When her dad, coach Rob Eastland, called on Charlie to take a free kick from 24 yards out, Johnsburg’s junior was more than happy to be the one to step up for her team.

With 13:49 remaining in the first half, Charlie took a few stutter-steps in her approach, fired a right-footed shot over the Trojans’ wall, and snuck the ball over goalkeeper Emily White, who leaped and got a touch on the strike at the near post.

Eastland’s goal stood, and Johnsburg held off Timothy Christian 1-0 at North Central College in Naperville to finish the season with a 19-1 record and a third-place trophy.

“Something told me we weren’t going to get a ton of chances,” said Charlie Eastland, who also scored in Thursday’s 5-1 semifinal loss to Pleasant Plains. “We were gassed. Both teams were tired from that first day. I just had to take that second to get that moment of quality for the team.”

“I’ve watched that kid do that on the field since she was 5 years old,” Rob Eastland said of his daughter. “She’s a big-game player. The second she sets up for the shot, I’m confident there’s a good chance it will hit the net.”

The Skyhawks had hopes of winning a state title and completing an undefeated season, but the loss of senior attacker Liz Smith, the team’s top scorer with 35 goals, was too much to overcome. Smith injured her right ankle in Johnsburg’s supersectional victory and didn’t play in Thursday’s semifinal, a 5-1 loss.

She shed her walking boot and entered Friday’s game with less than 40 seconds to play to make her last high school appearance.

“Being on the field one last time meant a lot to me, no matter how painful it was to get out there,” Smith said. “To hug everybody at the end and be with everybody I’ve played alongside with for so many years, it meant to the world to me.”

Rob Eastland said Smith is the team’s heartbeat.

“That kid deserves to end on the field. Two years, she’s been a huge reason why we got to this place,” Eastland said. “Even if it went to [penalty kicks], she might have took one. She might have cried, but she would have took one.”

Johnsburg senior goalkeeper Lila Konrad, after taking eight shots on goal in Thursday’s semifinal loss, made two saves. The Skyhawks finished with 15 shutouts for the season.

“It feels really special, because not a lot of teams get to do this,” Konrad said. “Not a lot of teams get to end with a win. I think we beat ourselves mentally [on Thursday]. There was no other way we would come out of this game knowing how we performed yesterday.”

Timothy Christian (14-7-1), which lost to Johnsburg last year in the 1A semifinals on an Eastland goal, took fourth for the second year in a row.

Junior attacker Mackenzie Laslo, the team’s leading scorer with 27 goals, said her team never gave up hope.

“It was really exciting to be back [at state] because I love my team. We were excited to see Johnsburg again,” Laslo said. “It wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but I think we still played hard, and it was really fun.

“I love our team, our love for each other and our love for the Lord. We just really like to be together. I think we have great chemistry together.”

White made one save for the Trojans, while Ella Rickert had one in the second half.

On offense, Timothy Christian put two shots on goal, one by junior Mia Schilf and one by sophomore Lucy Wilgenburg.

Trojans coach Nate Drye said the Skyhawks’ unconventional offense didn’t allow his team many scoring chances, especially early.

Wilgenburg had a shot at goal with about five minutes to go following a corner, but her left-footed shot sailed high.

“They play a very different style of soccer. Anytime anybody gets a foot on it, they just kick it as far as they can and they chase after it,” Drye said. “We don’t see that very much, and so it’s a challenge to constantly be on the alert for long balls.

“In the second half, we got the ball on the ground and moved the ball. We had it down there most of the second half, we just couldn’t find a way through in the end.”

Drye said the Trojans overcame key injuries, including to the team’s top defender Avery Croff, to make it back to state.

“We faced a lot of injuries this year, and the girls kept coming back from them and kept playing through it,” Drye said. “We had to rearrange our lineup, and the girls never let up. To be able to make it back at the end of a rocky season was a nice reward for them.”

Johnsburg graduates six seniors as it looks to make a third straight trip to state next spring. Last year’s team took runner-up.

“Just proud of every single person that stepped up this year,” senior defender Jacquelyn Douglas said. “We had Dorothy [Ruth], who started as a freshman [at state], and she was probably scared, but she did amazing. I’m proud of everyone who put in the effort for everyone around them. We knew we had to give every ounce for each other. I’m glad we did that throughout the whole season, and we ended up here.”

KRC Player of the Year: Brady Kentgen, Marengo, sr., 1B

KRC Pitcher of the Year: Peyton Mesce, Johnsburg, sr., P

Johnsburg: Jack Thompson, sr., C; Ashton Stern, sr., P/SS; Peyton Mesce, sr., P

Woodstock North: Tristan Schaffter, sr., 2B; Braeden Berner, sr., CF; Levi Perrotta, sr., DH/P; Zaiden Vess, sr., SS/P

Richmond-Burton: Grayson Morningstar, jr., P; Ryan Scholberg, sr., SS/P; Cooper Nagel, sr., 3B

Marengo: Brady Kentgen, sr., 1B; Alex Johnson, sr., 3B/SS; Max Broughton, sr., CF/P

Sandwich: Braden Behringer, sr., P/SS

Woodstock: Chace Waterson, so., C; Noah Henning, jr., CF

Plano: Quentin Santoria, jr., P/3B/2B

Harvard: Logan Nulle, sr., OF

Led by sisters Leah and Mya Holmberg, the Raiders finally got over the hump this spring by winning their first sectional championship.

On Tuesday, the Red Raiders were finally stopped by an equally speedy squad. Huntley fell to Barrington 10-6 in the Huntley Supersectional, ending the season one win shy of state.

Tuesday’s loss, however, didn’t take away from Huntley’s best season ever.

“It was just a feeling of chills with every goal scored,” said senior attacker Lauren Cardinal, who scored Tuesday and ended her career with 100-plus goals. “We work all season to play tough teams like this. This is what we live for, this is what we practice for. To get all the way through to sectionals for the first time is something I’m glad I can take with me.”

Huntley (17-7) never led against Barrington (22-2), three times tying the score. One of those times, the Raiders trailed 3-1 in the first quarter.

Sophomore attacker Aubrie Salazar scored with 17.9 seconds left in the first quarter, and she tied the game less than a minute into the second quarter. Salazar, a two-time national kickboxing champion, finished her first varsity season with 27 goals.

“I felt really good. It was really exciting,” Salazar said of scoring the equalizer. “I’ve grown a lot this season. My coaches and teammates have all helped me. I’m just so grateful to be a part of this team.

“The best games are the hard ones, the ones where you really have to push your hardest. This was one of these games, and these are the most fun ones to play.”

Barrington kept Huntley on its toes.

“They’ve got a lot of speed, which is a good thing to have,” Huntley coach Joe Domka said. “I like to say we’re one of the fastest teams out there, and we haven’t really seen a team that had that much speed this year. We kind of had to adjust to that. Emma Menke is a very good player, and their goalie [Maya Arzate] had a very good game.

“Their defense kind of ran a backer zone, and we prepped for man, so they switched us up on that one. We tried to adjust, but we couldn’t adjust quick enough, I guess.”

Huntley trailed 6-3 with 6:06 left in the first half but, as it did in the first quarter, rallied to tie the score. Mya Holmberg, a junior, scored with 4.6 seconds before half.

After the break, Cardinal scored off an assist from Kate Barnes, and Holmberg added her third goal of the game with 4:32 left to tie the game at 6. Barrington responded with the next four goals to put the game out of reach.

Barrington’s Menke, a senior, led all players with five goals.

“No. 1, Emma Menke, we knew going in she was going to be great on the draw,” Cardinal said. “I think the draw matchup was something we really prepared for. Their zone defense is something we’ve struggled with in the past, and we just couldn’t pull through today.”

Domka said this year’s team had a special bond.

“I think the key was just being a team. We were able to communicate on the field and have full trust in each other,” Domka said. “We have some very talented players, we kind of run everything through, and it’s just a lot of practice. A lot of time spent on the field running through the basics. I think that is something every team needs to make sure of is that those basics are set, and then you have a good foundation.”

Mya Holmberg, a junior, ended the year with 103 goals. Leah Holmberg, a senior, had 109.

“It was awesome,” Mya Holmberg said of playing with her older sister. “It makes me sad to think about, but she’s going to be awesome in college.”

Huntley graduates eight. Leah Holmberg will play next year at Mercyhurst, Aubrie Rohrbacher at Missouri Western, Kimmy Povan at MSOE and Peyton Turk at North Central College.

“This season meant a lot to us all,” Mya Holmberg said as she walked off the field. “To have a plaque after all the hard work, it kind of describes how much effort we put into this program.”

The Wolves, just a year ago, defeated Antioch in the same game on the same field on the way to the state tournament for the first time in school history.

