The GMS Softball team wrapped up the 2024 season on Tuesday September 17 with a tough 6-4 defeat to Dunlap middle school. The Leafs finish another outstanding season with a 9-2-1 mark.
GMS Softball Advances To Regional Championship With Win Over IVC JH
A 9-1 victory over the Ghosts of IVC JH sends the GMS Leafs to the Regional Championship. Game will take place at the Eastside Centre (diamond #2) in East Peoria on Tuesday September 17. Game time is 4:30. Winner moves on to the Sectional Semifinals. Good luck Leafs!
Geneseo Youth Baseball and Softball Complexes Get Many Improvements - By Claudia Loucks
By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Below the new scoreboard are representatives of the organizations that helped made the improvements happen, (The Geneseo Foundation and the Francis G. & Betty J. Miller Foundation) including from left, Mark Breeden, Brett Lohman, John DuBois, Tyler Mackey, Rob Galloway, Manny Rivera, Jesse Dobbels, Bob Petit, James Mickley, Andy Thurman and Kane Causemaker. (Photo By Claudia Loucks)
Recent improvements have been made to the baseball and softball complexes on South Chicago St. in Geneseo.
According to James Mickley, president of Geneseo Youth Baseball & Softball (GYBS), there has been $350,000 worth of capital improvements to the complexes…”The Geneseo Foundation and Francis G . & Betty J. Miller Foundation supported the projects financially and GYBS gathered the support of local businessmen and volunteers to make these capital improvements a reality.”
The amount of the grant from the Geneseo Foundation was $100,000 and another $100,000 came from the Francis G. & Betty J. Miller Foundation.
JFE building made possible with grants are, from left, Rob Galloway, John DuBois, Tyler Mackey, Mark Breeden, Jesse Dobbels, James Mickley, Manny Rivera, Kane Causemaker and Bob Pettit. (Photo By Claudia Loucks)
The new building at JFE was finished in the spring of 2024, and will serve as a storage and team facility. It also offers new bathrooms as the old bathrooms were taken down at Bollen Field. Bob Pettit led the building project, which was supported by many volunteers.
Funds from the grants also were used to update the batting cages at the complex, and update team equipment for the youth baseball and softball teams.
Bollen Field building improvements made possible through grants, are from left, Kane Causemaker, Bob Pettit, Andy Thurman, Manny Rivera, James Mickley, Brett Lohman, John Dubois, Rob Galloway, Jesse Dobbels and Tyler Mackey.
Mickley said the final phase of the project will be the new backstop fencing at the large diamond on Bollen Field, which is scheduled to be complete in the fall of 2024….”The capital improvements will benefit the 600+ players and their families who participate in baseball and softball programs each year.
GMS Softball (Photos) →
2024 GMS Softball Regular Season Schedule & Scores
Home Games In Bold - Schedule Subject To Change
Season Complete! Leafs finish 9-2-1
Host Eagles End Lady Leafs Season
#15 Sidney Spindel
The Lady Leafs season came to an end on Tuesday evening as regional host Dunlap jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead over the GHS and never looked back as the Eagles went on to win 11-1 in the 3A Regional Semifinals. Sidney Spindel capped off her GHS career with a homer for the Leafs only hit of the game. The Lady Leafs finish the regular season with a 21-15 overall record.
Dunlap 11 Lady Leafs 1 - May 21 - 3A Regional Semfinals
Final Regular Season Standings (WB6, Overall)
Sterling (13-1, 22-5)
United Township (12-2, 22-11)
Rock Island (9-5, 14-11-1)
Geneseo (8-6, 21-16)
Moline (7-7, 19-11)
Quincy (4-10, 17-15)
Alleman (2-12, 6-21)
Galesburg (1-13, 3-29)
Lady Leafs Complete Regular Season, Will Take On Dunlap In Regionals
Avery Kennedy Makes A Diving Catch To Rob Sterling Of An Infield Hit On Thursday May 16
On May 14, the Lady Leafs kicked off the final week of the regular season with a wild 15-13 win over LaSalle-Peru on Senior Night. Sidney Spindel went 3-5 with three doubles and two driven in. Avery Kennedy tripled while Lynn Cotty and Madisyn Buysse each added a double in the win. The following day, GHS jumped out to an 8-2 lead and never looked back in a 10-3 victory over visiting Ottawa. Emily Bopes and Kyah Newell each recorded two hits while driving in a combined six of the ten runs.
