Five years after Geneseo Middle School launched its softball program, the Lady Leafs are headed somewhere they've never been before.
The state tournament.
Geneseo enters the IESA Class 3A State Tournament with a perfect 12-0 record and will face Effingham Junior High School at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at Champion Fields in Normal. Effingham enters the quarterfinal matchup with a 14-4 record.
“These girls made history,” GMS head coach Jenni Johnson said. “This is the first time GMS softball has made it to state.”
The trip comes three years after Geneseo won its first regional championship in 2023 before falling to Bloomington Evans in the sectional. The Lady Leafs' postseason path has also included a familiar obstacle in recent seasons.
Geneseo's 2024 season ended with a regional loss to Dunlap Middle School. Dunlap Valley eliminated the Lady Leafs from regional play in 2025.
This year, Geneseo got another opportunity against both programs — and beat them both.
The top-seeded Lady Leafs defeated Dunlap Valley 11-1 in their regional opener before facing Dunlap Middle School for the regional championship. Geneseo won that game 5-3 to advance to the sectional round.
“For the last two years we have lost to Dunlap in regionals,” Johnson said. “This year we had the opportunity to face them both in regionals and won both games.”
Johnson said this team's success goes beyond what happens between the lines.
“They are really good teammates to one another,” she said. “They are also very coachable. They have fantastic energy and they are able to persevere and come back when they make mistakes.”
That chemistry is particularly notable because many of the players spend much of the year competing on different travel softball teams.
“A lot of the girls play for a wide variety of travel teams, but coming together and playing for their school and community is something pretty special,” Johnson said.
The season has been a long one already. Practice began July 27, before the start of the school year, and some members of the team are currently balancing softball with other sports.
Johnson said each player has embraced her role.
“These girls truly care about each other,” she said. “They have each other's backs on and off the field. Each girl has really embraced their role on the team and gives everything they've got to it.”
The team's historic accomplishment was recognized at school Wednesday with a Walk of Champions through GMS.
“It was pure excitement,” Johnson said of the team's reaction to qualifying. “All their hard work paid off and their goal was accomplished. Their classmates were excited for them and this big accomplishment.”
Johnson also credited the families surrounding the program. Parents have organized meals between doubleheaders, provided transportation, planned sendoffs and volunteered to announce games, operate the scoreboard and concessions, photograph the team and provide GameChanger video.
“They step up and help wherever they can,” Johnson said.
Now the undefeated Lady Leafs take their season to Normal.
Geneseo and Effingham play in the final Class 3A quarterfinal Friday. The winner advances to Saturday's 11:30 a.m. semifinal against the winner of Stanford Olympia and Edwardsville Liberty. The Class 3A third-place game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by the state championship at 3:30 p.m.
