Galesburg High School
GHS baseball goes 1-3 during Tennessee trip
The Galesburg baseball team completed its trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, with a 1-3 record during the Irish Royal Classic March 27-28.
After defeating host Knoxville Catholic in its opening game, the Silver Streaks dropped the next three games to teams from Tennessee.
The Streaks are 2-7 for the season as they head home to open Western Big 6 Conference play against Quincy. The team travels to Quincy for a 3:30 p.m. game March 30, then hosts the Blue Devils at 4:30 p.m. April 1.
Galesburg 6, Knoxville Catholic 2
Galesburg rode a fast start and a consistent offensive showing to a 6-2 win over Knoxville Catholic on Friday. The Silver Streaks scored twice in the first inning and never trailed, finishing with 15 hits and a .455 team batting average. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before putting the game away with two runs in the seventh.
Hayden Ralston led Galesburg at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. Caden Riley added three hits, while Nicolas Ojeda and Alfred Ayala each had two hits as the Streaks produced throughout the lineup and kept pressure on Knoxville Catholic pitching.
TJ Heatherly earned the win, allowing two hits over 5⅓ scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Galesburg’s pitching staff held Knoxville Catholic to seven hits and kept the Fighting Irish scoreless until the sixth inning, maintaining control throughout.
Knoxville Central 7, Galesburg 4
Knoxville Central (9-6) built an early lead and held off a late push to defeat Galesburg 7-4 on Friday. The Bobcats scored twice in the first inning and added single runs in the third and sixth before tacking on two more in the fifth to take control.
Galesburg was held scoreless through five innings before breaking through with two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Henry Ikrami led the Silver Streaks at the plate, going 3 for 3 with an RBI, while Drew Hickey scored twice. Hayden Ralston and Will Kimmitt also crossed the plate for Galesburg, which finished with four hits.
Alexander Ritchie took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits over 5 2/3 innings while striking out five. Caleb Claeys worked 1 1/3 innings in relief. Knoxville Central was paced by Nicholas Riordan, who drove in four runs, and Jack Goode, who scored twice, as the Bobcats totaled six hits in the win.
Providence Academy 7, Galesburg 3
Providence Academy (3-3) used a late surge to pull away from Galesburg for a 7-3 win Saturday. The Knights broke open a close game with two runs in the sixth inning and four more in the seventh after the teams were tied through five.
Galesburg got on the board in the fourth and added two runs in the sixth but couldn’t keep pace down the stretch. Nicolas Ojeda led the Silver Streaks with a run scored and an RBI, while Alfred Ayala, Henry Ikrami, Easton Pickrel and Grady Hickey each contributed a hit as Galesburg finished with five. Braden Davis also scored a run.
Ojeda took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. Providence Academy was led by Hudson Berry, who scored twice, and Luke McIntosh, who drove in two runs, while Port Conger added a triple as the Knights totaled five hits in the win.
Greeneville 9, Galesburg 5
Greeneville (12-6) used a pair of big innings early to build a cushion and went on to defeat Galesburg 9-5 on Saturday. The Green Devils scored four runs in the second and added four more in the fourth to take control before the Silver Streaks mounted a late push.
Galesburg broke through with a run in the fourth and rallied for four runs in the seventh. Hayden Ralston led the Silver Streaks, going 3 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Grady Hickey added two hits. Alfred Ayala, Nicolas Ojeda and Braden Davis also contributed hits as Galesburg finished with six.
Easton Pickrel took the loss after allowing five runs over 1 2/3 innings. Caleb Claeys and Jack Pickrel combined in relief as Greeneville totaled 10 hits. Kaine Ricker scored three runs and drove in one, while Tegan Begley had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Green Devils.
Carl Sandburg College
Sandburg baseball goes 1-3 over the weekend
Chargers split doubleheader with Highland
Carl Sandburg College’s baseball team delivered one of its biggest offensive innings of the season March 28, erupting for eight runs in the seventh to stun Highland 16-13 and earn a split in their Arrowhead Conference doubleheader. The Chargers carried that momentum into Game 2 briefly before falling, then closed the weekend with two losses March 29 at South Suburban.
Saturday — Game 1: Sandburg 16, Highland 13
Sandburg looked firmly in control early after a seven-run third inning built an 8-1 lead. Carter Chapin opened the outburst with a two-run single, and the Chargers piled on from there.