Western Big 6 Champion Sterling came to JFE on Thursday to wrap up WB6 play with a 5-0 win over the Lady Leafs. The regular season concluded on Saturday in Moline as the Leafs took part in the Super Duals. Machesney Park Harlem picked up a 1-0 win over GHS but the Lady Leafs came right back later in the day to defeat Bartonville Limestone 5-0. Talisa Thomas pitched a complete game as she gave up just six runs over the course of 7 innings while striking out 6.
Next Up: #5 seeded Lady Leafs will travel to Dunlap on Tuesday (6:00pm) to take on the #3 Eagles in the IHSA 3A Regional Semifinals. The winner will face #2 Pontiac or #8 Galesburg on Friday in Dunlap.
Lady Leafs 15 LaSalle-Peru 13 - May 14
Lady Leafs 10 Ottawa 3 - May 15
Sterling 5 Lady Leafs 0 - May 16
Machesney Park Harlem 1 Lady Leafs 0 - May 18
Lady Leafs 5 Bartonville Limestone 0 - May 18
JV Scores
Lady Leafs 3 Ottawa 2
Lady Leafs 23 Sterling 13
Lady Leafs Sweep Blue Devils, Fall Short At Rock Island
#27 Addison Dykstra At The Plate During A Game Versus Quincy
On Monday May 6, the Lady Leafs swept Quincy in a doubleheader at JFE with wins of 4-2 and 11-7. Emily Bopes went three for three with a triple and three runs batted in while Talisa Thomas went the distance on the mound as she gave up just five hits and two runs while striking out six over seven innings in the game one victory. In game two, the Lady Leafs trailed 6-5 through five before putting six on the board over the final two innings to hold off the Blue Devils 11-7. Sidney Spindel went two for three with a homer, double and three runs driven in and Madisyn Buysse collected four hits with a triple and two driven in. On Tuesday May 7 in Rock Island, the host Rocks jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four and held on the pick up the 6-3 win over GHS. Next Up: Senior Night vs LaSalle-Peru on Tuesday May 14 (4:30pm).
Lady Leafs 4 Quincy 2
Lady Leafs 11 Quincy 7
Rock Island 6 Lady Leafs 3
JV Scores
Lady Leafs 15 Quincy 0 (Kendyl Wassenhove Pitched Perfect Game, 0 H, 0 R, 7 K, 0 BB)
Lady Leafs 16 Quincy 1
Lady Leafs 16 Rock Island 8
Freshmen Scores
Lady Leafs 13 Rock Island 5
Rock Island 8 Lady Leafs 7
Remaining Regular Season Varsity Schedule (Home In Bold)
5/14 4:30pm LaSalle-Peru (Senior Night)
5/15 4:30pm Ottawa
5/16 4:30pm Sterling
5/18 12:00pm Machesney Park Harlem (at Moline)
5/18 2:00pm Bartonville Limestone (at Moline)
Lady Leafs Top Moline! Win Three Of Four On The Week!
#7 Avery Kennedy Beats The Tag In The Lady Leafs 12-6 Win Over Moline.
Lady Leafs 12 Galesburg 0 - April 30
Lady Leafs 12 Moline 6 - May 2
Riverdale 3 Lady Leafs 2 - May 3
Lady Leafs 11 Orion 1 - May 4
JV Scores
Ridgewood 11 Lady Leafs 5
Lady Leafs 10 Galesburg 3
Lady Leafs 15 LaSalle-Peru 0
Lady Leafs 14 Moline 0
Lady Leafs 13 Riverdale 10
Lady Leafs 15 Orion 1
Lady Leafs Blow Out Alleman & EP. Drop A Tough One To UTHS. Raise Over $3K For Strike Out Cancer!