After taking the lead in the top of the 10th inning on a Kylie Rosene double, the Sequoits came back with two runs in the bottom half. Addison Housh hit an RBI double, and then Claire Schuyler ended the game on a game-winning single that just got under the glove of second baseman Parker Frey, who tried to stop the hot smash from reaching the outfield.

Frey, one of three seniors on Prairie Ridge (23-8), along with pitcher Reese Mosolino and center fielder Emma Dallas, had hopes of returning to state one last time – and possibly winning it all.

But even getting to Monday’s supersectional was an accomplishment for a Wolves’ team that was unsure of its talent level after graduating key starters. Prairie Ridge became the first District 155 team to win back-to-back sectional titles in softball.

“We had no idea what to expect this season,” said Frey, whose dad Mike is one of the Wolves’ assistants. “We knew we had a lot of new players and moving pieces, and we weren’t sure if it would all mesh together.

“Just the fact that we were able to get here again, it’s just like, surreal.”

Mosolino pitched nine-plus innings for the Wolves, unable to hold down a relentless Antioch lineup that banged out 13 hits. Entering Monday, Mosolino had allowed five hits total in three postseason games.

“They’re awesome hitters, all of them, top to bottom,” said Mosolino, who gave up 11 runs (nine earned) with three walks and seven strikeouts. “They’re good hitters, they have good defense, and that’s how they win games.

“They’re a good team altogether, and I hope they do good at state.”

Rosene (2 for 5), the Wolves’ No. 9 hitter, gave Prairie Ridge the lead with two outs in the top of the 10th on a double that dropped between Antioch’s second baseman and right fielder near the foul line in short right.

The hit drove in Morgan Powal (3 for 6), who singled and advanced to second on a groundout.

“I’ve had a rough season. I was out for months and months because of illness and injury and everything,” said Rosene, a junior. “I went up to bat and just thought, ‘I could do this.’ We had BP this morning, and I was doing pretty good. I tried to take that out to the field, and it played out pretty well.”

Junior first baseman Bella Moore had a big offensive game for the Wolves, going 3 for 4 with a home run, double, three runs scored and four RBIs. She was intentionally walked twice, as was leadoff hitter Kylie Carroll.

Mary-Kate Center finished 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs, Dallas added two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Carroll had a double, two runs scored and walked four times total.

Prairie Ridge sent nine to the plate in the fourth, scoring five runs on five hits, to take an 8-3 lead. Antioch, however, kept chipping away, scoring six runs over the next three innings.

With the Wolves leading 9-7 following an RBI double by Center in the top of the sixth inning, Antioch tied the game in the bottom half on back-to-back hits by Sam Hillner (2 for 5) and Schuyler (4 for 6, three RBIs).

Prairie Ridge made two errors after playing almost flawless defense the entire playoffs.

“They made fewer mistakes than we did today, and they came up with the clutch hits in big moments, where we’ve been doing that in the postseason,” Prairie Ridge coach Scott Busam said. “We had a great run at the end of the regular season, too, getting big hits out of different heroes every day.

“Their pitcher just did a nice job spotting the ball, and we couldn’t execute in those final moments.”

Antioch sophomore Addison Osborne started and threw 9⅔ innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and six walks. She was relieved in the fourth inning but re-entered the game in the same inning.

Busam never had thoughts of lifting his ace.

“Reese is a monster, and I would have had to wrestle her off the field,” Busam said of Mosolino, an Indiana commit. “Reese was going to finish this no matter what today.”

Despite some errors in the field, the Wolves also made a few spectacular plays to keep the game alive.

In the bottom of the ninth with a runner on third and two outs, Carroll, the Wolves’ starting shortstop, made a bullet of a throw to first to send the game to the 10th.

Earlier in the inning, Carroll hurt her knee after a collision at second base on a slide.

“Kylie’s been nursing a bruised bone on her knee for weeks,” Busam said. “It flared up [today] ... and then when she caught the ball on the throw from [catcher Reese Vrba], her knee went into the bag. It’s a kind of a big, red swollen mess right now. I asked her if she wanted a pinch-hitter to come out, but there was no way she was coming off that field today.”

Vrba, who missed last year with a torn labrum, caught all year. She said that catching Mosolino was a blast. The two have played softball together for a while, but not always on the same team.

“The bond between a pitcher and catcher is really special,” Vrba said. “We were already friends, but we were lucky to be able to share that together. She’s so amazing, just with everything. A lot of the times when I go out there to talk to her, it’s more her calming me down. She’s such a leader.”

Prairie Ridge won its third straight regional and third sectional title in program history.

Busam, who took over the program four years ago, said Mosolino, Frey and Dallas were model teammates.

“These three seniors were patient with me, they adapted to me, I adapted to them, and these three seniors are so special,” he said. “They are the heart and soul of this team and the program, and I can’t say enough about them and the faith they’ve put in me the last four years to coach this team.”

Hampshire: Mia Robinson, sr., 1B; Addi Edlen, jr., SS; Julissa Akins, jr., P/OF; Ali LeBlanc, sr., 2B; Becca Coffey, so., P/OF; Mariah Becerra, sr., C

Huntley: Aubrina Adamik, sr., SS; Lyla Ginczycki, sr., 1B; Piper Heimbrodt, fr., LF; Katelyn Bayness, sr., 2B

Prairie Ridge: Kylie Carroll, jr., SS; Parker Frey, sr., 2B; Bella Moore, jr., 3B; Reese Vrba, jr., C

Burlington Central: Izzy Reed, sr., P; Mei Shirokawa, jr., SS/C; Kelsey Covey, jr., 2B/SS

McHenry: Natalie Bender, sr., P/3B; Danica McCarthy, so., 2B; Brooke Snyder, jr., P

Dundee-Crown: Jordyn Jeffs, sr., 1B; Josie Sheldon, so., 2B

Jacobs: Emily Popilek, so., P/1B; Skylee Ferrante, so., P

Cary-Grove: Paityn Ahlquist, so., CF/P; Addy Green, sr., P/1B

Crystal Lake Central: Cassidy Murphy, sr., SS/C; Ella Arana, jr., CF

Crystal Lake South: Riley Barda, so., SS; Riley Travis, sr., 1B

KRC Player of the Year: Gabby Christopher, Marengo, sr.

KRC Pitcher of the Year: Kylee Nicholson, Woodstock North, jr.

Woodstock North: Kylee Nicholson, jr.; Maddie Nordahl, jr.; Aly Jordan, sr.; Makayla Nordahl, sr.; Kylie Stevens, sr.; Kylee Jordan, fr.

Marengo: Gabby Christopher, sr.; Ellie White, sr.; Gianna Iovinelli, jr.

Richmond-Burton: Rebecca Lanz, sr.; Ruby Gregurich, fr.

Johnsburg: Kimmy Whitlock, sr.; Carlie Majercik, sr.

Sandwich: Kayden Corneils, sr.; Abigail Johnson, so.

Harvard: Grace Nellessen, so.

Plano: Annabelle Solis, sr.

Woodstock: Kenzie Bowles, so.

Back on the diamond this spring, the Red Raiders catcher pushed pain aside.

“It’s definitely been a road to come back,” Romano said. “Unfortunately, this year I’ve struggled a lot with shoulder pain, but my teammates and coaches have had my back through it all. I’ve never had people believe in me this much. It makes me feel better to come out and perform the best I can, even when I might be a little low.”

“It means the world to me.”

The tough Romano, one of 10 seniors for Huntley, and the Red Raiders found themselves in a familiar position Saturday against an equally tough Barrington team.

Meeting for the 10th straight season in the playoffs, the Fillies scored two runs in the fifth, and Katie Taraschewsky shut down the Red Raiders for a 2-0 win in the teams’ Class 4A Barrington Sectional championship at Barrington’s Field of Dreams.

Barrington (36-0), which has defeated Huntley (26-9) in two straight sectional finals – both by a 2-0 score – advances to play Oswego in a NIU Supersectional at 4 p.m. Monday in DeKalb.

The Raiders finished a win shy of their fourth sectional title in program history, and first since 2024 when they beat Barrington 5-3.

“Playing Barrington feels like a routine,” Romano said after her final high school game. “We look forward to it every year. We know it’s gonna happen.”

Taraschewsky became Barrington’s all-time winningest pitcher, earning her 91st career victory and moving to 32-0 on the year.

The senior right-hander limited the Raiders to five hits, all singles, and stranded six runners between the third and fourth innings.

After one-out singles by Huntley’s Layla Olson, Aubrina Adamik and Katelyn Bayness in the bottom of the fifth, Taraschewsky got out of the jam when No. 3 hitter Piper Heimbrodt hit a soft liner that was caught by second baseman Morgan Donahue. Donahue then turned and fired to third base for an inning-ending double play, catching the runner too far off the bag.

Huntley only had one other inning where a runner reached scoring position, with courtesy runner Alyssa Weniger stranded at second in the third. Taraschewsky retired the last seven batters she faced.

