In a battle of state-ranked Class 4A teams, Marist managed to top Bradley-Bourbonnais' softball team 13-6 Saturday.

Halie Olson homered to lead off the bottom of the first inning, and freshman Ally Croegaert hit a walk-off, three-run homer in her first varsity at-bat in Morris' 17-0 win over Plainfield South.

Grant Park improved to 2-0 while handing Kankakee a loss in its season opener, Reed-Custer's Mackenzie Foote hit for the cycle and drove in eight runs for the Comets and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

The Johnsburg and Huntley baseball teams both opened their seasons with a wins, and McHenry's softball team did the same. Plus, more in Friday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Wheaton Warrenville South softball slugged three homers in a win over Downers Grove South, Benet softball hit three homers in a win over Oswego, and Willowbrook, IC Catholic Prep and Wheaton Academy baseball were winners Friday.

Plainfield North is 2-0 after beating Lockport on Friday in softball.

Senior Anna Riva blasted three home runs, hit a double and drove in six RBIs to lead the La Salle-Peru softball team to a win over Morton on Friday.

Crystal Lake Central junior Oli Victorine struck out 16 batters in a shutout, and sophomore Harper Wright collected a pair of two-out RBI hits to lift the Tigers to a 2-0 season-opening win over Wauconda on Friday.

Crystal Lake Central faces Wauconda in a nonconference softball game on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

L-P defeated Morton 11-4 on Friday, March 20, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle. L-P's Anna Riva hit three home runs during the game to help the Lady Cavs get a victory.

Bradley-Bourbonnais senior Lydia Hammond opened the season with a one-hit shutout of Oak Forest, striking out 10 batters in an 11-0 win for the Boilermakers, and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

St. Francis' girls soccer, softball and baseball teams, along with St. Charles East's girls soccer team, all won their season opener. That and more in Thursday's Kane County Chronicle sports roundup.

Montini softball's Cameron Fox struck out 15 in a two-hitter, Lily Bobor and Avery Arnold paced a Wheaton Warrenville South softball win, Landon Thome homered in a Nazareth baseball win and more in Thursday's Suburban Life sports roundup.

After trailing most of the game, Joliet West scored six runs in the fourth, including a three-run triple by Laci Cole, to seal their first win of the year over Joliet Catholic.

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.

From two Daily Chronicle Players of the Year to a record-setting home-run hitter, we take a look at five softball players from around the area poised for big things in 2026.

Hinckley-Big Rock is back on the field after a long hiatus. DeKalb and Sycamore look to repeat as regional champs. Lizzie Davis can make Genoa-Kingston history. We break down each softball team and its expectations for the year.

Softball season is underway. Here are the 2026 Kane County Chronicle softball previews.

The 2026 softball season is underway this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

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.

Princeton defeated Ottawa 9-7 on Friday, March 13, 2026 at Ottawa High School.

Softball season is underway. Here are five Kane County storylines to watch for the 2026 season.

Ellie Fox had a tying RBI double in the second inning, and Callie Ferko singled in the go-ahead run in the third as Yorkville softball beat La Salle-Peru in its season opener.

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.

A young Joliet West softball team suffered a 16-8 loss to Sandburg to open the 2026 season on Thursday.

Manteno's softball season began with two different innings of double-digit runs in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

Seneca defeated Geneseo 4-1 on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Seneca High School.

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

Check out preview capsules for the Daily Journal area's softball teams for the 2026 season.

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.

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.

Hinckley-Big Rock has a team for the first time since 2019. A large group of talented freshmen are now a large group of talented sophomores. DeKalb looks to continue its upward trajectory while Sycamore has a couple holes to fill. We explore this season's softball storylines.

In an area loaded with softball talent and as the season gets underway, here are our picks for 5 Players to Watch in 2026 across The Herald-News coverage area.

Here is a look at the 2026 Herald-News-area softball teams, including ballclubs from across the greater Will and Grundy county area.

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.

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

The softball season is already underway. Check out our five softball players to watch in the Northwest Herald area for the 2026 season.

The softball season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team in the Northwest Herald area for the 2026 season.

Starting, relieving and showing off her power, Jacobs’ Skylee Ferrante delivered every way in Monday’s season opener against Marengo. The Golden Eagles sophomore hit her first high school homer, struck out 10 and finished off a 12-10 win.

After overcoming a pair of two-run deficits earlier in the game, Wilmington took an 8-7 opening-day loss to Homewood-Flossmoor in walk-off fashion Monday.

Jacobs travels to Marengo for a nonconference softball game on Monday, March 9, 2026, at Marengo High School.

Bureau Valley defeated Hall 4-0 on Monday, March 9, 2026 at Bureau Valley High School.

The 2026 high school softball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

The Seneca softball team returns eight starters from last spring's 34-2 ballclub including the 2025 Times Softball Player of the Year, pitcher Tessa Krull, hinting at another stellar season for the Fighting Irish.

As the prep softball season begins Monday, here are five storylines from the Daily Journal area to keep an eye on.

Here are five storylines to watch during the 2026 softball season across The Herald-News area.

Can Prairie Ridge top last season's third-place state finish in Class 3A? Who are the teams to beat in the FVC and KRC? Here are five storylines to watch in McHenry County for the 2026 season, which begins Monday.

An entire lineup of nine standouts return to the diamond from last year's Daily Journal All-Area softball team.