A grand slam highlighted KaLeah Jackson's memorable day for Kankakee, the Bradley-Bourbonnais girls water polo team won in three overtimes and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

After Allie Johnson threw a stout five-plus innings in the circle, big sister Makenzie Johnson cracked a late two-run home run to give Beecher some insurance in the Bobcats' 4-0 win at Wilmington in a state-ranked clash Thursday.

Two days after scoring her 100th career goal, Herscher's Gianni Jaime scored two more as the visiting Tigers beat Illinois Central Eight Conference rival Peotone 4-1 in a rematch of last season's sectional semifinals.

Marquette defeated Henry-Senachwine 13-2 on Thursday, April 23, 2026 at June Cross Field in Ottawa.

Area athletes compete in the McHenry County Track and Field Meet on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at McCracken Field in McHenry.

Bradley-Bourbonnais softball team rallied for an extra-inning conference win over Sandburg, Bishop McNamara bounced back to beat Marian Central behind seven one-run innings and a two-run home run from Joslynn Dole and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Meet last week's Daily Journal Athlete of the Week, Bradley-Bourbonnais Nevaeh Brown.

Ottawa fell to Kaneland 5-2 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 on King Field at Ottawa High School.

Cheyenne Hayes continued her sensational senior season both in the circle and at the plate for Grant Park in the Dragons' 11-1 win at home against Watseka Wednesday.

Kankakee freshman Alina Mkhwanazi scored six goals, three in each half, as the host Kays overcame an early deficit to beat Beecher 8-4 in Southland Athletic Conference play Wednesday.

Johnsburg faces Marengo in a Kishwaukee River Conference baseball game on Wednesday, April 22,2026, at Johnsburg High School.

The Chicago Bears will be on the clock starting Thursday night during the first round of the NFL draft. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down what they think the Bears will do in the first round

Gianni Jaime hit 100 career goals in Herscher's win over Coal City, the Tiger softball team topped the Coalers in extras and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Locked in a pitchers' duel with Manteno's Braden Campbell, Wilmington's Cooper Holman's fourth-inning homer helped spark the Wildcats to a 5-3 win over the Panthers for a pivotal Illinois Central Eight series sweep Tuesday.

Wilmington freshman Emilie Strong delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly in Tuesday's game against Manteno, giving the Wildcats a 3-2 win, their 14th victory in a row, and a huge Illinois Central Eight Conference sweep of the Panthers.

Burlington Central faces Hampshire in a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at Hampshire High School.

L-P faced Ottawa on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in the Henderson-Guenther Tennis Facility at Ottawa High School.

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has resigned after six seasons, opting to step aside rather than work with a new front office, the team announced Tuesday

A former Sterling High School basketball player’s goal of going pro is starting to seem like a real possibility as she gets ready to participate in a nine-day international camp.

Reed-Custer's Sophia Moyers had 12 strikeouts and Peotone's Sophie Klawitter had 19 as each threw 11 innings in a wild pitchers' duel, one that Reed-Custer won 2-1, and more in Monday's Daily Journal roundup.

Behind a four-hit day from Khloe Picard, Coal City downed Herscher 14-10 in Illinois Central Eight play to pick up its fifth straight conference victory and eighth win in the last 10 games overall.

After the Tigers used a six-run fifth to take a three-run lead, the visiting Coalers countered with five in the sixth, including senior catcher Donnie Ladas' go-ahead two-run single to help Coal City win a roller coaster of a game at Herscher Monday.

Crystal Lake Central face Prairie Ridge in a Fox Valley Conference softball game on Monday, April 20, 2026, at Prairie Ridge High School.

Morris defeated Ottawa 6-3 on Monday. April 20, 2026 at Ottawa High School.

Pioneer Athletics recently announced that the village of Davis Junction has been selected as a winner of its 2025 Fields of Excellence Award.

Chase Maher and Santino Imhof had four hits apiece in Beecher's one-run one win, the Tigers mashed 20 hits in their seventh straight win and more in Saturday's Daily Journal roundup.

Donnie Daugherty is in the process of creating a deck of playing cards featuring artwork of Kankakee County professional athletes.

Watseka's Tom Schroeder was honored April 13 with a Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association for his decades of volunteer work at track meets.

Lockport High School students and staff threw a surprise send-off celebration for Superintendent Robert McBride on Friday as he prepares to run the Boston Marathon on Monday.

Bishop McNamara continued its dominant start to Chicagoland Christian Conference play with an 18-2 win, Beecher ace Taylor Norkus had 23 strikeouts in 12 innings in a doubleheader sweep of Gardner-South Wilmington and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.

For the second straight game, the Fightin' Irish tallied 18 runs while Callaghan O'Connor was sharp on the bump to allow Bishop McNamara an 18-3 home victory Friday.

Huntley faces Crystal Lake Central co-op in a Fox Valley Conference girls lacrosse match on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

In what we her first at-bat of the year following offseason shoulder surgery, Bradley-Bourbonnais' junior Liv Woolman ended Friday's game with a pinch-hit, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to give the Boilermakers a 10-0 win over Andrew.

L-P defeated Morris 8-4 on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Huby Sarver Field in the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.

Longtime Ogle County sports columnist Andy Colbert talks preparing to run the Boston Marathon on April 20, along with local sports happenings.

Lockport Township High School students and teachers surprised Superintendent Dr. Robert McBride with a send-off celebration on Friday as he gets ready to run the Boston Marathon on Monday.

The Chicago Bears could go in a few directions at No. 25 in next week's NFL draft. Shaw Local's Michal Dwojak and Joe Aguilar break down what some of those options are and who the Bears could draft

Callaghan O'Connor belted three home runs and Nick Pignatiello had two, including a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the seventh, to lead Bishop McNamara to a wild 18-14 conference win and more in Thursday's Daily Journal roundup.

Richmond-Burton faces Woodstock North in a Kishwaukee River Conference softball game on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at Woodstock North High School.

Serena/Newark/Earlville played Streator on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at the James Street Recreation Complex in Streator.

The sound of roaring engines will fill the air in south Kankakee this Friday as the Kankakee County Speedway hosts the opening night of 2026. New track promoter Evan Eckhoff had a couple of things on his mind as his inaugural season approaches.

In a pitchers' duel with Wilmington's Cooper Holman for the second time this season, Coal City's Lance Cuddy struck out 13 Wildcats in a three-hit shutout, while Gavin Berger scored both runs in the Coalers' 2-0 victory on Wednesday.

L-P defeated Rochelle 1-0 on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at the L-P Athletic Complex in La Salle.

Lydia Hammond struck out 11 batters in six shutout innings as the BBCHS softball team won on the road in SWSC play, Milford's baseball team picked up its second straight blowout win and more in Wednesday's Daily Journal roundup.

Johnsburg faces Marengo in a Kishwaukee River Conference soccer match on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at Marengo High School.

Preston Harrington-Dewitt's grand slam tied things up for St. Anne/Donovan, who bested Kankakee in 10 innings on Tuesday.

Crystal Lake Central faces Huntley in a Fox Valley Conference girls soccer match on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Huntley High School.

Khloe Picard's sixth-inning home run was the difference for Coal City, Beecher and Grant Park both stayed undefeated and more in Tuesday's Daily Journal roundup.

L-P defeated Ottawa 3-1 on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at Ottawa High School.

Last week, Chicago Marshall boys basketball program was chronicled. It would be remiss for me not to mention the girls program, as well.