Aurora Beacon-News Sports

Oswego East’s Danielle Stone (6) talks with a teammate against Oswego during a Suburban Prairie Conference game in Oswego on Monday, April 20, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / The Beacon-News)

Oswego East’s Danielle Stone. a flag football standout, commits to NIU for softball: ‘It’s a really good fit.’

By Rick Armstrong

July 20, 2026 at 12:52 p.m.

Oswego East's Danielle Stone, a star quarterback/safety in flag football, commits to Northern Illinois as...

Oswego East's Dominic Battista (14) singles and drives in a run against Oswego during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Oswego on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)

Oswego East’s Dominic Battista tops list of 3 Aurora-Elgin area players taken in MLB draft

By Paul Johnson

July 15, 2026 at 7:46 p.m.

Oswego's Dominic Battista, St. Charles North's Jayden Lobliner and West Aurora's Ryan Niedzwiedz get taken...

Louisville outfielder Zion Rose makes a throw during a College World Series game against Oregon State on June 13, 2025, in Omaha, Neb. (Cory Eads/AP)

2026 MLB draft: Meet the players with local connections who were selected — including 2 in the top 10

By Chicago Tribune

July 14, 2026 at 2:20 p.m.

Multiple players with Illinois and Northwest Indiana connections were selected in the 2026 MLB draft....

Geneva's Mason Bruesch (7) escapes the tag by Streamwood's Conner Flynn (7) in the third inning of a Class 3A Burlington Central Regional semifinal game on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon News)

Geneva’s Mason Bruesch is the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball Player of the Year. ‘It always showed.’

By Paul Johnson

June 18, 2026 at 10:13 p.m.

Mason Bruesch, the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball Player of the Year, sets Geneva records with 47...

Oswego’s Adalynn Fugitt (5) puts down a bunt against Naperville Central during a Class 4A Yorkville Sectional semifinal game on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)

Introducing the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball All-Area Team

By Rick Armstrong

June 18, 2026 at 11:36 a.m.

Four players from St. Charles North and three each from Oswego, Yorkville and St. Charles...

St. Charles North's Abby Zawadzki (18) watches from the dugout against Burlington Central during the sixth inning of a nonconference game in St. Charles on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

St. Charles North’s Abby Zawadzki is the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year. ‘The best.’

By Rick Armstrong

June 18, 2026 at 11:19 a.m.

St. Charles North's Abby Zawadzki, the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year, hits 11...

St. Charles East's Mya Leon (7) moves the ball up the field against DuKane Conference rival St. Charles North on Tri-Cities Night in Batavia on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

Introducing the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer All-Area Team

By Patrick Z. McGavin

June 17, 2026 at 11:34 a.m.

Three players apiece from powerhouses Oswego and St. Charles East headline the first two teams.

Oswego’s Jordyn Washington and Benet’s Sahana Raju

Oswego’s Jordyn Washington is the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year. ‘A natural.’

By Patrick Z. McGavin

June 17, 2026 at 11:19 a.m.

Jordyn Washington, the 2026 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year, scores 27 goals as...

Harvest-Westminster's Jameson Rapinchuk (22) throws a pitch against Chicago Hope in the Class 2A Kane County Cougars Supersectional at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

Maryville-bound Jameson Rapinchuk fuels Harvest-Westminster’s second-place state finish. ‘We just believed.’

By Paul Johnson

June 16, 2026 at 2:18 p.m.

Jameson Rapinchuk, a Maryville commit and transfer from Geneva, pitches Harvest-Westminster to Class 2A state...

Harvest-Westminster's Ryan St. Louis (17) dives into home avoiding the tag to score against Chicago Hope during the Class 2A Kane County Cougars Supersectional in Geneva on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (Mark Black / The Beacon-News)

After school merger, Ryan St. Louis sparks Harvest-Westminster past Hope in supersectional. ‘Really jelled.’

By Rick Armstrong

June 9, 2026 at 4:07 p.m.

Ryan St. Louis sparks Harvest-Westminster with pair of doubles in 13-6 win over Chicago Hope...

Geneva's Nick Torrence (4) reacts to his double against East Peoria in the first inning of the Class 3A Geneseo Supersectional at Black Hawk College in Moline on Monday, June 8, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Getting into the lineup as DH, Geneva’s Nick Torrence doubles and scores in supersectional. ‘Just kept going.’

By Paul Johnson

June 8, 2026 at 11:07 p.m.

Nick Torrence doubles and scores in first inning, but Geneva drops 8-1 decision to East...

Brother Rice's Nolan Ramoley (21) takes a swing against Mount Carmel during the Class 4A Brother Rice Sectional final in Chicago on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)

Baseball, softball and soccer scores for the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County

By Josh Krockey

June 6, 2026 at 8:49 p.m.

High school and local college results and highlights from the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and...

St. Charles North's Nicholas Gnutek (21) runs to first base against Barrington during the seventh inning of the Class 4A McHenry Sectional final on Saturday, June 6, 2026. (Brian O’Mahoney / The Beacon-News)

Nicholas Gnutek, a third-generation player, carries on St. Charles North’s leadoff tradition. ‘Never give up.’

By Patrick Z. McGavin

June 6, 2026 at 7:54 p.m.

Nicholas Gnutek's RBI single gives St. Charles North a 3-0 lead, but Barrington rallies for...