Softball

Almost a year after the Sycamore Sycos 16U team won the travel program’s first Storm Dayz title, the Sycos 15U team brought home another – playing up an age group and winning the 16U bracket Sunday at the Sycamore Park District Fields.

Lydia Hammond capped off one of the best pitching seasons in the state with a Class 4A postseason run for the ages, earning the title of Daily Journal Softball Player of the Year.

With 27 all-state standouts and several more all-conference selections that helped fuel spostseason runs, the Daily Journal All-Area Softball Team is as good as it gets.

Here is a look at some of the best softball players the area had to offer in the 2025 season, the 2025 Herald-News All-Area Softball Team.

Lisabella Dimitrijevic of Lincoln-Way Central earned her second straight Herald-News Softball Player of the Year honor after going 23-1 with a 0.47 ERA and 349 strikeouts against 29 walks.

Wheaton North senior shortstop and Brown commit Reagan Crosthwaite, who set single-season and career records for homers and RBIs and led the Falcons to their second straight sectional final, is the 2025 Suburban Life Softball Player of the Year.

Scott Busam helped lead Prairie Ridge to a historic season. The Wolves won their first Fox Valley Conference championship since 2016 and advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals for the first time. Busam is the 2025 Northwest Herald Softball Coach of the Year.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team.

Prairie Ridge junior right-handed pitcher Reese Mosolino found another gear in the postseason, tossing five shutouts in seven games and leading the Wolves to their best season ever. Mosolino is the 2025 Northwest Herald Softball Player of the Year.

Dozens of local softball teams, including the Sycamore Sycos and the host Kishwaukee Valley Storm, are participating in the annual Storm Dayz tournament this weekend. Both Sycamore organizations had teams in action Friday ranging from 12u to 18u.

Here is the 2025 Suburban Life All-Area softball team.

L-P softball coach Randy Huebbe was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, and started chemotherapy treatment during the season. He said his prognosis is good.

As the 25th annual Storm Dayz tournament kicks off this Friday in Sycamore, the Sycamore Sycos, buoyed by last year’s historic victory, aim to capitalize on newfound momentum against fierce competition from the Kishwaukee Valley Storm and beyond.

Here is the 2025 Record Newspapers All-Area softball team.

Oswego junior and Purdue recruit Jaelynn Anthony, who led the Panthers to the program's first state championship as a dynamic two-way threat pitching and hitting, is the 2025 Record Newspapers softball Player of the Year.

The Times Sports staff is proud to present our picks for 40 of the top prep softball players across the area, the 2025 Times All-Area Softball Team.

Congratulations to the 2025 Times Softball Player of the Year, Seneca all-state pitcher/hitter Tessa Krull.

Take a look back at the drama, excitement and all-out effort put forth by the hundreds of high school spring sports athletes from throughout the Sauk Valley who competed in 2025.

Roy Cordes retired this spring after 17 years announcing for Kankakee Community College Athletics, becoming know as the "Voice of the Cavaliers" during his time there.

With the conclusion of the 2025 high school spring sports season, take a look back at some of the best images from the Sauk Valley.

When Sycamore faced a tough pitcher or the bats had a bad day, Bella Jacobs made sure to do what she could to keep the Spartans in the game until the bats woke up. The junior starter was named the Daily Chronicle 2025 Softball Player of the Year.

Big boppers dominated the softball season, with school record falling and big numbers going up. We look at all the best offensive and pitching talent on the Daily Chronicle All-Area Softball Team.

The Interstate 8 released its all-conference teams on Thursday for six spring sports.

The Sycamore Sycos 16u softball team practiced Wednesday at their indoor practice facility in DeKalb as they stay sharp for the season and prepare for the Storm Dayz tournament hosted by the Kishwaukee Valley Storm. The tournament, in Sycamore, runs June 27-29 at the Sycamore Community Sports Complex.

A dozen Bradley-Bourbonnais athletes from across six spring sports earned spots on All-SouthWest Suburban Conference teams for their 2025 seasons

The Daily Journal coverage area once again boasted some of the state's best softball talent this spring, earning a total of 27 Illinois Softball Coaches Association All-State nods.

Wheaton North senior shortstop Reagan Crosthwaite, who led the Falcons to their second consecutive sectional final this season, was among those named Class 4A First Team All-State by the Illinois Coaches Association in voting released this week.

Nine Daily Chronicle-area softball players earned spots on the Illinois Coaches Association All-State team including just two seniors but three freshmen.

Senior catcher Kiyah Chavez and junior pitcher Jaelynn Anthony of Class 4A state champion Oswego were among those named Class 4A First Team All-State by the Illinois Coaches Association in voting announced this week.

Ottawa sophomores Piper Lewis, Addie Russell and Bobbi Snook, as well as Streator senior Makenna Ondrey were named to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State teams in Class 3A, released late Sunday.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Four La Salle-Peru softball players earned All-State honors from the Illinois Coaches Association.

Hampshire's Bria Riebel, Crystal Lake Central's Oli Victorine, Prairie Ridge's Ady Kiddy and Reese Mosolino and Harvard's Tallulah Eichholz were named to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State first team in Class 3A and 4A, released late Sunday.

A look at the area baseball and softball players named to the All-Illinois Central Eight Conference teams this season.

Lauren Harbison was dominant in the circle and at the plate as she led Henry-Senachwine to a school record for wins and a sectional championship.

Aubriella Garza hit her program record-breaking 14th homer of the season, a solo shot, for Oswego's first run, and Jaelynn Anthony struck out 18 as the Panthers beat Barrington 4-1 in the Class 4A final for the program's first state championship.

Oswego defeated Barrington 4-1 to win the Class 4A State softball championship on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria.

Lockport led by three entering the sixth inning before Oak Park-River Forest managed to come from behind to get the win. The Porters overcame a lot of adversity to even reach the state tournament and have reason to be optimistic about the future.

Oak Park River Forest defeated Lockport 6-5 to win third place in the IHSA Class 4A softball third-place game on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Providence Catholic fell 3-2 in eight innings to Chatham Glenwood in the Class 3A state championship softball game, but still produced the best finish in program history

Prairie Ridge pounded out 17 hits, including four by senior Ady Kiddy, while junior ace Reese Mosolino tossed one last shutout, and the Wolves celebrated a 12-0, five-inning win over St. Laurence Saturday in the Class 3A state third-place game.

Chatham Glenwood defeated Providence Catholic 3-2 in the Class 3A State title game on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Prairie Ridge shut out Burbank St. Laurence 12-0 to win the IHSA Class 3A State third place game on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Kennedy Gengler made many dazzling plays at shortstop. Second baseman Adalynn Fugitt had four hits. Oswego's first-year middle infield drove in the team's first two runs and the Panthers went on to a 13-2 win in over Oak Park-River Forest in the Class 4A semifinal.

Barrington scored the first run against Lockport in the postseason and advanced to the Class 4A title game with a 1-0, 10-inning win

Oswego faced Oak Park-River Forest in a IHSA Class 4A state semifinal game on Friday, June 13, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Lockport faced Barrington in a IHSA Class 4A state semifinal game on Friday, June 13, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Prairie Ridge, making its state debut, was unable to come up with the big hit Friday, while Glenwood jumped on the Wolves early for a 5-0 win in the Class 3A semifinals. Prairie Ridge will face St. Laurence at 9 a.m. Saturday for third place.

Prairie Ridge fell 5-0 to Glenwood in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinal at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in East Peoria on June 13, 2025.