Kyah Newell & The Lady Leafs Celebrate Her Homerun Against Alleman. FULL GALLERY HERE
Homers by Ella Pettit, Kyah Newell, & Sidney Spindel propelled the Lady Leafs to a 22-2 victory over Alleman on Tuesday at JFE. Talisa Thomas and Celina Pena combined gave up just five hits and two runs while striking out six. This was the Addi’s Faith Foundation Strike Out Cancer Game which raised over $3K!
The bats stayed red hot for GHS on Wednesday as they rallied from an early 6-3 deficit to pick up a 17-7 win over Erie-Prophetstown. Emily Bopes went 4-4 with two doubles and 3 RBI for the Lady Leafs.
Spindel hit a two run shot on Thursday at United Township but that’s all the Leafs would get as the host Panthers went on to a 6-2 victory. Next Up: At Galesburg on Tuesday April 30 (4:30pm).
Lady Leafs 22 Alleman 2 - April 23
Lady Leafs 17 Erie-Prophetstown 7 - April 24
United Township 6 Lady Leafs 2 - April 25
JV Scores
Lady Leafs 9 Riverdale 5
Lady Leafs 14 Erie-Prophetstown 6
Lady Leafs 9 United Township 4
Addi's Faith Foundation Strike Out Cancer!
Addi's Faith Foundation Strike Out Cancer!
2024 Lady Leafs Softball - Strike Out Cancer!
Tuesday Is The Addi’s Faith Foundation Strike Out Cancer Game! Addison Faith Bender passed away on December 4, 2007 after a six month battle with brain cancer. She was the cousin of current Lady Leafs Emily & Reagan Bopes. Make the trip to JFE on Tuesday for a wonderful cause as GHS takes on Alleman at 4:30!
Lady Leaf Bats Heat Up! Strike Out Cancer Game This Tuesday!
After scoring only a single run over a tough four game stretch that extended to the previous week, the Lady Leaf bats came alive in a big way at the Washington Tournament this weekend as they scored 37 runs over the course of four games. Box scores below.
Tuesday Is Addi’s Faith Foundation Strike Out Cancer Game! Addison Faith Bender passed away on December 4, 2007 after a six month battle with brain cancer. She was the cousin of current Lady Leafs Emily & Reagan Bopes (pictured above). Make the trip to JFE this Tuesday for a wonderful cause! Leafs take on Alleman at 4:30pm.
DONATION FORM HERE! - Addi’s Faith Foundation
Rockridge 3 Lady Leafs 0 - April 15
Sterling 9 Lady Leafs 0 - April 17
Lady Leafs 10 Williamsville 9 - April 19
Washington 3 Lady Leafs 2 - April 19
Lady Leafs 16 West Aurora 7 - April 20
Pontiac 11 Lady Leafs 9 - April 20
JV Scores
Lady Leafs 12 Rockridge 2
Lady Leafs 14 Sterling 1
Lady Leafs Win An Extra Inning Thriller In Moline! Panthers & Tigers Tough To Tame.
Sidney Spindel - FULL GALLERY HERE
An extra inning thriller in Moline on Tuesday as the Lady Leafs rallied from a 4-1 deficit with three in the 6th followed by four in the 9th to defeat the host Maroons 8-4! Madisyn Buysse hit a double and drove in three while Kendyl Wassenhove gave up one hit and struck out four over the final four innings to pick up the win. On Thursday, the visiting Rocks smacked six homers en route to an 11-0 win over GHS. The Lady Leafs concluded the week on Saturday as they faced Princeton. Buysse along with Sidney Spindel and Ella Pettit each recorded doubles and Wassenhove pitched a complete game but the Tigers went on to pick up the victory 5-1. Next Up: Home against three-peat 2A champion Rockridge (4:30).
Lady Leafs 8 Moline 4
Rock Island 11 Lady Leafs 0
Princeton 5 Lady Leafs 1
Lady Leafs Rout Galesburg & EP! Fall To UTHS.
#7 Avery Kennedy - FULL GALLERIES HERE
The Lady Leafs bats were on fire during a cold Thursday afternoon at JFE as they dismantled Galesburg 23-0. Avery Kennedy, Olivia VanZuidan, Ella Pettit, & Celina Pena homered in the victory while Talisa Thomas & Kendyl Wassenhove combined to shutout the visiting Silver Streaks while only allowing a single hit and striking out four. The GHS JV followed up with a 17-2 win over Galesburg.
