Carl Sandburg College

Kisler, Redding make All-Arrowhead first team

Two players from the conference-champion Carl Sandburg College women’s basketball team earned first-team All-Arrowhead Conference honors.

Sophomore Antonia Kisler and freshman Hailey Redding were voted to the squad by Arrowhead coaches after helping Sandburg win the conference title outright with a 9-1 record. The duo also earned all-region honors earlier this week as the Chargers posted the program’s third straight season with 20 or more wins.

It is the second consecutive first-team all-conference selection for Kisler, a 5-foot-9 forward from Galesburg.

A starter in all 10 conference games, Kisler finished second among Chargers in scoring (15.7 points per game) and rebounding (9.0 per game) in league contests.

Kisler tied for the team lead at 3.8 assists per game in conference action. She shot 32% overall, 34% from 3-point range and 83% from the free-throw line while averaging 2.5 steals per conference contest.

Kisler scored in double figures in all 10 Arrowhead games and recorded four double-doubles in league play. She had 27 points and 12 rebounds in Sandburg’s Sophomore Night win Feb. 17 over Black Hawk.

Redding, a 5-10 forward from Abingdon-Avon High School, led the Chargers with 62 field goals and averaged 18.2 points in 10 conference games. She shot 40% from the floor, 34% from 3-point range and 81% from the free-throw line while averaging 4.9 rebounds against Arrowhead teams.

Like Kisler, Redding scored in double figures in all 10 conference games and reached at least 20 points in five contests. She scored 26 points in Sandburg’s Feb. 3 win over Kishwaukee.

Sandburg softball falls twice to Coastal Alabama

Jaylynn Hamilton collected two hits and reached base three times in the nightcap March 10 as the Carl Sandburg College softball team continued its spring break road swing with a doubleheader at Coastal Alabama–South in Bay Minette, Alabama.

The Chargers dropped both contests, falling 9-1 in five innings in Game 1 and 20-3 in five innings in Game 2.

Game 1: Coastal Alabama–South 9, Sandburg 1 (5 innings)

Sandburg struck first with a two-out run in the second inning.

Emma Racke was hit by a pitch, Hannah Pyle doubled and Payton Ruggles followed with an infield single to load the bases. Lakinn Larson’s groundout to second brought Racke home for a 1-0 lead.

The Coyotes answered with runs in the second, third and fourth innings before pulling away with a five-run fifth.

Jalie Eller took the loss, working four innings with two strikeouts.

Game 2: Coastal Alabama–South 20, Sandburg 3 (5 innings)

Hamilton singled twice, drew a walk and scored a run from the leadoff spot.

Sandburg’s best inning came in the third, when the Chargers loaded the bases with one out on a walk to Cheyanne Rodgers, Hamilton’s single and an infield hit by Jordyn Climer.

Madalynn Knapp delivered a two-run single to right field, and Pyle added an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 6-3 before the Coyotes pulled away with big innings in the third and fourth.

Pyle finished 2 for 3 with an RBI. Rodgers took the loss after three innings of work.

---

Galesburg High School

GHS baseball hoping experience breeds success

With a deep pitching staff and a large senior class, the Galesburg High School baseball team hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season and compete for a Western Big 6 Conference title this spring.

The Silver Streaks finished last season 16-20 overall and 7-7 in conference play, placing fourth in the standings.

Head coach Jeremy Pickrel said the team entered that season with high expectations but struggled to consistently produce runs and close out tight games.

“We had high expectations,” Pickrel said. “For whatever reason, things just didn’t really go that way. And that’s baseball.”

Despite the setbacks, Pickrel believes experience could be a major strength this year. The Silver Streaks return a group of nine seniors, several of whom have multiple years of varsity experience.

“For three of those seniors, this is their fourth year of varsity, and for five of them it’s their third year of varsity or at least getting a taste of it,” Pickrel said. “We’re hoping this is kind of the culminating year for them after spending years at the level and learning the speed of the game.”

Galesburg must replace several key defensive players who graduated after the 2025 season, including center fielder Jameson Dickerson, shortstop Tyree Taylor, second baseman Caden Ashby and third baseman Brandon Bruington.

Those departures leave several infield and outfield spots open entering the season.

“It’s kind of wide open,” Pickrel said. “Everybody’s battling. The good thing is the guys are pushing each other and helping each other, and that can only be a positive going into the season.”

Offensively, Pickrel expects the team to take a slightly different approach than last year. The Streaks struggled at times to string together hits and score runs, particularly in close games.

Pickrel hopes a more aggressive strategy — including bunting and base stealing — can help create scoring opportunities.

“In the past I’ve always had a goal of trying to steal 100 bases every season,” Pickrel said. “We like to put pressure on defenses.”

One of the team’s biggest advantages could be its pitching staff. Pickrel said as many as 11 players could see time on the mound this season.

“We’ve got a lot of innings coming back,” he said. “We feel like we’ve got about 11 guys that can go out and throw strikes and give us an opportunity.”

The depth will be especially valuable early in the season when unpredictable Illinois weather often leads to schedule changes and games being played on consecutive days.

Pickrel expects the Western Big 6 Conference to be competitive again this season, pointing to United Township and Moline as perennial contenders.

“Everyone in the conference is tough,” Pickrel said. “The games are becoming tighter and more competitive.”

Another boost for the program is the recently upgraded baseball complex at Jim Sundberg Field. The facility now includes artificial turf and access to an indoor training space, which Pickrel said has transformed preseason preparation.

“Having the turf and having the indoor facility has been a game-changer for us,” Pickrel said. “We’re extremely grateful. The upgrades are unbelievable, and there’s more to come.”

Galesburg is scheduled to open at home against Knoxville on March 16, though sub-freezing temperatures could affect the game.

Because of the addition of turf at Jim Sundberg Field, the Streaks opted to host their own invitational tournament March 20-21 rather than travel to the Metro East Kickoff Classic in St. Louis.

Galesburg will play Sherrard at 1 p.m. March 20 and East Peoria at 7 p.m. The tournament continues March 21 with games against Rock Ridge and Macomb.