As the school year winds down, families across the Sauk Valley begin the seasonal shift into summer routines. While the break offers a well-earned change of pace, it also presents a challenge: keeping kids active, engaged and connected.

Outside of the state meet, the most competitive track meet for area small schools is the Oregon Hall of Fame Hawk Classic, with 23 teams present.

Callaghan O'Connor went five the first five innings before Braylon Ricketts' closed out Bishop McNamara's combined no-hitter, Lexi Strohm threw a perfect game for Wilmington softball and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

Monday's Illinois Central Eight Conference thriller between host Manteno and Coal City baseball was suspended by lightning right before the bottom of the seventh inning of an 8-8 game. It will be completed Tuesday in Coal City, followed by the second game of the series.

Meet this week's Daily Journal Athlete of the Week, Beecher's Makenzie Johnson.

Area football players show off their skills at the Northern Burbs Football Showcase on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Johnsburg High School. Over 165 players from 15 teams demonstrated their football skills to over 60 college coaches.

Oregon Community Unit School District 220 recently announced that Head Boys Basketball Coach Jarrett Reynolds has been named a Regional Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA).

Anna Lesage twirled a two-hitter for the Tigers softball team, Dylan Bayston and Gaige Brown combined for a shutout on the baseball field and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

Aiden Fitzgerald had the game-tying RBI double and scored the winning run for the Boilermakers, McNamara got homers from Gavin Jones and Ian Irps, Herscher saw Keira Ahramovich and Lexi Crawford homer as part of their four-hit days and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.

The Herscher Invite was held Friday, where Wilmington's McKenna Von Tilburg won all four of her events and Tigers seniors like Kelly O'Connor and Jeremy Szepelak ran their final home meets.

Huntley faces Prairie Ridge in a Fox Valley Conference baseball game against Cary-Grove on May 1, 2026, at Prairie Ridge High School.

Non-disclosure agreements can silence victims and prevent information from being shared between organizations. Suspected offenders often move between coaching jobs in different jurisdictions and statutes of limitations prevent prosecution of older allegations.

Bradley-Bourbonnais' softball team secured its sixth straight SouthWest Suburban Conference win with an 11-1 victory over Stagg, Kankakee softball won another high-scoring Southland Athletic Conference game 24-17 over Bloom and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

After Bishop McNamara erased a four-run deficit to take a late lead against Hope Academy Thursday, the Eagles responded to tie it in the top of the seventh. In the bottom, Fightin' Irish senior Ian Irps hit the walk-off single that gave the Irish a senior night to remember.

After coming from behind for a home win Tuesday, the Gardner-South Wilmington softball team picked up a 13-8 road win over Clifton Central on Thursday to finish off its fourth River Valley Conference sweep of the season.

Ottawa shut out L-P 10-0 on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle. The Pirates raised the Illinois River Rivalry trophy after knocking off the Cavaliers.

Cary-Grove face McHenry in a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at McHenry High School.

Thousands of baseball fans fill the Old Joliet Prison for a preseason game between the Joliet Slammers and the Gate Way Grizzles on Thursday afternoon.

Kankakee's softball team rallied for 10 runs in the final two innings to down Bloom 14-8, Bishop McNamara stayed hot with its third straight win and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Emily Horath, Loryn Edwards, Miranda Lingo and Maddy Belisle found the back of the net for Manteno in Wednesday's 5-0 win over Bishop McNamara that gave the surging Panthers their fourth win in five games.

A day after picking up a walkoff win to snap a five-game skid, Momence outlasted a late rally from Reed-Custer to pick up a 7-6 home win and take back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Ottawa defeated L-P 10-7 on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.

Hampshire faces Crystal Lake South in a Fox Valley Conference baseball game on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Crystal Lake South High School.

