Diamond update

The Bureau County Blaze 14u qualified for nationals in Springfield, Mo. by going 6-0 in the Havana Classic over the weekend.

Taylor Williams and Brianna Kamphuis combined for four shutouts as the Blaze gave up just nine runs in six games. Heidi James had the game-winning hit in the championship game.

The Blaze 12u team went 4-1, but did not advance.

3A baseball: The NCIC Reagan has two sectional champions in baseball.

Rock Falls beat Aurora Marmion 6-4 in the finals at Rochelle. The Rockets’ Taylor Eikenberry struck out 14 batters, supported by the home run bats of teammates Jarred Hippen and Tyler Johnson.

At Galesburg, sophomore David Suarez hit the shot heard around LaSalle-Peru, a sixth-inning grand slam to propel the Cavaliers to an 8-6 win over Bloomington. Suarez also recorded the final out to notch the save.

The NCIC rivals were to meet in Monday’s supersectionals, at Augustana College in Rock Island.

2A softball: Three Rivers champ Morrison took third place in the 2A state finals in east Peoria, defeating Piasa Southwestern 3-2. The Lady Mustangs fell to Stanford Olympia 2-1 in eight innings in the semifinals.

3A softball: LaSalle Peru lost to Freeport 3-1 in Monday’s sectional finals at Rochelle.