Putnam County Panthers got some preparation for Friday's Class 1A state semifinal, making at stop at the Corn Crib in Normal and Yard Goats indoor facility in Champaign. The Panthers (25-11) will face North Clay (35-4) at 1 p.m. Friday at Illinois Field.

The Putnam County baseball program has qualified for state in every full decade since the school opened. The 2026 Panthers play North Clay in Friday's semifinals in the school's seventh state appearance.

Hall’s Luke Bryant, Princeton’s Ryan Jagers and St. Bede’s Ava Balestri earn unanimous all-conference honors in the Three Rivers East and Tri-County Confernce.

Braden Curran will be playing baseball for Augustana College next spring, but first he will put the football pads back on. He will represent Hall High School in the upcoming 52nd Annual Shrine All-Star Football game on Saturday, June 20 in Bloomington

Princeton High School coach Patrick Hodge has announced the cross country/fitness runs for PHS for the rest of June, meeting at 7 p.m. on June 16, June 18, June 23 and June 26 in front of the school.

This year’s Walnut 5K Run/Walk for ALS is scheduled for Saturday, July 4 starting at 8 a.m. at Bureau Valley North School. All proceeds for the event will go toward research for ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Here is a look at BCR Softball Players of the Year from out of the past dating back to 1996. Avah Oertel is the ninth different Princeton player chosen, the fourth to repeat.

Keighley Davis will be playing volleyball for William Penn University this fall, but first she will suit up for basketball one more time. Princeton’s all-time leading scorer will be playing for the Class 1-2A North in Saturday’s IBCA All-Star Games in Pontiac.

Four St. Bede players have been added to the ICA 2A All-State Softball team, having been inadvertently omitted in its first release Monday - Ava Balestri, Lily Bosnich, Emma Slingsby and Macy Strauch .

Princeton's Kristian Wahlgren (front center), who is the only time two-time state wrestling champion from the Illinois Valley, was accompanied by family and friends for his induction into the Shaw Media Illinois Valley Hall of Fame

Elisa Gugerty was the winner of Tuesday’s Wyaton Hills Ladies Play Day of Reverse your score with a score of 15.

Avah Oertel had more hits than Taylor this spring. She batted .607 with a school single-season record 17 homers, 59 RBIs, 19 doubles and 55 runs scored. The repeat BCR Player of the Year is already Princeton’s career leader for home runs (35), RBIs (137) and doubles (35).

Three members of Princeton’s regional finalist softball team were named to the 2026 Illinois Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Softball Team. Avah Oertel, Keely Lawson and Caroline Keutzer. Hall’s Caroline Morris and Bernie Larsen were named to third team

Here’s an updated look at offensive school records for Princeton High School softball through the 2026 season

Here’s a look at Princeton High School softball pitching school records as of Tuesday, April 14, 2026 as researched by BCR Sports Editor Kevin Hieronymus

The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are on the road for six games this week. The Shrimp enter the week 5-6 after going 2-3 last week.

Jake Gillum started his day running the Steamboat Classic in Peoria running a 4-mile race starting at 8:05 a.m. Then he made fast tracks to defend his Princeton Mile championship by the narrowest of margins, clocking a 4:08.2 to edge runner-up Dale Johnson of Sterling

Here are the leading ladies on the BCR diamonds representing Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede.