PEORIA — The Carterville Lady Lions are headed back to the biggest stage in Illinois high school softball.
Behind a dominant performance from University of Illinois recruit Caidence Phillips, Carterville punched its ticket to a third consecutive IHSA Class 2A State Championship game with a 3-0 victory over Williamsville Friday at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
Phillips was nearly untouchable in the circle, racking up 15 strikeouts while shutting out the Bullets to lead the Lady Lions to their 37th win of the season against just one loss.
The victory sends Carterville into Saturday’s state title game against Seneca, which advanced with an 8-6 win over IC Catholic in the other Class 2A semifinal.
Now 37-1 on the season, the Lady Lions will be looking to reclaim the state championship after falling to Beecher 5-2 in last year’s Class 2A title game. Carterville is seeking the fourth state championship in program history, having previously captured state crowns in 2008, 2016 and 2024.
Williamsville and IC Catholic will meet in the third-place game Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
The IHSA State Finals continue Saturday in Peoria with the Class 3A semifinals featuring Dunlap against Antioch at 10 a.m., followed by Glenwood and Fenwick at 12:15 p.m. The Class 4A semifinals begin at 2:30 p.m. with Marist taking on Lincoln-Way West before Mundelein faces Oswego at 4:45 p.m.
For Carterville, however, the focus is squarely on one more win and bringing another state championship trophy back to Southern Illinois.
