Pitching and defense are expected to be the strengths this spring of an Ottawa baseball team that has a good mix of experience and talent.

Marquette Academy baseball coach Todd Hopkins, after back-to-back Class 1A state championships for the Crusaders, has been nominated for the National High School Coaches Association's Coach of the Year Award.

Beau Raikes has signed on to continue his education at Danville Area Community College and his baseball career at the NJCAA Division II level with the Jaguars.

Burbank, the Illinois state champion, beat Iowa state champion Southeast Polk twice Thursday to win the Senior League Baseball Central Region Tournament for the fourth time in a row.

Marquette's Keaton Davis has signed on to continue his education at Spoon River College and his baseball career with the Snappers.

The Streator 11-Year-Old All-Stars wrapped up the Little League District 20 championship at their age level with a 15-0 blanking of the rival Ottawa 11-Year-Old All-Stars.

Recent Streator High School graduate Jake Hagie has committed to continue his education and baseball career at Illinois Valley Community College.

Marquette Academy's Sam Mitre has signed to continue his education at Parkland College and his baseball career with the Cobras.

Ottawa youth baseball player Ethan Farabaugh starred for Great Britain over the holiday weekend at the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe Championship played in Hungary.