The seventh Shaw Media Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame class was inducted Thursday with 14 individuals and three teams honored.

La Salle-Peru baseball, softball and soccer players earned All-Interstate 8 Conference honors, plus more in the NewsTribune sports briefs.

Putnam County's Johnathon Stunkel struck out the side in the top of the first inning and the Panthers scored two runs in the bottom half to set the tone early in an 11-1, five-inning victory over Newark in a Class 1A Putnam County Sectional semifinal Wednesday.

Putnam County defeated Newark 11-1 on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at Putnam County High School. The Panthers will take on Fulton on Saturday at 11a.m. for the Sectional title.

Henry-Midland's Daniella Bumber starts the next chapter of her life June 25 as she goes to basic training ahead of her college career at the Naval Academy, where she'll also run track and field.

The Interstate 8 named three girls soccer MVPs: Kaneland's Erin Doucette, Ottawa's Chloe Carmona and Sycamore's Izzie Segreti. Co-champs Sycamore and Kaneland each had five all-conference selections, Ottawa had three, La Salle-Peru and Morris had two and Rochelle had one.

Sycamore pitcher Bella Jacobs was voted conference MVP by Interstate 8 coaches as the champion Spartans had five first-team selections. Ottawa and Morris had four selections each, Kaneland and La Salle-Peru had two each and Rochelle had one.

Ottawa's Adam Swanson was named the Interstate 8 MVP as Pirates and co-champ Kaneland each had six selections. Sycamore and Morris had three selections each, La Salle-Peru had two and Rochelle had one. Every team had one honorable mention.

La Salle-Peru graduate and former NewsTribune Female Athlete of the Year Taylor Maryn earned all-conference honors as well as two academic honors as a member of the St. Ambrose University softball team.