“She’s just so gritty,” Barrington coach Perry Peterson said of his ace. “She’s just tough with what she does.”

Olson (2 for 3) went all seven innings for Huntley, allowing two runs on 10 hits, one walk and five strikeouts. After giving up two runs in the fifth, she stranded two runners in each of the final two innings.

Barrington had two-out run-scoring hits by Lianna Maggio and Nina Brebach in the fifth. Brebach hit a slow chopper to Olson and just beat a throw to first. The Raiders argued that the ball hit Brebach’s foot on the batted ball, but the play stood.

“Katie did a tremendous job in the circle. Held us at bay,” said Huntley coach Mark Petryniec, who surpassed 500 career wins in his 22nd season. “We had a couple chances there, just couldn’t get the runs in.”

Olson, a junior, got better as the year went on in her first full season in the circle. She watched last spring as Huntley lost to Barrington in the sectional final.

“It’s very exciting to go against [Barrington],” Olson said. “I just wanted to help support my team. I knew they’d be difficult to play, but sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.”

“Could not ask anymore of her,” Petryniec said. “She has continuously stepped up for us, pitched her behind off and given us every opportunity to be successful. We’ve watched her progression, and she’s a true No. 1 right now.”

Freshman left fielder Piper Heimbrodt went 0 for 3 but came up big for the Raiders throughout the season, climbing the order and becoming someone opposing teams had to be careful with. She made a nice running catch in the seventh, and that same inning threw out a potential third run for Barrington at the plate.

Petryniec said this year’s team may go down as the top-hitting and fielding team in program history.

“This team was really easy to warm up to,” Heimbrodt said. “The first few practices we all immediately bonded. Everyone stepped up. I always had a ride home, always had somebody cheering me on and picking me up after a strikeout or anything like that.”

Adamik, Bayness and Hobday each had one hit for Huntley, which fell short of winning the Fox Valley Conference but earned its 11th straight regional title.

Adamik, who will play next year at Akron, recently became the program’s all-time leader in games played.

“We knew it was bound to happen,” Adamik said of facing Barrington. “We all played our hearts out. We wanted it, but just came up a little short. My time here has meant everything. Met my best friends, the coaches have made a big impact on me and everyone that has come through this program. Wouldn’t want to end my career at any other school.”

Geske, a state qualifier all four years of high school, was the area’s lone player still alive on the final day of the three-day tournament.

On Friday, Geske beat Glenbard East’s Finn Talbot 6-0, 6-3 and Chicago Payton’s Yash Kaushik 6-0, 6-1 in the fourth and fifth consolation rounds. He earned a hard-fought victory against Hinsdale Central’s Barry Zhu 6-3, 5-7, 10-1 in a consolation quarterfinal to advance to Saturday’s consolation semifinals.

Aurora Christian 3, Richmond-Burton 2: At Johnsburg, the fifth-seeded Rockets (19-17) put the tying run on third base with two outs in the top of the seventh inning, but a strikeout ended their comeback attempt in dropping the Class 2A Johnsburg Regional final to the top-seeded Eagles.

Max Martin finished 3 for 4 with a run scored, Bryce Kowall had a double and one RBI, Ray Hannemann had two hits and Logan Johnson added a double. Grayson Morningstar took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) in five innings. He struck out four and walked three. Anthony Harvey tossed one scoreless inning with a strikeout.

Barrington 9, McHenry 4: At Barrington, the top-seeded Warriors (28-8-1) went ahead 2-0 after one inning, but the fifth-seeded Broncos scored the next nine runs in the Class 4A Barrington Regional final. McHenry scored twice in the bottom of the seventh.

Nathan Neidhardt was 2 for 3 with a runn scored, Kaden Wasniewski had a hit, run and RBI, and Bennet Baumann and Gavin Polerecky each added an RBI. McHenry finished with six hits, all singles.

Scotty Cole allowed three runs on five hits in four innings, striking out two and walking one. Wasniewski gave up four runs in 1⅔ innings and Neidhart allowed two in 1⅓ innings.

Hononegah 9, Jacobs 5: At Hononegah, the third-seeded Indians led 8-1 after four innings, and the second-seeded Golden Eagles (22-13) couldn’t recover to end their season with a loss in the Class 4A Hononegah Regional final. Luke Flaskamp went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs for Jacobs, Jack Coates had a double and two RBIs and Henry Shower was 2 for 4 and knocked in a run.

Cooper Gulgren allowed six unearned runs in 1⅔ innings, giving up four hits with a walk and a strikeout. Jacobs committed three errors in the defeat. Jowell Colon pitched the final three innings without allowing a hit or a run while striking out two.

Harvest-Westminster 7, Marengo 5: At Marengo, the third-seeded Indians (22-2) fell short in a Class 2A Marengo Regional final loss to second-seeded Harvest-Westminster. Harvest-Westminster took a 6-1 lead over Marengo with a five-run fourth, adding a run in the fifth. Marengo scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Alex Johnson was 2 for 4 with an RBI for Marengo, Aiden Ruark had a double and run scored and Dominic Iovinelli drove in one run in the loss. Johnson took the loss on the mound, throwing all seven innings and allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits. He struck out four and walked two.

Geneva 5, Burlington Central 3: At Burlington, the fifth-seeded Rockets’ late comeback fell short in a loss to the top-seeded Vikings in the Class 3A Burlington Central championship. Trailing 5-1, Central (16-19-2) scored two runs in the top of the seventh, getting a two-run double by Tyler Kotwica with two outs. The Rockets had the bases loaded, but struck out to end the game.

Aidric Arndt allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 4⅔ innings while striking out four and walking two. Daniel Koertgen tossed 1⅓ scoreless innings, allowing just a hit. Koertgen hit a solo homer in the second and Connor Sreckov was 2 for 3 with a double.

Geske (5-1) defeated Glenbard East’s Finn Talbot 6-0, 6-3 and Chicago Payton’s Yash Kaushik 6-0, 6-1 in the fourth and fifth consolation rounds. He then defeated Hinsdale Central’s Barry Zhu 6-3, 5-7, 10-1 in a consolation quarterfinal to qualify to the final day of the state tournament.

Geske will face Streamwood’s Mathieu Veltkamp in the consolation semifinals on Saturday.

In the quarterfinals, Santa Ines fell 6-1, 7-6 (4) against Stevenson’s Jaden Dai. He then lost his consolation quarterfinal match to Hinsdale Central’s David Waterman. Santa Ines retired in the second set trailing 4-0. He dropped the first set 6-4 and finished the tournament with a 3-2 record.

IHSA Class 1A State Meet: Johnsburg’s Tyler Batt, who went 3-0 on Thursday, dropped his quarterfinal match and consolation quarterfinal to end his state run, while Prairie Ridge’s Tim Jones lost in the fourth round of consolation play in the singles bracket.

Batt (3-2) faced St. Francis’ Umar Bajwa in the quarterfinals, falling short in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 defeat. He lost his consolation quarterfinal match to Deerfield’s Steven Jiang 6-0, 6-3, ending his tournament run.

Jones fell 6-0, 6-0 to Deerfield’s Steven Jiang and finished state with a 3-2 record.

In doubles, Crystal Lake South’s Zeke Boldman and Eryk Bucior, who went 3-0 on Thursday, lost in the quarterfinals, while Marian Central’s Marc Cheng and Alek Jasovic (4-2) and Prairie Ridge’s Evan Seegert and Eli Loeding (2-2) bowed out Friday.

Boldman and Bucior battled Metamora’s Tommy Sopko and Weston Lange in their quarterfinal match, falling just short in a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 loss. They then dropped their consolation quarterfinal to Urbana’s Kyle Fan and Jameson LaFave 7-5, 2-6, 10-7, ending their state tournament with a 3-2 record.

Cheng and Jasovic defeated Seegert and Loeding 6-3, 3-6, 11-9 in a fourth-round consolation match before falling 6-3, 6-3 to Metamora’s Dane Hutchinson and Hunter Poole in a fifth-round consolation match.

Huntley 18, Naperville North 10: In a Huntley Sectional final, the top-seeded Red Raiders (17-6) took down the Huskies and will face Barrington in the Huntley Supersectional at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Barrington 9, Huntley 8: In a Marian Central Sectional championship game at Woodstock, the Red Raiders (15-4) ended their season with a loss to the Broncos, who move on to the Huntley Supersectional.

There’s nothing flashy about it.

“She’s sort of like the quiet leader of the team, but she wants to win so bad,” Wolves coach Scott Busam said. “She loves playing for her school, she loves playing in these jerseys and she does not want this to end.”

After pulling a single into left field in her third at-bat, Prairie Ridge’s No. 5 hitter felt good about her timing against Kaneland senior Ellie Peck and picked the perfect time for one of the biggest hits of her career.

