Hanover Central’s lineup delivered power and consistency Thursday night, as the Wildcats rolled to a 6–1 softball victory over Valparaiso with contributions up and down the order.
The game was played May 21 at Valparaiso High School, a non‑conference softball contest that came just days after Hanover was declared the 2026 NCC champions.
Freshman Dallas Bowen set the tone in the first inning with a solo home run to right, giving Hanover immediate momentum. Valparaiso briefly answered in the second on an RBI single from Addison Simpson, but the Wildcats responded with a decisive four‑run third inning. Senior Sienna Stilley blasted a two‑run homer to left, sophomore Jillian DeYoung added an RBI single, and junior Nora Edgerton doubled in another run to make it 5–1. Hanover added a sixth‑inning insurance run to close out the scoring.
Stilley finished 2‑for‑3 with three RBIs, Bowen chipped in two hits, including her leadoff blast, and both Marisa Millsap and Kaylee Blocker added two hits apiece. Edgerton’s RBI double highlighted Hanover’s balanced attack, while seniors Kaden Poppe and Brooklyn Oostman also contributed hits.
Already crowned NCC champions last week, the Wildcats reinforced their title with a dominant team performance that showcased depth, power, and resilience.
