A look at the top boys bowlers in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

La Salle-Peru junior Aiden McCray is the 2025-26 NewsTribune Boys Bowler of the Year. He had a 204 average, placed second in the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament and finished 35th at state.

The Mendota baseball team beat Amboy, Putnam County softball topped Bureau Valley and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Marquette baseball team opened the season on Friday with a big win in Jacksonville, while Seneca and Sandwich also picked up victories. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Wyatt Cassens was 4 for 4 in Sterling's 13-3 win over E-P. Newman, Fulton and Eastland baseball won, Dixon and Rock Falls softball won and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Here are five of the top returning baseball players to watch in the Sauk Valley area as the 2026 season gets underway. Newman, Sterling, Fulton and Forreston are among the teams with key seniors back.

Morrison softball edged Sterling 2-1 as Ava Duncan pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts. Sterling baseball beat Princeton 9-7, while Fulton softball and baseball beat Polo in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The L-P girls soccer team won its opener, plus baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Ottawa's Addie Russell pitched the Pirates softball team to a 5-1 win over Oswego on Thursday, while the Newark and Earlville/Leland baseball squads picked up wins. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Hall and Streator baseball teams opened their seasons Thursday at the SHS Athletic Fields, with the Bulldogs dominating early and the Red Devils late in an eventual 9-9 tie ballgame.

Marquette sophomore Lily Brewer's fourth inning solo home run sparked an eight-run Crusaders rally in a 10-0 victory in five innings over Streator in both team's season opener on Thursday at June Gross Field in Ottawa.

La Salle-Peru senior Kiely Domyancich is the NewsTribune Girls Wrestler of the Year for the second year in a row after going 35-5, winning a regional title and advancing to state for the third time in her career.

A look at the top boys and girls wrestlers in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

The Henry baseball and softball teams lost their season openers, plus more results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Seneca senior Lila Coleman placed second, leaping 5.23 meters in the long jump at Wednesday's Normal West Lady Wildcat Indoor Invitational, while Somonauk's Alexis Punsalan finished fifth in the pole vault.

With the high school girls soccer season getting underway this week, here is a look at the 2026 season for Ottawa, Streator, Serena co-op and Hinckley-Big Rock co-op.

Results from the La Salle-Peru and Mendota girls track and field teams in the Sycamore invite in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Here are five of the top Sauk Valley area softball players to watch this season as the 2026 campaign gets underway.

In an area loaded with baseball talent and as the season gets underway, here are our picks for five players to watch across The Times coverage area.

The Marquette baseball team, while having a few spots to fill due to graduation, brings back a ton of experience and talent, especially on the mound. The Class 2A Crusaders are coming off back-to-back 1A titles and will be looking to keep the success rolling.

A look at the Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Earlville, Henry-Senachwine and Fieldcrest baseball teams for the 2026 season.

The Chicago Bears program recognizes high school football and girls flag football players who demonstrate leadership, character, and service both on and off the field.

The Putnam County baseball team has holes to fill, but coach Chris Newsome said the Panthers have a good nucleus of returners and newcomers eager to step up.

A team-by-team 2026 season preview for baseball teams across The Times coverage area, including Newark, Serena, Earlville/Leland, Seneca, Dwight, Fieldcrest and Sandwich.

Mendota sophomore Cole Tillman was voted Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 2A All State.

If the Streator baseball team's top returning hitter and pitchers are as good as expected, what the rest of the Bulldogs can do around them could be the deciding factor if this spring’s Streator ballclub can reach its lofty goals.

With the high school baseball season starting this week, here are five storylines to watch this spring in the NewsTribune area.

The La Salle-Peru baseball team has high hopes for the 2026 season as the Cavaliers return their top two pitchers from last season and have plenty of depth on the pitching staff.

Both Newark and Streator's girls and boys track and field teams were in competition in The Times Saturday Roundup.

The La Salle-Peru, Mendota and Amboy track and field teams competed Saturday. Results in the NewsTribune roundup.

The Marquette Academy seventh-grade girls volleyball team over the weekend scored a runner-up finish at the IESA Class 7-1A State Tournament.

After inexperience hurt the Hall baseball team at times last season, the Red Devils return a veteran group this season.

The St. Bede baseball team only graduated two players last spring, so the Bruins bring back a veteran roster after going 27-5.

The Princeton softball team scored six times in the second inning, then held off a late rally from host Ottawa to earn a 9-7 victory in both team's season opener on Friday afternoon at a cold and windy King Field in Ottawa.

The St. Bede softball team beat IVC in five innings, plus more results in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

The 2026 Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell baseball team enters to season with just nine players on its roster, but on the positive side eight of them bring in varsity experience.

The St. Bede softball team won its season opener, plus more results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Seneca No. 9 hitter Aurora Weber's soft-hit single tied it, a two-run Geneseo error gave the Irish the lead, and pitchers Tessa Krull and Hayden Pfeifer made it stand up as Seneca softball came back to top Geneseo 4-1 Thursday.

Pitching and defense are expected to be the strengths this spring of an Ottawa baseball team that has a good mix of experience and talent.

A look at the Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Earlville, Henry-Senachwine and Fieldcrest softball teams for the 2026 season.

The Putnam County softball team has a small, young roster but the Panthers "have the potential to do some really good things" with most of their starting lineup back.

The 2026 Streator High softball team doesn't have any seniors, but they do show a lot of encouraging signs for both the now and the future of the program as the spring season gets underway.

A team-by-team 2026 season preview for softball teams across The Times coverage area, including Newark, Serena, Earlville, Somonauk/Leland, WFC, Dwight, Fieldcrest and Sandwich.

The Hall softball team returns a strong core of players and adds a solid freshman class as the Red Devils look to improve this spring.

In an area loaded with softball talent and as the season gets underway, here are our picks for five players to watch across The Times coverage area.

Behind a strong group of veteran players, the St. Bede softball team hopes to make another postseason run after reaching a sectional final last season.

The Marquette softball team will be young but returns a number of players with experience that will be looking to build off a 26-win, Class 1A regional championship season a year ago.

The Ottawa softball team has a solid mix of talent and experience coming off a 20-10 season in which it captured a third consecutive Class 3A regional championship.

Princeton's Keighley Davis and Bureau Valley's Libby Endress were special mention IBCA All State, plus more in the NewsTribune sports briefs.

The L-P softball team hopes to make a postseason run behind strong pitching and a high-powered offense.