The Penn softball team earned a semistate championship Monday night to advance to the state championship game.

The trio of Penn, Fairfield and Marian all won softball regional championships Tuesday night.

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Marian advanced to the national championship while Goshen lost in the semi-finals of the NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship.

Four teams from the Crossroads League are still alive in the NAIA Division II basketball tournaments.

INDIANAPOLIS – Grace’s men’s basketball team jumped back into fourth place in the Crossroads League with a 68-56 win at Marian on Tuesday.

WARSAW – A strong defensive effort carried Warsaw past Mishawaka Marian in a clash of ranked teams Tuesday night.

Area scores from the IHSAA semi-state football games.

SYRACUSE – The Lady Warriors held on for a 46-44 victory over visiting Mishawaka Marian.

INDIANAPOLIS – Marian’s boys soccer team won a state championship while Penn’s girls fell a goal short at the IHSAA soccer state finals.

WINONA LAKE – Marian University took advantage of Grace College’s errors to win a pair of baseball games at Miller Field Friday. The Lancers (12-19, 5-11 Crossroads League) dropped the first game 7-5 before falling 12-1 in the second game. Grace wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the opening inning. The Lancers put …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS – Grace’s women’s basketball team was unable to complete its furious comeback bid against No. 7 Marian on Wednesday. The first-half struggles from the Lady Lancers (13-14, 6-9 Crossroads League) proved too much for Grace to overcome in a 53-47 defeat. Grace had its third-straight game scoring less than 55 points on Wednesday, but …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS – Grace’s men’s basketball team upset its third NAIA Top-25 ranked opponent of the season, toppling No. 19 Marian 76-59 on Tuesday. The Lancers (14-5, 4-3 Crossroads League) won their fourth straight road contest. They also snapped a five-year losing drought in Indianapolis — a losing streak at Marian dating back to Dec. 2, …read more.

WINONA LAKE – A pair of seniors scored to lift Grace’s men’s soccer team to a 2-0 victory over Marian on Senior Night. The Lancers’ third straight victory vaulted the team into fourth place in the Crossroads League standings. Grace has one match remaining in the regular season at Taylor on Saturday 7 p.m. Seniors …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS – Despite a 17-7 shot advantage against Marian, Grace’s women’s soccer team needed a golden-goal winner to beat the Knights 1-0 on Wednesday. The No. 21-ranked Lady Lancers (11-3-2, 7-1 Crossroads League) clinched their fourth straight victory thanks to a 99th-minute goal from Meghan Wiles. A yellow card from the Knights (8-6-1, 4-4 CL) …read more.

With all the local girls basketball teams out of the mix, I am really at a loss of what to pick outside of boys games. So this week will have a little bit of everything. Before I get to the picks I need to congratulate some people and issue some apologies to other people. The …read more.

BOURBON – The Triton boys elementary, junior high and freshman basketball recognition night has been rescheduled from the December 17 game against Bethany Christian to the December 14 Mishawaka Marian game. The recognition will take place at halftime of the varsity game against the Knights. Also at halftime of the varsity game against Marian, Triton …read more.

MISHAWAKA  – Jamie Lacheta has not decided yet which college will be the recipient of her immense talents on the volleyball court. The WCHS senior may want to send out a few extra tapes to schools of her performance Monday night. Lacheta, a powerful outside hitter with a big arm swing, was the difference maker …read more.

Golfers Trip Up Visiting Duo Having lost its first match of the season Monday night, Wawasee rallied just 24 hours later with a pair of wins Tuesday at Maxwelton Golf Club. A 194 from the Lady Warriors was plenty enough to defeat Marian (206) and West Noble (224) to move Wawasee’s record to 5-1 this …read more.

Just as the weather changed from hot and humid to cool and dreary, it was almost poetic that football season is now upon us. Scrimmages opened up Friday night all over the area in preparation for the real deal next Friday night. Area games for week one will include: Warsaw at Columbia City 7 p.m. …read more.

By SCOTT DAVIDSON Sports Editor WARSAW –  Never let it be said that there’s not a lot of fight in the Warsaw softball team. The Tigers may not have gotten a win on Senior Night Tuesday, but the hosts went toe-to-toe with one of the state’s highly regarded squads. Kendra Marshall had some Senior Night …read more.