The Hanover Central Varsity Wildcats walked off the Kankakee Valley Varsity Kougars 2-1 in a women’s varsity softball game Friday that was dominated by pitching and defense. With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Brooklyn Oostman grounded out to plate the winning run.
The clubs traded solo home runs in the first inning. Julia Mahmet went deep to center to give Kankakee Valley the early lead, but Sienna Stilley answered with a homer to center in the bottom half to even the score.
Jillian DeYoung was dominant in the circle for Hanover Central, going the distance and earning the win. She allowed just two hits and one run over seven innings, striking out 14 without walking a batter. Mallorie Rose took the loss for Kankakee Valley despite a strong outing — 6.1 innings, four hits, two runs (one earned), nine strikeouts, and six walks.
Mahmet led the Kougars at the plate, going 2-for-3 with the home run. Stilley reached base four times for the Wildcats with the homer and three walks, while the team drew six walks total.