With the Wolves and Knights still scoreless in the bottom of the ninth, Dallas connected on a 3-2 pitch. She sent a line drive into right-center field with two outs, and courtesy runner Karsyn Ledgerwood flew around the bases from first to home as Prairie Ridge beat Kaneland 1-0 in nine innings to claim the Class 3A Belvidere North Sectional title.

Prairie Ridge (23-7), last year’s third-place finisher, advances to play Antioch in the Kaneland Supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

“I love this group of girls so much, and it means so much to do it with them,” said Dallas, who collected two of her team’s three hits against Peck. “I had already timed her up in the previous at-bat and I felt pretty confident going up. I was just trying not to let the moment get too big. Fouled off some pitches, saw the changeup and just drove it.”

Peck and Prairie Ridge senior starter Reese Mosolino were locked in a pitchers’ duel, with the game’s first hit a two-out single by Prairie Ridge’s Bella Moore in the bottom of the sixth. Kaneland (18-13-1) only had one hit against Mosolino, a two-out infield single that bounced off her glove.

Mosolino stranded runners on first and third with two outs in the top of the ninth after No. 9 hitter Brynn Woods reached on an error. She got a groundout to second baseman Parker Frey to end the threat. It was the first time a Kaneland runner got into scoring position.

“They told us it was going to be a dogfight today, and I knew I had to give my best,” said Mosolino, an Indiana commit. “Last inning when there was a girl on third, I was like, ‘OK, just keep calm.’ I took a deep breath and said ”OK, I have to go after her now.’

Mosolino struck out nine with just the one hit and one walk allowed. She was efficient, too, tossing 88 of 117 pitches for strikes.

“I’ve said this before, but in the biggest moments, that’s when Reese wants the ball,” Busam said. “She wants to be in the circle, and I wouldn’t want anybody else out there.”

Peck, a Lewis commit, was equally strong for Kaneland, allowing just three hits over 8⅔ innings. She walked three and struck out seven. As the game went longer, Peck could feel the tension.

“It was horrible,” Peck said. “I was getting a little nervous because it was still 0-0. I was just throwing and hoping that we’d keep making the plays and just keep holding them.

“I’m so proud of how far we come. We had a little rough (showing) in conference, but I think we pulled it together. We worked really hard to get here.”

Prairie Ridge’s Reese Vrba drew a full-count walk with two outs in the ninth to set up Dallas’ game-winning hit. Ledgerwood, who has only been used off the bench as a runner recently because of injury, was told by Busam on the bus ride to be ready if needed.

The freshman entered as a courtesy runner and slid into home plate as Dallas stood on second, and the Wolves rushed the infield to celebrate.

“I said do not settle in and get comfy,” Busam said. “You need to be running, stretching, there could come a time I need you to score a huge run.”

Kaneland, which graduates four – Peck, Woods, Natalie Naab and Madison Anderson – captured its fifth regional title in six seasons. The Knights were trying to win their first sectional in four years.

“(Mosolino) kept us off balance, and none of my kids were able to put the ball in play solid,” Kaneland coach Mike Kuefler said. “Nine innings, we’re going back and forth and what it boiled down to is the first team that makes a mistake or hiccup. They took advantage of what we gave them.

“These young ladies coming back, we told them, ‘Just remember how it feels,’ and let’s go back and be even better next year.”

Woods, who will play next year at UIC, came in as a pinch-hitter in the sixth and drew an eight-pitch walk against Mosolino with two outs, becoming the first Knights hitter to reach base. She reached again in the ninth on an error.

Woods said the team started to hit its stride late.

“It’s the journey throughout the whole season,” Woods said. “We’ve had our ups, we’ve had our downs, but playing for each other in the long run is what I’m really most proud about. We all came together at the right time. Today we were just all playing for each other.

“We became a family unit when postseason hit, and we never looked back.”

Batt won his first two matches in straight sets and claimed his third-rounder with a thrilling, three-set win that lasted three hours. Batt started the tourney with wins against Glenwood’s Connor Pollitt 6-2, 6-2 and Prairie Ridge’s Tim Jones 6-1, 6-1. He then rallied to beat Vernon Hills’ Roman Stukov 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 to earn his spot in the quarterfinals for the first time.

Jones was 3-1 on the first day of the state meet to move on to Saturday. Jones beat Carbondale’s Kai Manzano 6-2, 6-3 before dropping his second match to Batt 6-1, 6-1. Jones responded with wins against Effingham’s Rece Kinney 6-0, 6-1 and St. Thomas More’s Wyatt Kirby 6-0, 6-3.

Boldman and Eryk Bucior joined Batt with a 3-0 showing on Day 1 to qualify for Saturday’s quarterfinals. The Gators duo knocked off Wheaton Academy’s Eligh Arellano and Charlie Sias (6-0, 6-1), Vernon Hills’ Brendan Handoko and James Kim (4-6, 6-3, 10-7) and Chicago Latin’s Theodore Schlater and Jakob Kohn (6-2, 6-2).

Seegert and Loeding won their first two matches, beating St. Teresa’s Andrew Larry and Adrian Madrigal 6-1, 6-0 and Rockford Lutheran’s Landon Horn and Kevin Aulner 6-2, 6-2. They then lost their third-rounder to Chicago Latin’s Oscar Bubel and Arjun Sawardekar 6-1, 6-2.

Cheng and Jasovic defeated Casey-Westfield’s Alex Hancock and Kellen Sullivan 6-0, 7-6 (2) in their opener, then lost to Mascoutah’s Jordan Beck and Eli Woodrome 6-2, 4-6, (10-7). The pair rebounded with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Carbondale’s Alex Kadyrov and Jeb Meredith and a 6-2, 4-6, (10-3) win over JCA’s Declan Wagner and Frank Schuler to move on.

Crystal Lake South’s Nazar Muktar was 2-2 to end his state run. Muktar opened with a 7-5, 6-1 win over St. Thomas More’s Wyatt Kirby, then lost to Timothy Christian’s Hudson Tseng 6-0, 6-1. Muktar then picked up a 2-6, 6-4, (10-6) victory over Providence Catholic’s Jesse Taylor before ending his run with a 6-3, 7-5 loss to Carbondale’s Kai Manzano.

South’s Bayel Muktar also bowed out after winning his opening match 6-2, 6-4 over Effingham’s Cannon Bockhorn. Bayel Muktar lost his last two matches to end his state run 1-2, losing to Morris’ Connor Barth 6-2, 6-0, and Dunlap’s Dresden Michel 6-2, 6-0.

Prairie Ridge’s Rory Senese and Matt Jones ended their state run at 1-2 after a first-round victory. The Wolves pair defeated Springfield’s Jai Khurana and Ian Delcomyn 6-2, 7-6 (2), then lost matches to St. Ignatius’ Tommy Cilella and Kevin Boyle (6-3, 6-4) and Morton’s Tate Darcy and Joal Larson (6-4, 6-7, 10-5).

Cary-Grove’s Finnegan Karlovsky and Halen Young went 1-2 to end their run, dropping their opening match to Glenwood’s Talha Arshad and Aarav Patel 6-3, 6-2. They captured their first-round consolation match 6-2, 7-6 (5) over Pontiac’s Kole Donze and Zack Legner before ending with a 6-3, 6-3 loss to Vernon Hills’ Brendan Handoko and James Kim.

Crystal Lake Central’s Ryan Spencer was 0-2 to end his state run. Spencer fell 6-2, 6-0 to Oak Forest’s Lincoln Hamrin and 6-3, 6-3 to Dunlap’s Dresden Michel.

IHSA Class 2A State Meet: Jacobs’ Samuel Santa Ines (3-0) and Huntley’s Will Geske (2-1) each advanced to Day 2 at singles to lead local qualifiers at the 2A meet.

Santa Ines advanced to the quarterfinals with a perfect 3-0 record on the first day, winning all three matches in straight sets. Santa Ines defeated Benet’s Ian DiSanto (6-0, 6-1), Sandburg’s Aryan Vora (6-2, 6-0), and Richwoods’ Daniel Nathan (6-3, 6-4).

Geske finished 2-1 on the first day of state, winning his first two matches over Andrew’s Ean Harvey (6-0, 6-1) and Wheaton Warrenville South’s Michael Hauenstein (6-0, 6-0). He dropped his third-rounder to Streamwood’s Mathieu Veltkamp 6-2, 7-6 (1).

Huntley’s Adam Stec and Eashan Cherukuri finished 2-2 to end their state run. They beat Geneva’s Tyler Haney and Cole Hecker 3-6, 6-1, (10-5) before falling to Conant’s Nathan Desai and Austin Wu 6-1, 6-3 in the second-round match. Stec and Cherukuri picked up a three-set win over St. Charles East’s Ryan Cameron and Wesley Sternowski 2-6, 6-4, (10-8), then fell to Quincy’s Kael Holzgrafe and Drake Dodd 7-6 (4), 6-2.

