The News-Gazette's softball Top 10: State runner-up Panthers leading charge
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Apr. 10—1. LeRoy
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➜ Record: 13-0
➜ Quick hit: No surprises here. The Panthers are still beaming — and rightfully so — from their record-setting Class 1A state runner-up season a year ago. And with All-State talents like Morgan Fleming, Jacey Hageman and Laila Carr leading the way, they make coach Doug Hageman's job look easy.
2. Champaign Central
➜ Record: 9-3-1
➜ Quick hit: Half of the Helm sisters have graduated, but returning All-Area Player of the Year Haley Helm is doing plenty to keep the Maroons in the top tier. Before Thursday's game at Danville, the two-way star was batting .474 with four home runs to go with a 1.63 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched.
3. Unity
➜ Record: 6-5
➜ Quick hit: Don't be fooled by the record at this stage of the season. The Rockets played one of the toughest schedules in the state through spring break but are currently winners of five of their last six. Led by slugging catcher Grace Bickers, Unity could very well be at the top of these standings by the end.
4. Monticello
➜ Record: 10-3
➜ Quick hit: Staying on the topic of All-State players, the Sages returned four of them this year in Cassidee Stoffel, Sadie Walsh, Isa Beery and Thea Key. All of them are stars in their own right, but they've come together to give coach Lauren Klein quite the force on the diamond so far this spring.
5. Westville
➜ Record: 10-2
➜ Quick hit: The Tigers fell victim to Unity's recent hot streak with a home loss on March 25, but outside of that, they've been rock-solid, earning solid wins against St. Joseph-Ogden and Effingham, among others. With steady two-way senior Lilly Kiesel pacing the team, more success is bound to come.
6. St. Joseph-Ogden
➜ Record: 10-6-1
➜ Quick hit: The Spartans have also played a tough schedule to start this season, but they're still comfortably in the mix of the area's best teams. Timera Blackburn-Kelley is transforming herself into a lot more than just a lockdown pitcher, and her teammates aren't far behind for the tradition-rich program.
7. Milford/Cissna Park
➜ Record: 5-2
➜ Quick hit: The Bearcats have outscored their opponents 33-3 during their first five victories. That speaks to the great pitching of Ellie Schwartz and Kami Muehling. Not to mention Northwestern signee Addison Lucht sporting an insane .643 batting average and .792 on-base percentage.
8. Watseka
➜ Record: 7-3
➜ Quick hit: After an uncharacteristic 11-14 season a year ago, Barry Bauer's team is back to its winning ways. At the forefront of the Warriors' turnaround so far this spring have been Christa Holohan and Noelle Schroeder, who have led Watseka's athletic teams to plenty of success in other sports already.
9. Rantoul
➜ Record: 8-5
➜ Quick hit: The Eagles are now only two wins away from matching their single-season high during the last five years. With seasoned leaders like Addy Sherrick and Lauren Herbert setting the pace, and some talented underclassmen following in their footsteps, watch out for Rantoul the rest of the season.
10. Oakwood/Schlarman
➜ Record: 8-5
➜ Quick hit: The Comets broke out last season with 15 wins, and they've carried that momentum into their 2026 campaign. Irene Rangel has been on fire, batting an impressive .564 while collecting 62 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. All signs point toward success for this Vermilion Valley Conference co-op.