Litchfield High Sports | The Journal-News

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball team has had plenty of reasons to celebrate so far this season, including a grand slam by Tate Dobrinich (far right) in their 15-11 win over Greenville. The win over the Comets, their first since 2014, was their tenth in a row to start the season. While that streak came to an end on Saturday with a loss to Sacred Heart-Griffin, the Panthers already have more wins in 2024 than they did all of last season.

Litchfield Battles To Get Past Greenville

In the preseason, Litchfield Coach Rocky Giannuzzi was not sure how his Purple Panthers would respond after a loss. After nine games, the Panthers still hadn’t experienced that, but they had … more

4/1/24

Hillsboro's Kearstynn Davis (left) and Litchfield's Chloe Law (right) go up for a 50/50 ball during the third place game at the Panther Classic in Litchfield on Saturday, March 30. After losing to Hillsboro twice last year, the Lady Panthers scored a 2-1 victory over the Toppers, with Law scoring the go-ahead goal in the second half.

Panthers Top Hillsboro For Third

Last year, the Hillsboro and Litchfield girls soccer teams were slated to play for the championship of the 2023 Panther Classic, before Mother Nature put the kibosh on those plans. This Saturday, … more

4/1/24

Litchfield-Mt. Olive infielder Alyssa Aubuschon scoops a grounder during the Panthers' game with Greenville on Friday, March 29. The hosts held the Comets to just three runs, but a stellar outing from Greenville's Kaitlyn Lurkins silenced Litchfield's bats and gave the visitors a 3-1 win.

Lady Panthers Beat Rams, Fall To Comets

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive softball team picked up their second win of the season on Wednesday, March 27, as they defeated Ramsey 13-4 on the Rams’ home field. The two teams were tied at 0-0 … more

4/1/24

Purple Panthers Make Short Work Of Ramsey

After picking up two hard fought wins to end last week, the Litchfield/Mt. Olive baseball club was back on the diamond on Wednesday afternoon, March 27, as a road trip to Ramsey to battle the 0-4 … more

4/1/24

Cyclones Beat Panthers In Battle Of Unbeatens

Finishing a high school baseball season in Illinois undefeated is a very taunting task, almost unthinkable. In Illinois since 1950, there have only been three high school baseball teams who have … more

4/1/24

Litchfield Gets Past Staunton In 10th

After starting the season 8-0, a target has begun to form on the Litchfield/Mt. Olive baseball team. On Thursday evening, March 28, the Staunton Bulldogs looked to strike that target at Grizzlies … more

4/1/24

Hillsboro Girls Win At Litchfield Tourney

The Hillsboro girls soccer team picked up a 6-0 win over North Mac in the opening game of the Litchfield Tournament on Monday, March 25. The Lady Hiltoppers improved to 4-1 with the win and had … more

3/28/24

Litchfield's Tate Dobrinich got a little help from Nokomis' Mason Stauder during the slam dunk contest at the Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic on March 24, as he hurdled the Redskin guard on one of his attempts. Dobrinich scored 47 out of a possible 50 points, winning the contest and completing a sweep for the Purple Panthers as A.J. Odle won the three-point shootout at the event.

Seniors Wrap Up Career On The Court

Several seniors from Montgomery County wrapped up their high school basketball careers on Sunday, March 24, at the Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic, held at the Big House on West … more

3/28/24

Auburn second baseman Jed Ferguson watches as Litchfield-Mt. Olive's Matthew Bywater starts his slide during the game in Litchfield on Friday, March 22. Bywater was 1-for-1 with two walks and two runs scored as Litchfield came from behind to score a 5-3 victory over the Trojans and improve their record to 7-0 on the season.

