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These 8 Peoria-area softball teams are headed to the 2024 IHSA Class 1A and 2A sectionals

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·5 min read

Here are the Peoria-area Class 1A and 2A softball teams that advanced from the Illinois High School Association regional title games on Friday and Saturday.

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CLASS 1A

Illini Bluffs

  • How they won: Illini Bluffs, ranked No. 1 in the final Class 1A ICA softball poll, cruised to an 11-0, five-inning victory over Rushville-Industry on Saturday at the Hartsburg-Emden Regional final. The Tigers (21-1) are in the sectional for a fifth successive season. IB pounded out 11 hits, using Sara Finn (2-for-4, RBI), Annabelle Fortin (2-for-3, RBI) and Lexi Brinkman (3-for-3, RBI) to get things going at the top of the order. Anabelle Reimer and Anna Tibbs each had two RBIs. Pitcher Cora Ellison struck out 10 in throwing a two-hitter.

  • What's next: Illini Bluffs faces Payson Seymour (16-16) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Illini Bluffs Sectional semifinal.

Henry

  • How they won: Henry claimed its first regional title in 16 years, defeating Annawan/Wethersfield, 2-0, in the title game of the Amboy Regional on Friday. This gives the Mallards (17-12) just their program's second-ever regional championship (2006 Class A). A two-run fifth inning was all Henry needed to claim its fifth win in a row. Lauren Harbison's run-scoring triple accounted for half of the scoring for the Mallards, who saw Harbison score on a wild pitch. She also picked up the victory in the circle by throwing a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts.

  • What's next: Henry faces Woodhull AlWood (25-5-1) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Williamsfield Sectional semifinal.

Havana

  • How they won: Host Havana set a new program record with its fourth successive regional title, beating Concord Triopia, 5-2, on Friday. The Ducks (15-11), seeded third in the regional, have won six in a row and are outscoring opponents 53-17 during that run. Havana scored all five runs during its final at-bat in the top of the seventh. Five hits, a walk and an error resulted in the Ducks taking a lasting lead. Jaylynn Sarnes and Lauren Herbst had back-to-back run-scoring hits followed by a two-run error and Kaydi Miller stealing home.

  • What's next: Havana faces Pleasant Hill (25-5) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Illini Bluffs Sectional semifinal.

CLASS 2A

St. Bede

  • How they won: Reigning Class 1A state champion and host St. Bede (22-5-1) continued its postseason success in Friday's 3-0 win over Midwest Central/Illini Central. The Bruins (22-5-1) are in 2A sectional level for the first time since a run to the 2018 Elite Eight. Reagan Stoudt dominated on the pitching rubber and at the plate. The senior right-hander surrendered one hit, struck out seven and faced just two over minimum in seven innings. Stoudt also helped her cause with a solo home in the fourth, finishing 2-for-3 on the day.

  • What's next: St. Bede faces Port Byron Riverdale (19-14) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Peoria Notre Dame Sectional semifinal.

Illinois Valley Central

  • How they won: Host IVC ended a 12-year regional title drought with a 7-5 win over Canton on Friday. The Grey Ghosts (19-14) just beat their former Mid-Illini Conference foe, 9-2, on May 4. IVC coach Max Bundy, who is the father-in-law to Little Giants coach Anna Bundy, saw his IVC squad rally back from a two-run deficit with a five-run fifth inning. In that frame, Joharah Boze (double), Nora Connett (RBI single), Morgan Ellington (two-run double), Taylor Zannaker (RBI double) and Grace Best (RBI groundout) all came up big.

  • What's next: IVC faces Taylor Ridge Rockridge (27-3-1) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Peoria Notre Dame Sectional semifinal.

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Bureau Valley

  • How they won: Bureau Valley continued its Cinderella run through the postseason, beating third-seed Princeton, 6-5, on Friday. The seventh-seeded Storm (17-9) won its first regional crown since a 2006 Class A regional title. BV went ahead for good thanks to Madison Smith's RBI single to left field, scoring Emily Wright. Smith did the rest by striking out nine, walking one and scattering 14 hits with four earned runs. Wright (2-for-3), Lesleigh Maynard (2-for-4), Sadie Bailey (2-for-3) and Emma Stull (2-for-2) led the attack.

  • What's next: Bureau Valley faces Poplar Grove North Boone (25-4) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Marengo Sectional semifinal.

Olympia

  • How they won: Host Olympia claimed its second regional in three seasons, beating Williamsville, 7-2, on Friday. The Spartans (28-1-1) are riding a 20-game win streak, dating back to March 30. Illinois recruit Danika Frazier was again lights out in the circle for Oly. Frazier struck out eight, walked none and scattered five hits with two earned runs. Her offense supplied her with seven hits including a two-hit day from J Turner and K Springer. Frazier also hit a home run in her first at-bat during a two-run bottom of the first.

  • What's next: Olympia faces Quincy Notre Dame (17-4) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Williamsville Sectional semifinal.

Tremont

  • How they won: The host Turks came up with a big fourth inning in beat Illini West 9-7 for a regional championship on Saturday. Tremont (22-5-1) has won five successive regional titles and looks to win its first sectional crown since 2013. In the fourth, Tremont used four hits to plate seven runs and take a lasting lead. Taylor Powell's double scored Lilly Elston and Chloe Pierce, with Emma Hammond plating a run on an error. Reliever Maddie Feagin did the rest, allowing one run and striking out a pair in five innings.

  • What's next: Tremont faces Auburn (25-7-1) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Williamsville Sectional semifinal.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball regional roundup: Peoria teams to win regional championships