Beecher Preps

After Ava Lorenzatti's sixth-inning homer brought the Class 2A state championship game to extra innings, Tayiah Scanlan became a Beecher legend when she hit a three-run, inside-the-park home run to give the Bobcats a 5-2 win over Carterville for the title.

The Beecher softball team earned its fifth state championship in a game for the ages, a 5-2 10-inning win over Carterville in the Class 2A championship game Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria.

The Bobcats played vintage Beecher softball in their four-run fourth inning against Auburn in Friday's Class 2A State semifinal matchup, a game the Bobcats won 4-2 to advance to their seventh-ever state championship game.

Beecher softball is headed to the state championship game for the seventh time in school history after defeating Auburn 4-2 in the Class 2A State semifinals at Peoria's Louisville Slugger Complex Friday, June 6, 2025.

Since Kevin Hayhurst returned to his alma mater as the softball coach 23 years ago, the Beecher softball program became and has continued to set the state's standard of excellence.

After entering the game as a relief pitcher in the sixth inning of a 3-3 tie, Beecher's Taylor Norkus hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning of the Bobcats' Class 2A East Peoria Super-Sectional against Brimfield Monday, sending the Bobcats to their eighth trip to state.

Ava Lorenzatti blasted a solo homer, and Taylor Norkus twirled a one-hit shutout as Beecher topped Seneca 1-0 to claim the 2A Seneca Sectional championship.

The Beecher softball team won its third straight sectional championship with a nail-biting 1-0 win over Seneca in the Class 2A Seneca Sectional championship game Friday, May 30, 2025.

In a back-and-forth Class 2A Seneca Sectional semifinal that saw four lead changes, it was Beecher who took the last one with a 7-5 win over Herscher Tuesday.

The Manteno baseball team and Herscher softball team both won their regional championship games and more in Saturday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Beecher got three RBIs from Ava Olson and 12 strikeouts from Ava Lorenzatti to beat Wilmington 3-1 in the IHSA Class 2A Beecher Regional championship on Friday, winning its third straight regional title.

Wilmington pitcher Kyle Farrell did not allow a hit for the first 6 1/3 innings Wednesday, finishing with a one-hit shutout for the Wildcats in the IHSA Class 2A Coal City Regional semifinals, and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal Roundup

Despite taking first in only one event, the Seneca boys track and field team won the championship at the Class 1A Seneca Sectional

Coal City got a pair of goals from Ava Meyer in the middle of multiple weather delays before Hayden Francisco added two more to give the Coalers the Class 1A Manteno Regional title over Beecher Tuesday.

As this year's softball regionals begin this week, Beecher will continue riding the arms of Ava Lorenzatti and Taylor Norkus as the Bobcats look for the program's eighth trip to state.

Storylines to watch for in the 2025 baseball postseason, including intriguing potential matchups between local Class 2A teams and a Bradley-Bourbonnais team looking to recapture some of last season's playoff magic.

From Beecher battling through a challenging Class 2A Seneca Sectional to Bradley-Bourbonnais looking for a regional four-peat in 4A, here are some storylines to look for as the 2025 postseason gets underway.

The Bishop McNamara and Herscher girls soccer teams both won their regional semifinal games Saturday to set up a matchup in the regional championship and more in Saturday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Coal City baseball team extended its winning streak to four games with a nonconference win at Kankakee and more in Thursday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Teams from Aurora Christian, Beecher, Dwight, Earlville, Hinckley-Big Rock, Kankakee-McNamara, Lisle, Momence, Newark, Marquette, Seneca, Indian Creek, Somonauk, Westmont, Wilmington and Yorkville all competed during the Class 1A Sectional track meet on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at Seneca High School.