Unbeaten Panthers Survive Tough Tests

After strolling through their first five games of the season, the Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball club accepted their first challenge of the season, a road trip to New Berlin on March 21. In a … more

3/25/24

Powell First At Illinois Top Times

Litchfield senior Keenan Powell proved once again that he’s one of the top triple jumpers in Class 1A on Friday, March 22, as he won the event at the Illinois Top Times Indoor Classic at the … more

3/25/24

Litchfield-Mt. Olive's Lili Readenour elevates to snag the throw from the outfield as Marquette's Jayla Dickson closes in on second base with a double. Dickson was 4-for-4 with four runs scored for the Explorers and Readenour went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the Panthers as Litchfield won a slugfest on Thursday, March 21, by a 16-9 final score.

Litchfield Softball Collects First Win

The Litchfield-Mt. Olive softball team scored seven runs in the first inning of their game with Marquette on Thursday, March 21, then held on for a wild and wind-swept 16-9 victory over the … more

3/25/24

Purple Panthers Slay Lanphier

After beating one 3A school on Tuesday afternoon, the Litchfield baseball team traveled to Springfield on March 20 to battle their second straight 3A opponent, the Lanphier Lions. Litchfield scored … more

3/25/24

Pawnee Holds Off Litchfield Rally

A late surge by the Litchfield-Mt. Olive softball team nearly gave them a come-from-behind win on the road on Friday, March 22, in Pawnee, before the host Indians held on for an 8-6 victory. … more

3/25/24

With a conference title in boys soccer and basketball, a playoff appearance in football, a third place finish at the boys state golf tournament and a state medalist in cross country among the list of accomplishments already this year, the 2023-24 school year has been a banner one for the class of 2024. On Monday, March 18, the families and friends of 13 of those individuals who made this year special were recognized during Litchfield High School's signing day at Simmons Gym as they prepare to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. From the left are Victor McGill, Tug Schwab, Annika Rhodes, Tisha Jarden, Alyssa Lohman, Keenan Powell, Mannix Hancock, Easton Grammer, Tate Dobrinich, A.J. Odle, Amy Frerichs, A.J. Sypherd and Carson Saathoff.

Journal-News On The Line: Litchfield Hosts Signing Day For Class of 2024

Before introducing the 13 students from Litchfield High School who have chosen to extend their athletic years into college, Athletic Director Mark Elvers listed some of the Class of 2024’s … more

3/21/24

Lady Panthers Win Eight In Outdoor Track Opener

The Litchfield girls track team picked up eight wins and nine personal records as they scored a 14-point win at their outdoor meet debut on Tuesday, March 19. The Lady Panthers finished the meet … more

3/21/24

Panthers Improve To 4-0 With Win

After Tuesday night, Litchfield-Mt. Olive baseball's four opponents this season were a combined 1-10, with the Panthers' foe on March 19, Taylorville, 0-2 on the season going into the game. … more

3/21/24

Tornadoes Spoil Readenour's Gem

After weather forced the cancellation of their first two games, the Litchfield-Mt. Olive softball team finally got out on the field on Tuesday, March 19. The wait was nearly worth it for the … more

3/21/24

Carlinville All-Star Basketball Roster Set

The top 51 boys and girls basketball seniors from South Central Illinois will be playing in the 20th annual Carlinville Rotary Club All-Star Basketball Classic, presented by Prairie Farms Dairy and … more

3/21/24

Litchfield's Daphney Hartel (#13) splits a pair of Jerseyville defenders en route to her first goal of the season during the Purple Panthers' season opener on Wednesday, March 13, at Lloyd Hill Field. Hartel and Madi Mix (#14) had a goal apiece in Litchfield's 4-0 win, with Chloe Law accounting for the other two scores.

Litchfield Gets Shutout Win In Debut

The Litchfield girls soccer team went 9-11-1 last season and lost two key players to graduation (Olivia Fleming and Olivia Mitchell), but if their opening game is any indication, the Lady Panthers … more

3/18/24

Leitschuh Lights Out For Purple Panthers

After claiming their season opener win on Monday, the Litchfield/Mt. Olive baseball club traveled to Lebanon on Wednesday, March 13, to battle the Greyhounds. Lebanon, who was the winner of … more

3/18/24