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Key dates

High School Ball Calendar

Season start dates, first legal contest dates and the full IHSA state series schedule for Illinois softball through 2031 — plus the travel ball windows that decide whether you get seen. Dates are published by the IHSA and are subject to change.

Don't wait to start travel ball

The high school season runs late February through early June. Everything that gets you recruited — showcase exposure, verified metrics, film, coach contact — happens on the travel calendar, and most programs finalize rosters in August and September. Athletes who wait until winter to look for a team lose an entire recruiting cycle. If you are between teams right now, mark yourself available in the Portal today.

Enter the portal

IHSA softball state series calendar

Milestone2026-272027-282028-292029-302030-31
Season startsFirst day teams may practice (Mon. Week 34)Feb. 22Feb. 21Feb. 19Feb. 18Feb. 24
First contestEarliest date a game may be played (Mon. Week 36)Mar. 8Mar. 6Mar. 5Mar. 4Mar. 10
Season summary deadlineOnline season summary form (Mon. 10:00 a.m. Week 44)May 3May 1Apr. 30Apr. 29May 5
Team seeding deadlineOnline team seeding (Tues. 12:00 noon Week 44)May 4May 2May 1Apr. 30May 6
Regional quarterfinalsMon. Week 46May 17May 15May 14May 13May 19
Regional semifinalsTues. & Wed. Week 46May 18-19May 16-17May 15-16May 14-15May 20-21
Regional finalsFri. or Sat. Week 46May 21-22May 19-20May 18-19May 17-18May 23-24
Sectional semifinalsTues. & Wed. Week 47May 25-26May 23-24May 22-23May 21-22May 27-28
Sectional finalsFri. or Sat. Week 47May 28-29May 26-27May 25-26May 24-25May 30-31
Super-sectionalsMon. Week 48May 31May 29May 28May 27Jun. 2
State finalsThurs.-Sat. Week 48Jun. 3-5Jun. 1-3May 31-Jun. 2May 30-Jun. 1Jun. 5-7
Season endsSat. Week 49Jun. 12Jun. 10Jun. 9Jun. 8Jun. 14

Source: IHSA softball calendar. All dates subject to change.

Your year, month by month

June - July

Summer showcase season

The high school season is over and college coaches are watching travel events. If you are not already rostered, you are missing your highest-exposure weeks of the year.

August - September

Tryouts and roster locks

Most travel programs hold tryouts and finalize rosters now. Waiting until winter usually means the spots on top teams are gone.

October - January

Fall ball, training and recruiting

Fall tournaments, indoor training and camp visits. This is where your metrics and film get built before high school ball starts.

February - May

IHSA high school season

Practices open in late February and games start in early March. Travel commitments should already be settled so you can focus on your school season.

Top ranked players to watch

Pulled from our released Top 100 lists. These are the Illinois softball standouts to follow through the season.

  1. 1Raegan WojowskiClass of 2028
  2. 1Shelby IzzoClass of 2029
  3. 1Bailey HitchcockClass of 2030
  4. 2Alana NietoClass of 2029
  5. 2Kailey BommaritoClass of 2030
  6. 2Isabella MarinaroClass of 2028
  7. 3Dylan MartinezClass of 2029
  8. 3Jocelyn CushardClass of 2028
  9. 3Whitney WallaceClass of 2030
  10. 4Cayleigh SteeleClass of 2029
  11. 4Sophia KateebClass of 2028
  12. 4Kylee CunninghamClass of 2030
  13. 5Geneveve LudwigClass of 2030
  14. 5Addilyn RodichClass of 2028
  15. 5Abby BrewerClass of 2029
  16. 6Jayla BryantClass of 2030
  17. 6Mckenzie GaleClass of 2029
  18. 6Fiona BrownClass of 2028
  19. 7Abigail CaulfieldClass of 2029
  20. 7Kendall RenshawClass of 2030
  21. 7Jaycie BussClass of 2028
  22. 8Abigail BenzlerClass of 2030
  23. 8Madison DickersonClass of 2028
  24. 8Tova ChungClass of 2029
  25. 9Brooke MarshallClass of 2028
See all player stats