Sports | The Journal-News

Nokomis catcher Nolan Herpstreith tags out Gibault's Dylan Schaefer trying to score for the first out of an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth inning of Nokomis' sectional semifinal game at Greenville University on Wednesday, June 3. The play was a momentum killer for the Hawks, who had bases loaded and one out before the twin-killing ended the inning. Nokomis, who was ahead 3-1 at the time, went on to win by the same final score.

Nokomis Headed To Sectional Championship Game

Eight years and 11 days after Nokomis baseball’s last sectional win, the Redskins found themselves playing the same opponent on the same field. Seven innings later, Redskins delivered the same … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/4/26

Litchfield’s Avery Stewart and Father McGivney’s Layla Tobin clash while going for a corner kick in the first half of the IHSA Class 1A super-sectional game in Bethalto on Monday, June 1. The Panthers held McGivney to three goals, almost two fewer than their season average, but the Griffins continued their shutout streak and earned a spot in the Class 1A State Tournament with a 3-0 victory over Litchfield.

Griffins Beat Litchfield For Spot At Soccer State

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive girls soccer team saw their season come to an end at the Civic Memorial Super-Sectional on Monday, June 1, with a 3-0 loss to Father McGivney Catholic High School as the … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/4/26

Hillsboro racer Gabe Murphy was back in the winner’s circle at Midstate Dragway in Havana on Saturday, May 16. From the left are Ken and Dionne Manzer, Gabe and Tracie Murphy and Mark, Laura and Austin Land.

Murphy’s Law Wins Quick 8 Again

It was a little bit of deja vu for the Murphy’s Law racing team on Saturday, May 16, as Hillsboro racer Gabe Murphy opened up the season at the Spring Nostalgia Quick 8 at Midstate Dragway in … more

6/4/26

The Montgomery County Swim Team Sharks officially began their 2026 season with swim practice on Tuesday, May 26 at the Litchfield Memorial Pool. A total of 84 swimmers from around the county, ages 5-17, showed up to start the season off with a strong start.

Montgomery County Sharks Swim Team Kicks Off 2026

The 2026 Montgomery County Swim Team Sharks officially kicked off their season with their first practice on Tuesday, May 26, with 84 swimmers from all around the county including Hillsboro, … more

6/4/26

Pictured above, in front, from the left are Gianni Vitale, Bat Boy Brayden Hertel, Dayton Lipe, Uriah Zaidi and Garret White. In the second row are Graysen Hertel, John Payne, Brayden Arkebauer, Jake Furness, Merritt Connor, Ledger Wilkinson and Keegan Page. In back are Coaches James Hertel, Jake Wilkinson and Dan Page.

Rough Riders Win Hillsboro Tourney

What started as a group of boys who happened to have a free weekend turned into a championship run for the Rough Riders 9U. The team was assembled at the last minute to compete in the 9U/10U Pitching … more

6/4/26

Litchfield junior dragster racers Brayden Hearn and Greyson Hopley finished first and second at Midstate Dragway in Havana on May 30. From the left are Sandy Pigg, Eric Pigg, Terra Hamby, Brogyn Pigg, Levi Pigg, Greyson Hopley, Timothy Hearn, Brayden Hearn, David Hearn, Loralie Rogers, Jonathon Rogers, Michelle Hearn, Saphira Beal, Ladonna Beal, Will Rogers, Ryan Komor, Katelynn Dugan, Steve Beal, Pypehr Beal, Devon Reubling and Sydnee Johnston. Seated in Hearn’s dragster are Malachi and Rylynn Komor.

Hearns, Hopley Pick Up Wins At Midstate, World Wide Technology Races

Winner’s Lane had a distinctly Litchfield feel to it after the Junior Dragster Class at Midstate Dragway in Havana on May 30. Brayden Hearn and Greyson Hopley went 1-2 in the class, giving … more

6/4/26

Litchfield's McKenna Harmon shields Marquette's Katherine Fitzgerald from the ball during the sectional championship game at Litchfield on Friday, May 29. Harmon scored twice for the Lady Panthers, who won their first sectional title in girls soccer with a 3-1 win over the Explorers.

Panthers Claim Sectional Crown

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive girls soccer team avenged their only loss of the season on Friday, May 29, and earned the program’s first ever trip to the super-sectionals in the process. The Lady … more

6/1/26

Litchfield's Alec Roach (right) and Morrison's Levi Milder sprint toward the finish line during the fifth and final preliminary heat for the 100 meter dash at the IHSA Class 1A State Finals on Thursday, May 28. Both Roach and Milder advanced to Saturday's finals, finishing seventh and fifth respectively.

