Softball Game Preview: Rantoul Eagles vs. Monticello Sages

Rantoul hasn't had much luck against Monticello recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Eagles will welcome the Sages at 4:30 p.m. The two teams have allowed few runs on average (Rantoul 4.1, Monticello 2.8) so any runs scored will be well earned.

Monticello will challenge a team with plenty of momentum: Rantoul extended their winning streak to three on Wednesday. The Eagles narrowly escaped with a victory as the team sidled past Danville 8-6.

The home team had come away the winner the last four times Monticello and St. Joseph-Ogden had met, but sadly for the fans who attended this one that wasn't the case. The Sages fell just short of the Spartans by a score of 3-1 on Wednesday. Sages fans who chose to attend the game sure picked the wrong one: it was the first time the team has lost against the Spartans since Wednesday.

Cassidee Stoffel spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned (and two unearned) runs on four hits and racked up eight Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't given up more than one earned run in four consecutive appearances.

On the hitting side, Monticello saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ali Weidner, who went 2-for-3 with one run and one double.

Monticello's loss dropped their record down to 18-6. As for Rantoul, their win bumped their record up to 12-10.

Rantoul might still be hurting after the 14-1 defeat they got from Monticello in their previous meeting back in May of 2025. Can the Eagles avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.