The Kankakee girls track and field team led the local charge on the first day of the postseason and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Tristin Woods hit a home run and had five RBIs for the Bradley-Bourbonnais softball team in their SouthWest Suburban Conference win over Stagg, and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Cody Freitas hit two home runs to lead Bradley-Bourbonnais to an 18-7 win in SouthWest Suburban Conference play and more in Monday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Wilmington baseball team held Kankakee to just one hit in a 12-0 win, the Wildcats third shutout win in a row, and more in Thursday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Beecher's Taylor Norkus threw a no-hitter to escape a pitchers' duel with Peotone's Sophie Klawitter and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

The Bishop McNamara baseball team got another shutout win to sweep St. Edward in a Chicagoland Christian Conference series and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Landis sisters, Kate and Margaret, have returned to their alma mater, Beecher High School, as assistant coaches for the same softball program they once won state championships with as players.

Jacob Vinardi tossed a no-hitter in the first game of Kankakee's doubleheader with Thornridge and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

Lydia Hammond threw a perfect game with 17 strikeouts as Bradley-Bourbonnais won a pitchers' duel with a ranked Fremd team and more in Saturday's Daily Journal Roundup.

A total of 13 local track and field programs competed in the Herscher Invite on Friday, with area athletes on the girls side winning eight events and Wilmington freshman McKenna Van Tilburg winning three.

Lydia Hammond threw a nine-inning shutout and hit a walk-off double against Benet and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.

A dozen schools competed in the Herscher Invite track and field meet Friday, May 2, 2025. Buy photos here: https://heraldnews.smugmug.com/April-2025/Herscher-Invite

The Beecher softball team beat Central 10-0 on Thursday to clinch the RVC title for the 24th season in a row and more in Thursday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Central baseball team beat Beecher 9-3 in a matchup of the top two teams in the River Valley Conference standings and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Ava Lorenzatti had 15 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout Tuesday as Beecher bounced back from its first loss of the season to beat Central 7-0 in River Valley Conference play.

Beecher softball stays unbeaten in RVC play with a 7-0 win over Central. In baseball, Central came out on top, earning a 9-3 win over Beecher.

Bradley-Bourbonnais was an out away from an SWSC loss Monday when Cody Freitas put them ahead with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh and more in Monday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Bradley-Bourbonnais' Cody Freitas hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday to end the Boilermakers' 12-2 win over Herscher and more in Saturday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Bishop McNamara boys and Central girls both picked up team wins at the Manteno Invite on Friday.

The Bobcats improved their unbeaten season start to 19-0 after passing a test against a talented Wilmington team Thursday.

The Bobcats improved their unbeaten season start to 19-0 after passing a test against a talented Wilmington team Thursday.

The Bishop McNamara softball team beat Wheaton Academy 16-8 to improve to 7-0 in Chicagoland Christian Conference play and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Kays improved to 4-0 in Southland Athletic Conference play with a 2-0 win on the road against Beecher on Wednesday.

The Bradley-Bourbonnais softball team lost an extra-inning SWSC battle to top-ranked Lincoln-Way Central, Beecher's Ava Lorenzatti and Taylor Norkus were dominant in a doubleheader sweep and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball team beat Lincoln-Way East on the road Monday to avenge last week's loss to the Griffins and more in Monday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Kankakee girls track and field team placed fifth at the Kays Co-ed Meet Saturday with Herscher placing seventh, while on the boys side Herscher placed sixth and Kankakee placed seventh, and more in Saturday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Peotone's Sophie Klawitter threw a one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts in the Blue Devils' win to cap off her dominant week, and more in Friday's Daily Journal Roundup

The Bishop McNamara baseball team scored three runs in the fifth inning to win a Chicagoland Christian Conference contest over Wheaton Academy 3-2, and more in Thursday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Bishop McNamara's Joslynn Dole and Kankakee's Kylee Cunningham both threw no-hitters Wednesday to lead their teams to wins and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal Roundup

The Bishop McNamara baseball team picked up its first Chicagoland Christian Conference win of the season, Peotone's Sophie Klawitter threw another no-hitter and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal Roundup.