Beecher and Momence both walked off with wins in River Valley Conference play, Herscher's softball team did the same in Illinois Central Eight Conference play and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Bradley-Bourbonnais ace Lydia Hammond wasn't supposed to pitch much against Lockport Tuesday as she works her way back from an injury. But taking a perfect game into the sixth and no-hitter into the seventh, Hammond threw a complete game in a pivotal 7-2 Boilermakers' win.

Beecher's Allie Johnson and Carmela Irwin combined for a five-inning perfect game in game two of Tuesday's River Valley Conference doubleheader sweep over Grant Park after Taylor Norkus threw a two-hitter in game one, showcasing the pitching depth on the undefeated Bobcats.

Marengo faces Woodstock North in a Kishwaukee River Conference softball game on Tuesday, April 28 , 2026, at Woodstock North High School.

St. Bede defeated Marquette 13-6 on Tuesday, April 23, 2026 at June Cross Field in Ottawa.

Marquette defeated St. Bede 6-1 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at Masinelli Field in Ottawa.

Eight area college, high school and junior high coaches from the Kankakee area were named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coaches of the Year.

Exxxxxxxxxxxxcellence in execution: An Oregon man has rolled more than 70 perfect 300 games and dozens of 800 series on the bowling alley. From faith to family roots and decades of Monday nights, it’s the people and passion that keep Josh Grove coming back to the lanes.

Rochelle boys track won the Rocket Invite at Rock Falls, girls track was third, plus tennis results in the News-Leader weekly sports roundup.

After rain pushed back opening night by a week, racing season officially got underway at the Kankakee County Speedway on April 24. Here are the results from that first night of racing.

Harvard faces Johnsburg in a Kishwaukee River Conference soccer match on Wednesday, April 27, 2026, at Johnsburg High School.

Ogle County sports columnist Andy Colbert chronicles his experience running the Boston Marathon.

The Slammers will open their season Friday, May 8, against the Washington Wild Things, featuring the first giveaway of the year as part of opening night ceremonies.

Meet this week's Daily Journal Athlete of the Week, Wilmington sprinter and hurdler McKenna Van Tilburg.

The Chicago Bears added to their roster over three days during the NFL Draft. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down whether they think the Bears did enough to fix their needs.

Illinois Extension will offer a garden planning workshop May 12 from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Richard A. Mautino Memorial Library, 215 E. Cleveland St., Spring Valley, designed for gardeners of all experience levels.

Beecher's softball team won two games Saturday to improve to 17-0 on the season, Gardner-South Wilmington's baseball and softball teams each split a doubleheader with Serena, and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

Representing Yorkville, 12-year old Olivia Madden and 9-year old Keegan Harris each won their respective age-group at the annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship.

Preston Payne threw a one-hitter and had three hits of his own for Bishop McNamara, Sophie and Mary Klawitter helped Peotone end Grant Park's undefeated start in softball and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.

Athletes from a dozen area teams met up at the Manteno Invite on Friday, getting in some valuable work with the outdoor season already starting to wind down.

A four-run third inning was plenty of run support for Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball starter Andrew Kubal, who saw Lucas Garrett and Jace Boudreau come out of the bullpen to finish off a 5-1 win at Herscher Friday that snapped the Boilers' six-game losing streak

St. Bede defeated Serena 2-0 on Friday, April 24, 2026 at St. Bede Academy.

The Chicago Bears drafted Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft on Thursday night. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down the pick and preview what's left to do in the draft

A grand slam highlighted KaLeah Jackson's memorable day for Kankakee, the Bradley-Bourbonnais girls water polo team won in three overtimes and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

After Allie Johnson threw a stout five-plus innings in the circle, big sister Makenzie Johnson cracked a late two-run home run to give Beecher some insurance in the Bobcats' 4-0 win at Wilmington in a state-ranked clash Thursday.

Two days after scoring her 100th career goal, Herscher's Gianni Jaime scored two more as the visiting Tigers beat Illinois Central Eight Conference rival Peotone 4-1 in a rematch of last season's sectional semifinals.

Marquette defeated Henry-Senachwine 13-2 on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at June Cross Field in Ottawa.