Dundee-Crown’s Aarav Shah bowed out with a 2-2 record, beating O’Fallon’s Cy Shelton 6-1, 6-1 in his first match before falling to Steamwood’s Mathieu Veltkamp 6-0, 6-0. Shah came back with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), (10-4) win over Mundelein’s Spencer Sauer. He then fell to Loyola Academy’s Arman Khadivar 6-1, 7-6 (5) to end his state run.

Huntley’s Tanush Gulati and Vivek Yandamuri went 2-2 to end their run. They lost their opening match 6-1, 7-6 (3) against Highland Park’s Jarrod Cohen and Jack Gordon and earned wins against Barrington’s Omkar Gowda and Shian Mittal 4-6, 6-3, (10-7) and Naperville North’s Joshie Eun and Kush Shah 6-3, 6-3. A 6-1, 6-3 loss to Champaign Central’s Daniel Canivez and Sohum Gurrapu ended their tournament.

Jacobs’ Soham Kalra and Jack Soto went 1-2 to end their state run. Kalra and Soto lost to Stevenson’s Ayden Yoo and Ryusei Yamada 7-6 (4), 7-5, beat Glenbard North’s Andrew Murkowski and Joshua Idiyaly 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), and then lost to Evanston’s Owen Keyser and Noah Polansky 0-6, 6-1, (10-8).

Huntley’s Rithwik Depala was 0-2. Depala fell to Richwoods’ Daniel Nathan 6-1, 6-2 and New Trier’s Mathieu Fosse 6-1, 7-5.

Marengo 7, Rockford Christian 5: At Marengo, the third-seeded Indians scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie in a Class 2A Marengo Regional semifinal win over the sixth-seeded Royal Lions. Rockford Christian scored twice in the top of the seventh, with Marengo turning a double play, including throwing out a runner at home, to end the game.

The Indians move on to face No. 2 Harvest-Westminster at 10 a.m. Saturday for the championship.

Mitchell Aukes hit a two-run double in the four-run sixth for the Indians, Dominic Iovinelli (2 for 3, double, two runs) had an RBI hit, and pinch runner Alex Sierens had a steal of home. Alex Johnson added two RBIs.

Max Broughton allowed two runs on four hits over four innings, striking out three and walking five. Aukes picked up the win in relief, allowing three runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out three and walked none.

Hononegah 10, Hampshire 4: At Rockton, the sixth-seeded Whip-Purs (20-15-1) went down 10-0 after four innings and couldn’t recover in a Class 4A Hononegah Regional semifinal loss to the third-seeded Indians. Shane Pfeiffer (2 for 4) provided all of the runs for Hampshire, launching a grand slam in the top of the fifth. Pfeiffer also added a double in the season-ending loss.

Gavin Weston (stolen base), Tyler Rubino and Cole Harkin each scored a run. Lucas Prange allowed six runs (three earned) in 2⅓ innings with three strikeouts, and Mason Stanley surrendered four runs in 3⅔ innings with two strikeouts.

North Shore Country Day 7, Alden-Hebron 0 (forf.): At Woodstock, the sixth-seeded Giants (9-11) forfeited their Class 1A Marian Central Regional semifinal to the third-seeded Raiders.

The formula has worked very well for Peck and the Knights.

Peck tossed her third complete game of the playoffs and fired 11 strikeouts as third-seeded Kaneland upset second-seeded Woodstock North 7-4 in the the teams’ Class 3A Belvidere North Sectional softball semifinal on Wednesday in Belvidere.

The Knights (18-12-1) move on to face top-seeded Prairie Ridge (22-7) for the sectional title at 5 p.m. Friday. Kaneland last won a sectional championship in 2022.

“I love hitting, but I think it’s helping a lot right now,” said Peck, who allowed only one earned run on five hits and three walks Wednesday. “I don’t have to get in my head hitting and stuff. It’s good that I’m not hitting right now.”

Peck has allowed just two earned runs in three playoff games. She has 28 strikeouts in 21 innings.

“With the heat, you always get concerned how they’re going to react, especially because we haven’t played in it much,” Kuefler said. “Today’s the hottest day of the year. I thought she did outstanding. We just let her pitch, so she can focus on what she has to do (in the circle).

“She’s absolutely stepped up for us.”

The Thunder (21-6) weren’t sure who they were going to face, with Kaneland senior Brynn Woods another possibility.

“We did not think she was pitching. We thought Brynn was pitching. I think that was a shock to us,” said senior first baseman Makayla Nordahl. “We knew they had her and we’ve seen her before. She’s good. She threw hard, she hit her spots. We took a lot of strikes that we could have swung at. When we did put the ball in play I thought we hit it hard.”

Kaneland junior Madi Kossakowski had some of the hardest-hit balls of the game, hitting two doubles and a triple in her first three at-bats. She hit a double halfway up the center-field fence in the top of the first inning, hit an RBI double in the third and drilled a line-drive RBI triple in the fifth that got past a diving Allyson Schaid in center field to score Ansley Ruh.

Sophomore Addison Coulter hit a first-pitch, opposite field two-run homer to right field on the first pitch after Kossakowski’s triple to give Kaneland a 7-3 lead.

“Any of these games can be our last,” Kossakowski said. “I’m just going up there with a confident mentality, just swinging and seeing whatever happens.”

“She’s money,” Kuefler said. “The kid just comes up to the plate and puts the ball in play. They pitch around her and she’s got really good command of the plate and she knows where she needs to put the ball.”

Lillyana Crawford was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI for Kaneland, while Riley Cooper was 1 for 3 with two runs scored.

North junior left-hander Kylee Nicholson, who helped lead the Thunder to their first Kishwaukee River Conference title this season, allowed seven runs (four earned) on eight hits, walking one and striking out eight.

“She’s been a workhorse all season for us,” North first-year coach Gwen Malecke said. “They have a good hitting team. Their top five are phenomenal. She was a little nervous going against the top of the lineup, but I told her, ‘You’re a great pitcher, learn how to adjust, make those changes and make them do something different,’ and she did just that in the last inning.

“I’m super proud of her for pushing through that.”

Maddie Nordahl went 1 for 3 with two runs and two stolen bases for North, Schaid added a double and Nicholson had two RBIs. Hailey Campos had a double and drove in a run.

Trailing 7-3, North had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fifth but hit into an inning-ending double play. Makayla Nordahl hit a pop up on the foul side of first base, but first baseman Coulter made a running catch, turned and fired home to catcher Crawford, who tagged out Maddie Nordahl running from third to home.

“That was awesome,” Peck said of her defense. “They make the plays when we need them.”

North graduates eight seniors, including cousins Makayla Nordahl and Aly Jordan, who shared a postgame hug on the infield dirt one last time after the final out was recorded. They both had a sister on the team – Maddie Nordahl, a junior, and Kylee Jordan, a freshman.

The Thunder tied the program record with 21 wins.

“Gwen came in and created a great philosophy for us,” Makayla Nordahl said. “We’re all working hard, we’re all working toward one goal. She told us we have to be there for each other, we have to pick each other up and I think that’s what we have done.”

“It was a really special season for everyone,” Aly Jordan said. “This season everyone came together, which is something we haven’t had in the past few years.”

Until the fifth.

Senior Emma Dallas and junior Mary-Kate Center both came through with two-out, run-scoring hits, giving Prairie Ridge its first lead, and senior Reese Mosolino shut down the Vikings the rest of the way for a 3-1 victory in the teams’ Class 3A Belvidere North Sectional softball semifinal on Tuesday in Belvidere.

The top-seeded Wolves (22-7) move on to meet the winner of Wednesday’s second semifinal between No. 2 Woodstock North and No. 3 Kaneland for the sectional title at 5 p.m. Friday.

Prairie Ridge, last year’s Class 3A third-place finisher, has never won back-to-back sectional titles before.

“I’m super excited,” said junior shortstop Kylie Carroll, the Wolves’ leadoff hitter who went 2 for 3 with two runs scored. “Honestly, going into this season, I didn’t know what the talent would be, but our team definitely showed up. Playing with my sister (2025 starting catcher Kendra Carroll) last year was pretty good, but this group of girls is one of my favorites.

“I’m super happy to get another game with them.”

Mosolino, an Indiana commit and last year’s Northwest Herald Softball Player of the Year, allowed a run on three hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Geneva No. 9 hitter Maddie Parsons, one of five seniors for the Vikings, battled back from a 0-2 count in the second inning against Mosolino and delivered a two-out single into left field to score Megan O’Connor from second base and give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.

“She was kind of moving in and out, in and out, and I knew if I picked one or the other, I would eventually hit it,” said Parsons, who had two of the Vikings’ three hits against Mosolino. “It felt good, especially being my last game. It meant a lot to me to be able to perform and put everything together that I’ve worked on over the past four years.”

