The daily pitch from Sports Editor : May 12, 2026

May 12—➜ . The Champaign Central softball team won an outright Big 12 championship, clinching the special feat with a 9-3 road win against Peoria Notre Dame on Saturday. Central is now 25-4-1 on the season and plays at Westville at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. ➜ . Especially when you consider the Central won 45 games — total — from 2010-2019. ➜ . The Cobras won the Central District title on Saturday with three wins, including a clinching 7-0 win against Illinois Central. Parkland is 38-18 on the season. points former Illini is averaging in the NBA playoffs with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 26-year-old guard finished with 10 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and one impressive catch to save a ball from going out of bounds during the Timberwolves' 114-109 win against the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night. The Western Conference semifinal series is now tied at two games apiece, with Game 5 set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Minneapolis. ➜ . Current Big Ten Freshman of the Week Aidan Flinn and the rest of his Illini teammates carry a five-game win streak into Thursday's series opener against the Hoosiers (21-30, 7-20 Big Ten). Illinois (27-23, 13-14) is fresh off a series sweep of Northwestern. ➜ . Intriguing nonconference game as the Sages (26-3) travel to Spalding Park in Champaign to play the host Maroons (21-6) at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. ➜ . The host Rockets (23-7) can finish off an undefeated season in Illini Prairie Conference play with a win against Pontiac (16-11) when the two teams meet at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. ➜ Karlyn Pickens, Jocelyn Erickson and Tiare Jennings. ➜ "Outer Banks." ➜ loud chewing.

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The daily pitch from Sports Editor : May 12, 2026