These 10 Peoria-area softball teams are headed to the 2026 IHSA sectionals

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The 2026 Illinois High School Association softball regional championships were Friday, May 22 around the state. Two more local teams — Tremont and St. Bede — play for regional titles on Saturday, May 23.

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Here are the 10 teams from the Peoria area that won regionals and advanced to sectional semifinals next week.

CLASS 1A

Illini Bluffs

  • How they won: Illini Bluffs broke out the bats in a 10-0, six-inning win over Deer Creek-Mackinaw at the Havana Regional on Friday, May 22. The Tigers had 12 hits, paced by multiple hit games from McKenize Nutter (3-for-4, home run, five RBIs), Sara Finn (2-for-3) and Maddy Stephens (2-for-3). Cora Ellison struck out 11, while also hitting a two-run home run in the fifth. This is IB's sixth regional title over the last seven seasons.
  • What's next: Illini Bluffs (19-6) vs. Barry Western (16-10), 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the Concord Triopia Sectional semifinal.

Henry

  • How they won: Host Henry won a regional for a program-best third consecutive year, beating Midland 3-1 on Friday. Brynna Anderson's solo home run in the first inning, then a pair of runs in the third inning helped the Mallards jump ahead early. Henry hurler Rachel Eckert pitched a complete game, striking out four, walking none and scattering three hits. Anderson added a double, while Addy Robbins added a two-run triple.
  • What's next: Henry (15-10) vs. Biggsville West Central (31-2-1), 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the Williamsfield Sectional semifinal.

Stark County

  • How they won: Brooklynn Ostrowski's walk-off home run lifted SC to an 8-7 win over Bureau Valley at the Wethersfield Regional on Friday. The No. 5 hitter hit a two-run shot to center field, scoring Hallie Newton, who had reached on a one-out single. The Rebels had led 6-0 after four innings before BV scored seven unanswered runs. Kenna Sparks (2-for-3) added a homer for SC, which won its first regional since 2011.
  • What's next: Stark County (19-9) vs. Woodhull AlWood (22-9), 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 in the Williamsfield Sectional semifinal.

CLASS 2A

Brimfield/Elmwood

  • How they won: Sawyer Drury shut down Taylor Ridge Rockridge, 9-0, at the Kewanee Regional on Friday. The Creighton signee twirled a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the complete game victory. She also went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Her run support came in the form of RBIs from Kendyl Binder (3-for-4, two doubles), Layla Hersemann, Reese Legaspi (2-for-3), Schyer Meinders, Teagan Drury and Josie Wiewel.
  • What's next: Brimfield/Elmwood (27-5) vs. Peoria Notre Dame (19-15), 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 in the Brimfield Sectional semifinal.

Peoria Notre Dame

  • How they won: PND won its first regional crown in 13 years with a 6-3 victory over Olympia at the Farmington Regional on Friday. The Irish, who have won four in a row and six of their last seven, got a pair of home runs from Lexi Dalligner-Eaker. Her two-run shot in the sixth put PND up three runs. She then added a three-run homer in the seventh. Lauren Leustek started the scoring with a solo homer in the second.
  • What's next: PND (19-15) vs. Brimfield/Elmwood (27-5), 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27 in the Brimfield Sectional semifinal.

Eureka

  • How they won: Eureka won its first regional in nine years and just the fourth in program history by beating host Illinois Valley Central, 4-2, on Friday. The Hornets went up 4-0 in the second thanks to back-to-back, two run-scoring hits from Emma Donovan (single) and Rylee Dare (double). Dare held a potent IVC offense in check, scattering eight hits, striking out two and allowing single runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
  • What's next: Eureka (21-6) vs. the Rock Island Alleman Regional winner, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the Brimfield Sectional semifinal.

CLASS 3A

Dunlap

  • How they won: Illinois signee Sutton Centoni threw a perfect game to help host Dunlap beat Limestone, 15-0, in four innings on Friday. Centoni struck out five and faced the minimum - 12 batters - on just 45 pitches. She helped her cause with a two-run triple. Battery mate Gabby Drake and Hallie Reed each drove in four runs for the Eagles, who won back-to-back regionals for the first time since a three-year run from 1995-97.
  • What's next: Dunlap (27-8) vs. the Geneseo Regional winner, 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the LaSalle-Peru Sectional semifinal.

East Peoria

  • How they won: East Peoria rallied for a 4-3 walk-off win over Metamora in the Streator Regional final on Friday. The Raiders gave up a two-run lead as Metamora went ahead 3-2 in the top of the seventh. But EP squeaked out the victory with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Annika Rosecrans' RBI single scored Ashlyn Sweatt for the game-winning run. Ava Downey had tied the game on an infield error.
  • What's next: EP (24-9) vs. LaSalle-Peru (22-14), 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the LaSalle-Peru Sectional semifinal.

Washington

  • How they won: Host Washington scored all their runs in the sixth inning en route to a 3-1 win over Normal West on Friday. The Panthers trailed by a run entering the frame, but tied the game when Reagan McMenimen was intentionally walked with the bases loaded. Sophie Walker then scored off Tara Alois' sac fly with Lyvia Williams also crossing the plate thanks to a West error. Panther pitcher Morgan Clarke threw a three-hitter.
  • What's next: Washington (24-8) vs. Mt. Zion (24-13), 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the Lincoln Sectional semifinal.

LaSalle-Peru

  • How they won: L-P won its first regional in 13 years by knocking off top-seed Sycamore, 3-0 in the Sterling Regional final on Friday. The Cavaliers struck for a pair of runs in the second, getting a two-run single to right field off the bat of Addison Piecha. She then added an insurance run in the seventh with a two-out, RBI-double to center. L-P pitcher Taylor Vesco tossed a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and no walks.
  • What's next: LaSalle-Peru (22-14) vs. East Peoria (24-9), 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 in the LaSalle-Peru Sectional semifinal.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball: 2026 regional scores, sectional teams from Peoria area

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