The Morton Potters (17-4-1) easily defeated the Washington Panthers (10-10-1) 8-0 and won the IHSA Class 2A soccer regional championship at McClallen Park. It was a bittersweet day for longtime Potters coach Brian Deters, who coached his last home game at Rotary Field produced victory No. 277 with the girls team. His teams have won 12 regional titles, including three straight, Morton will attempt to claim its first sectional title next week when it plays Geneseo at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Peoria Notre Dame Sectional. Senior Erin Tisdale scored two goals in the first half to lead the Potters in scoring.
-Bob
Bradley University (25-24-1) ace left-hander Joe Bircher cruised into the eighth inning riding a 4-hitter, but Dallas Baptist (38-16) rallied for three runs in the eighth to earn a 5-4 victory in the opener of a 3-game series Thursday night at O’Brien Field. The Braves, which has won a school-record 11 1-run decisions this season, dropped its season-long seventh consecutive game, including the last four by one run each. Though he struck out a season-low two hitters, Bircher (7-3) did move into sole possession of third place on the school’s single-season strikeout list by pushing his season total to 104. The 104 strikeouts are the most by a Bradley pitcher since Wyman Carey, who was in attendance Thursday night for a pregame ceremony, fanned the school-record 120 hitters in 1956.
-Bob
Notre Dame (12-7-1) looking to capture their 11th consecutive regional title easily defeated Manual Academy 8-0. The Lady Irish were led in scoring by Mackinsay Manning with three goals, two apiece from Keeghen O’Brien and Elizabeth Mills and one from Elizabeth Frampton. Jenna Ashley and Ruthie Bertram were flawless in goal. Notre Dame will face Richwoods (8-10-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the IHSA regional championship.
-Bob
The Metamora Lady Redbirds (29-3, 12-1) scored a unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning without a hit to defeat the Washington Panthers 2-1 in Mid-Illini softball Tuesday afternoon. Junior Erica Phillips threw a one-hitter with six strikeouts, went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in the first inning.
-Bob
The Peoria Chiefs behind another strong pitching performance from lefty Kyler Burke defeated the Burlington Bees 2-1 before 1,367 fans. Both of the Chiefs runs came by way of sacrifice flies. In the fourth, designated hitter Taylor Davis drove in Ryan Cuneo, who walked and then took third on Anthony Giansanti’s single. Burlington scored their only run in the third when B.A. Vollmuth drove in Sean Jamieson, who doubled. The victory gives Peoria its first four-game winning streak of the season. Click here for complete game stats.
-Bob
