Regional Champs: Jersey Upends Triad Girls To Capture Softball Championship 4-1

HIGHLAND — Jersey rallied from an early deficit to defeat Triad 4-1 in the IHSA Class 3A regional final at Highland on Thursday, May 21, 2026, scoring three runs in the fourth inning and adding another in the sixth to claim the title and advance to the sectional.

Triad took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Jersey answered in the fourth and held the Knights to that lone run.

Holly Brainerd led the Panthers with three hits and two RBIs.

Paxton Weirich pitched a complete game for Jersey and struck out five.

For Triad, Abby Harper had two hits and drove in the Knights’ only run. Harper also threw a complete game in the circle and struck out four.

Jersey improved to 19-10 and advanced to the Centralia sectional, where it will play the winner of the Waterloo Regional — either host Waterloo or Mt. Vernon — on Tuesday at 3 p.m.

Triad finished its season with a 23-12 mark.

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