Bella Duncan’s statistics were eye-popping, while her energy and enthusiasm were infectious for a Morrison team that reached its first Sweet 16 since 2017. Duncan is the SVM Softball Player of the Year for 2025.

Here is a look at the top softball players from the Sauk Valley area for the 2025 season.

The Illinois Coaches Association released its All-State softball teams in each class, with Dixon’s Bailey Tegeler and Sterling’s Mya Lira recognized in Class 3A. Newman's Gianna Vance and Lucy Oetting were also among the area selections.

Prairie Ridge defeats Antioch in the IHSA Class 3A Kaneland Supersectional softball game on Monday, June 9, 2025, at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

Huntley falls to Barrington in IHSA Class 4A Sectional Championship softball game on Friday, June 6, 2025, at the Fields of Dreams on the campus of Barrington High School.

Huntley faces DeKalb in the IHSA Class 4A Sectional Semifinal softball game on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Barrington High School in Barrington.

Battling last year's state runner-up North Boone to extra innings, Morrison fell just short in a 4-3 loss in Friday's sectional final. The Fillies' four seniors helped raise the bar this season.

Belvidere North sophomore Ava Morris tossed a two-hit shutout and added two hits and an RBI in a 4-0 win over Sterling in the Class 3A Dixon Regional final Friday at Reynolds Field.

Fulton fell 7-0 to West Central on Thursday in the Class 1A sectional semifinals. The Steamers can hold their heads high after winning their first regional title since 2018.

Morrison faces Marengo in the IHSA Class 2A Sectional Semifinal softball game on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Marian Central High School in Woodstock.

Belvidere North pitcher Ava Morris struck out 13 Dixon batters in a 6-0 win as the Blue Thunder won a 17th straight game. Belvidere North faces Sterling in Friday's Class 3A Dixon Regional final at 4:30.

Sterling got back on track as Marley Sechrest's bat helped produce seven runs in a 13-2 win over Rochelle on Tuesday. The Golden Warriors advanced to face Belvidere North in Friday's Class 3A Dixon Regional final at 4:30 p.m.

Richmond-Burton faces North Boone in IHSA Class 2A Regional Championship softball game on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

Marengo faces Aurora Central Catholic in the IHSA Class 2A Regional Championship softball game on Friday, May 23, 2025. at Marengo High School.

With eight runs in the first two innings of its Class 1A home regional final, the Fulton Steamers cruised to their second straight 20-win season and first postseason plaque since 2018.

Fulton’s Jessa Read, Kylie Smither and Haley Smither helped the softball team advance to the regional final before they hit the road for the start of Thursday's state track and field meet.

With postseason play next week, the Marquette Crusaders' bats were in full swing in their penultimate regular season game Thursday in a win over Newman.

Prairie Ridge faces Crystal Lake Central during a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Madisyn Busse's three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning proved to be the difference in Geneseo's 3-2 win over Sterling in Tuesday's Western Big 6 showdown in Sterling.

Ace pitcher Bella Duncan and catcher Allie Anderson helped lead Morrison to a 7-0 win over Milledgeville on Tuesday as the Fillies clinched the NUIC South title in their first season in the league.

Marengo faces Richmond-Burton in a Kishwaukee River Conference softball game on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

Sterling batted around before recording an out in the second inning Thursday on its way to a 13-0, five-inning Western Big 6 win over Rock Island Alleman.

Dixon came through with a big hit in the top of the seventh, then escaped a jam in the bottom of the inning Tuesday to defeat Oregon 5-4 in a Big Northern Conference game at Oregon Park West.

Prairie Ridge faces Huntley in a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Huntley High School.

McHenry faces Huntley in a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Wednesday, April 39, 2025, at Huntley High School.

Lily Martinez and Sterling hope for a quick bounce back after falling 10-0 to Western Big 6 Conference leader Rock Island on Tuesday.

Dixon's Allie Abell had 10 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over Byron. Morrison's Bella Duncan threw a no-hitter against Eastland, Fulton's Chase Dykstra helped Fulton win 4-0 and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling battled to an 8-7 Western Big 6 Conference win over Moline on Tuesday as Lily Martinez finished off a complete game after the matchup was delayed by lightning.

Richmond-Burton faces Marengo in a Kishwaukee River Conference softball game against on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Marengo High School.

Hall's defense helped make the difference as the Red Devils pulled away from Newman late in a 10-5 Three Rivers East Conference win on Monday.

Rock Falls sophomore softball player Zoey Silva is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote. She threw a perfect game and tossed a no-hitter this season as the team's primary pitcher.

Despite the swirling wind blowing toward home plate, Sterling and Rockridge combined for three home runs as the Rockets won the slugfest 9-4 on Wednesday.

Huntley faces Prairie Ridge during Fox Valley Conference softball game on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake.

Backing up Zoey Silva’s perfect game with plenty of offense, Rock Falls rolled past Rockford Lutheran 13-0 for a five-inning Big Northern Conference win Thursday afternoon.

Crystal Lake Central faces Huntleyin Fox Valley Conference softball game on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Huntley High School.

Genoa-Kingston junior Elizabeth Davis homered at Reynolds Field for the third straight season, and was also strong in the circle in the Cogs’ 7-1 victory over Dixon on Monday in a Big Northern Conference game.

A look back at the last week in sports in the Northwest Herald by photographers Gregory Shaver, and Patrick Kunzer for the Shaw Local News Network

With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday, Lily Martinez ended an epic plate appearance with a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Bree Taylor as Sterling defeated Rock Island 5-4.

Johnsburg faces Marian Central in nonconference softball game on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Bates Park in Woodstock.

Antioch faces Marengo in a nonconference softball game on Monday, March 31, 2025, at Marengo High School.

Here is a look at each Sauk Valley area softball team for the 2025 season, including top returners, key newcomers and more.

An inning after three straight bunt singles led to the tying run, Kiyrra Morris’ RBI double to left field drove in Sam Woolley with the winning run in the Princeton’s 3-2 victory over Rock Falls on Thursday afternoon at the Hinders Field Complex.

Taking advantage of aggressive at-bats and defensive miscues, Sterling rolled to a 15-0, four-inning win over Sauk Valley rival Dixon on Tuesday afternoon.

Marengo faces North Boone in a nonconference softball game on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Marengo High School.

Sterling's Braden Birdsley had a walk-off hit, Dixon baseball fell 15-1, Rockridge beat Newman, Fulton beat Morrison, Forreston won 14-12, Dixon, E-P, Bureau Valley and Oregon softball won and Rock Falls boys track & field won in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Morrison pitcher Bella Duncan had 17 strikeouts but Sterling got the home win 5-4 as Lilly Martinez had a home run and got the pitching win in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Sterling junior Lily Cantu had a three-run home run and was part of a seventh-inning rally as the Golden Warriors opened the season with a 9-8 walk-off win over Newman.

Prairie Ridge faces Richmond-Burton in a nonconference softball game on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School.

Five returning Sauk Valley softball players to watch include Dixon's Bailey Tegeler, Polo's Cheyenna Wilkins, Fulton's Reese Germann, Morrison's Bella Duncan and Milledgeville's Kendra Kingsby.

Polo High School senior Cheyenna Wilkins will be representing Team USA at a national fastpitch softball tournament in the Netherlands this weekend from Jan. 17-19.