Arcola’s Roberts named the H&R All-Area COY in softball; three players make first team
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
By Mike Monahan
DECATUR – Arcola softball coach Cara Roberts, who guided the team to a 15-14 record and the programs’ third ever Sweet 16 appearance, was named the Decatur Herald & Review All-Area Softball Coach of the Year.
Roberts also led the Lady Purple Riders to a Class 1A regional title in 2021 and a 13-10 mark.
Arcola started the 2025 season out slow as they were 2-7 at one time before beating Tuscola 2-0 for the first time in 17 games with the last time being May 2, 2007, when AHS swept a doubleheader from the Warriors 3-1 and 6-2. That shutout over Tuscola started a 13-7 run for Arcola, including 8-4 in the month of May. The Lady Riders were 11-13 before ending the regular season with a non-conference 6-3 win over Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City.
The postseason started with a 1-0 triumph over No. 3 seed in sub-sectional B, Argenta-Oreana, a team that beat Arcola, the No. 5 seed in sub-sectional B, May 14, 12-2. This was followed by a 6-2 win over top-seeded (sub-sectional B) Tuscola to win the Class 1A Regional at Tuscola. A 2-0 upset win over Salt Fork, the No. 2 seeded team in sub-sectional A, put Arcola in the Sweet 16 where they lost to LeRoy, the eventual second place team and the top-seeded team in sub-sectional A, 13-2. Arcola had never won more than two in a row until crunch time when they won four consecutive.
Three softball players from the County Chronicle area earned first team honors. They were Tuscola’s Ava Boyer, Arcola’s kacie Sisk and Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond’s Sophie Monts.
There were a total of 18 players on the first team, including Boyer, who helped the Lady Warriors go 16-13 overall and 6-2 in the Central Illinois Conference, good for second place. Boyer, an Illinois State commit, led the charge for the Lady Warriors offense with 13 home runs, 11 doubles and five triples as well as a career-high 27 steals.
For Arcola, Sisk helped pitch and hit the Lady Riders to a 15-14 record and an appearance in the Class 1A Sweet 16. She had a 3.75 earned run average and hit .409 for Arcola, who finished 6-4 in the Lincoln Prairie Conference, good for fourth place.
For Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond Monts had six home runs and a .598 batting average with 33 runs batted in and a 1.115 slugging percentage for the Knights, who finished 13-16 and on a team that finished third in the LPC at 8-2.
On the 17 member second team were Arcola’s Ema Simpson, who will be a senior and her sister Ava Simpson, who recently graduated. ALAH’s Mackenzie Condill was on the second team as well.
Among the 25 players to receive honorable mention were Allison Pettry and Kenzie Cleland of Tuscola
The Decatur Herald & Review All-Area Softball Player of the Year was Mt. Zion’s Addison Rotz.
Tuscola’s Patterson named N-G girls track all-area
athlete of the year
By Mike Monahan
CHAMPAIGN – Tuscola’s Lia Patterson was not only named the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette Girls’ All-Area Track and Field Athlete of the Year, but it was also her third straight time earning the award, which ties Salt Fork’s Jenny Kimbro for the most consecutive athlete of the year awards won. Kimbro was the recipient from 2014-16. This is the 20th year of the N-G award.
Patterson, a hurdler and sprinter, has been part of a Class 1A state championship team in 2022, third place in 2023, second place in 2024 and last spring was on the second place squad.
Last May Patterson earned the state title in the 100 hurdles with a personal record of 14.39 and was the state champion in the 300 hurdles (43.16). She was second in the 200 (24.95) and was on the third place 4×200 relay team that also included Kenna Clodfelder, Reese Davis and Ryle Vanausdoll.Their time was 1:45.19.
Patterson earned 20 medals (16 in events and four more for being part of the team trophy) the most you can earn in four years at state and is headed to Ball State to further her education and compete in track for the Cardinals.
Kate Foltz and Vanausdoll were also on the 14-member first team. Foltz, who will be a senior, was named as long distance runner, while Vanausdoll was listed in jumps and sprints. Foltz was third in the 3,200 in 10:46.79., while Vanausdoll was third in the triple jump 36-9 ¾ at the state meet in Charleston.
On the 14 member second team Tuscola’s Olivia Wallace, a thrower and a recent graduate along with Villa Grove’s Evalice Callison, who will be a junior, and was a high jumper and sprinter.
Tuscola had four on the 143 member honorable mention team in recent graduate Clodfelder; a sophomore to be in Sami Walker; and two that will be seniors in Davis and Kali Gilpin.
Also earning honorable mention for Villa Grove was Baylee Martin, who will be a junior.
Arcola had recent graduate Crystal Ramirez; junior to be Emmalee Reel; and Ema Simpson, who will be a senior all receiving honorable mention.
A plethora of Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond girls received honorable mention. They included recent graduates Skyler Vorck and Addison Yeakel. Girls that are going to be seniors are Ruby Burton, Alex Clark, Skyler Graham, Kimberly Krutsinger, Summer Melton, Grace Romine and Lily Vanda. Leighton Poulos will be a junior and ones that will be sophomores are Sophia Johnson and Bella Romine for a total of 12.
Tolono Unity’s coach Tony Reetz was named the N-G All-Area Coach of the Year.