Area Sports

By JACKSON WILSON Enquirer Democrat Reporter The 2024 Junior Football League season kicks off Sat., Aug. 10. North Mac, Carlinville, Staunton and Southwestern will all start their campaign on home turf. North Mac hosts Greenville. Staunton greets Pana. Carlinville will square off against Gillespie in a Route 4 showdown. Southwestern battles Hillsboro in Piasa. Action…

  By JACKSON WILSON Enquirer Democrat Reporter The Illinois Central travel softball team, featuring Carlinville High School’s Hallie Gibson, repeated as champions of the Senior League Softball World Series. The girls, representing the community of Beardstown on ESPN+, went undefeated in pool and bracket play to maintain the title. Illinois Central 10, Hawaii 1 The…

  Edited by Erin Sanson and Jackson Wilson Blackburn College dedicated its new Gugger Family Racquet & Hoops Complex during a special event on July 25. The ceremony recognized the individuals and businesses that contributed to funding the complex, including the Joe Gugger ‘72 family, Carlinville Winning Communities, Heinz Furniture, UCB Bank, and many more.…

  Last weekend, the Illinois Central softball team, featuring Carlinville High School junior Hallie Gibson, won regionals and earned the privilege of playing in the Senior League World Series on national television. The girls began pool play at Sussex County, Delaware against Hawaii West July 29. They then faced South Carolina (Southeast) July 30 and…

  By ERIN SANSON Enquirer~Democrat Reporter The 25th annual Elk’s Golf Outing was held July 26 at the Carlinville Country Club. The outing featured 22 teams of four and raised money for the Illinois Elk’s Children’s Care Corporation. The tournament is held the last Friday in July every year. The Carlinville Elk’s Golf outing was…

  By JACKSON WILSON Enquirer Democrat Reporter The final preparations are being made for the 2024 Junior Football League season. Teams have received their uniforms and are engaging in pre-season training. Programs such as Carlinville have also held a combine where players could showcase their skills. The JFL season kicks off Sat., Aug. 10. Staunton,…

  By JACKSON WILSON Enquirer Democrat Reporter While coaching the Gillespie High School baseball team, Miners’ assistant Tate Wargo felt a fire being re-kindled in terms of returning to the diamond as a player at a high level. Wargo rose to the challenge and wrote a comeback story for the ages. “Staying around the game…

  Edited by JACKSON WILSON Blackburn College has named Jacob Kraft to be the new Baseball Head Coach. “I want to thank Athletic Director Kim Camara-Harvey and the entire search committee for this amazing opportunity to lead the baseball program at Blackburn,” Kraft said. “Leading a group of men at the college level has been…

  Last weekend, Carlinville High School athlete Hannah Gibson qualified for the USATF Junior Olympics, which will take place at Texas A&M University. She placed third overall in a highly-competitive 17-18 age group by setting a new personal record of 146’ 2” in the hammer throw. Gibson also had the privilege of meeting superstar hammer…