But Highland stormed back with 12 unanswered runs, seizing a 13-8 advantage heading into the seventh. That set the stage for Sandburg’s dramatic comeback.
Burke Miller doubled home a run, Landon Binder followed with an RBI single, and the Chargers kept chipping away until Chapin lined a game-tying single to left. Colton Allen then delivered the go-ahead two-run hit, and Miller’s second double of the inning capped the eight-run explosion.
Chapin finished 3 for 5 with three runs, three RBIs and a stolen base. Miller went 2 for 2 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Allen reached four times with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Brandon Barrientos earned the win in relief, and Nathan Hill closed the door in the seventh for the save.
Game 2: Highland 15, Sandburg 5 (5 innings)
Sandburg briefly tied the game 3-3 in the third thanks to an RBI single from Jace Dickerson and a pair of Highland errors. But the Cougars answered with a seven-run bottom half and never looked back.
Second baseman Damien Snell stayed hot, going 3 for 3 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI while also stealing two bases. Dickerson added two hits and two RBIs.
Sunday — Game 1: South Suburban 5, Sandburg 2
Left-hander Ethan Krei turned in a solid outing despite the loss, allowing just two earned runs over five innings with five strikeouts.
Sandburg broke through in the fifth when Dickerson doubled and scored on a Carter Ramsey single. One inning later, Chuck Hathaway launched his fourth homer of the season to right, trimming the deficit to 5-2, but the Chargers couldn’t generate further offense.
Game 2: South Suburban 13, Sandburg 3 (5 innings)
Sandburg struck first as Snell singled and scored on Hathaway’s RBI hit to right. Allen reached base three times, going 2 for 2 with a walk and driving in a run on a bases-loaded walk in the third.
Hathaway added another multi-hit performance, and Brady Veselack doubled and scored twice, but South Suburban’s early scoring runs proved too much to overcome.
Up next, Sandburg returns home March 31 for a nine-inning matchup against Highland.
Rodgers, Hamilton lead softball sweep
Carl Sandburg College broke into the win column March 29 with a dominant Arrowhead Conference sweep at Sauk Valley, riding a shutout from Cheyanne Rodgers in the opener and a perfect day at the plate from Jaylynn Hamilton in the nightcap.
Game 1 — Sandburg 9, Sauk Valley 0 (6 innings)
Rodgers delivered a six-hit shutout with five strikeouts and no walks as the Chargers rolled to their first victory of the season. The sophomore right-hander faced 25 batters and threw 51 of her 78 pitches for strikes.
Sandburg broke the game open with a five-run third inning, stringing together six straight baserunners with one out. Madalynn Knapp provided the biggest swing, a two-run triple that scored Hamilton and Jordyn Climer. The Chargers added two more in the fourth and tacked on insurance in the sixth when Knapp doubled to center to drive in Climer.
Rodgers also contributed at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two runs and a stolen base. Knapp finished 2 for 4 with a double, triple, two runs and three RBIs, while Hamilton went 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI.
Game 2 — Sandburg 12, Sauk Valley 3 (5 innings)
Hamilton stayed hot in the second game, going a perfect 3 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. She finished the doubleheader 5 for 5.
Leading 4-2 in the fourth, Sandburg erupted for eight runs to put the game out of reach. Knapp opened the surge with a two-run double, and the Chargers piled on with RBI hits from Hannah Pyle, Jalie Eller, Reese Poole and Hamilton.
Knapp went 3 for 4 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs. Pyle added two hits and two RBIs, and Lakinn Larson chipped in a 2 for 4 effort with two runs.
Climer earned the win with a complete-game five-inning performance, allowing three runs on six hits without issuing a walk.
Up next, Sandburg hosts Illinois Valley at 3 p.m. March 31.
Knox College
Knox track opens outdoor season strong at Millikin
The Knox College track and field team opened its outdoor season March 28 with a series of strong performances at the Millikin Big Blue Invite.
For the Prairie Fire women, Elsie Conwell led the way, finishing fifth in the 800 meters and seventh in the 1,500. Lily Cuddy placed fifth in the 100 hurdles, while Stephanie Nelson took fifth in the discus and fourth in the hammer.
In the field events, Elle Haddon finished fourth in the javelin. Her throw of 33.37 meters ranks second in program history.
On the men’s side, Ryan Lautzenhiser finished fifth in the 200 and seventh in the 400. Lance Miller recorded Knox’s top track finish of the meet, placing third in the 1,500.
