The Cavaliers softball program, coming off of a 29-21 season in 2023, looks to make their mark on the 2024 season with 10 sophomores and 11 freshmen players. After winning 24 of the last 31 Region 4 Championships, the Cavs expect to be a strong contender to win their 25th NJCAA Div. II Region Championship and make another trip to the National Tournament.
The Cavaliers will depend on the strong play and leadership of the 10 sophomores, and will look to the freshmen to quickly learn and gain experience to contribute to the team. The consistency of hitting and defense from the infield will be anchored by sophomores Estelle Audette (2B), Emily Jezowski (SS), with utility players Sophia Hulsey and Lauren Waller.
The outfield will be led by Jaelyn Wiers (LF), and Tori Budde (CF). Eve Shultz (C) will help lead a pitching staff piloted by Koralie Morin and Ella White. Fellow sophomore utility player Mackenzie Tome will provide needed depth in the power department.
The incoming freshmen include pitchers Jaelyn Latimer, Katie Newberry and Dylan Rambally; catcher Marguerite Brown; infielders Jordyn Butcher, Drew Hosselton, Koda Morris, Abby Lorenz and Anna Faber; and outfielders Kaylynn Crotz and Brynlee Wright.
With dependable hitting, power, and speed—as well as some young top pitching—the Cavs are expected to compete in a tough Region 4.
The Cavaliers men's soccer team fell to 0-2 Wednesday following a closely contested 1-0 defeat to Carl Sandburg College.
KCC's men's soccer team faced Carl Sandburg College in their home opener Wednesday.
The first half yielded little in the way of clear-cut goal scoring opportunities for either side. Carl Sandburg held most of the possession, but KCC's defense stood strong and blocked off any routes to goal.
The Cavaliers came alive in the second half, creating multiple opportunities in front of goal, but they failed to convert any of them.
Despite KCC's sustained pressure in the opening exchanges of the second half, Carl Sandburg eventually opened the scoring. KCC's goalkeeper, Carter Levesque, pulled off a couple of great 1v1 saves, but Carl Sandburg's pressure on the counter attack proved to be the difference between the two teams.
After falling behind, The Cavaliers continued to pile on the pressure, even having one chance cleared off the goal line.
KCC's efforts proved to be in vain, with the game ending 1-0 in favor of Carl Sandburg College.
In the face of defeat, Levesque remained positive, “We put it all together in practice,” he said. He later stated that “We really just need to come out of the gate firing away. Shoot early, shoot often, and we'll put a couple in the back of the net,” insisting that getting off to a quicker start will be the difference going forward.
Regarding the team's performance, Levesque said that “We adjusted really well,” “you saw some beautiful one-twos on both sidelines, and you saw a lot of opportunities in the second half,” giving insight as to what The Cavaliers can build on going forward.
Levesque added that “We just need to adjust earlier and be able to pick up on those things on our own, rather than having to wait for half-time for our coach to tell us,” giving the impression that the second half showed opportunities to progress and improve.
The Cavaliers will face off against Rock Valley College at 4 p.m. September 11 away from home in their next match, hoping to turn these building blocks into a win.
The KCC Cavaliers powered past South Suburban College in double-digit fashion Saturday afternoon, shutting out the Bulldogs 12-0 and extending their winning streak to five games.
The Cavs were led by strong hitting from Cole Freeman, who drove in five runs on two hits to secure the victory. Freeman doubled in the fourth inning, scoring three runs, and then doubled again in the seventh inning, scoring two more.
Tyler Thompson opened the scoring for KCC with a run-scoring double in the first inning that would keep the score at 1-0 for the first three innings.
The fourth inning was big for KCC, as the Cavs added four more runs to Freeman’s three. Nolan McCrossin, Chris Suchowski, and Dalton Hobick all singled, scoring one run apiece. Tyler Thompson grounded out, adding another run to put KCC up 8-0 going into the fifth inning.
Suchowski singled in the fifth to give the Cavs a run in the fifth and extend their lead to 9-0.
After a scoreless sixth inning, the Cavaliers turned the heat up in the seventh. Hobick reached on an error to drive in a run before Cole Freeman doubled on a line drive to bring in two more runs and give KCC a 12-0 victory.
From the mound, Peyton Niksch and Kaleb Waller teamed up to shutout the Bulldogs. Niksch gave up just three hits and allowed no runs over his six innings, striking out eight and walking two. Waller threw the final inning in relief, allowed no hits, striking out one and walking one.
