Sandburg softball’s Pyle, Climer named to All-Arrowhead Conference team

GALESBURG — The Sandburg softball team had a pair of freshmen voted to the All-Arrowhead Conference team.

Infielder Hannah Pyle and outfielder Jordyn Climer were voted to the team by league coaches after leading the Chargers in most offensive categories in conference play.

Pyle, a corner infielder from Economy, Ind., played in all 20 Arrowhead games this spring and led Sandburg in batting, on-base percentage and slugging with a .500/.525/.741 slash line over 61 plate appearances.

Pyle also swatted a team-leading three home runs against Arrowhead opponents and topped Sandburg with 43 total bases in conference play. Pyle scored 13 runs, drove in 14 and collected six extra-base hits.

In Sandburg’s April 3 doubleheader sweep at Sauk Valley, Pyle reached base safely in all nine of her plate appearances. She finished 7 for 7, walked twice, doubled, homered, scored five runs and had four RBIs.

Climer, a Warsaw High School product who saw most of her time in left field, also played all 20 conference contests. Over 64 plate appearances, she hit .492/.516/.639, finishing second to Pyle in all three categories.

Climer led the team with six doubles and seven extra-base hits against Arrowhead opponents. Her 14 runs and 39 total bases were second among Chargers players, and she picked up eight RBIs.

Climer went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs scored and three RBIs in Sandburg’s 18-6 win March 18 over Sauk Valley.

2025 ALL-ARROWHEAD CONFERENCE SOFTBALL TEAM
Most Valuable Player
Jaelyn Lambin (Black Hawk)
Infielders
Ana-Kate Phillips (Kishwaukee)
Hailee Irby (Black Hawk)
Emma Augustine (Illinois Valley)
Hannah Pyle (Sandburg)
Kaylie Pena (Black Hawk)
Outfielders
Jaelyn Lambin (Black Hawk)
Jordyn Climer (Sandburg)
Kanzas White (Highland)
Izzy Nordwahl (Black Hawk)
Catchers
Megan Holub (Black Hawk)
Kaci Polhamus (Highland)
Pitchers
Emily Rigdon (Black Hawk)
Camryn Carter (Black Hawk)
Cameren Plowman (Highland)
Designated player
Haley Von Schnase (Kishwaukee)

Illini West Chargers extend their win streak to four games beating Hannibal 13-2 in 5 innings  May 17 2025

Ethan Carlisle 4IP 8K 1HA 0ER W (8-1) and 2-3 RBI R
Nick Johnson 3-4 2B 3RBI 2R
Grady Blue 2-3 2RBI R BB SB
Stephen Sparks 2-3 2RBI
Shawn Watkins Jr. 2-3 BB
Wesley Robertson 0-0 3BB 2R BB
Carter Chapin 0-2 3SB 2BB 2R

The Chargers finish their regular season with 25 wins and 10 losses. This is the first time in Illini West history that there has been two consecutive 25+ win seasons!

The Chargers will take on the winner between #5 Macomb and #11 West Hancock on Wednesday at 6:00pm in a regional semifinal matchup!

Illini West Track Results @ Mercer County (girls sectional) 5/14/2025

Long Jump

• Palyn Lord (3.48 m 21st)

High Jump

• Anna Jacob (1.47 m 7th)

Discus

• Noel Rambo (24.72 m 9th), Trinity Aber (22.77 m 12th)

Shot Put 

• Noel Rambo (8.84 m 7th), Brittany Perez (6.84 m 16th)

4x100

• Ali Lopez, Kennedy Artman, Anna Jacob, Taylor Brown (52.21 SB 8th)

4x400

• Ali Lopez, Kennedy Artman, Anna Jacob, Taylor Brown (4:21.80 SB 6th)

4x800

• Audra Carroll, Palyn Lord, Sophia Moore, Izzy Schaefer (12:08.16 7th)

100

• Taylor Brown (13.44 PR 8th), Anna Jacob (14.19 16th)

200

• Sophia Moore (30.77 PR 18th)

400

• Audra Carroll (1:11.66 11th)

800

• Sophia Moore (2:52.09 15th), Palyn Lord (3:12.53 2)

• Over All Team Results

• 12th Place with 10.5 points

Illini West Track Results 5/13 at Central

Long Jump

• Boys- Liam Murphy (5.42 m 5th)

High Jump

• Boys- Ian Carroll (1.52 m 5th)

Triple Jump

• Boys- Myles Neff (8.92 m 7th)

Discus

• Boys- Braxton Vass (35.41 m 3rd), Roan Jackson (34.48 m 4th)

Shot Put 

• Boys- Nathan Chandler (11.45 m 3rd), Braxton Vass (11.09 m 5th)

