Cam Shriey & Zeb Maxwell put on their Irish helmets one last time in the Illinois High School Shrine Football Game on Saturday. The Shrine Game is a benefit for Shriners Children's Hospitals. Cam and Zeb played for the Red Team alongside players nominated from all over the state.
Why Summer Coaching Is Harder Than People Think…
Because summer isn’t really a break.
It’s planning. It’s organizing. It’s texting. It’s scheduling. It’s opening the gym.
It’s finding ways to keep kids connected when school isn’t forcing them together.
It’s trying to build culture before the season ever begins.
It’s motivating athletes who would rather be at the lake, on vacation, at work, or sleeping in.
It’s balancing development and enjoyment.
Pushing them enough to grow. Not pushing so hard they burn out.
It’s creating an environment kids want to be part of.
One where they leave practice excited to come back tomorrow.
It’s organizing team camps, leagues, workouts, fundraisers, and team-building activities while everyone else thinks you’re “off for the summer.”
It’s investing hours in a season that is still months away.
All for a chance to build something special when the season arrives.
And the truth is, summer matters.
The relationships you build now. The standards you establish now. The culture you create now.
Those are the things that carry teams through the difficult moments later.
So if you’re coaching this summer, don’t forget:
Make it fun. Make it positive. Make it something your players look forward to.
The season will bring enough pressure.
Summer should build the relationships, trust, and enthusiasm that make everything else possible.
Because great seasons are rarely built in season.
They’re built in the summer.
Good luck Coach🏆
CONGRATULATIONS to @SHS_IrishSball’s Tessa Krull, Hayden Pfeifer, and Emma Mino for being selected to the 2026 Class 2A Softball All-State Team by the Illinois Coaches Association! #IrishPride ☘️
Here is the link to the 2026 @SHS_IrishSball State Runner-Up Team Store. Purchase your commemorative apparel by June 22nd to celebrate such a historic season! #IrishPride ☘️
https://t.co/IVrULuKPhN
Here is the link to purchase the Roll Shrocks shirt worn to support @SHS_IrishSball at the softball state tournament. Purchase your shirt by June 15th to celebrate such a historic season! #RollShrocks ☘️
https://t.co/07QXDiiPTs
All State Teams are released a day early.
You can find all four classes here:
https://t.co/mfgVnAkH6O
This is not an easy task. Many Nominations. There are more teams in Class 1A and 2A, so their teams are larger.
Check out the medal and trophy presentation from Saturday’s Class 2A Softball State Championship. Congratulations on an unforgettable season, @SHS_IrishSball! We are so proud of you! #RollShrocks ☘️
STATE RUNNER-UPS 🥎
@SHS_IrishSball BATTLED until the final out but ultimately came up just a bit short in the State Championship on Saturday against Carterville, 3-1. We could not be PROUDER of the INCREDIBLE run that these girls and coaches have taken us on this year.
SURVIVE & ADVANCE 🥎
@SHS_IrishSball has ADVANCED to the IHSA Class 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP after defeating the IC Catholic Knights in a ROLLER COASTER of a game on Thursday, 8-6!
Our school and community support has been AMAZING so far this postseason and we hope to see you there as we line the streets to give the team a proper send-off! GOOD LUCK, Lady Irish! #RollShrocks ☘️
The escort route will begin in the Seneca High School student parking lot and will head down Scott Street. From there, they will turn right at the Seneca Public Library District and will continue north on Main Street on their way to the North Hill and out of town.
STATE SEND-OFF 🚨
The Lady Irish Softball Team is headed to STATE & we need your help to send them off to Peoria! Please join us at 10:00 AM on Thursday morning as the Seneca IL Police Department and the Seneca Fire Protection and Ambulance District escort the team out of town!
STATE-BOUND 🎟️
The Lady Irish Softball Team has punched their ticket to the IHSA Class 2A STATE SEMIFINALS after defeating the Brimfield Indians on Monday in the East Peoria Super-Sectional, 3-0!
☘️🥎☘️
Seneca 3
Brimfield 0
🚨🚨STATE BOUND🚨🚨
Lady Irish win the East Peoria Supersectional!!
@HPfeifer2027 💎 7IP, 4H, 11K
@KrullTessa23 💪🏼 RBI
@AmeliahWeber66 3 for 3 🤯 1RBI
Next up, IC Catholic on Thursday!
#TougherTogether
Go Irish!
☘️🥎☘️
🍀🥎FIGHTING IRISH ARE STATE BOUND!🍀🥎
Prep softball
At EastSide Centre, East Peoria
Class 2A supersectional
-
Seneca 3
Brimfield 0
Final
@MyWebTimes@MorrisHerald@HeraldNewsSport
Ready for the Sequel? 🍿
Friday night felt less like a game and more like a Hollywood thriller. Now that our hearts are finally back to normal, @SHS_IrishSball will look to bring the drama again as they take on Brimfield TONIGHT in the Super-Sectional at EastSide Centre!