The West Central Heat softball squad won its first sectional title since 2022 after beating their Linoln Trail Conference rival Ridgewood Spartans 5-1 in the class 1A sectional championship game at Williamsfield High School. The Heat wasted no time getting on the board, scoring a run in their first at bat on a Lauren Winters RBI single scoring leadoff hitter, Becca Hinshaw. West Central would add another run in the next inning on a 2-out rbi triple by Hinshaw, scoring Riley Ferguson. The only multi-run inning of the game would be the Heat half of 5th inning. Lilly Higgins doubled in Winters with the 3rd Heat run, followed by a Kaylee Mills’ single scoring Higgins, making it 4-0. After stranding 7 runners in the first five innings, Ridgewood would finally crack the scoreboard with a solo run in the bottom of the 6th on a Monica Herrald rbi single. West Central answered that with an insurance run in the top of the 7th, with Mills’ driving in another run with a 2-out single scoring Winters again. Ridgewood would get a 2-out double but Heat starting pitcher Miley Stimpson induced a groundout to end the game, setting off a celebration on the field. West Central wins their 28th straight game and get to (33-2-1) on the season. Ridgewood ends their year at (23-10). Hinshaw, Stimpson, Winters and Mills each get two hits. Ella Humphrey is the only mulitple hit Spartan, with two. Stimpson goes all 7 innings, scattering 8 hits, giving up one run, with five strikeouts. Stimpson has a total of 218 strikeouts on the season. Freshman Cambell Casteel garnered 12 strikeouts for Ridgewood. West Central will move on to Monday’s class 1A super sectional at Sterling High School. The Heat will face off against the Dakota Indians for the right to move on to the state finals next weekend in Peoria. Perennial power (28-4) Dakota took 4th in the class 1A state finals in 2025. The first pitch is set for 4:30 on Monday at Sterling High School.
In class 2A sectional championship action last night, Brimfield/Elmwood beat TRAC West Division champ, Riverdale 8-1 in Brimfield. The Indians scored all their runs in the first 3 innings and held a powerful Riverdale offense scoreless after the 1st inning. Brimfield/Elmwood is now (29-4) and will play the Seneca Fighiting Irish in the East Peoria Super Sectional on Monday. Last night, Seneca gave Beecher its first loss of the season, 6-5 in the Pontiac sectional title game.
In class 3A, Western Big Six Conference champion United Township’s season came to an end. The Panthers lose to Edwardsville 1-0 on a walk-off in the bottom of the 7th.
***Photo courtesy of Jessica Burrell***
