Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Springfield, Illinois across Baseball, Soccer, Football.
The State Journal-Register’s comprehensive coverage of the 2026 Springfield high school football season breaks down Week 1 outcomes, player rankings and upcoming matchups.
A look at the opening week of high school football in the Springfield region, highlighting key predictions, standout players and new coaching directions.
From founding the San Francisco Bay Sox to leading the New York Heights against the Firebells, Rocky Henley’s career reshapes the landscape of women’s professional baseball.
Rocky Henley, a veteran coach and former player, becomes the first woman to manage a team in the Women’s Pro Baseball League, drawing on decades of experience to mentor the next generation of female athletes.
Indiana’s women’s soccer team opened its season with a 2-1 win over Hampton, highlighted by early and late goals from Bella Haggerty and a stingy defense that limited the opposition to three shots.
Former Red Sox closer Keith Foulke was hired to lead the Boston Hunters in the Women’s Pro Baseball League, but a brief, injury‑ridden tenure ended after three games, prompting a swift replacement and a league‑wide push for a coach more attuned to younger players.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League debuts in Springfield, Illinois, with Justine Siegal at the helm, aiming to expand to dozens of cities by 2034.
Over 38,000 spectators gathered at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 11, 2026, for a special event that blended baseball with the papacy. Pope Leo XIV, a lifelong White Sox supporter, threw out the ceremonial first pitch alongside Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, while a 'sign of peace' ritual united fans. The Chicago White Sox Charities announced a $14,000 donation to the Augustinians, the pontiff’s religious order, underscoring the intersection of sport, faith, and community.
The Chicago White Sox hosted a unique ‘Pope Night’ on August 11, 2026, distributing papal hats, featuring a papal blessing, and highlighting a viral prayer moment that underscored the team’s resurgence and deep ties to the city’s Catholic community.
A rain‑soaked inaugural game in Springfield drew thousands of fans, showcasing the first hits, home runs and a ceremonial pitch by a 99‑year‑old pioneer, signaling a new era for women’s professional baseball.
Sarah Edwards becomes the first woman in over 70 years to hit a Grand Slam in a professional game, marking a watershed moment for the newly launched Women’s Pro Baseball League.
During the first game of the Women’s Pro Baseball League, veteran singer Martha Reeves stopped the national anthem mid‑performance, drawing public scrutiny and a wave of online attention.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League’s debut season features the San Francisco Firebells, where former professional player Jeff Inglin serves as third‑base coach, partnering with veteran coach Matt Williams to blend on‑field strategy with community outreach.
The newly formed Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) launched this year, showcasing talent like Mo’ne Davis and Ayami Sato while navigating early hurdles such as a costly managerial error by the White Sox.
The Women's Professional Baseball League opened its inaugural season in Springfield, Illinois, showcasing a blend of historic tribute, emerging talent, and community enthusiasm.
The inaugural 2026 season of the Women’s Pro Baseball League brings together Boston, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco under one roof in Springfield, Illinois, offering $20 tickets and a roadmap to bring teams back to their hometowns by 2027.
The WPBL’s first games attracted record crowds, delivered dramatic comebacks and introduced innovative rules that are reshaping women’s professional baseball.
The United Soccer Coaches Association has positioned the Lincoln Blue Tigers at No. 16 in its preseason Top 25, recognizing a program that reached the Sweet 16 last year and now faces a demanding slate of exhibition matches in Kentucky and a full conference calendar.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League debuted in Springfield, Illinois, blending reverence for the past with a bold new approach to the sport.
Brittany Apgar, a Los Angeles Queens outfielder and pitcher, became a founding player in the Women's Pro Baseball League's first season. Overcoming a congenital absence of her right hand, she balanced a full‑time job with grueling workouts to earn a roster spot among more than 600 hopefuls, while the league aims to inspire young girls to pursue professional baseball.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League debuts with 65 players from five nations, highlighted by Japanese pitcher Ayami Sato’s debut and a dramatic 10‑8 victory for the Los Angeles Queens.
In a trans‑pacific showdown, Japanese right‑hander Ayami Sato and outfielder Natsuki Yonetani delivered standout performances as the Los Angeles Queens edged the New York Heights 10‑8, highlighting the league’s increasing Japanese talent.
In a weekend matchup in Springfield, Illinois, Japanese right‑hander Ayami Sato pitched for the Los Angeles Queens while outfielder Natsuki Yonetani played for the New York Heights. The Queens edged the Heights 10‑8, and the game highlighted a growing trend of Japanese talent across the league.
The Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) opened its first season with a historic roster, highlighted by six‑time World Cup champion Ayami Sato, and played at Springfield’s historic Robin Roberts Stadium.