Roach Doubles Up At State

Ben Bishop, Cameron Crow, Jeremy Pattillo, Keenan Powell, Kohle Verstreater and now, as of Saturday, May 30, Alec Roach. Of the 32 members of the Litchfield High School boys track team who have won … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/1/26

Allowing just two hits in seven innings of work on the mound, Nokomis junior Kannon Jonas was one of the heroes in the Redskins' 3-1 win over Morrisonville-Lincolnwood on Saturday, May 30, at the championship game of the Morrisonville Regional.

Nokomis Outlasts Morrisonville

Going into Saturday’s regional championship in Morrisonville, the Nokomis and Morrisonville/Lincolnwood baseball teams had played ten times over the last four years, with just four runs total … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/1/26

Hillsboro's Noah Satterlee clears the high jump bar at 1.85 meters (6'0.75") to move on to the next height at the IHSA Class 1A State Track Meet on Thursday, May 28. Satterlee also cleared the next height of 1.88 meters, which moved him on to Saturday's finals, where he'd finish 16th overall.

Satterlee, Toppers Make Big Jump At State

Competing on day one of the IHSA Class 1A State Track Meet was a big step for the Hillboro High School boys track program. But competing on day three as well? That was a giant leap. The first of six … more

6/1/26

Shells Walk It Off In Litchfield

Following their heroic, walk-off effort on Wednesday night, the Litchfield Purple Panthers advanced to compete in their third consecutive regional championship game on Saturday, May 30. Standing in … more

6/1/26

Litchfield Battles Back To Beat North Mac

With their backs against the wall, the Litchfield Purple Panthers manufactured three dramatic runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, overtaking North Mac and punching their ticket to the regional … more

6/1/26

Redskins Roll In Regional Opener

Going into the Morrisonville Regional, the Nokomis High School baseball team was on quite the hot streak. After falling to Pawnee 9-3 on May 20, the Redskins had dispatched Pana and Carrollton … more

6/1/26

Mohawks Outduel Eagles To Move To Title Game

The Morrisonville-Lincolnwood baseball team advanced to the regional championship on Saturday, May 30, against Nokomis by virtue of their 2-0 win over St. Elmo-Brownstown on Wednesday, May 27. … more

6/1/26

In front, from the left, are Jentry Chambers, John Reams, Wrigley Reincke, Ivan Malisia, Deacon Cloe and Kreed Bertolino. In the second row are Leo Yount, Fletcher Cerutti, Archie Durbin, Ira Flowers, Jensen Davidson and Daxton Bates. In the back are Coach Caine Cloe and Coach Reid Cerutti.

Sandlot Kids 8U Capture Albers Summer Kickoff Championship

The Sandlot Kids 8U baseball team continued their impressive season by going undefeated and bringing home the championship rings at the Albers Summer Kickoff Tournament on May 30. The day … more

6/1/26

Civic Memorial's Abby Brueckner works to keep the ball away from Litchfield senior Chloe Law during the sectional semifinal game in Litchfield on Tuesday, May 26. Law assisted on the Panthers' second goal, her 100th of her career, and scored the go-ahead goal in the final six minutes of Litchfield's 3-2 win over the Eagles, which moved them on to the sectional final on Friday, May 29, against Alton Marquette.

Litchfield Soccer Returns To Sectional Championship

The Litchfield girls soccer team snapped one losing streak against a Metro-East power to earn their spot in Friday’s sectional championship, now they just need to do it again to win their first … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 5/28/26

After finishing sixth in the 100 meter hurdles at the IESA State Track Meet as a seventh grader, Aubrie Boston finished third in the event this year.

Panthers Cubs Back On The Podium

Going into this year’s IESA Class 3A State Track Meet, the Litchfield Middle School track program had picked up 29 medals in the last four years. To the surprise of no one, that number grew … more

5/28/26

Hillsboro's Vincent Connor finished eighth in the long jump at the IESA State Track Meet on May 22-23.

Connor 8th To Lead Dragons At State

Hillsboro seventh grader Vincent Connor produced his second-best jump of the season and earned a spot on the podium at the IESA Class 3A State Track Meet on May 22-23, leading the Dragon contingent … more

5/28/26

Toppers Nearly Knock Cavies Out Of Regionals

After a pair of tough losses to end the regular season to Chester (15-1) and Carlyle (10-0), the Hillsboro High School baseball team put a scare into Carlinville in the opening game of regionals … more

5/28/26

Tyson Edwards (left) and Kaleb White (right) punched their ticket to state by finishing fourth at the IHSA Lake Springfield Sectional on Thursday, May 21. The duo caught five fish weighing 10.91 pounds to advance to the state tournament June 5-6 at Lake Shelbyville.

Toppers Tandem Headed To State

It was tough going for several of the 30 teams competing for a spot at state at the IHSA Lake Springfield Bass Fishing Sectional on May 21, but not too tough for a pair of Hillsboro's best anglers. … more

5/28/26