year-old Illinois Valley area record in the 100-meter hurdles in the Tri-County Conference Meet and more track and field, baseball and softball results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

L-P will find out out more this week about senior Jacob Gross's possible return, Bureau Valley has tied the school record for wins and more in the NewsTribune baseball notebook.

A look at the top baseball players in the NewsTribune area.

Lauren Harbison hit a grand slam and threw a shutout to lead the Henry-Senachwine softball team to a win, the La Salle-Peru boys and girls track and field teams won at home and more baseball, softball, track and field, tennis and soccer results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

After leading the Putnam County girls basketball program for 10 years, Jared Sale is taking over the PC boys program.

The Bureau Valley softball team beat Henry and Abingdon-Avon and more baseball and softball results in Saturday's NewsTribune/BCR roundup.

The L-P softball team routed Alleman, the L-P boys and girls track teams won in Mendota and more baseball, softball and track and field results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

Alec Novotney threw a one-hitter to lead Marquette to a 2-0 win over Putnam County on Friday.

Audrey Scherer hit a grand slam and a two-run home run to lead Earlville to a win and more softball, baseball, track and field, tennis and golf results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Taylor Cuchra and Avery Durdan both homered, Savanah Erickson allowed no earned runs over five innings, and Marquette topped Putnam County 11- in a Tri-County Conference softball game Tuesday at June Gross Field.

Marquette defeated Putnam County 11-1 in five innings on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at June Cross Field in Ottawa.

Max Bryant of Hall and Jackson McDonald of Putnam County have each made six starts for Southwestern Illinois Community College, pitching in to help the Blue Storm earn a No. 24 ranking in the nation.

Lauren Harbison hit for the cycle in Henry's win over Stark County and more softball, baseball, soccer, tennis and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P baseball team blanked Sycamore again, Earlville beat Putnam County in softball and more baseball, softball, tennis, soccer and track and field results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The L-P tennis team won two of three doubles matches before its dual with Ottawa was postponed, Mendota soccer won by shutout, and more baseball, softball, track and field and golf results in Tuesday's NewsTribune Roundup.

The Henry-Senachwine softball team shut out Marquette, the St. Bede baseball team won and more softball, baseball, soccer and track and field results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

Bureau Valley's Landon Hulsing walked away with three individual wins by sweeping the throws and winning the high jump in Saturday’s Rollie Morris invite at Hall High School. But he was more happy that he helped Bureau Valley win the meet.

Putnam County defeated Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell 10-5 on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at Woodland High School.

The Putnam County Panthers put Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell on their heels early and never let up, rolling to a 10-5 road win on Thursday evening at Woodland High School.

Putnam County junior Alex Rodriquez set the school record in the discus with a throw of 49.03 meters in the Dale Collis Invite. Rodriguez also won the shot put at 13.99. The BV baseball and PC and Henry-Senachwine softball teams all won Wednesday

Putnam County freshman Kennedy Holocker was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after strong performances at the plate and in the pitching circle to help the Panthers to a 3-1 week.

The LaSalle-Peru baseball and softball teams were both victorious on the diamond Saturday. Ball teams from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton, St. Bede and IVCC were all in action with track invitationals at LaSalle and Mendota. This and more in today's NT roundup.

The St. Bede softball team won big, the Mendota baseball team beat Hall in extra innings and more baseball, softball, soccer and track and field results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

The St. Bede baseball team won a conference game and more baseball, softball, tennis and track and field results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Putnam County bounced back from its first loss to top Bureau Valley on Tuesday.

Putnam County beat Bureau Valley 11-1 on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at Putnam County High School.