Ready or not, softball season is upon us. There were five games involving Little Illini Conference teams played in the first week. Casey-Westfield, ranked again in pre-season Class 1A state polls after a third-place finish in the IHSA state tournament last year, and league co-champion Newton, both picked up initial wins. In fact, 2025 was another outstanding year for LIC softball — five of the eight teams won Regional championships spread among three IHSA classes, while Newton joined Casey-Westfield as Sectional champs as well. Mt. Carmel wound up in a first-place tie with Newton for the LIC title, as Casey-Westfield ended up third. Six league teams finished with winning season records.
Here’s what happened:
FRIDAY, MAR. 13
Casey-Westfield 20, Decatur St. Teresa 0
— Casey-Westfield scored nine runs in the top of the first inning and cruised to a 20-0 win over Decatur St. Teresa. Haley Schackmann had a big day at the plate — going 3-for-3, with five runs batted in and four runs scored. Arhianna Bonds also had three hits in three trips for the Lady Warriors. Casey-Westfield (1-0) outhit the Bulldogs, 18-4. Gyllyane Gilbert picked up the win in the circle, allowing two hits while striking out two batters in two innings of work in the four-inning game.
Cumberland 7, Newton 4
— Cumberland broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the sixth then added another in the seventh for a 7-4 non-conference win over Newton (1-1). The Lady Eagles never led, but rallied three different times to tie the game at 1-1, 3-3, and 4-4. Claire Probst and Jorjia Reich each collected two hits for Newton. Both teams ran in this one – Newton finished with seven stolen bases, though Cumberland had even more, with nine
Fithian Oakwood 10, Paris 9
— The Oakwood Comets pushed across a go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning, then held Paris scoreless in the top of the seventh for a 10-9 non-conference win. The visiting Tigers got the tying run to third with two out but a ground out ended the game. Jacie Young and Morgan Coombes led Paris (0-1) at the plate, each with three RBI’s on the day. Two of Young’s tallies came on a two-run homer to left in the fourth inning.
THURSDAY, MAR. 12
Casey-Westfield 17, Neoga 6
— Casey-Westfield opened the season with a 17-6 non-conference win over Neoga. The Lady Warriors banged out 17 hits, including three each by Gyllyane Gilbert and Ella Whitacre. Lucy Moore drove in four runs to help lead the way. She drilled a three-run homer to center in the third inning, and added an RBI on a ground out later. Casey-Westfield erupted for 12 runs in the third inning.
TUESDAY, MAR. 10
Newton 13, Red Hill 1
— Newton got its’ offense going in the third and fourth innings of this season opener. scoring six and five runs, respectively, to put Red Hill away, 13-1, in a game shortened to five innings. Claire Probst led the Newton attack, going 3-for-4 with four RBI’s. Lady Eagle pitching allowed Red Hill only two hits on the day, with starter Lexie Ghast picking up the win.
This story will be updated as more information is gathered.