The Cavaliers shutout improved their record to 27-14. They will play again tomorrow (04/21), when they travel to take on McHenry County College at 12 pm CST.
Stat Book
Freeman led the Cavs with two runs, two hits and five RBI. Suchowski had two runs, two hits and two RBI. McCrossin recorded two runs, a hit, and an RBI. Thompson had a run, two hits and an RBI. Hobick added a run, a hit, and an RBI.
After trailing 3-1 in the third inning, the KCC Cavaliers used a strong fourth inning to turn the score in their favor, on their way to a 15-5 victory over the Harper College Hawks Tuesday afternoon.
KCC scored once in the first three innings, to make the score 3-1 going into the top of the fourth. Chris Suchowski tripled midway through the fourth, bringing home Amarion Paxton and Nate King to tie the score at three. Dalton Hobick bunted to bring home Suchowski, giving the Cavaliers a 4-3 lead.
KCC held the Hawks to a scoreless fourth inning, before extending their lead to 6-3 in the fifth when Paxton doubled to bring home Curtis McKay and Tyler Thompson. King went out on a sacrifice fly that gave the Cavs another run, and they ended the inning with a four-point lead.
The Cavs added three more runs to their score in the sixth inning to improve their score to 10-3. McKay went out on a sacrifice fly to kick off the inning, and Paxton hit a home run on a fly ball to add two more runs.
The Hawks managed a run in the bottom of the seventh, bringing the score to 10-4.
After both teams were scoreless in the eighth inning, the Cavaliers scored five runs in the ninth, when an error brought Suchowski home and a wild pitch saw Hobick score, too. McKay went out on a sacrifice fly, bringing in a run and putting the Cavaliers ahead 13-4. Thompson singled on a line drive, adding a run and Suchowski walked with bases loaded to push the score to 15-4.
The Hawks scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, but it would be enough to close the Cavs’ lead and they secured the ten-point victory.
The Cavaliers improved their record to 24-14-1 and will be on the road again when they play the College of DuPage at 3 pm on Thursday.
The Kankakee Community College baseball team took a 13-7 victory over Prairie State College on Wednesday, powered by a team effort that saw the runs shared between six players.
Tyler Thompson led the Cavaliers’ effort offensively, driving in four runs on three hits. After doubling in the first inning to score one run, Thompson had an inside-the-park home run in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to confirm the Cavaliers’ win.
The Pioneers started the game off strong in the first inning, putting the Cavs at an early 3-0 deficit. They wouldn’t lead the game for long, though, as Jaeden Harris hit into a fielder’s choice to help the Cavs tie the game at three by the bottom of the fourth.
After Prairie State scored just one run in the fifth, KCC took the 5-4 lead when Curtis McKay doubled and Nathan King grounded out, each scoring a run.
The Pioneers managed the lead in the sixth, but the Cavaliers, led by a single from Amarion Paxton that drove in two runs, responded with five runs on four hits to take a 10-6 lead that they wouldn’t lose.
Thompson’s home run in the seventh inning put the Cavaliers ahead 13-7 to round out KCC’s scoring.
Ben Carlile secured the win for the Cavs from the mound, allowing one hit and zero runs over the first inning and the beginning of the second, striking out one and walking none. Aidan Nugent also assisted the Cavs, surrendering just six hits and five runs (four earned) over five innings, striking out eight and walking two.
Stat Book
The Cavaliers moved their record to 22-11 this season, continuing their success this month, as they have won five of six games.
The Lady Cavaliers shut out NJCAA Region IV opponent Moraine Valley CC Cyclones in double-header action Thursday afternoon 14-0 and 12-0 to extend their winning streak to eight games.
Game 1
In the first game, Takoda Morris drove in six runs on two hits to lead KCC to victory on the offensive. She doubled in both the first and fourth innings, scoring three runs each time.
The Lady Cavaliers got out to a strong start in the bottom of the first inning, as four players combined to give KCC a 7-0 lead. Marguerite Brown singled to score one run, Brynlee Wright had a double and scored one run, and Jaelyn Wiers singled to score one run.
The score remained unchanged until the fourth inning, when the Lady Cavaliers doubled their score, pushing their 7-0 lead to a 14-0 lead with eight hits. Tori Budde scored a run, Wright tripled to add another run, Wiers doubled and scored a run, and Estelle Audette singled to score a run.
KCC pitcher Katie Newberry played a big part in the first victory, allowing one hit and zero runs in five innings. She struck out nine and walked two Cyclones.
