Champaign Franklin Won IESA Regional Final
The Champaign Franklin squad secured a 5-3 victory over Paxton-Buckley-Loda to capture the regional title.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Baseball
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Champaign Franklin defeated the Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High baseball team in the IESA Class 3A regional finals on Wednesday. The championship game concluded with a final score of 5-3.
Why it matters
The win marks a successful end to a competitive tournament run for Champaign Franklin. For Paxton-Buckley-Loda, the result brings a close to a season where the team finished with a 10-5 record.
Champaign Franklin pitcher Arthur S. recorded 9 strikeouts over 6.1 innings, while Paxton-Buckley-Loda pitcher Landry Waugh tallied 7 strikeouts in 4 innings of work.
The players
Champaign Franklin
This is the junior high school baseball team that emerged victorious in the IESA Class 3A regional championship.
Paxton-Buckley-Loda Junior High
This team is a co-winner of the Twin County Conference that finished their season with a 10-5 record.
Arthur S.
He is the pitcher who led the Champaign Franklin effort by throwing 6.1 innings and recording 9 strikeouts.
Landry Waugh
He is a pitcher for the Paxton-Buckley-Loda squad who contributed 4 innings of work and struck out 7 batters.
Lucas Niewold
He is a pitcher for the Paxton-Buckley-Loda team who provided 2 innings of relief in the regional final.
The details
Paxton-Buckley-Loda narrowed the gap in the fifth inning by scoring two runs following a ground ball and a defensive error. Despite loading the bases in the seventh inning, the team failed to overcome the deficit after a fly ball ended the game.
Timeline
Wednesday, September 23, 2026: Champaign Franklin defeated PBL in the regional finals.
Season Trajectory
The victory highlights the competitive intensity of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) postseason bracket. This result sets the tone for the remaining regional and sectional standings as teams vie for the Class 3A title.
The 5-3 final score reflects the high-pressure environment of the regional tournament, where a single defensive error in the fifth inning proved decisive. Paxton-Buckley-Loda concludes their season with a 10-5 record despite the narrow loss.
The takeaway
Postseason baseball often hinges on capitalizing on limited scoring opportunities and minimizing defensive mistakes in late-inning situations. Consistent pitching performance remains the most critical factor in deciding outcomes during regional championship play.
Further reading
For more on local diamond action, visit the Baseball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ford County Chronicle | Recognized As The Best Medium-Sized, Nondaily Newspaper In Illinois.
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