By Ben Cox
Photos Submitted
JMS Track Team
The JMS Boys’ Track Team really put on a show at this year’s 4A IESA State Meet as recapped last week. The JMS boys have won the state championship back to back years, 2024 and 2025. It started with Carlito Mitchell who began with high jump, jumping a height of 6’ 3.25 inches to become State Champion. Then, he went straight to the 110m hurdles prelims where he qualified for finals. Next, he competed in long jump, taking 2nd place with a jump of 21’ 5.25 inches, and also breaking Daren Henry’s school record of 21’ 1.25 inches set last year at the state meet.
Finally, Mitchell ran the 100m prelims where he qualified for the finals. Jez Harper qualified for State in the shot put and discus. Harper placed 3rd in shot put with a throw of 44’ 11.5 inches, and 13th in discus with 128’ 8 inches, giving the Crimsons a much needed 6 points. Then, it was back to the track for the 110m hurdles finals where Mitchell placed first becoming State Champion with a time of 14.82 seconds; setting a State Record and also breaking the school record of 14.93 set by Jeremiah Jackson in 2024. Lastly, it was over to the 100m finals where Mitchell finished second with a time of 11.46 seconds. Mitchell gave the team 36 of the 42 points to bring home the championship. Mitchell won Athlete of the Meet.
High School Boys Track
The Winchester High School relay squads made it to the podium at the state meet held at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston May 29-31. Winchester’s 4x100m relay of Liam Melanson, Carson Clevenger, Beau Donovan and Blayne Sidwell finished ninth while the 4x200m Relay of Clevenger, Donovan, Brady Engelbrecht and Sidwell finished seventh. In Class 2A, Jacksonville High School Senior Ryan McCombs took home a third place medal for a throw of 16.79m in the shot put. Then, it was all Darren Henry; the JHS freshman finished 11th in triple jump, tied for 10th in high jump and ninth in long jump.
High School Baseball
As many in the area anticipated, the Sectional baseball title came down to the top two WIVC teams in the area, Routt and West Central. West Central edged out a close win on May 28 against Illini Bluffs 2-1. West Central’s Carson Brown scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning after Landyn Woods beat out an infield single. Cam Sievers and Woods combined for a five-hitter on the mound for the win. Routt’s path to the Sectional title game was a bit easier as they thumped Abingdon-Avon 7-0. Eli Olson’s one-hit shutout was a gem. Olson struck out 10 batters, with one walk. Jace Lautemann smacked a two-run home run to provide a part of the offense in the third inning.
Routt continued that dominance on May 31 in the Sectional title game. They had already beaten West Central twice before the game. Routt teed off on West Central ace Dalton Hutton in the first inning, scoring all four runs they would need. Routt’s Brock Runyon would give up a lone home run to Carson Brown for the Cougars only tally of the game. The 4-1 win for Routt moves them on to the Super Sectional at Lincoln Land Community College on June 2 against Father McGivney (36-3). The Griffins mashed WIVC South stalwart Calhoun on May 31 with a 12-2 win.
Jacksonville High School’s season came to a close on May 31 at home at the hands of one of their biggest Central State 8 conference foes, Chatham-Glenwood. The Titans pitched a 4-0 shutout of the Crimsons on their home turf. MLB prospect Cam Appenzeller threw the complete game shutout against the Crimsons, giving up just 2 hits and striking out 14. The lone hits were a double from Brandon Sims and a bunt single from Joe Reif in the contest. Jacksonville finishes the season 22-15 overall.
Illinois College
Illinois College sophomore pitcher
Charlie Lardi has been named to the 2025 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-America Third Team, as announced May 30 by the American Baseball Coaches Association. The honor caps off a dominant season for the Galesburg native, who also earned First Team All-Region 9 honors and was named Region 9 Pitcher of the Year.
He posted a 7-1 record with a 1.91 ERA, striking out a school-record 82 batters across 10 starts while allowing just 13 earned runs. His performance played a key role in leading the Blueboys to one of their most successful seasons in recent years. Lardi was also recognized by D3baseball.com with a Third Team All-America selection.
