DeKalb and Hinckley-Big Rock look to make big leaps after winning seasons last year, Indian Creek, Genoa-Kingston and Hiawatha look to improve after rough 2024 campaigns. We look at each Daily Chronicle area baseball team.

The Daily Chronicle coverage area isn't short on experienced, returning baseball players this season. Here's a look at five players who are poised for big - or even bigger - things.

Not only are baseball games scheduled to start March 17, but the forecast seems to indicate cooperative weather for most of the week. So with the start of the season right around the corner, here are five things to know.

Here's a look at the schedules for all seven high school athletic programs and NIU football for this week.

Kyle Hartmann decided being the local kid was the way to go. The Sycamore grad committed to NIU last week after decommitting from Western Kentucky on July 3.

The amount of multisport standouts in local boys athletics runs very deep. So many athletes with NCAA Division I offers in one sport are still playing another. It makes for a lot of strong candidates for the Daily Chronicle 2024-2025 Boys Athlete of the Year.

Even with the returning winniner back and more than nine months until the season begins, the 2025 race for the Daily Chronicle Baseball Player of the Year award is wide open.

Teams really didn’t like pitching to Martin Ledbetter. The Hinckley Big Rock junior slugger drew 26 walks this year, a chunk of those intentionally and a handful with the bases loaded. He still hit .492 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs with an OPS of 1.774.

It wasn't just about strong arms and popping bats. The Daily Chronicle 2024 Baseball All-Area Team also features many players who flashed the leather with strong defensive performances.