Game 2
In the second game, pitcher Jaelyn Latimer took the mound, quickly striking out two batters to hold the Cyclones to one base and no runs. Abby Lorenz singled and Wiers scored, before Anna Faber homered on a line drive to left field. KCC took the early 4-0 lead.
The Lady Cavaliers continued their dominance in the bottom of the third inning. Lauren Waller singled, Kaylynn Crotz tripled, and Wiers doubled, each scoring one run.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Cavaliers scored five runs on seven hits. Lorenz and Faber both doubled, scoring a run apiece. Waller, Wiers, and Dylan Rambally all added a single and a run each, finishing the Lady Cavaliers’ scoring in their 12-0 victory.
KCC held the Cyclones to no runs again in the second game, as Latimer did not allow any hits or runs over two innings. She struck out three and walked one.
Stats
The Lady Cavaliers improved to 17-2-1 this season and will travel to take on the Prairie State College Pioneers in another double-header Friday afternoon at 3pm and 5pm.
The Kankakee Community College Cavaliers used a strong first inning to defeat the Morton College Panthers 22-7 Tuesday afternoon in NJCAA Region IV play.
After the Cavaliers held the Panthers to a scoreless first inning, Cole Freeman hit a single to give the Cavaliers a strong start in the bottom of the first inning. Curtis McKay walked to load the bases for KCC early in the inning, before a double from Tyler Thompson brought Freeman and McKay home to put the Cavaliers up 2-0.
Amarion Paxton matched the double to give KCC a 4-point lead, before coming home to make the score 5-0. Dylan Coty hit a triple to bring Nate King and Freeman home, before McKay completed the play with a single that put KCC up 9-0.
After two outs, the Panthers managed to load the bases before KCC pitcher Kaleb Waller struck out a final Morton batter to carry the Cavs’ nine-point lead into the bottom of the second inning.
Nolan McCrossin hit a single to kick the second inning off for the Cavs. Amarion Paxton and Chris Suchowski both walked to load the bases. McCrossin scored; and Paxton and Suchoski made it home on a double from Freeman to put the Cavaliers ahead 12-0 to close out the second.
Morton responded with two runs in the third inning, but it would not be enough to narrow KCC’s lead.
McKay walked to first and stole second, before Thompson hit a single to push McKay to third. Morton struck out two KCC players in one play, but KCC responded by loading the bases and pushing McCrossin home again. Gavin Noreus recorded a single and the Cavs were up by thirteen. King scored to end the inning by expanding the lead to 16-2.
The Panthers did not score in the fourth, as Waller struck out two batters back-to-back and allowed just three bases before securing a third out. After an early out, KCC’s Thompson hit a double and McCrossin had a single to push the score to 17-2.
In the fifth inning, the Cavaliers sent freshman pitcher JJ Calmes to the mound. Morton hit a double, before three batters in a row found themselves out. The score remained unchanged as KCC entered the bottom of the fifth.
King and Noreus each had a single, and Freeman walked to load the bases without any outs immediately into the inning. Coty walked to bring King home, before McKay had a home run that put the Cavaliers up 22-2. KCC ended the inning with a twenty-point lead.
Calmes struck out two batters in the top of sixth, leading the Cavaliers in holding a Morton effort to one run. Noreus had a double and advanced to third after tagging up, but three outs saw the Cavaliers’ first scoreless inning.
The Panthers attempted a comeback in the seventh inning, recording five more runs to close the Cavaliers’ lead to 22-7. It would not be enough to close the large deficit and KCC took the victory.
Stat Book
The Cavaliers improved to 8-9-1 this season and will take on Black Hawk College on the road Wednesday afternoon at 3 pm CST.
King had 3 runs and a walk. Paxton had 3 runs, 3 RBI and a walk. McCrossin added 3 runs, an RBI, and a walk. Coty had 3 runs, 3 RBI and a walk. McKay had 2 runs, 5 RBI (including a home run) and a walk. Thompson had 2 runs and 2 RBI. Freeman recorded 2 runs, 2 RBI and a walk. Suchoski had 2 runs, an RBI, and a walk. Noreus rounded out the scoring for KCC with a run and 2 RBI.
The Kankakee Community College Cavaliers fell to the Southwestern Illinois College Blue Storm 6-5 in seven innings Saturday afternoon.
The Blue Storm started the game strong with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and another three in the bottom of the second, which gave them an early 6-point lead.
In the third, the Cavaliers began their response when Dylan Coty scored on an error. Southwestern was unable to score in the bottom of the inning, as KCC’s Peyton Niksch struck out two batters and a third was groundout.
