Cavs Season Comes to an End
MADISON, Wis. — May 15, 2026 — Kankakee Community College saw its season come to an end Friday night, falling 14-3 to Bryant & Stratton College in the Region 4 tournament.
After a heartbreaking one-run loss to Madison College earlier in the day, the Cavaliers were unable to get things going against Bryant & Stratton. The Bobcats jumped out to an early lead with seven runs in the first inning and never allowed KCC to settle into the game.
Bryant & Stratton added two runs in the third, four in the fourth, and one more in the fifth to pull away. KCC fought back with two runs in the third inning and one in the fourth, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
Jack Vogt helped lead the Cavaliers offensively, reaching base twice and scoring two runs. Lucas Rink doubled and walked, while Josh Davis, JJ Gillespie, Deegan Aeilts, and Matt Swartz each added hits for KCC.
Connor Gaitens, Davis, and Gillespie each drove in a run. Gaitens brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, while Davis also added a sacrifice fly and Gillespie drove in a run as part of KCC's scoring effort.
Bryant & Stratton was led by Nate Wertel, who finished with two hits, including a home run, and drove in five runs. Jacob Hurtgen, Calvin Hurtgen, Rory Dutton, and Jacob Garth also had multi-RBI performances for the Bobcats.
On the mound, the Cavaliers used four pitchers in the contest. Kollin Asbury, Maddox Quesnelle, Caden Keleminic, and Easton Blankenship combined to work the five-inning game. KCC's staff struck out four, but Bryant & Stratton's early offense put the Cavaliers behind from the start.
The loss ended KCC's postseason run after the Cavaliers opened the Region 4 Final Four with an 11-4 win over Rock Valley before falling 3-2 in a hard-fought game against Madison. While the final game did not go the Cavaliers' way, the season featured another strong postseason appearance and continued the program's standard of competing deep into May.
KCC closes the 2026 season with another trip to the Region 4 Final Four and a group that battled through the final day of the tournament.