Rock Falls scored in each of the first five innings, and Carter Hunter pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in a 9-5 win over Erie-Prophetstown in Wednesday night’s Class 2A Rock Falls Regional semifinal.

Rock Falls and Erie-Prophetstown face off in the Class 2A baseball regional Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Rock Falls won 9-5.

The IHSA boys track and field state meet takes place Thursday through Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Here is the full list of state qualifiers from the Sauk Valley area. Dixon is chasing a state trophy in 2A and Morrison is the defending 1A champion.

Rock Falls senior Kayla Hackbarth is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. She had a season-best discus throw at the state track and field meet, where she took 13th. Here is a Q&A with her.

Just who are these namesakes on the walls? This is the second in a two-part series telling the story and history behind the namesakes of area gymnasiums, tracks and track meets.

Here is a look at where area baseball teams are opening play in the IHSA postseason. Newman received a No. 1 seed in its Class 3A debut, Dixon is a No. 2 seed, Forreston is a No. 1 seed in 1A and Fulton is a No. 3 seed.

Izzy Berg pitched a complete game, Ashlee Mundell had five RBIs and Oregon softball beat Rock Falls 8-0 for the Class 2A Oregon Regional title. It is the young Hawks' first regional title since 2022.

Oregon scored eight runs while holding Rock Falls scoreless to win the Class 2A Oregon Regional championship on Saturday, May 23, 2026 at Oregon Park West. The Hawks now advance to the Marengo Sectional.

The Dixon boys track and field team used its depth to win a sectional title for the first time since 2002. Rock Falls and Sterling also had state qualifiers at Rochelle.

Junior pitcher Zoey Silva struck out 17 and added four hits at the plate to lead Rock Falls to a 7-2 victory over Winnebago in their Class 2A Oregon Regional semifinal Wednesday night.

Rock Falls advanced to the finals of the 2A Oregon Regional defeating Winnebago 7-2 at Oregon Park West. The Rockets will face the Oregon Hawks for the regional championship on Saturday, May 23.

Several area teams took part in the Class 2A Rochelle Boys Track Sectional Wednesday including Byron, Dixon, Kaneland, Mendota, Plano, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Sandwich, Sterling and Sycamore, here are photos of the field events at the meet.

Several area teams took part in the Class 2A Rochelle Boys Track Sectional Wednesday including Byron, Dixon, Kaneland, Mendota, Plano, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Sandwich, Sterling and Sycamore, here are photos of the running events at the meet.

The IHSA girls track and field state finals take place Thursday through Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Here is the full list of state qualifiers from the Sauk Valley area.

Eighth-seeded Erie-Prophetstown softball led top-seeded Riverdale 3-2 before falling just short in the regional semifinals. Milledgeville and Eastland softball advanced, Dixon and Oregon girls soccer advanced and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Here is a look at the sectional meets that local boys track and field athletes are competing in on Wednesday and Friday. Dixon is looking for its first sectional title since 2002. Morrison and Forreston-Polo are defending sectional champions.

Megan Hubbard had eight strikeouts and Avery Mangler had two RBIs as West Carroll softball beat Polo 5-3, advancing to face Morrison. Erie-Prophetstown and Amboy softball also advanced, Rock Falls baseball beat Mendota and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Rock Falls softball player Madi Eikenberry missed her freshman year while battling Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. Now one year cancer free, she has been the Rockets' top hitter. 'I’m so grateful for every day that I get to be alive.'

The Dixon boys track and field team won a 10th straight Big Northern Conference meet. Byron was second by 101 points. 'I think this is the best Dixon team ever.'

Dixon finished first at the Big Northern Conference meet held at Stillman Valley High School on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Derek Prieto won the 200 and 400 as Sterling took third at the Western Big 6 Conference track and field meet. Dixon's Brady Lawrence pitched a complete game, Dixon softball won 14-1 and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Mendota junior Mariyah Elam and Morris senior Ava Conley both put together strong efforts, qualifying for the state finals in three events in Wednesday’s IHSA Class 2A Mendota Girls Track and Field Sectional.

Teams from Sterling, Rock Falls, Mendota, Princeton, Streator, La Salle-Peru, Ottawa, Coal City, Morris and Herscher all competed during the Class 2A Sectional track meet on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in the Jeff Prusator Athletic Complex at Mendota High School.

The Hall Lady Devils broke open a 3-3 game with 11 runs in the fourth inning for a 10-run rule, 14-3 victory Wednesday in Spring Valley. The Hall and Bureau Valley baseball teams also won on the diamond.

Erie-Prophetstown’s Isabella Olvera had six RBIs and Lilly Swatos drove in four in an 18-1 win over Hall. Oregon and Milledgeville softball won, Bryson Wiersema had a home run and five RBIs for Milledgeville, Dixon baseball won and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Here is a look at where the Sauk Valley girls track and field teams will be competing on Wednesday and Friday with a shot at qualifying for state. Fulton, Oregon and Sterling all won sectional titles last season.

Sterling boys tennis beat Newman 4-1, Newman baseball beat Amboy 10-0, Rock Falls won 2-0, Dixon lost to Byron 8-2, Newman softball beat Amboy 8-7, results from the Milledgeville boys track invite and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Morrison's Allie Anderson had three RBIs and Ava Duncan pitched a complete game in a 3-2 softball win at East Dubuque. Amboy softball beat Earlville twice, Eastland won 26-3 and more in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling's Lily Martinez hit two home runs in a 16-1 softball win over Rock Falls. Newman softball won 11-1, Forreston baseball beat Milledgeville 6-0, Dixon boys track took second in Geneseo and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

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.

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.

Dixon softball fell to Rock Falls 7-4 Thursday, May 7, 2026, in Dixon.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rock Falls fell to North Boone 8-3 in varsity baseball Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

Oregon sophomore Izzy Berg struck out the first 12 Rockets and finished with 16 Ks in an 11-0 Big Northern Conference win at Rock Falls on Wednesday. She also had three hits and Kendall Boyle hit a home run for the young Hawks.

Oregon had a dominant performance in an 11-0 win at Rock Falls Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

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.

After giving up two early unearned runs, Rock Falls softball bounced back to beat Dixon 12-2 in five innings. Zoey Silva pitched a complete game

Brady Lawrence struck out eight and Dixon's advantageous offense pulled away for a 10-4 Big Northern Conference win at Rock Falls on Thursday.

Dixon travels to Rock Falls to take on the Rockets Thursday, April 9, 2026. Dixon took the win 10-4.

Here is a preview look at each baseball team across the Sauk Valley coverage area as the 2026 season is underway.

A look at all-time boys & girls basketball scoring leaders for 58 area schools, including 14 closed schools. Six area players, including Princeton's Keighley Davis and Fieldcrest's Macy Gochanour, moved to No. 1 this season along with players from Byron, Orion and Polo.

Here is a preview look at each softball team across the Sauk Valley coverage area as the 2026 season gets underway.

Oregon hit five of its first six 3-point attempts, then used a huge second-quarter run to take control early in a 76-48 win over Rock Falls in their Class 2A Rock Falls Regional semifinal Wednesday night at Tabor Gym.

Rock Falls falls to Oregon 76-48 in the Class 2A regional semifinal Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Oregon will take on Mendota for the regional crown.