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In baseball
Arthur Christian 11, Heritage 2. Three hits and three RBIs from Grant Helmuth keyed the Conquering Riders (2-5) to a road win against the Hawks (1-7), with Cody Kuhns adding two hits and driving in four runs to back up five quality innings from Ian Herschberger on the mound.
Monticello 7, Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin 1. Cole Basak hit two doubles as part of a four-hit performance that set the tone for the Sages (11-0) in a nonconference win against the Blue Devils (3-2), with Dawson Gaitros adding two singles and Matthias Rudolph striking out three batters in two innings on the mound to help the winning cause. Dayton Dubois drove in Clark Warren to represent BHRA’s lone run.
Mt. Pulaski 6, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 4. A two-run rally in the top of the seventh inning wasn’t enough to help the Knights (6-4) in a nonconference loss, with John Williams notching three hits and Will Hilligoss driving in a pair of runs to lead ALAH’s offense. Donovan Vanausdoll struck out three batters in two innings of pitching work.
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 15, Watseka 5. Dylan Vance had a double as part of a three-hit effort that led the Panthers (4-5) in a nonconference win against the Warriors (3-4). Kayden Vance drove in a pair of runs and Gavin Kief added a pair of doubles to help the winning cause, while Seth Dirks had a double among two hits for the Warriors.
Tuscola 5, Warrensburg-Latham 4. The Warriors (6-5) plated a run in the top of the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie and take down the Cardinals in Central Illinois Conference play, with Jon Pettry, Connor Musgrave and Kingston Wheeler each totaling two hits apiece to back up nine combined strikeouts from Musgrave and Evan Englehardt on the mound.
Unity 15, Okaw Valley 0. Brayden Henry and Walker Hall each had three hits for the Rockets (5-1), while Coleton Langendorf didn’t allow a hit in 3 1/3 innings of work on the mound en route to a commanding win.
In softball
Casey-Westfield 10, Salt Fork 1. Brilynn Barnett had a double and Sailor Pacot, Morgan Russell, Karli McGee and Bella Kurtenbach added hits for the Storm (5-6) in a nonconference home loss.
Champaign Central 11, Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 6. The Maroons (8-3-1) tallied 13 hits in a nonconference road win against the Knights (3-9), with Grace Bandy collecting four hits, Eden Harding adding three hits and Mya de la Cruz chipping in three hits to help the winning cause. Maroons ace Haley Helm struck out 15 batters in seven innings of work in the circle.
Monticello 8, Tri-Valley 1. Cassidee Stoffel had two doubles as part of a three-hit effort that led the Sages (10-2) to a nonconference home win, as did Isabella Beery during a two-hit performance. Madison Highland added two hits, drove in five runs and allowed just one hit in seven innings of work in the circle to cement the winning effort.
St. Joseph-Ogden 10, Villa Grove 1. A pair of runs in the top of the first inning set the tone for the Spartans (8-6-1), who cruised to a nonconference win against the Blue Devils on the strength of a home run from Brooklyn Stevens, two runs from Ella Bush and three hits from Brynn Ikemeir. Piper Kiser led the Blue Devils with a pair of hits, with Hayden Thomas adding a double and scoring the team’s lone run. Timera Blackburn-Kelley struck out 15 batters in a complete game victory.
In girls’ soccer
Champaign Central 9, Danville 0. Four goals from Rylie Schulze and two goals from Kallyn Elliott set the tone for the Maroons (3-1-1) in a dominant Big 12 Conference win against the Vikings (1-6), with Chloe Sikora, Halle Roberts and Sophia Crespo-Munoz adding scores as well.
Mahomet-Seymour 3, Mt. Zion 0. Goals from Paislee Welge, Isabel Lietz and Ella Walk helped the Bulldogs (4-1) claim a comfortable Apollo Conference win against the Braves that also featured assists from Lietz, Ava Watkins and Hannah Creel.
St. Thomas More 10, Rantoul 0. Emerson Clark scored four goals and dished two assists to help the Sabers (4-2) tally a commanding win against the Eagles (0-7) in Illini Prairie Conference play, with Henley Parsons and Luciana Grant scoring twice and Kira Grotrian and Jordyn Reed adding scores as well. Leighton Clark added five assists to help the winning cause.
Joey Wright is a reporter covering prep and college sports for The News-Gazette and WDWS/WHMS/WKIO radio.
