Softball

Ottawa softball star Maura Condon will graduate a semester early from Ottawa High, reclassify herself as a member of the Class of 2024 and sign a scholarship offer to join the Purdue University softball team for the upcoming spring season.

The Pumas will take a 19-2 record to the IESA 1A State Tournament to face Lexington (16-5) at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Champions Field in Bloomington.

Marengo’s Rob Jasinski was named the 2024 Easton/National Fastpitch Coaches Association High School Assistant Coach of the Year, the organization announced over the weekend.

Ottawa multi-sport star Kendall Lowery has signed on to continue her education and softball career at Heartland Community College.

DeKalb grad Morgan Gerak (Newport) was named head coach at Northern Kentucky, her first head coaching gig. The job became available when the former coach, Kathryn Gleason, took the head coaching job at Northern Illinois.

After blasting 18 home runs and helping Lake Land reach the NJCAA Division I World Series, Sycamore grad Tia Durst transfers to Washington

The tournament will feature teams from the Lena Thursday night slow-pitch softball league. Tournament game times will be 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Ottawa's Peyton Bryson has signed on to continue her education and softball career at Coe College.

No. 1 seed Christ Community cruised to a 10-0 win over eight-seed First Baptist Sycamore II in the quarterfinals of the DeKalb County Church Softball League on Monday.

Three former Princeton High School classmates - Libby Boyles, McKenzie Hecht and Katie Bates - are teaming up for the People’s Church team in the new Princeton Park District Fastpitch League.

Bi-County defeated Mendota 14-9 in Sunday’s District 20 championship game at Sunset Park in Peru, completing a sweep of tournament play to repeat as district champions.

The Sycos got a strong pitching performance from Bella Jacobs and rolled to a 6-1 win against Thunder Premier on Sunday to win the Storm Dayz 16U bracket.

The Oglesby 12U All-Star softball team defeated Spring Valley 3-0 on Sunday at Sunset Park in Peru to claim the Major League District 20 title and advance to next weekend's state tournament in Rushville.

Here is the 2023-2024 Kane County Chronicle Softball All-Area team

Presenting the 2024 Suburban Life All-Area Softball Team.

Paige Murray, who went 19-5 in the circle with a 1.61 ERA and 229 strikeouts to help lead St. Charles North to it's second state title in three years, is the 2024 Kane County Chronicle Player of the Year.

Analisa Raffaelli is the 2024 Suburban Life Softball Player of the Year.

The Kishwaukee Valley Storm, Sycamore Sycos and other travel teams will compete in the 24th Annual Storm Dayz Tournament, which runs Friday through Sunday at the Sycamore Park District softball fields.

The Kishwaukee Valley Storm softball teams practiced Wednesday as they prepare to participate in this weekend's Storm Dayz tournament at the Sycamore Community Sports Complex.

Dominance such as the kind Newark’s Kodi Rizzo – the 2024 Times Softball Player of the Year – put together her senior season doesn’t happen by accident.

As voted on by The Times Sports staff at the conclusion of the season, here we are proud to present the 40-person 2024 Times All-Area Softball Team.

Here is the 2024 All-Fox Valley Conference softball team, as selected by coaches.

Bella Dimitrijevic of Lincoln-Way Central went 26-3 with a 0.54 ERA, striking out 354 batters in 169 2/3 innings

Several Division I college commits and All-State selections are included in the 2024 Herald-News All-Area Softball Team

Huntley's Red Raiders Fastpitch will host Premier Girls Fastpitch-sanctioned tournaments for ages 10U, 12U, 14U and 16U this weekend around the city.

Kairi Lantz wielded a huge bat for Sycamore this year, was a lockdown defender behind the plate and was a key cog in controlling the Spartan pitching staff. The sophomore catcher is the Daily Chronicle 2024 Softball Player of the Year.

Here is the 2024 Record Newspapers All-Area softball team.

Oswego junior catcher and Iowa recruit Kiyah Chavez, who set a single-season program hit record, batted .496 with 12 homers and 46 RBIs and led Oswego to its first-ever sectional title and state appearance, is the Record Newspapers Player of the Year.

Nine of the 12 players on the Daily Chronicle 2024 All-Area softball team are freshmen, sophomores or juniors. Check out the full team.

Prairie Ridge junior shortstop Adysen Kiddy hit a school-record 14 home runs as the Wolves finished 25-6 in one of their best seasons. Kiddy is the 2024 Northwest Herald Softball Player of the Year.

Huntley's Mark Petryniec led the Red Raiders on another successful run this spring, finishing with an area-best 30-10 record and fourth straight Fox Valley Conference championship. Petryniec is the 2024 Northwest Herald Softball Coach of the Year.

Meet the 2024 Northwest Herald All-Area softball team.

The Illinois Central Eight Conference released its 2024 spring all-conference teams for softball and baseball, with a pair of Streator standouts earning All-ICE accolades in each sport.

The Interstate 8 has released its spring 2024 all-conference teams, with standout performers for Ottawa receiving honors.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2024 season.

St. Bede senior Ella Hermes was dominant in the pitching circle and at the plate, leading to her selection as 2024 NewsTribune Softball Player of the Year.

The Herald-News coverage area was well-represented in the Southwest Prairie Conference’s 2024 all-conference accolades in girls badminton, boys volleyball, girls soccer, baseball and softball.

Here is a look at BCR Softball Players of the Year from out of the past

"I mean a home run is good, but the strikeout is so much better:" Ella Hermes is the 2024 BCR Softball Player of the Year after belting five home runs and striking out 172 batters.

This year's team featuring diamond gems from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede

A statistical look at the top area softball leaders featuring players from Bureau Valley, Hall, Princeton and St. Bede on Thursday, May 9

Bella Dimitrijevic of Lincoln-Way Central dominated both in the circle and at the plate and was named Gatorade's Illinois Softball Player of the Year.

The Tri-County Conference has released its all-league softball teams for the 2024 season, with the Illinois Valley area dominating the selections.

St. Charles North pitcher Paige Murray and St. Charles East catcher and outfielder Hayden Sujack were named to the 2024 ICA Class 4A first team All-State softball team. East led the coverage-area teams with four picks, while North had three and Kaneland and St. Francis had one.

Two members of Lincoln-Way Central’s Class 4A sectional championship team were recently selected to the Illinois Coaches Association (ICA) All-State first team

Senior shortstop and Colgate recruit Analisa Raffaelli of sectional champion IC Catholic Prep was named Class 2A All-State first team by the Illinois Coaches Association, leading area players earning All-State recognition in voting released this past weekend.

Sycamore center fielder Addie McLaughlin earned a spot on the Illinois Coaches Association All-State Softball Class 3A first team, one of four Spartans to make the list. Genoa-Kingston also had four representatives, while Indian Creek and Kaneland each had one.

Junior catcher Kiyah Chavez of state finalist Oswego and senior pitcher Kodi Rizzo of sectional finalist Newark were among those Kendall County-area players selected to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State teams released this past weekend.

In an area strong with softball talent, it should come as no surprise the Illinois Valley was well-represented on the 2024 Illinois Coaches Association (ICA) All-State Teams, released over the weekend with the completion of the school season.

Twenty-five McHenry County-area players were selected to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State softball team, including five named first team. Check out the full list of local players earning ICA All-State honors here.