ICCAC Softball Teams Compete at 2023 World Series
Division I:
Indian Hills entered the NJCAA Division I World Series as a 10 seed. The Warriors went 2-2 in the postseason with both losses coming in extra innings on walk-off homers.
In Indian Hills' first round matchup, the offense struggled in a big way against Seminole State (Fla.), contributing just two hits and one walk in eight innings. The only hits came from Eva Fulk who was 2 for 3, while the only other baserunner for the Warriors was Jensyn Jones who drew a walk. Madie Anderson went 7.1 innings on the mound before Rachel Sherwood of Seminole State hit a walk-off homer. Anderson gave up four hits, four walks, and one run while striking out two.
In their first elimination game, Indian Hills was tied with 15 seed Gaston (N.C.) after three innings. In the fourth, the Warriors exploded for 15 runs in the next two innings with 10 runs in the fourth. They combined for 13 hits, three doubles, and one triple in the five innings, before the mercy-rule took effect. Destiny Lewis went 2 for 4 with a triple and three RBI, TJ Stoaks had two hits and two RBI, and Jill Smith contributed three RBI in her only at-bat.
The Warriors' offense carried over from their previous matchup into their game against Butler (Kan.), scoring 13 runs on 12 hits while drawing seven walks. Indian Hills combined for four home runs coming from Lewis, Julia Kwakernaak, Sydney Anderson, and Jones. Lewis went 3 for 4 at the plate, along with three RBI as well.
After back-to-back wins in elimination games, Indian Hills fell to No. 4 Walters State (Tenn.), 4-2. Both teams were tied after the fifth inning with each scoring their runs from a single and a sacrifice fly. Going into extra innings, Madie Anderson was still pitching after she started the game. Almost as similar to their first game heartbreak, the Warriors were defeated by a walk-off homer in extras, this time to end their season. Ava Brooks of Walters State hit the two-run homer to send them to the next round.
It was the Warriors 10th time where they won two games in the NJCAA World Series. Their eighth-place finish is currently tied for the program's best mark since 2004. Indian Hills set a record for their 32 runs scored in four games played. The Warriors ended their season 47-10.
Indian Hills:
#7 Seminole State def. #10 Indian Hills, 1-0 (8 inn.) – Box Score
#10 Indian Hills def. #15 Gaston, 17-2 (5 inn.) – Box Score
#10 Indian Hills def. #8 Butler, 13-8 – Box Score
#4 Walters State def. #10 Indian Hills, 4-2 (8 inn.) – Box Score
Division II:
Kirkwood and DMACC represented the ICCAC in the NJCAA Division II Softball World Series last week. Each team won at least two games in the tournament before being eliminated.
The 10th-seeded DMACC Bears won their first round game 8-3 over seven seed Rock Valley. Sydney Kennedy went 6.1 innings and got the win. Kendal Clark had a home run and Emily Ades went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI.
In the second round against the No. 2 Louisburg (N.C.), they dropped the game 4-1. DMACC tied them at one apiece in the fourth inning but were unable to cross the plate the rest of the way.
In the elimination rounds, DMACC picked up two big wins thanks to their pitching. Facing Danville Area (Ill.), it was Kennedy taking the bump for the second time already in the tournament. She got two runs in the third inning from her offense, and it was all she needed. Kennedy went the distance while striking out nine, and only giving up three hits and one walk.
The following day, Kennedy was in the circle and once again went all seven innings. She gave up two runs (none of which were earned) but answered back with nine strikeouts of her own. The offense helped as well with Maddy Kearns having a career game, going 3 for 4 with four RBI, in the 6-2 victory over South Mountain (Ariz.).
DMACC followed up that win with another one that day, winning 9-5 against number one overall seed Murray State (Okla.). DMACC had 13 hits, and Amaya Snyder and Ades both had two RBI in the contest.
In the quarterfinals DMACC drew a familiar opponent, Louisburg, who defeated them two days prior. The Bears used the small ball approach, scoring one of their runs on a groundout. In the fifth, tied at one, Kearns doubled to lead off. She took third on a groundout and scored the go ahead run on a wild pitch. It was all DMACC needed as they survived and advanced with a 2-1 win. In the semifinals against Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.), they held a 2-0 lead after one and a half innings, but quickly the tide turned. The Wolfpack scored nine unanswered and would rally from down 2-0 to win 10-3. DMACC ended their season 54-12, and 5-2 in the World Series.
DMACC:
#10 DMACC def. #7 Rock Valley, 8-3 – Box Score
#2 Louisburg def. #10 DMACC, 4-1 – Box Score
#10 DMACC def. #9 Danville Area, 2-0 – Box Score
#10 DMACC def. #3 South Mountain, 6-2 – Box Score
#10 DMACC def. #1 Murray State, 9-5 – Box Score
#10 DMACC def. #2 Louisburg, 2-1 – Box Score
#5 Copiah-Lincoln defeated #10 DMACC, 10-3 – Box Score
Kirkwood, who was the eighth seed, wasted no time in their first round matchup against nine seed Danville Area (Ill.). The Eagles scored 10 runs in the first innings and 13 total unanswered, as they cruised to a 13-1 victory. Chelsea Buck hit a home run and drove in four runners and Emilee Linder went 3 for 4 with three RBIs in the game. Sailor Hall went five innings before the mercy rule, giving up just two hits and one run.
The Eagles ran into trouble in the next round, falling to Murray State 3-1. Kirkwood was tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the sixth before the Aggies scored two to take the lead. Kirkwood could only come up with three total hits in the ballgame.
Against #15 South Suburban (Ill.), Kirkwood got back to their winning ways with a 2-0 victory to stay alive. After the first inning, Hall entered the game and went the rest of the way on the mound. She only gave up five hits while striking out six. Both runs for the Eagles came from solo homers from Sydney Roe and Annie Gahan.
Kirkwood's season would end against #4 Parkland (Ill.) with a 10-2 final in six innings. Parkland scored their 10 runs on 15 hits. Kirkwood only contributed four hits on offense and on the mound both pitchers Jenna Sprague and Hall only struck out two total batters. The Eagles ended 45-18 on the season.
Kirkwood:
#8 Kirkwood def. #9 Danville Area, 13-1 – Box Score
#1 Murray State def. #8 Kirkwood, 3-1 – Box Score
#8 Kirkwood def. #15 South Suburban, 2-0 – Box Score
#4 Parkland def. #8 Kirkwood, 10-2 (6 inn.) – Box Score