The postseason path is known for all local high school softball squads, and all hope to be playing into June.

Columbia (20-5) finally had its long winning streak ended but remains a force to be reckoned with. 

Last Tuesday, the Eagles lost 1-0 to a tough Salem squad to snap a 15-game winning streak. Paige Froess pitched well for Columbia, striking out 11 in a complete game. 

On Friday, Columbia picked up a 3-1 victory over Calhoun, as the Eagles held their opponent scoreless after the first inning. 

On Saturday, the Eagles edged O’Fallon by a count of 5-4, scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. O’Fallon plated all of its runs in the first inning. 

Also on Saturday, Columbia lost 3-1 at Triad. The Knights scored the go-ahead run in the third inning, with pitching and defense ruling from there.

The Eagles won 2-0 over Okawville on Tuesday, getting a home run from Sam Augustine and three hits from Elle van Breusegen. Emily Webb pitched a four-hit shutout with nine strikeouts.

On Wednesday, it was an 8-6 loss for Columbia against Edwardsville.

Columbia hosts Piasa Southwestern on Friday.

The Eagles will host their own Class 2A regional, taking on the winner of Althoff vs. Breese Central on May 20. Other teams in the regional are Piasa Southwestern and Wesclin. 

Leading Columbia on offense is van Breusegen, an SIUE commit, at .481 with a .551 on base percentage, 10 stolen bases and 34 runs. Froess (.406), Augustine (.405) and Reagan Jarrard (.403) are also key contributors in the lineup.

Webb is 11-1 with a 0.69 ERA in the pitching circle.

Waterloo (16-2) is playing well enough right now to inspire confidence in a deep playoff run similar to 2024.

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs won 10-3 over Jerseyville. Samantha Juelfs went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Aidan Dintelman added two hits and three RBIs in addition to the pitching win.

Last Wednesday, it was a 15-1 victory for Waterloo over Highland as both Juelfs and Dintelman went 3-for-5 with a pair of homers and five RBIs. Grayce Mayer went 4-for-5 with three runs.

Waterloo plays Thursday at Waltonville before hosting Chatham Glenwood on Saturday. 

Juelfs is hitting .517 with a .540 on base percentage, five homers, 28 RBIs and 23 runs. Dintelman is hitting .456 with a .523 on base percentage, five homers and 23 RBIs in addition to her 16-1 pitching mark and 1.59 ERA.

Waterloo will begin Class 3A Mascoutah Regional play on May 27 against Cahokia. Other schools in that regional are Civic Memorial and Mascoutah.

Dupo (11-9) won 18-1 at Valmeyer on Wednesday, getting three hits from Kaylyn Woods, two hits with four RBIs and four runs from Keara Prater, and two hits with three RBIs from Kaitlyn Roberts.

On Tuesday, it was a 7-0 win over Gibault. Roberts, Adrienne Latimer, Kylie Kloess and Addison Thompson each had two hits and Thompson struck out 10 in the pitching circle.

Dupo won 10-0 over Valmeyer on Friday, getting two hits, two RBIs and two runs from Latimer plus a five-inning three-hitter from Thompson. 

Last Tuesday, the Tigers won 17-2 over Althoff. Woods went 3-for-3 with three runs. Kloess added two hits and three RBIs. Roberts had two hits and two runs. 

The Tigers will play in the Class 1A Centralia Regional starting May 21 against Father McGivney. Other teams in the regional are Metro East Lutheran, Odin and Christ Our Rock Lutheran. 

The Tigers are led on offense by Kylie Pierce (.481), Kloess (.444, 23 runs, 21 RBIs) and Woods (.419).

Thompson is the top pitcher with a 1.71 ERA.

Prior to its loss Tuesday to Dupo, Gibault (7-13) lost 12-4 to Nashville on Friday despite a 2-for-3 showing from Hope Chambers. 

Last Tuesday, the Hawks won 16-0 over Cahokia. Karina Jerkatis had a hit and three runs. Kylie Edwin had a hit and three RBIs.

Gibault hosts Father McGivney on Thursday. 

The Hawks will play in the Class 1A New Athens Regional starting Saturday with a home game against Valmeyer. Other teams in this regional are Marissa, Okawville and New Athens. 

Lauren Lanham leads Gibault in hitting at .444 with 12 stolen bases and 29 runs, followed by Chambers at .396. 

Chloe Lancaster is the leading pitcher with a 2.73 ERA.

Valmeyer (2-11) lost 12-0 last Tuesday and 6-3 on Thursday to Steeleville prior to its two recent losses to Dupo.

Avery Proffer is the leading hitter for the Pirates at .562 with three homers and 14 RBIs.