KCC Baseball and Softball to Bring WIN SmartPark Technology to Campus

KANKAKEE, IL.  Kankakee Community College Athletics is taking a major step forward in the future of student-athlete development, recruiting, and game-day technology.

KCC has announced plans to bring WIN SmartPark technology to its baseball and softball fields, positioning the Cavaliers among the first colleges in Illinois to install the system for both diamond sports.

The upgrade will bring live data capture, performance tracking, and in-game technology to two of KCC’s traditionally strong athletic programs. Using fixed optical cameras and connected technology, SmartPark is designed to track game action in real time, including pitch data, ball flight, swing metrics, bat path, biomechanical information, and automated balls and strikes.

For KCC, the project represents more than a technology addition. It is an investment in how baseball and softball players train, compete, develop, and get evaluated.

“This is a huge win for our diamond sports and for KCC Athletics as a whole,” said Bryce Shafer, KCC athletic director and head baseball coach. “Baseball and softball are moving more and more toward data analysis, and this gives our players and coaches tools that can make a real impact. Being able to measure key parts of the game and use that information in development is something that will benefit our student-athletes every day.”

According to WIN Reality, SmartPark captures more than 125 individual metrics across game, ball, bat, and biomechanical categories. Those metrics can include pitch velocity, spin rate, pitch movement, zone location, exit velocity, launch angle, bat speed, batted ball distance, contact point, and other information coaches and athletes can use to better understand performance.

KCC head softball coach Alex Lagesse said the technology will give softball players another way to learn, grow, and see their progress.

“For our players, this gives them another way to understand their game,” Lagesse said. “Softball is becoming more data-driven every year, and having access to this kind of information will help us develop hitters, pitchers, and defenders with more detail. It is exciting for our program and for the future of KCC softball.”

The system will be used during practices and games. Coaches will be able to use the data to identify trends, make adjustments, and build more individualized development plans. Players will have a clearer picture of what is happening in their performance, while fans, parents, and recruiters will be able to access live and post-game information through the WIN platform.

That added visibility is one of the reasons KCC sees SmartPark as a department-wide win.

“This is also a recruiting statement,” Shafer said. “When future Cavaliers come to campus, we want them to see that KCC is serious about development, innovation, and giving student-athletes the best experience possible.”

SmartPark technology also has the potential to enhance the fan experience. Through live data displays, app-based access, post-game reports, and performance summaries, parents, fans, and recruiters can follow the game in a more connected way and view information that goes beyond the final score.

For Lagesse, the most important part is how the information can be used.

“The exciting part is not just collecting numbers,” Lagesse said. “It is what we can do with them. If we can help a hitter understand her swing better, help a pitcher see how her pitches are moving, or help a player see progress over time, that is where this becomes really valuable.”

The announcement continues a period of growth for KCC Athletics, which has placed a strong emphasis on facility improvements, student-athlete support, strength and conditioning, department visibility, and technology. Adding SmartPark to the baseball and softball fields gives KCC another tool to elevate two programs that have long been important parts of Cavalier Athletics.

“This is the direction the game is going,” Shafer said. “We want KCC to be ahead of it. Our players work extremely hard, and they deserve access to tools that can help them develop, compete, and be seen. This is something our college, our athletic department, and our community can be proud of.”

The SmartPark system is expected to be operational sometime in August.