Sports | The Journal-News

Litchfield Head Baseball Coach Rocky Giannuzzi talks things over at third base earlier this season with Titan Hires, one of ten seniors on this year's Panther roster. After four years at the helm of the program, Giannuzzi recently made the decision to resign to spend more time with his family.

Giannuzzi Resigns As Panther Baseball Coach

After four years at the helm of his alma mater’s baseball team, Litchfield High School Baseball Coach Rocky Giannuzzi has made the decision to resign. “This program has meant a great deal to … more

6/11/26

Members of the H.E.A.T. competitive team, in front, from the left are Tymber Cerutti, Maebry Clementz, Aneira Nixon, Berkley McNece and Avery Molohon. In the second row are Noelle Clementz, Ava Farris, Karsyn Jones, Hadley Clementz, Autumn Walker, Cora Edgerton, Timberleigh Everett, Sawyer Spencer and Kaelyn Benning. In back are Lily Kinney, Kinsley Mears, Layla Jewell, Lili Micnheimer, Paige Micnheimer, Hannah Loveless and Addy Winans.

HEAT Competes At State

Athletes from the Hilltop Elite Academy of Tumbling and Trampoline, Inc. (HEAT) in Hillsboro will travel to Madison, WI, the week of Monday, June 15, to compete against other USTA (United States … more

6/11/26

Weller Second At Door Car Challenge

Litchfield racer Randy Weller took second to North Dakota racer Randy McFarland in the Autoland Door Car Challenge $50,000 race on Saturday, May 16, driving his father-in-law Phil Bryant’s … more

6/11/26

Problem Child Shoots To Winner’s Lane

Joel Cox may have to change his pit assignment to Winner’s Lane the next time he goes to Midstate Dragway in Havana if the Fillmore racer keeps this up. After winning the D Gas Class at the … more

6/11/26

Redskins Are Sectional Champions

Despite what his late co-workers and fellow coaches Maury Hough and Steve Kimbro might have said on the matter, Bob Davis believes that Nokomis is a baseball town. “With the BRS Museum and Jim … more

by Kyle Herschelman | 6/8/26

Litchfield's Allison Belusko hit 94 of 100 targets to win the Class 2A female junior varsity division at the Illinois High School Clay Target League State Tournament on May 31, in Bunker Hill.

Belusko Brings Home State Title

Litchfield’s Allison Belusko hit 94 of her 100 targets to bring home a state championship in the Class 2A junior varsity female division at the Illinois High School Clay Target League State … more

6/8/26

Members of the inaugural Lincolnwood trap shooting team, in front, from the left, are Broc Thomas, Jaylynne Carron, Carly Brockmeyer, Cooper Bethard, Levi Miller, Atticus Gorup, Madison Yard, Jocelynne Carron and Mason Hampton. In the back row are Charlie Clavin, Kolby Matli, Drew Riemann, Grady Meisner, Izeck Matli, Grant Pope, Nic Clavin and Isaac Wagahoff.

Lincolnwood Makes State Trap Debut

The Lincolnwood High School trap shooting team made their debut at the Illinois High School Clay Target League State Tournament on May 30, at Brittany Shooting Park in Bunker Hill. Thirteen young … more

6/8/26

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