Beecher Preps

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.

Wilmington baseball kept its perfect ICE record in tact, Peotone's Sophie Klawitter threw a perfect game and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

The Kankakee girls track and field team placed third at the JJK/AL Joyner Classic and more in Saturday's Daily Journal Roundup.

Seneca beat Beacher 15-6 on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Seneca High School.

The Seneca baseball team, which has recently dropped a number of close games, exploded with 14 hits and took advantage of eight Beecher errors in a 15-6 victory on Friday in Seneca.

The Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball team picked up a 5-2 road win over Sandburg for their first conference victory and more in Thursday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Coal City baseball team beat Peotone for its 10th straight win and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Bradley-Bourbonnais baseball team fell 5-4 to Sandburg in their SouthWest Suburban Conference opener and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Coal City softball team won in dominant fashion, the girls soccer team fought to a tie in a rivalry matchup with Morris and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

Beecher pitcher Taylor Norkus threw a perfect game Thursday as the Bobcats improved to 6-0 on the season, and more in Thursday's Daily Journal Roundup.

The Kankakee baseball team blew out Thornton 19-0 at home and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Beecher junior Grace Durante scored three goals in the Bobcats' 3-1 road win over Manteno on Monday.

Manteno freshman Klarke Goranson won both the girls Class 2A 800 meters and 1,600 meters at the Illinois Top Times Championships and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

The Daily Journal 2024-25 All-Area boys basketball team.

Bradley-Bourbonnais softball rallied from its first loss of the season to salvage a doubleheader split with Huntley and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.