Lincoln-Way Central Preps

Lincoln-Way West's Conor Essenburg gets drafted in the fifth round, Jack Wheeler goes high and more big things from 2025 MLB Draft.

Lincoln-Way Central's Luke Mensik was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft, and Joliet West alum Jimmy Anderson was taken in the 19th round by the Baltimore Orioles.

Here is a look at some of the best softball players the area had to offer in the 2025 season, the 2025 Herald-News All-Area Softball Team.

Lisabella Dimitrijevic of Lincoln-Way Central earned her second straight Herald-News Softball Player of the Year honor after going 23-1 with a 0.47 ERA and 349 strikeouts against 29 walks.

See if your favorite player made the 2025 Herald-News All-Area Baseball Team, featuring the best of the best across the Will/Grundy County area.

Here is the 2025 Herald-News Boys Volleyball All-Area Team.

Presenting the 2025 Herald-News Girls Soccer All-Area Team.

Bella Dimitrijevic was named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year in softball for the second consecutive season after dominating for Lincoln-Way Central all of 2025.

Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way West each had five players make the All-Conference team in baseball for the Southwest Suburban Conference. See who else made their all-conference teams here.

Providence had a frustrating session with its pitching machine in preparation for Saturday's sectional title matchup with Lincoln-Way East. But the intent of that session certainly hit its mark as the Celtics rolled to a 12-0 victory Saturday.

Kelcie McGraw shut out Lincoln-Way Central over 10 innings and RJ Slavicek delivered an RBI triple to lead Lockport to a 2-0 win in the Class 4A Lockport Sectional

Lemont advanced to the sectional title game, while Lockport's season came to an end in the Herald-News Thursday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way East baseball limited Lincoln-Way Central to one hit in a 3-0 win, while Providence got a walk-off home run from Enzo Infelice in the semifinal round of the Lincoln-Way West Class 4A Sectional.

Providence Catholic thumped Tinley Park 20-4 to advance to the Class 3A Ottawa Sectional championship game. That and more in Tuesday's Herald-News Roundup

Lincoln-Way Central's Bella Dimitrijevic threw a one-hitter with 16 strikeouts and teammate Teagan Berkshire put the finishing touches on a 5-0 win over Lincoln-Way West with a two-run homer.

Wilmington won its second straight Class 2A sectional baseball title, while Lockoort, Lemont, Providence Catholic and Lincoln-Way Central won regional crowns. That and more in The Herald-News Saturday roundup.

After a scoreless first half, Lincoln-Way East scored three quick goals, eventually shutting out Lincoln-Way Central to advance to the supersectional.

Lincoln-Way West, Lockport and others advanced multiple competitors to the 3A state finals on Saturday. That and more in the Herald-News Friday Roundup.

Wilmington baseball makes sectional final, local runners compete at the IHSA State Finals Meet, and more in Thursday's roundup.

Justin VanderTuuks RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Lockport into the Class 4A regional final, Lincoln-Way West, East and Central also were baseball winners. Plus more softball and baseball state tournament scores in Wednesday's Herald News Sports Roundup.

Providence's girls soccer team beat Evergreen Park 4-0 to advance to the Class 2A Kankakee Sectional championship, and more postseason soccer, softball and volleyball action in Tuesday's Herald-News Roundup

Lincoln-Way East scored four goals in the first half before eventually beating Lincoln-Way West 4-1 to advance to the Joliet West Sectional Finals.

Plainfield South beat Pekin to open the Class 4A playoffs, while Plainfield East and Joliet Central were also playoff winners in baseball. Plus more in the Herald-News Monday Roundup.

Several Herald-News area athletes are among the top 10 qualifiers in their respective events entering this weekend's state boys track and field championships

Lincoln-Way East's tennis team dominated its own sectional, and more in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup

Plainfield North won medals in all four relays — winning two of them — en route to a fifth-place finish in Class 3A on Saturday at Eastern Illinois University’s O’Brien Field. Meanwhile Lockport senior Mckena Miglorini and Reed-Custer junior Sophia Burciaga won pole vault titles.

Plainfield North will lead a large contingent of track and field athletes in the finals on Saturday after a strong showing in Friday's prelims, plus more in the roundup.

Coal City, Peotone win baseball, Lockport, Morris win softball. That and more in Thursday's roundup.

Ellie McLaughlin and Kayla Doerre were both 3 for 4 to lead Lincoln-Way Central to a 7-6 win over Lincoln-Way East to wrap up an undefeated SouthWest Suburban Conference season.

Lincoln-Way West finished second as a team at the Lockport Sectional, but Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way Central and Lockport will all be represented at state.

Tessa Krull throws a perfect game as Seneca softball advances. Lincoln-Way East and Joliet West clinch baseball conference titles and Morris advances multiple track and field runners to state, plus more scores from around the area in Wednesday's Herald News Sports Roundup.

Lincoln-Way West, Lincoln-Way Central and Lockport were among area winners in the girls soccer postseason. That and more in Tuesday's Herald-News Roundup.

Taking a look at possible medalists and stories to watch for in The Herald-News area at the girls track and field state meet this weekend at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.

Minooka baseball tops Bolingbrook, Plainfield South baseball downs Joliet Central and more in the Herald-News Monday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way Central's Alex Panos threw a four-hit shutout Monday to lead the Knights to a 3-0 SouthWest Suburban Conference win against Bradley-Bourbonnais, keeping the Knights' conference title hopes alive.

Lemont baseball sweeps a doubleheader against Romeoville and more in the Herald-News Saturday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East softball both win, as did Lockport baseball. That and plenty more in the Herald-News Friday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way West led Lincoln-Way Central 6-4 in the sixth when play was paused due to a dust storm. The game picked up 40 minutes later, but the score never changed as the Warriors earned a massive conference win.

Coal City, Gardner-South Wilmington win baseball, Plainfield East, Joliet West win softball. That and more in Thursday's roundup.

Minooka's girls track and field team won the title at the Class 3A Rock Island Sectional, and more in Wednesday's Herald-News Roundup

Joliet West, Minoona and Plainfield Central were among baseball winners. That and more in Tuesday's Herald-News roundup.

Joliet Catholic baseball beat Benet, Coal City boys tennis got a sweep over St. Bede and more in the Herald-News Monday roundup.

JCA and Lemont each scored baseball shutouts and more in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup

Nolan Lamoureux runs state best 800 meters at Bill Jackson Invite. Plus more scores and results from around the area in Friday's Herald News Sports Roundup.

Lemont girls track wins the South Suburban Blue, Lemont baseball, softball and girls soccer also win. Plus more scores from around the area in Thursday's Herald News Sports Roundup.

Lincoln-Way Central baseball, softball and lacrosse earned wins. Plus more baseball, softball and track and field results in Wednesday's Herald News sports roundup.

Plainfield Central and Joliet West's baseball clubs were among the winners in the Herald-News Tuesday Roundup.

Bolingbrook baseball loses to Oswego East and more in the Herald-News Monday roundup.

Lincoln-Way Central and Lemont, state powers in Class 4A and 3A, respectively, enjoy meeting each other on the field. Read about that and more in this week’s The Herald-News softball notebook.

Brendan Henderson hit two home runs and drove in five to help Plainfield North baseball top Huntley in a slugfest, Jo Male tossed a not hitter for Gardner-South Wilmington softball and more in the roundup.