4x100

• Boys- Trenton Hanks, Colin Curfman, Gabe Vargas, Kinnick Bliss (45.13 SB 1st)

100

• Boys- Trenton Hanks (11.95 4th), Isaiah Knotts (12.09 7th), Justin Baxter (12.70 PR 11th)

100/110 Hurdles

• Boys- Kinnick Bliss (16.87 PR 3rd), Wyatt Pence (20.39 4th)

200

• Boys- Trenton Hanks (24.27 PR 3rd), Justin Baxter (25.53 PR 7th)

300 Hurdles

• Boys- Kinnick Bliss (45.27 1st), Wyatt Pence (48.65 3rd)

400

• Boys- Declan Hartley (1:03.67 11th)

3200

• Boys- Bryar Rodeffer (12:10.24 1st) 

Illini West Athletic Events 5/19 to 5/24

Macomb Regional (Baseball)

Mon., May 19

Game 1 at 4:30 pm: (9) Cuba [Coop] at (8) Canton

Game 2 at 4:30 pm: (11) Hamilton [Coop] at (5) Macomb

Wed., May 21

Game 3 at 4:00 pm: (1) Eureka vs. Winner Game 1

Game 4 at 6:00 pm: (4) Carthage (Illini West) vs. Winner Game 2

Sat., May 24

Game 5 at 11:00 am: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4

Carthage (Illini West) Regional (Softball) 

Mon., May 19

Game 1 at 4:30 pm: (11) Macomb at (8) Carthage (Illini West)

Wed., May 21

Game 2 at 4:00 pm: (1) Williamsville vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 6:00 pm: (4) Beardstown (H.S.) vs. (6) Warsaw [Coop]

Fri., May 23

Game 4 at 4:30 pm: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

 Illini West Track Results at Rushville 5/12

Long Jump

• Boys- Liam Murphy (5.61 m 1st)

High Jump

• Boys- Khile Stonger (1.78 m 1st)

Triple Jump

• Boys- Myles Neff (9.32 m 5th)

Discus

• Boys- Roan Jackson (34.69 m 2nd), Braxton Vass (34.67 m 3rd), Javier Rojas (26.62 m 9th)

Shot Put 

• Boys- Braxton Vass (11.74 m PR 2nd), Nathan Chandler (10.93 m 4th), Josiah Sturlic (9.47 m 7th)

4x100

• Boys- Chase Heath, Liam Murphy, Beau Goff, Myles Neff (47.67 2nd)

100

• Boys- Gabe Vargas (12.05 PR 1st), Colin Curfman (12.37 4th), Chase Heath (12.47 5th)

200

• Boys- Gabe Vargas (24.32 PR 2nd), Beau Goff (24.90 5th), Khile Stonger (25.20 PR 6th)

300 Hurdles

• Boys- Chase Heath (46.93 PR 2nd)

400

• Boys- Coleman Gilpin (53.70 PR 1st)

800

• Boys- Chase Mudd (2:08.68 2nd), Keagan Walker (2:10.41 PR 4th), Brennan Grotts (2:11.66 PR 5th)

1600

• Boys- Bryar Rodeffer (4:58.91 1st), Parker Walker (5:11.87 PR 5th)

3200

• Boys- Bryar Rodeffer (11:20.03 1st)

Sandburg women’s golf tees it up at nationals this week

GALESBURG — The Sandburg women's golf team will participate in the inaugural NJCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championship this week. Here's everything you need to know about the Chargers' trip to nationals. 

When and where is it?
May 13-16 at Cedar Pointe Golf Course in Boone, Iowa. An online leaderboard will be available for fans to follow the action throughout the tournament. Cedar Pointe’s original nine-hole course is believed to be one of the oldest in Iowa.

How did the Chargers qualify?
Sandburg earned a spot in the field by finishing second at the Central District Championship last month at Fox Bend in Oswego. The top three teams and top two individuals from outside of those teams advanced to nationals.

What's the format?
The tournament will be 72 holes played over four days. The field includes 15 teams (12 district qualifiers and three at-large selections) and 10 individuals. In each round, teams can play up to five players, with the best four scores counting toward their team total.

Region 3-peat
In addition to moving on to nationals, Sandburg also won its third straight Region 4 title, which was held concurrently with the Central District Championship. The Chargers had four golfers earn spots on the seven-player all-region team: Ava Hackman (Region 4 runner-up), Lauren Minkel (third), Abigail Strode (fourth) and Kylie Fahnestock (fifth). 

No strangers to nationals
This marks the Sandburg women's golf team's third trip to nationals. The Chargers also competed in 2023 (15th place) and 2019 (11th).

Tourney No. 1 for Division II
While the NJCAA has held women’s golf championships for several years, this is the first time a national tournament for Division II will take place. The NJCAA has sponsored women's golf since 1976 and began the Division I and Division III championships in 2022.

