After posting sectional semifinal victories, four Peoria-area softball teams have moved onto the Sweet Sixteen of the Illinois High School Association postseason.
In Class 1A, Illini Bluffs will play in its sixth Sweet Sixteen in seven seasons. Dunlap will meet LaSalle-Peru in Class 3A, while Washington will look to win its first sectional title in five years.
Three other local teams — Stark County (1A), Brimfield/Elmwood (2A) and Peoria Notre Dame (2A) — play their sectional semifinal games on Wednesday, May 27.
IHSA softball: These 11 Peoria-area softball teams are headed to the 2026 IHSA sectionals
Here is what’s facing that group of four teams as they head into sectional title games on Friday, May 29:
CLASS 1A
Illini Bluffs
- How they won: Illini Bluffs used a big second inning en route to a 17-1, four-inning semifinal win over Barry Western at the Concord Triopia Sectional on Tuesday, May 26. The Tigers used seven hits in the second inning, getting run-scoring hits from McKenzie Nutter (3-for-3, five RBIs), Chloe Eeten (two RBIs), Emerson Eeten (2-for-3, two RBIs, double) and Sara Finn (2-for-2, two RBIs, double). Nutter started the scoring thanks to a two-run home run in the first. Cora Ellison did the rest for the Tigers, scattering five hits with four strikeouts and no strikeouts. Loryn White went 2-for-2 with a triple to pace Barry Western (16-11). IB has now outscored three postseason opponents, 30-2. This is IB’s sixth Sweet 16 appearance over the last seven seasons.
- What’s next: Illini Bluffs (20-6) vs. Concord Triopia (29-1), 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 29 in the Concord Triopia Sectional final.
CLASS 3A
Dunlap
- How they won: Gabby Drake played hero as Dunlap escaped with a 2-1 semifinal win over Ottawa at the LaSalle-Peru Sectional on May 26. Drake’s sacrifice fly plated the game-winning run in Addie Reed, who led off the sixth inning with a single. Illinois signee Sutton Centoni had tied the game in the top of the fourth when her RBI single to right scored Reed. Centoni (19-3) tossed a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts and four walks, while giving up one earned run. That score came off the bat of Teagan Darif. The Ottawa (22-11) lead-off hitter planted a 1-1 pitch over the left field for a 1-0 advantage. The score held until Centoni’s two-out, run-scoring hit. Dunlap hasn’t won a sectional championship since a 1992 Class A state fourth-place finish.
- What’s next: Dunlap (28-8) vs. LaSalle-Peru (23-14), 4 p.m. Friday, May 29 in the LaSalle-Peru Sectional final.
LaSalle-Peru
- How they won: Host L-P used a pair of single scores to outlast East Peoria 2-0 in a sectional semifinal on May 26. The Cavaliers went ahead by a run in the fourth when Makenzie Chamberlain gave L-P its third consecutive single to score Lydia Steinbach. Two innings later, Chamberlain struck again with a double to center field, bringing home Anna Riva. From there, L-P pitcher Taylor Vescogni cruised behind seven strong innings with 12 strikeouts and one walk on 87 pitches. EP (24-10) managed three hits — two by Ashlyn Sweatt (2-for-3) — but was shutout for the fifth time. Raiders pitcher Addison Duncheon struck out four, walked one and allowed five hits. L-P last won a sectional when it was the 2011 Class 3A state runner-up.
- What’s next: LaSalle-Peru (23-14) vs. Dunlap (28-8), 4 p.m. Friday, May 29 in the LaSalle-Peru Sectional final.
Washington
- How they won: An eight-run inning helped propel Washington to an 11-3 semifinal win over Mt. Zion at the Lincoln Sectional on May 26. The Panthers sent 13 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, getting six hits including a two-run double from Addy MacGregor as well as a two RBI-triple by Reagan McMenimen. Sophie Walker and Kami Barth both added run-scoring singles. Mt. Zion (24-14) had gone ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first when Nikki Ellegood’s RBI-groundout scored Addison Rotz. But Washington responded with two runs over the next three innings. Payton Swanson scored the go-ahead run in the fourth off a Walker hit. Morgan Clarke struck out two and gave up five hits for Washington, which last won a sectional in 2021.
- What’s next: Washington (25-8) vs. Champaign Central or Normal U-High, 4 p.m. Friday, May 29 in the Lincoln Sectional final.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball: 2026 sectional scores for Peoria-area schools