After trailing 6-1 going into the fourth inning, KCC’s Cole Freeman and Curtis McKay had back-to-back runs to narrow the deficit to three runs. Tyler Thompson quickly followed the pair of runs with his own before Amarion Paxton scored to round out the Cavs’ quick response.
The Cavaliers turned on the defensive effort in the bottom of the fifth, as pitcher Hunter Niksch quickly struck out two consecutive Blue Storm batters. Niksch allowed one base before outing a third batter. KCC trailed 6-5 following the powerful inning.
Neither team scored in the sixth and seventh innings, and the Cavaliers came up just one run short, falling 6-5.
The Cavaliers are 3-3-1 early in the season and will continue their road trek when they play NJCAA DI #11 John A. Logan at 2pm Sunday.
Head Coach Keith Cooper is entering his seventh season with the Cavaliers. Coach Cooper has posted career record of 160-93-1 at KCC. Cooper has been awarded two NJCAA Div. II Region 4 District C Coach of the Year awards. Under Cooper’s guidance, KCC has won two NJCAA Div. II Region 4 Championships and the team has been in the Region Final Four every season except for 2020 (due to COVID). During Cooper’s tenure, 20 softball players have attained NJCAA Academic All-American status, and the entire team has earned the NJCAA Academic All-American Team award twice.
Before becoming KCC’s head coach, Cooper was a community leader and coach of youth sports at various levels for 23 years. He held multiple positions on local league boards of directors, and was president of the Kankakee Knights of Columbus Little League, Knights of Columbus Bronco League, Kankakee Elks Pony League, and the Kankakee Valley Colt and Palomino League.
Cooper’s involvement as a coach has taken him to many tournaments at Illinois State University in Normal; Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; and three State Fast Pitch Softball Tournaments in National Softball Association in Illinois.
Prior to becoming the head coach for Lady Cavs softball, he assisted with the KCC Women’s Basketball team as official scorekeeper for home games and often traveled with the team.
Coach Cooper was born in Kankakee, raised in Limestone, and graduated from Kankakee High School in 1990. He is a former KCC student, where he studied Law Enforcement. Cooper worked for AT&T for 18 years.
He and his wife, Lisa, reside in Kankakee. They have four children and nine grandchildren.
Asst. Coach Teders enters his sixth season coaching for the Cavaliers. He brings a wealth of sports knowledge and coaching experience. Since Coach Teders joined the staff, the team has amassed a 133-69 record.
Coach Teders grew up in the area and was an all-star athlete through his high school career in football and baseball. He played baseball at KCC, as well as playing on several slow pitch softball teams. Teders has been involved in coaching for the past 21 years in softball, baseball, and football, and brings extensive knowledge of the mechanics of pitching for both women and men.
Outside of sports, Teders is a union carpenter with many years of experience in residential and commercial construction. He and his wife, Lori, have three children and two granddaughters.
Coach Mikayla Cole enters her 4th year as an assistant coach at KCC. She is a graduate of Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, where she excelled at softball all four years under Coach Laura Harms, a 2002 KCC graduate and former Chicago Bandits professional softball player. In high school, Coach Cole was an all-area player, as well as Bishop McNamara’s MVP her senior year. Cole played travel softball for eight years. In her last year of travel ball, Cole pitched and won the national title game.
Coach Cole was a pitcher and outfielder at KCC under Coach Cooper. Both years with the Cavaliers, she led the team in batting average and went to the NJCAA Div. II National Tournament. Cole graduated from KCC in 2019 with an Associate in Arts transfer degree.
In addition to her assistant job with the Cavaliers, Cole coached her younger sister’s team to three straight championship games. She also has been the junior high coach at Donovan, head JV coach at Clifton Central High School, and Nash Middle School coach. She now coaches 16u travel softball for Champaign Blue Ice Elite and offers pitching and hitting lessons.
Cole recently had her first child. She also enjoys spending time with her siblings, twins Kloie and Keegan. A huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Red Sox, she enjoys watching as many games as possible.
Coach Kayden Mines enters her second year as an assistant coach at KCC. She is a graduate of Knoxville High School in Illinois, where she played softball all four years. She was on KCC’s softball team in 2020, when the season was canceled because of COVID-19. She did play the 2021 season for the Cavaliers. Head Coach Keith Cooper said, “We are very excited to see what challenges Coach Mines brings to the team, and congratulate her in her exciting new role.”