Despite only getting three hits, Geneva reached base on three walks and a hit-by-pitch against Mosolino. Trailing 2-1, the Vikings had runners on second and third base with one out in the fifth but were unable to push across any runs.

Mosolino battled back from a 3-1 count against Clara Lyons for a strikeout and retired the next batter on a groundout to first base.

“When she needs her best stuff, she just always finds a way to dig deep and get it,” Prairie Ridge coach Scott Busam said of his ace Mosolino. “That was a big moment. We didn’t want to walk the bases loaded there.”

Geneva coach Kaleigh O’Brien, a 2017 Prairie Ridge graduate, is well aware of how difficult an at-bat against Mosolino can be.

“I grew up in the area, so I’ve seen Reese since she was a little baby all the way up until now,” O’Brien said. “She’s a great kid, a phenomenal pitcher. We knew what we were coming into, and I felt like our kids did a great job of putting together decent at-bats. ... It’s softball. One pitch changes the game, and unfortunately, all those pitches went their way.”

Dallas’ two-out RBI base hit in the fifth scored Carroll from second base, and Center followed with a two-out RBI to bring home Bella Moore, who was intentionally walked with one out for the Wolves’ first lead.

“I was just thinking a base hit scores,” Dallas said of her single against Gates. “I was early on the one pitch I swung at, and I thought they were gonna throw a changeup. I just took it up the middle, just wanted to get Kylie home.

“We were trying to let the ball travel, let the ball get deep and hit it hard. Not in the air, but line drives.”

Gates tossed all seven innings for the Vikings, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts. She gave up an unearned run in the sixth after a pair of throwing errors by Geneva (11-20).

The Vikings, seeded fourth despite their record, entered Tuesday with their first two-game winning streak. Geneva won its first regional championship since 2019.

“I feel like everyone grew a lot, and I’m just really proud of our team,” Gates said. “I felt like I was able to count on my defense behind me all year, and my coaches really believed in me.”

Individual state qualifiers are listed by class and team, with seeds and times/distances in each event. The top-nine finishers in each event earn a state medal.

State qualifiers and heat sheets for all teams in the state can be found at IHSA.org.

Henry Crumlett, sr. – discus (25th; 48.34)

Gavin Klingberg, sr. – 300 hurdles (16th; 39.05)

Logan Abrams, sr., – shot put (1st; 20.15); discus (2nd; 58.04)

James Murdough, jr. – 400 meters (35th; 50.35)

Jameson Tenopir, sr. – 1,600 meters. (7th; 4:16.93)

Ty Tenopir, fr. – 300 hurdles (27th; 39.63)

Diego Guerrero, so., Ty Tenopir, Murdough, Jonathan Lima, sr. – 4x400 relay (39th; 3:25.32)

Jon Horbenko, so. – high jump (25th; 1.93)

Amana Omale, sr. – 800 meters (10th; 1:55.67)

Reed Mihelich, sr., Ethan McMahon, jr., Finn Godlewski, jr., Omale – 4x800 relay (25th; 8:02.30)

Kyle Brents, sr. – high jump (3rd; 1.98); long jump (17th; 6.85); triple jump (33rd; 13.44)

Rylan Schmidt, sr. – pole vault (11th; 4.35)

Oreoluwa Sobodu, sr. – 200 meters (5th; 21.37); 100 meters (6th; 10.63)

Anthony Spain, jr., Ethan Nkandu, so., Gavin Fernstrom, sr., Sobodu – 4x100 relay (19th; 42.07)

Joseph Sittler, fr. – 1,600 meters (23rd; 4:20.12)

Enoch John, sr. – triple jump (30th; 13.56)

Jayden Linderman, jr. – high jump (23rd; 1.93)

Nate Martin, sr. – 800 meters (19th; 1:56.59)

Myles Wagner, sr. – 3,200 (39th; 9:34.18)

Linderman, James Butler, sr., Oliver Sznyterman, sr., Jonah Miller, sr. – 4x100 relay (40th; 42.60)

Joseph Gonzalez, sr. – 1,600 meters (13th; 4:24.14)

Brady Haselhoff, so. – high jump (8th; 1.92)

Haselhoff, Gonzalez, Logan Aarseth, fr., Chad Wehby, sr. – 4x800 relay (34th; 8:19.47)

Bryan Hernandez, sr. – shot put (19th; 15.62)

Braden Wittum, jr. – shot put (3rd; 17.30); discus (3rd; 52.78)

Kainoa Ancog, sr. – pole vault (24th; 4.03)

Nico Hartmann, fr. – 300 hurdles (18th; 40.78)

Jared Lopez, sr. – pole vault (12th; 4.28)

Grady Smith, so. – 3,200 (10th; 9:29.17)

Micah Welch, jr. – discus (23rd; 46.28); shot put (37th; 14.93)

Jackson Heimsoth, jr. – 200 meters (5th; 21.73)

Sam Tucker, jr., Michael Gieseke, jr., Grant Heimsoth, jr., Jackson Heimsoth – 4x200 relay (6th; 1:28.20)

Tucker, Gieseke, Grant Heimsoth, Jackson Heimsoth – 4x100 relay (9th; 42.82)

Jackson Knake, jr., Jackson Heimsoth, Grant Heimsoth, Gieseke – 4x400 relay (32nd; 3:29.20)

Wilson Jakubowicz, jr. – 100 meters (33rd; 11.00)

Luke Aragona, sr., Mike Schmid, jr., Max Kinney, jr., Jakubowicz – 4x200 relay (23rd; 1:31.20)

Aragona, Kinney, Schmid, Jakubowicz – 4x100 relay (25th; 43.32)

Caleb Nork, so. – 110 hurdles (24th; 15.42)

Jacob Prechel, jr. – 400 meters (5th; 49.88)

Tyler Sjoblom, so. – 3,200 meters (25th; 9:45.81)

Everett Stone, so. – high jump (29th; 1.87)

Alexander Trejo, sr. – 110 hurdles (5th; 14.86)

Trejo, Colin Witowski, sr., Logan Thennes, sr., Prechel – 4x100 relay (3rd; 42.39)

Thomas Henry, jr., Steven Randles, jr., Ethan Pascoe, fr., Bodhi Lee, sr. – 4x800 relay (27th; 8:15.76)

Riley Shea, jr. – discus (21st; 46.41)

Gavin Saranzak, jr., Travis Roberts, jr., Luke Uphoff, so., Forest Wells, jr. – 4x400 relay (12th; 3:25.48)

Saranzak, Nick Kyes, jr., Uphoff, Roberts – 4x200 relay (29th; 1:31.72)

Connor Calvin-Garcia, jr. – pole vault (23rd; 4.03)

Elijah Hedges, jr. – 1,600 meters (42nd; 4:31.38)

Colton Medley, sr. – 110 hurdles (23rd; 15.41); high jump (42nd; 1.87)

Ellery Shutt, sr. – 3,200 (8th; 9:26.02)

Ty Steponaitis, sr. – triple jump (25th; 13.10)

Marc Thomas, so. – long jump (39th; 6.47 meters)

Adan Castaneda, jr. – 100 meters (10th; 10.81)

Braelan Creighton – pole vault (15th; 4.03)

JR Fadahunsi, sr. – 400 meters (12th; 50.33)

Geo Kopulos, so. – 3,200 (28th; 9:47.89)

School: Dundee-Crown

Sport: Softball

Why she was selected: Jeffs, a senior first baseman, blasted a walk-off home run to beat Burlington Central and break the program’s single-season home run record that had stood since 1984.

For her performance, Jeffs was selected as the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Hampshire softball’s Addi Edlen, Huntley boys lacrosse S.J. Engmann and Jacobs’ Samuel Santa Ines also were nominated.

Jeffs answered a few questions from the Northwest Herald.

What did it mean to you to break the team’s single-season home run record?

Jeffs: Breaking the single-season home run record meant a lot to me because it was one of my biggest goals going into the season. I knew I was close to it, so finally accomplishing it felt really rewarding and made all of the hard work worth it. Getting to share that moment with my teammates, coaches and family made it even more meaningful.

What is the most memorable home run that you’ve hit during your high school career?

Jeffs: The most memorable home run I’ve hit was definitely the one that broke the record. It was against Central in a tie game in the bottom of the seventh inning during my last high school home game. Hitting a walk-off home run to win the game while also breaking the record is something I’ll never forget. It was such a special moment to experience with my teammates and coaches beside me.

How did you become such a big power hitter? Is it something you’ve always been good at?

Jeffs: I’ve always been more of a power hitter, but I think I’ve continued to improve because of the work I’ve put in outside of games. One of my goals going into this season was to be more consistent in the gym, and I think lifting benefited me a lot throughout the year. I’ve also had amazing teammates and coaches pushing me to keep getting better and more confident at the plate.

What will you remember most about your time at D-C?

