Drake Lansman

It wasn't the finish the team hoped for, but Newman finished fourth at the Class 2A state tournament after a 9-3 loss to Eureka on Saturday at Illinois Field in Champaign. The Comets were proud of the run after a third straight state trophy.

Two three-run innings were costly on Friday as Newman fell 9-3 to Teutopolis in the Class 2A state semifinals at Illinois Field. The Comets face Eureka in Saturday's third-place game at 4 p.m.

Newman baseball brings confidence and another year of experience into Friday's state semifinals. The Comets hope to have their best finish yet in a third straight trip to state.

Evan Bushman pitched a complete game and Daniel Kelly had a home run and four RBIs to help send Newman to state for the third straight year.

Fulton senior Dom Kramer worked his way back from a knee injury during football season to be a key contributor on the mound and at the plate during the Steamers' postseason run to the Elite Eight. He is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote.

Fulton's Braedon Meyers pitched six innings and knocked in a key insurance run late in a 3-2 win for the sectional title on Saturday. Dom Kramer got the save in the Steamers' first sectional title since 2015.

After losing 11 straight games to close the regular season, Dixon got back in the win column when it mattered most. The Dukes beat Sterling 10-2 on Saturday to win the Class 3A Freeport Regional title.

Dixon and Sterling both advanced to Saturday's state track finals in multiple events on Friday.

Battling last year's state runner-up North Boone to extra innings, Morrison fell just short in a 4-3 loss in Friday's sectional final. The Fillies' four seniors helped raise the bar this season.

Rock Falls senior baseball player Austin Castaneda led the Rockets with 37 walks, 30 runs scored, 30 stolen bases without getting caught, led the team with a .543 on-base percentage and 1.054 OPS. He is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week.

Morrison's 4x200 relay of Rylan Alvarado, Levi Milder, Zach Milder and Brady Anderson set the Class 1A state meet record on Thursday with a 1:26.87 to take first in the prelims. Newman, Oregon, Bureau Valley, Milledgeville and Forreston-Polo also advanced to Saturday's finals.

Newman sophomore Joel Rhodes and Sterling freshman Aron Rivera wrapped up their seasons at the state tennis meet on Thursday. Both were competing in state singles for the first time.

Chase Dykstra pitched a 3-hitter to send Fulton to Saturday's Class 1A Lena-Winslow Sectional final at 11 a.m. against River Ridge/Scales Mound, which came back to beat Eastland 5-4 on Wednesday.

Johnsburg's storybook season added another chapter after the Skyhawks snapped Byron's 28-game win streak to advance to Saturday's Class 2A Mendota Sectional final against Newman.

Newman had to grind out a 5-3 win against Marengo and pitcher Michael Kirchhoff to advance to Saturday's Class 2A Mendota Sectional final.