Prep Softball

KVHS collects 16 hits in rout

VALPARAISO — Kankakee Valley strung together 16 hits, including four for extra bases, in overwhelming host Morgan Township, 15-1, in five innings on Friday, April 3.

Mallorie Rose had a solo home run for the Kougars, who won on Indiana soil for the first time this season. KV, which picked up four wins in Tennessee during a spring break trip, opened spring in Indiana with a loss to Crown Point.

Sophie Singleton was 2 for 2 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and three runs scored and Jessica Beauchamp also had a double among her three hits. She drove in four runs and scored twice.

Hailey Shepherd was 2 for 2 with a pair of RBIs, Maddy Hemphill added two hits and an RBI and Julia Mahmet was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored.

Brooklyn Mackey had an RBI single, Anika Oezer had a pair of hits and scored two runs and Lorelei O’Brien drove in a run.

Beauchamp took he ball in the circle, allowing just two hits over five innings with seven strikeouts. She walked none and allowed the one run.

The Kougars returned to action Tuesday when they traveled to Northwest Crossroads Conference rival Lowell to open the NCC portion of their schedule. They will face NCC foe Hobart at home on Thursday at 5 p.m. before hosting non-conference opponent Wheeler on Friday, April 10. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

Prep Baseball

Kougars can’t overcome early deficit vs. Hanover

WHEATFIELD — Kankakee Valley opened the 2026 portion of its Northwest Crossroads Conference schedule with an 11-6 loss to visiting Hanover Central on Monday (April 6).

The Kougars (1-1 overall) fell behind 11-0 through 3-plus innings before scoring four runs to extend the game over seven innings.

KV reliever Will Chestnut helped keep his team from being 10-run ruled, recording seven strikeouts over four innings. He did allow three runs.

Carlos Cruz got the start, allowing seven earned runs over two innings of work with three walks and a strikeout. He scattered five hits.

Offensively, Chestnut was 2 for 4 with an RBI double and Rex Wilkins also had an RBI double. Declan Murr drove in a run and Jeremiah Fitzpatrick added a double. Hunter Munoz was 2 for 3 with a double and a triple and two RBIs.

For Hanover, Dylan Bowen, who will play baseball at Oklahoma State University next year, was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run.

KV was scheduled to play Hanover Central in Cedar Lake Tuesday, April 7 before returning home to host the Kougar Klassic on Friday and Saturday.

Kougars outlast

host North Newton, 8-6

MOROCCO — Kankakee Valley’s baseball team opened the season with an 8-6 win over North Newton in Morocco on Friday, April 3.

The Kougars had 12 hits, with Hunter Munoz collecting a pair of hits, including a two-run triple. Lucas Parker was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and Rex Wilkins also had a pair of hits with a double.

Brady Flick was 2 for 5 and Declan Murr had an RBI single. Jeremiah Fitzpatrick had an RBI single and scored twice.

KV trailed the Spartans (0-2) by a 4-3 score through two innings before taking the lead for good with three runs in the top half of the third inning and two more in the fifth.

North Newton did pull close with a pair of runs in the fifth.

Joseph Fritts had two hits for the Spartans, including an RBI single. Joseph Bijak added an RBI single and Koye Viers also drove in a run.

The hosts were held to just five hits by three KV pitchers, including starter Owen Uylaki, who struck out five batters over 3 2/3 innings of work. Jake and Jeremiah Fitzpatrick provided relief.