Jeffs: What I’ll remember most about my time at D-C is how welcoming everyone was and how diverse the school community is. I’ve met so many different people and made friendships and memories that I’ll always carry with me. I’ll especially remember the bond our softball team had and how much support we always gave each other.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

Jeffs: Something most people don’t know about me is that I really enjoy baking. It’s something I like to do when I have free time because it helps me relax outside of softball.

You just won a million dollars. What is the first thing that you’d buy?

Jeffs: The first thing I’d buy is probably a lake house somewhere in the northern woods of Wisconsin. I’ve always loved being in nature, so that sounds like the perfect place to relax and spend time with family.

Who is your hero?

Jeffs: As much as I appreciate everything my parents have done for me, I’d say my grandpa, George Jeffs, is my biggest hero. He’s always been one of my biggest supporters and has constantly pushed me to work harder and be better both on and off the field. Having someone who believes in me the way he does has meant everything to me.

Which teammate inspires you?

Jeffs: My teammate Abby Hsu inspires me the most because of her work ethic and determination to constantly improve. She’s always supportive of the people around her and pushes me to be better every day. Having a teammate who believes in me and supports my goals as much as she does has meant a lot throughout my high school career.

Who has been your favorite teacher at Dundee-Crown?

Jeffs: My favorite teacher has been Mrs. Buksova in AP Biology. She taught me so much and helped grow my interest in the field I want to study in college. She created such a positive and welcoming classroom environment and genuinely wanted every student to succeed, which had a huge impact on me.

What are you most looking forward to in college at Wisconsin-Platteville?

Jeffs: I’m most excited to meet new people and have the opportunity to continue playing softball at a higher level. I’m looking forward to being surrounded by people who share the same mindset and passion for the sport that I do. I’ll be studying exercise science, so I’m excited to learn more about a field that connects closely with athletics and health.

Jaxson Christensen (two runs), Owen Neuzil and Jackson Hatfield each drove in two runs for Marian (5-24). Gus Fisher had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI, and Harrison Graf went 2 for 3 with a double.

Woodstock 12, Harvard 2 (6 inn.): At Woodstock, Grady Goglin struck out eight over six innings, allowing two runs on six hits, as the 16th-seeded Blue Streaks (11-15-1) beat the 17th-seeded Hornets (6-23) in a Class 3A Vernon Hills Regional quarterfinal.

Henry Noble and Devin Haggerty both went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, Angelo Pacini was 2 for 2 with two runs scored and three RBIs and Logan Wisner had two runs and drove in two. Sonny Marsalla scored three runs for Woodstock, which advances to face top-seeded Crystal Lake South in a semifinal at 4:45 p.m. Wednesday.

For Harvard, Logan O’Brien was 2 for 3 with an RBI, Justin Wheeler drove in a run and Logan Nulle was 2 for 3 with a double.

Jacobs 4, Palatine 2: At Algonquin, the Golden Eagles (21-12) picked up a win in their regular-season finale. Luke Flaskamp was 1 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs and Brock Vincent went 2 for 3 and drove in one. Elliot Ross picked up the win with two scoreless innings, striking out two. Ryan Tucker earned the save by striking out the side in the seventh.

Crystal Lake South 14, Warren 0 (5 inn.): At Gurnee, Devin De Loach (2 IP, 4 K), Matt Bychowsky (1 IP), Julian Redmond (1 IP, 3 K) and Tanner Mauer (1 IP, 3 K) combined on a five-inning no-hitter for the Gators (24-9). Nolan Dabrowski went 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs, Nick Stowasser had two hits and three runs scored, and Wes Bogda, Michael Silvius and Michael Rathjen each drove in two runs.

While the the senior is a big-time facilitator on Central’s high-scoring attack with her crisp and accurate passes, she also owns one of the most powerful kicks on the team.

“Her numbers are in her assists because her service is just so fantastic. She can play a ball from almost anywhere,” Rutkowski said. “But she has such an incredibly, powerful shot. I’ve been asking her lately to try and take some and put some on frame because she obviously can.”

Bechler listened to her coach and put her powerful right foot to work Monday against Hononegah. Bechler scored the game’s first goal eight minutes in on a shot just outside the penalty area to the far post and added another in the first half as top-seeded Central coasted to an 8-0 win over third-seeded Hononegah in a Class 2A Crystal Lake Central Sectional girls soccer semifinal in Crystal Lake.

Senior forward Addison Schaffer added two goals and an assist in the first half, and Allison Barnett, Jordin Gaunard, Skyler Ferrero and Avery Chan also had goals in the runaway victory.

The Tigers (18-2) will look to win their fourth straight sectional title when they meet No. 1 Belvidere North or No. 2 Lakes at 4 p.m. Friday. Lakes handed Central one of its two losses during the regular season.

Bechler was happy to kick off Central’s scoring Monday.

“I was running down, I saw [Schaffer] running in the middle open, and I knew that she was going to be able to give me a perfect ball through,” Bechler said of her opening goal with 32:19 left in the opening half. “I just knew I had to place it once I got it.”

Central didn’t give Hononegah a chance to breathe after Bechler’s goal, with Schaffer scoring 27 seconds later on a breakaway.

After Monday’s win, the Tigers are averaging 5.2 goals a game.

“I just think we connected really well,” Bechler said of Central’s offense, which put 15 shots on goal to Hononegah’s three. “We were able to get on each other’s crosses and make sure no ball was going through the goal. We were getting a touch on it. We knew in that second half we had to have no letdowns.”

Already leading 5-0, the Tigers wasted no time as Gaunaurd scored 29 seconds after halftime.

“That’s what we ask for every game, to set the tone,” Rutkowski said. “Eighty minutes sounds long, but you like to get it done early and dictate the pace. Put it on our terms is kind of how we like to operate.

“We knew that they’re a tough team that’s not going to fold being down at halftime. Jordin runs hard up top; she’s got so much energy and so much fire that she can do that for us. Kind of brings a little spark for us.”

Ferrero, who normally plays defense or midfield, was moved up top late in the game and looked to make an impact right away.

The junior sailed a shot over the crossbar with six minutes left, but found the back of the net two minutes later. Ferrero took a few dribbles inside the penalty area, turned and fired a shot past a diving Hononegah goalkeeper into the lower corner of the net for a 7-0 lead.

After time was cut in half with the Tigers up seven, Chan scored the Tigers’ eighth with about 30 seconds left.

“I’m kind of looking to score anytime I get up there,” Ferrero said. “It’s always fun when I get thrown in at the 9 (center forward) or the wings. I’ve been in almost every position other than the wings, so that was really exciting for me. I’m a big runner, and it’s always fun to run down there and send one in.”

Ferrero is another high-energy player for Rutkowski.

“That’s just Skyler. She’s 100 mph in everything she does, every minute of every game,” Rutkowski said. “No matter where we put her, she is going to give it her all, and that was a big part of what we talked about going into the game. We knew it was going to be hard, and we’d have to fight through hard minutes to get it done.

“They took that to heart, and they worked so hard today to make it happen. It was awesome to see.”

Huntley’s Tanush Gulati and Vivek Yandamuri claimed the doubles title, and Will Geske was the top singles player for the Red Raiders, who won the team title with 34 points, 12 points ahead of runner-up Rockford Auburn (22).

Gulati and Yandamuri defeated teammates Eashan Cherukuri and Adam Stec 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win the doubles title. The duo beat Hononegah’s Carter Plesic and Evan Wanless 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals.

Cherukuri and Stec won their semifinal 6-2, 6-0 over Auburn’s Yashwin Padmanabhan and Jay Patel to make the sectional final.

At singles, Geske defeated Hononegah’s Braden Monson 6-3, 6-4 to take the sectional singles championship. Geske won his semifinal 6-4, 6-0 over Rockford Auburn’s Austin Altangerel.

Huntley’s Rithwik Depala took fourth in the sectional, losing to Altangerel 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the third-place match. Depala fell to Monson 6-1, 6-0 in the semifinals.

Class 1A Prairie Ridge Sectional: At Crystal Lake, Prairie Ridge’s Tim Jones topped Crystal Lake South’s Nazar Muktar 6-1, 6-3 to claim the singles title, and South’s Zeke Boldman and Eryk Bucior defeated Prairie Ridge’s Evan Seegert and Eli Loeding 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to win the doubles championship.

South won the sectional as a team with 27 points, followed closely by Prairie Ridge (24) in second. Crystal Lake Central (14) took third.

Marian Central’s Marc Cheng and Alek Jasovic beat Prairie Ridge’s Rory Senese and Matt Jones 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 in the third-place match.

South’s Bayel Muktar defeated Crystal Lake Central’s Ryan Spencer 6-3, 7-6 (3) to place third.

Class 2A Barrington Sectional: At Barrington, Jacobs’ Samuel Santa Ines fell to Buffalo Grove’s Maksim Hristov 6-1, 6-2 in the championship singles match of the sectional. Santa Ines won his semifinal 6-0, 6-1 against Dundee-Crown’s Aarav Shah.