Ethan Strutzel highlighted the field events with a second-place finish in the javelin at 49.44 meters, moving him to fifth on the program’s all-time list.
Knox returns to action April 4 at the Cornell Invitational.
Knox softball wins, loses weekend doubleheaders
Prairie Fire maintain perfect home record
The Knox College softball team remained unbeaten at home Saturday, sweeping Maranatha Baptist University 14-1 and 21-1.
Knox improved to 4-0 at home and 5-7 overall.
The Prairie Fire drew 22 walks across the two games, taking advantage of control issues from Maranatha Baptist pitchers.
In the opener, Knox scored eight runs in the first inning and five in the second to secure a five-inning, run-rule victory.
Maria Olivas had four RBIs and two hits. Kara Burwell, Taylor Goudschaal and Zoe Abbott each drove in two runs, while Goudschaal added two hits.
Abbott earned the win in the circle, striking out eight and allowing two hits.
In the second game, Knox again jumped out early, scoring seven runs in the first inning and 11 in the second.
Chelsea McKee had four RBIs and two hits. Olivas, Maddie Hicks, Cheyanne Merkel, Janet Lentini and Goudschaal each recorded two RBIs.
Victoria Torres pitched five innings, striking out eight and allowing two hits for the win.
Westminster takes two from Knox softball
The Knox College softball team dropped both games of a March 29 doubleheader, falling to Westminster College 7-2 and 9-1.
Knox fell to 5-9 overall.
In the opener, Knox trailed 7-0 after five innings before scoring twice in the seventh.
Kara Burwell and Taylor Goudschaal drove in runs for the Prairie Fire. Chelsea McKee added two hits and scored a run.
In the second game, Janet Lentini recorded Knox’s only RBI with a single that scored Goudschaal.
Knox returns to action Wednesday, hosting University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
Grinnell sweeps Knox baseball in high-scoring series
The Knox College baseball team was swept in a three-game weekend series by Grinnell College, dropping both ends of a doubleheader Saturday and a one-run decision Sunday.
Knox lost 20-13 and 15-8 in the March 28 home and conference openers, then fell 9-8 on a walk-off home run March 29 in Grinnell. The Prairie Fire are 2-17 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
Despite scoring 21 runs on 29 hits in Saturday’s doubleheader, Knox could not contain Grinnell’s offense.
In the opener, the teams were tied 5-5 after four innings before Grinnell scored nine runs in the fifth to take control. Knox answered with two runs in the fifth and four in the sixth but could not close the gap.
Thomas Wilmot and Owen Shannon each drove in three runs. Andrew Garrett, Jacob Halseth, Tyler Kemp and Shannon had three hits apiece.
In the second game, Grinnell built an early lead before Knox rallied. Trailing 8-1 through five and a half innings, Knox scored five runs in the sixth and later cut the deficit to one. Grinnell responded with four runs in the eighth and three in the ninth to pull away.
Miles Hoops had two RBIs, while Wilmot collected three hits. Garrett had two hits, scored three runs, drove in one and reached base five times.
On Sunday, Knox nearly salvaged the series but fell 9-8 on a walk-off two-run home run in the ninth.
Knox trailed 3-1 after one inning before tying the game in the second. Grinnell answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Knox took its first lead with three runs in the fifth.
After Grinnell tied the game, Knox regained the lead with two runs in the sixth and held an 8-6 advantage entering the eighth. Grinnell scored once in the eighth before winning in the ninth.
Nicholas Nitti led Knox with three RBIs. Hayden Derlein had three hits, while Wilmot, Kemp and Hoops each added two. Kemp scored three runs, and Garrett scored twice.
Knox returns to action today, March 30, at Augustana College.
Knox to upgrade fieldhouse indoor surface
Knox College will upgrade the T. Fleming Fieldhouse this summer with a new indoor surface, modernizing one of campus’ most heavily used facilities.
The project, set to begin June 8 and last about 10 weeks, prepares the space to better serve students and athletes while positioning Knox to host the Midwest Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in February 2027.
Originally installed in 1991, the surface supports daily use ranging from walking and running to varsity practices, club sports and intramurals.
“The Fieldhouse isn’t just a track facility — it’s a space used every day by the entire Knox community,” vice president and athletic director Justin Newell said.
The renovation will include a six-lane track, sprint straightaway and multi-use courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis and pickleball. Beynon Sports, which installed the original surface, will oversee the project.