Grads gone golfing
Hackman and Minkel will trade their caps and gowns for clubs and tees this week. The Sandburg sophomores are set to graduate with their associate degrees, but won’t be able to participate in Thursday’s commencement ceremony because they’ll be competing at the national tournament.

Illini West Chargers Host 2A IHSA Softball Regionals  May 19 - 23rd 

 Admission will be $7.00 (set by the IHSA).   Please note, Center Street will be blocked off during games.

Carthage (Illini West) Regional

Joe & Helen Grate Sports Complex

Mon., May 19

Game 1 at 4:30 pm: (11) Macomb at (8) Carthage (Illini West)

Wed., May 21

Game 2 at 4:00 pm: (1) Williamsville vs. Winner Game 1

Game 3 at 6:00 pm: (4) Beardstown (H.S.) vs. (6) Warsaw [Coop]

Fri., May 23

Game 4 at 4:30 pm: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3

Illini West Athletic Events 5/12 to 5/17

Monday, May 12

Depart

4:30PM Boys Varsity Baseball Lewistown High School @ Cuba 2:15 PM Away
4:00 PM Coed Varsity Track Rushville-Industry HS Boys Meet 2:15 PM Away
4:30 PM Girls Varsity Softball Macomb Jr/Sr HS Senior Day Home
Tuesday, May 13

Depart

4:30PM Girls Varsity Softball Southeastern HS Home
4:30PM Boys Varsity Baseball

Beardstown Middle/Sr. High
School Senior Day

Home
4:00PM Coed Varsity Track Central (B/G) 2:45 PM Away
6:30 PM Boys Junior Varsity Baseball

Beardstown Middle/Sr. High
School

Home

Wednesday, May 14

Depart

4:00 PM Coed Varsity Track

OPEN
IHSA Sectionals- Girls @ Mercer
County

1:50 PM Away
4:30 PM Boys Varsity Baseball Orion High School 1:45 PM Away
4:30 PM Girls Varsity Softball West Central HS 2:30 PM Away
Thursday, May 15

Depart

4:30 PM Boys Junior Varsity Baseball

Lewistown High School
Played @ Cuba HS

2:30 PM Away
4:30 PM Boys Varsity Baseball Routt Catholic High School Home
Friday, May 16

Depart

4:30 PM Boys Junior Varsity Baseball

Cancelled- Abingdon-Avon High
School

Home

Saturday, May 17

Depart

10:00 AM Boys Varsity Baseball Hannibal High School Home
12:00 PM Boys Junior Varsity Baseball Hannibal High School Home

• Girls- Palyn Lord (3.72 m 19th), Rane Stoltz (3.31 m 20th) 

  • Combined- 19th

• Boys- Liam Murphy (5.51 m 8th), Ian Carroll (4.61 m 16th)

  • Combined- 8th

High Jump

• Girls- Anna Jacob (1.47 m 3rd), Audra Carroll (1.32 m PR 6th)

  • Combined- 1st

• Boys- Khile Stonger (1.67 m 5th)

Triple Jump

• Boys- Kayden Swisher (10.02 m 12th), Myles Neff (9.41 m PR 14th)

  • Combined- 6th

Discus

• Girls- Noel Rambo (22.36 m 12th), Trinity Aber (18.86 m 18th)

  • Combined- 7th

• Boys- Braxton Vass (35.65 m 9th), Roan Jackson (34.16 m 12th)

  • Combined- 5th

Shot Put 

• Girls- Noel Rambo (9.27 m 3rd), Brittany Perez (6.91 m 20th)

  • Combined- 6th

• Boys- Braxton Vass (11.27 m 9th), Nathan Chandler (10.25 m 14th) 

  • Combined- 6th

4x100

• Girls- Ali Lopez, Kennedy Artman, Anna Jacob, Taylor Brown (53.54 SB 2nd)

• Boys- Kinnick Bliss, Colin Curfman, Trenton Hanks, Gabe Vargas (45.44 SB 1st)

4x200 

• Girls- Brittany Perez, Karissa Smith, Hayden Covert, Sophia Moore (2:13.4 8th)

• Boys- Colin Curfman, Khile Stonger, Trenton Hanks, Gabe Vargas (1:39.8 SB 3rd)

4x400

• Girls- Ali Lopez, Kennedy Artman, Anna Jacob, Taylor Brown (4:22.0 SB 1st)

• Boys- Coleman Gilpin, Brennan Grotts, Chase Mudd, Keagan Walker (3:42.7 SB 4th)

4x800

• Girls- Palyn Lord, Audra Carroll, Izzy Schaefer, Sophia Moore (12:07.4 3rd)