Shah went on to take fourth with a 6-2, 6-4 loss to Barrington’s Derrick Katayama in the third-place match.

Jacobs placed second in the sectional with 19 points, trailing only host Barrington (29).

At doubles, Jacobs’ Jack Soto and Soham Kalra defeated Palatine’s Krish Handa and Patrick Shoults 6-3, 6-3 to win the third-place match. The Golden Eagles’ duo lost to Barrington’s Omkar Gowda and Shian Mittal 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2 in the semifinals.

Class 1A Lakes Sectional: At Lake Villa, Johnsburg’s Tyler Batt advanced to the singles championship and fell to Lake Forest’s Andrew Harris 6-3, 6-2 to place runner-up. Batt earned a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 semifinal win over Lake Forest’s Gino Ventura to earn the title shot.

Cary-Grove’s doubles team of Finnegan Karlovsky and Halen Young placed fourth in the sectional. The Trojans’ duo fell to Lake Forest’s Nicholas Schweitzer and Owen Kuehnle 6-2, 6-1 in the semifinals and Lake Forest’s Lucas Axente and Max Marijanovic 7-5, 6-1 in the third-place match.

Richmond-Burton 6, Harvest-Westminster co-op 0: At Richmond, the host Rockets (16-3) coasted to a shutout victory in the Class 1A Richmond-Burton Regional championship, the program’s fourth regional title since 2022. R-B advances to face Willows Academy in a Cristo Rey St. Martin Sectional semifinal at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Nicole Mendlik recorded a hat trick and scored two minutes into the match on a 30-yard strike. She scored again in the 13th minute on a long-range shot, assisted by Maddie Seyller. Ella Seyller made it 3-0 with two minutes left in the first half, assisted by Elle Barrettsmith.

In the second half, Maddie Seyller scored off an assist by Mendlik, Sydney Frericks scored off an assist by Maddie Seyller and Mendlik completed her hat trick with 15 minutes remaining, scoring from 35 yards out.

Rylee Molczan and Jane Brunswick combined for two saves in the shutout.

Huntley def. Larkin 25-20, 25-15: At Huntley, the Red Raiders (18-16) won their Guilford Regional opener with a two-set win over the Royals. Huntley advances to face Boylan or Elgin in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Prairie Ridge 13, Boylan 7: At Crystal Lake, Gabe Winkelman had a double, two runs scored and five RBIs, and Jack Dahlem went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs as the Wolves (22-8) earned a nonconference win. Maddon McKim had three hits, two runs and an RBI. Cameron Davis scored three runs, and Beckett Bresemen posted three hits.

Harvard 12, Round Lake 4: At Round Lake, Logan Nulle had three runs scored and three RBIs, and Justin Wheeler (2 for 4) had a double and drove in three runs for the Hornets (6-22) in a nonconference win. Cole Coffer and Eltan Powles (two runs) added two RBIs apiece, and Brennen Peters had a double with three runs scored. Cash Stott allowed two earned runs in four innings with four strikeouts. Logan O’Brien gave up a run in three innings with three strikeouts.

Jacobs 4, St. Charles North 3: At St. Charles, Andrew Deegan hit a two-run triple in the top of the seventh inning with two outs as the Golden Eagles (20-12) came back to beat the North Stars in nonconference action. Jace Koth was 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Mason Koth had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored. Aaden Colon struck out five in 2⅓ innings for the win.

Niles North 8, Cary-Grove 7 (9 inn.): At Skokie, Niles North scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to hand the Trojans (12-21) a nonconference loss. Jackson Berndt was 2 for 5 with a double and three RBIs, Brady Bauer had a triple and drove in two runs, and Joey Pristera had two hits and two runs scored.

Yorkville 3, McHenry 2: At Yorkville, Kaden Wasniewski allowed one run on two hits in four innings with three strikeouts and three walks in the nonconference loss for the Warriors (27-7-1). Nathan Neidhardt was 2 for 3 with a double and one RBI.

Richmond-Burton 5, Wilmot (Wis.) 4 (8 inn.): At Wilmot, Wis., Lucas Bynum doubled with one out in the top of the eighth to score Bryce Kowall, and the Rockets (18-16) held on in a nonconference victory. Kowall finished 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, and Joseph Larsen added two hits. Grayson Morningstar allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings, striking out six and walking two. Anthony Harvey got the win in relief with two scoreless innings.

Huntley 12, Antioch 0 (5 inn.): At Antioch, Sean Dabe struck out four in four shutout innings, and Joey Lengle had a double, two runs scored and three RBIs for the Red Raiders (28-7). Aiden Eickelmann scored twice and drove in two runs.

Nazareth 4, Burlington Central 3: At La Grange Park, Liam Schultz hit a solo home and drove in two runs as the Rockets fell in nonconference action, losing on a walk-off balk. Thomas Koertgen added two hits and one RBI.

She knows if she doesn’t come through, her teammates most likely will.

With her team needing an offensive jolt against Crystal Lake Central sophomore pitcher Lily Perocho on Saturday, the lightning-fast Schaid stepped up.

Schaid lined a one-out triple past a diving Ella Arana in center field in the bottom of the fourth inning for her team’s first hit, kickstarting a string of hits and runs for the Thunder.

The next five batters reached for the Thunder, who scored four runs on five hits in the inning and rode another dominant start by junior Kylee Nicholson on the way to a 5-2 victory to capture the Class 3A Crystal Lake Central Regional softball championship.

“It was pretty fun, it was pretty awesome,” said Schaid, who slid headfirst into third base on her one-out triple, scoring on a single to left field by Aly Jordan. “When I go into the (batter’s) box, I always say that it’s just another game. It’s the same three outs, it’s the same everything.

“We needed a spark for sure. We needed something to get going.”

Aly Jordan, Makayla Nordahl, Hailey Campos and Kylee Jordan all had RBI hits in the game-changing fourth, helping North take its first regional title since winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

The win also tied the school record for most victories in a season with 21. The Thunder (21-5) move on to meet Kaneland in a Belvidere North Sectional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

North has never won a sectional title since the school’s opening in 2008.

The Thunder had no hits against Perocho over the first 3⅓ innings.

“We were putting the ball in play, just right at people,” North’s first-year coach Gwen Malecke said. “I just told them to stick with it, stay aggressive, stay within yourselves. Keep having the same swings, and it’ll go through eventually. It’s amazing. This is such a great group of girls. They work so hard every day, so I’m super proud of them. They deserve this.”

Nicholson, who tossed a one-hitter in a regional semifinal win over crosstown rival Woodstock North on Tuesday, carried a no-hitter into the seventh. Central’s Logan Grams smacked a homer to center field to lead off the frame. Kacie Krallitsch then followed with a single.

Nicholson retired the final three batters on a fielder’s choice, flyout and strikeout, her 12th of the game. The left-hander allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks.

“She knows where she wants to throw and she gets it to that spot,” Central coach Brian Strombom said. “That’s the hardest part. She doesn’t miss pitches. She was throwing first-pitch strikes almost all game.”

Nicholson and Makayla Nordahl in the circle helped lead the Thunder to their first Kishwaukee River Conference title this spring.

“I was glad that I got to control the way the game ended,” Nicholson said of her 12th strikeout to end the game. “We got so close my freshman year (to winning a regional). It’s a big deal to be a part of this.”

Perocho went all seven innings for Central (9-19), allowing five runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and a walk. The Tigers had been without Perocho and Oli Victorine for much of the past month, Perocho dealing with a toe injury and Victorine out for the season with a stress fracture in her back.

Without their aces, the Tigers struggled down the stretch.

They survived a 6-5, eight-inning thriller on Wednesday over Crystal Lake South in their regional semifinal, winning on a walk-off hit by Kylie Gibbons.

“It felt great to be back,” said Perocho, who pitched all eight innings against South. “Representing Central is a very big deal to me, just having the confidence in myself and my team to go out there and make plays. I felt confident.”

Ella Arana, the team’s starting center fielder who also saw time in the circle as the team dealt with pitching injuries, had a walk, steal and run scored for Central, scoring on a hard-hit ball by Perocho that deflected off the glove of the second baseman with two outs in the top of the first inning.

Cassidy Murphy, one of two seniors on Central with Audriana Moore, had a walk in her final high school at-bat. Murphy and her teammates took a team photo behind the Tigers’ home dugout following the season-ending loss.

“It felt more personal to have the game here,” Murphy said. “It’s just a lot of fun to be in these kind of moments. I think there’s so much potential for them next year with Oli getting better and Lily getting better. I think the sky is the limit.”

North sophomore right fielder Hailey Campos, who had a run-scoring single in the fourth and run-scoring double in the sixth, said the Thunder will continue to play as they have all season.

“We just keep our energy high, nothing brings us down,” Campos said. “I feel like we can go against anybody.”