The 2024 Peoria Journal Star softball all-area team and player of the year (2024)

Adam DuvallPeoria Journal Star

Peoria-area softball had another banner year during the 2024 season.

Illini Bluffs played in its fifth successive Class 1A state title game, while Olympia made a Class 2A sectional final. Metamora also made a run to the Class 3A Sweet Sixteen. Nine local programs across three classes won regional championships during the 2024 campaign.

Peoria baseball: The 2024 Peoria Journal Star baseball player of the year and the all-area team

Here is the 2024 Journal Star all-area softball, led by the player of the year. The rest are listed in alphabetical order.

Kaidance Till, Metamora

The 2024 Journal Star Player of the Year played shortstop for the Redbirds, who went 30-7 and were a Class 3A sectional finalist. She hit .509 on 56 hits with 23 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 39 RBIs. The Ole Miss commit scored 44 runs, drew 32 walks (15 intentionally), stole 10 bases and posted a .954 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team, Peoria McDonald's all-star and Illinois Coaches Association first-team all-state.

Lexi Brinkman, Illini Bluffs

The junior played catcher for the Tigers, who finished 25-2 and were the Class 1A state runner-up. She hit .439 on 36 hits with five doubles, two triples, 11 home runs and 42 RBIs. The Illinois State commit scored 12 runs, drew 10 walks and posted a .990 fielding percentage in 159 innings. Her individual accolades include unanimous all-Tomahawk Conference first team and all-Inter-County Athletic Conference first team, and the ICA second-team all-state.

Sutton Centoni, Dunlap

The sophom*ore was a pitcher for the Eagles, who went 23-8 and were a Class 3A regional finalist. She went 16-4 with a save to go with 240 strikeouts and a 0.90 ERA in 125 innings. Centoni hit .349 on 22 hits with eight doubles, one triple, 12 RBIs and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team, Peoria McDonald's all-star and ICA first-team all-state.

Payton Swanson, Washington

The freshman infielder played second base for the Panthers, who finished 17-14 and were a Class 3A sectional semifinalist. She hit .430 on 40 hits with 13 doubles, three triples and 22 RBIs. Swanson scored 31 runs, drew 16 walks, stole 15 bases and posted a .957 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team, Peoria McDonald's all-star and ICA second-team all-state.

Sara Finn, Illini Bluffs

The sophom*ore — voted the fan's choice as top softball player around Peoria — played outfield for the Tigers, who finished 25-2 and were the Class 1A state runner-up. She hit .554 on 46 hits with nine doubles, four triples, 12 home runs and 36 RBIs. Finn scored 45 runs, drew 13 walks, stole 16 stolen bases and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Tomahawk Conference first team, unanimous all-ICAC first team, ICA first-team all-state and Peoria McDonald's all-star.

Taylor Ford, Abingdon-Avon

The junior infielder played third base for the Tornadoes, who finished 20-12 and were a Class 1A regional finalist. She hit .461 on 47 hits with 15 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 34 RBIs. Ford scored 43 runs, drew 21 walks and stole 13 bases. Her individual accolades include all-Lincoln Trail Conference first team and ICA third-team all-state.

Danika Frazier, Olympia

The senior was a pitcher/designated hitter for the Spartans, who went 29-2-1 and were a Class 2A sectional finalist. She went 24-1 with four saves to go with 283 strikeouts and a 1.16 ERA in 168.1 innings. The Illinois signee hit .477 on 51 hits with seven doubles, 15 home runs and 56 RBIs. Frazier scored 23 runs, drew 12 walks and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include unanimous all-Sangamo Conference first-team and ICA first-team all-state.

Justice Krus, Dunlap

The senior infielder played first base for the Eagles, who finished 23-8 and were tri-champions of the Mid-Illini Conference title. She hit .427 on 41 hits with six doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 36 RBIs. Krus scored 32 runs, drew six walks, stole four bases and posted a .949 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference second team, Peoria McDonald's all-star and ICA second-team all-state.

Addi Pacha, Metamora

The junior played outfield for the Redbirds, who were 30-7 and were tri-champions of the Mid-Illini Conference title. She hit .385 on 47 hits with nine doubles, six home runs and 37 RBIs. Pacha scored 31 runs, drew 14 walks, stole three bases and posted a .949 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team, Peoria McDonald's all-star and ICA second-team all-state.

Sidney Sawyer, East Peoria

The junior played outfield for the Raiders, who finished 24-9 and were a Class 3A sectional semifinalist. She hit .355 on 43 hits with five doubles, three triples and seven RBIs. Sawyer scored 23 runs, drew eight walks, stole 19 bases and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage. Her individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team, Peoria McDonald's all-star and ICA third-team all-state.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

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