GHS was right back at it on Friday against United Township where the picked up from they left off the day before with an early 4-1 lead after two. However the Lady Panther bats came alive to outscore the Lady Leafs 14-2 over the final five innings en route to a 15-6 win. In underclass action, the JV were victorious over the UTHS JV 15-0.
The Lady Leafs finished off a busy three days at home with a 14-3 romp over Erie-Prophetstown! Kyah Newell went 4-4 and drove in 5 while Kendyl Wassenhove gave up only three hits and struckout nine as she picked up the win on the mound. The JV also put another in the win column as they topped EP 7-4.
Next Up: At Moline this Tuesday (4:30pm).
Lady Leafs 23 Galesburg 0
Lady Leafs vs United Township
Lady Leafs vs Erie-Prophetstown
Lady Leafs Roll By Alleman! Rally Past Rock Falls!
#15 Sidney Spindel Getting Ready To Hit 1 Of Her 2 Doubles In The Comeback Win Over Rock Falls. FULL GALLERY HERE
The Lady Leafs returned from Arizona in style as they pummeled Alleman 12-1 in their Western Big 6 conference opener! Ella Pettit went 3-5 with an RBI and Talisa Thomas along with Celina Pena combined to strike out eight in the victory.
Pettit along with Avery Kennedy, Madisyn Buysse, & Kyah Newell went deep as GHS rallied late for a 14-8 win over Rock Falls in their home opener on Saturday at JFE! Kendyl Wassenhove picked up the win as she gave up only a single hit over 2.2 innings while striking out three.
The Lady Leafs move to 6-2 overall on the season and 1-0 in the Western Big Six! Next Up: Home vs United Township on Tuesday (4:30) at JFE.
Lady Leafs 12 Alleman 1
Lady Leafs 14 Rock Falls 8
JV Results
Defeated Ridgewood 4-3
Defeated Cornerstone Christian 1-0
Lost To Cornerstone Christian 21-5
Defeated Ben Franklin 21-6
Defeated Rock Falls 15-0
Lady Leafs Rule The Desert!
#15 Sidney Spindel & The Lady Leafs Varsity Went 4-0 In Arizona!
High School Spring Training - Mesa, AZ
A near perfect trip to the desert for Lady Leafs softball plus they got to take in a Chicago Cubs game at Sloan Park!
Varsity
Lady Leafs 10 Cornerstone Christian, TX 4
Lady Leafs 28 Chandler Prep, AZ 0
Lady Leafs 7 Cornerstone Christian, TX 5
Lady Leafs 20 Ben Franklin, AZ 6
JV
Lady Leafs 1 Cornerstone Christian, TX 0
Cornerstone Christian, TX 21 Lady Leafs 5
Lady Leafs 21 Ben Franklin, AZ 6
Lady Leafs 10 Cornerstone Christian, TX 4
Lady Leafs 28 Chandler Prep, AZ 0
Lady Leafs 7 Cornerstone Christian, TX 5
Lady Leafs 20 Ben Franklin, AZ 6
(No Box Score)
Season Underway For Lady Leaf Softball. Trip To Arizona Coming Up!
Celina Peña & The Lady Leafs Will Be Spending Spring Break In Mesa, AZ.
First pitch of the 2024 Lady Leafs season took place on Wednesday March 13 in Cambridge as they took on the Ridgewood Spartans at Hand Park. After falling behind 8-0 through the first four innings, the Lady Leafs managed to cut the deficit in half but a six run sixth sent the Spartans to a 14-4 win. Talisa Thomas (2-3, HR) & Avery Kennedy (1-4, 2B) each drove in two runs.
On Friday March 15, GHS traveled to Sherrard where the Leafs jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead but that would be all they got as the Tigers picked up the 4-1 victory. GHS now heads off to Mesa, AZ for spring break March 18-22. Good luck Lady Leafs!
Ridgewood 14 Lady Leafs 4
Sherrard 4 Lady Leafs 1