• Boys- Coleman Gilpin, Brennan Grotts, Chase Mudd, Keagan Walker (8:37.3 SB 1st)

Shuttle Hurdle 

• Boys- Wyatt Pence, Liam Murphy, Chase Heath, Kinnick Bliss (56.5 2nd)

F/S Sprint Medley (100-100-200-400)

• Girls- Sophia Moore, Brittany Perez, Hayden Covert, Rane Stoltz (2:21.4 7th)

• Boys- Chase Heath, Liam Murphy, Declan Hartley, Wyatt Pence (1:51.8 3rd)

Sprint Medley (100-100-200-400)

• Girls- Ali Lopez, Anna Jacob, Kennedy Artman, Taylor Brown (1:58.7 1st)

• Boys- Trenton Hanks, Justin Baxter, Gabe Vargas, Coleman Gilpin (1:51.5 8th)

F/S Mile Medley (200-200-400-800)

• Girls- Karissa Smith, Brittany Perez, Rane Stoltz, Izzy Schaefer (5:57.5 5th)

• Boys- Chase Heath, Wyatt Pence, Myles Neff, Parker Walker (4:18.0 4th)

Mile Medley (200-200-400-800)

• Girls- Palyn Lord, Sophia Moore, Hayden Covert, Audra Carroll (5:21.6 4th) 

• Boys- Brennan Grotts, Coleman Gilpin, Keagan Walker, Chase Mudd (4:05.4 2nd)

Distance Medley (400-400-800-1600)

• Girls- Palyn Lord, Audra Carroll, Rane Stoltz, Izzy Schaefer (12:35.9 4th)

• Boys- Wyatt Pence, Declan Hartley, Parker Walker, Bryar Rodeffer (9:31.1 6th)

                                                              Overall Scores:

                                                 Girls    3rd Place 69 Points

                                                 Boys    3rd Place 72.69 Points 

• Girls- Palyn Lord (3.77 m 7th)

• Boys- Liam Murphy (5.67 m 3rd), Ian Carroll (4.48 m 6th)

Triple Jump

• Boys- Kayden Swisher (11.83 m PR 2nd)

High Jump

• Girls- Anna Jacob (1.47 m 2nd)

• Boys- Khile Stonger (1.63 m 5th)

Discus

• Girls- Noel Rambo (21.06 m 4th), Trinity Aber (18.99 m 7th)

• Boys- Braxton Vass (37.31 m 1st), Roan Jackson (31.57 m 4th)

Shot Put 

• Girls- Noel Rambo (7.62 m 4th), Brittany Perez (6.56 m 10th)

• Boys- Braxton Vass (10.57 m 4th), Nathan Chandler (10.52 m 5th)

4x100

• Girls- Ali Lopez, Kennedy Artman, Anna Jacob, Taylor Brown (53.60 SB 1st)

• Boys- Trenton Hanks, Kinnick Bliss, Colin Curfman, Gabe Vargas (47.34 3rd)

4x200 

• Boys- Khile Stonger, Trenton Hanks, Brennan Grotts, Gabe Vargas (1:41.10 SB 1st)

4x400

• Girls- Ali Lopez, Kennedy Artman, Anna Jacob, Taylor Brown (4:33.65 2nd)

• Boys- Coleman Gilpin, Brennan Grotts, Keagan Walker, Chase Mudd (3:49.23 1st)

4x800

• Girls- Audra Carroll, Palyn Lord, Sophia Moore, Izzy Schaefer (12:35.97 3rd)

• Boys- Coleman Gilpin, Brennan Grotts, Chase Mudd, Keagan Walker (9:03.66 1st)

100

• Girls- Taylor Brown (13.91 5th), Hayden Covert (15.89 14th)

• Boys- Trenton Hanks (12.07 7th)

200

• Girls- Palyn Lord (31.47 6th), Hayden Covert (33.48 11th)

• Boys- Trenton Hanks (24.89 3rd)

300 Hurdles

• Boys- Wyatt Pence (45.71 4th)

400

• Girls- Taylor Brown (1:04.88 3rd), Anna Jacob (1:08.88 PR 6th)

• Boys- Coleman Gilpin (56.84 4th)

800

• Girls- Palyn Lord (2:59.58 PR 7th)Sophia Moore (3:02.26 8th)

• Boys- Chase Mudd (2:08.57 1st), Keagan Walker (2:14.89 5th)

1600

• Girls- Rane Stoltz (7:36.35 11th)

• Boys- Chase Mudd (5:01.51 1st), Parker Walker (5:18.89 6th)

3200

• Girls-  Izzy Schaefer (15:13.40 4th)

• Boys- Bryar Rodeffer (10:45.80 1st)

                                                                    Overall

Boys 1st Place 121 points

Girls   4th Place 52 points