2019 Softball News
NO ONE BETTER: RVC's Crown repeats as DIII Pitcher of the Year
June 25, 2019
The numbers speak for themselves over a brilliant two-year career, and as a result, Rock Valley College's Breanna Crown was named the 2019 Dudley® NJCAA Division III Softball Pitcher of the Year. The sophomore righthander from Davis Junction, Illinois, picks up the honor for the second consecutive year as she caps a record-setting stay with the national champion Golden Eagles.
NJCAA selects 46 Region IV student-athletes to spring All-American teams
June 13, 2019
The National Junior College Athletic Association released its list of All-Americans for the 2019 spring sports season and an impressive 46 student-athletes from Region IV were recognized. The group includes nine in baseball, five in softball, two in men's golf, eight in women's track & field, and 22 from men's track & field. Triton College and Harper College combined for 30 All-Americans in track & field, while Madison College boasts four honorees, and Rock Valley College touts three recipients
NEW HORIZONS: Rock Valley wins unprecedented sixth NJCAA title, Madison & Kankakee bow out early
May 29, 2019
The path to the title may have been different, but in the end the Rock Valley College softball team made history by winning its sixth straight NJCAA Division III National Championship to become the first program in any division to accomplish the feat. In a rematch of last year's title game, the top-seeded Golden Eagles up-ended #2-seeded Herkimer Community College (NY) by a 6-1 final in a decisive, winner-take-all championship game #2 in Rochester, Minnesota. The title run capped a 57-13 season to mark the program's third consecutive 50-win campaign.
Kankakee's Cole, Waubonsee's Eby get top billing for DII
May 21, 2019
Waubonsee Community College's Alyssa Eby and Kankakee Community College's Mikayla Cole were voted the top players among the 2019 Region IV Division II District B & C All-Region Teams. Eby is joined freshman Jordan Martin of Madison College and sophomore Brenna McCann from Illinois Valley Community College as the three All-American nominees from Region IV District B, while Cole, Triton College sophomore Hailey Johansen, and Prairie State College sophomore Alyssa Gill received the All-American nods for Region IV District C. Kankakee Community College led all teams with five all-region honorees, while Waubonsee Community College and Triton College each had four. South Suburban College boasts the most first team recipients with three.
Kankakee, Madison, Rock Valley continue title hunt at national tournaments
May 21, 2019
Three teams will represent Region IV when they begin pursuit of a national championship this week, including one program looking to make some history. Kankakee Community College and Madison College both take the field in Clinton, Mississippi, on Wednesday, May 22 at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, while five-time defending champion Rock Valley College will attempt to become the first program to ever win six consecutive national crowns in softball at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament in Rochester, Minnesota, starting Thursday, May 23.
RVC's Crown makes it four national pitcher of the week awards during sophomore season
May 16, 2019
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has selected Rock Valley College's Breanna Crown as the Division III Pitcher of the Week for May 6-12 (Week 16). The honor is the fourth of the year - and seventh of her career - for Crown, and marks the sixth such award for Rock Valley College this season.
Crown headlines Division III All-Region honorees
May 16, 2019
Rock Valley College sophomore Breanna Crown may soon run out of room on the mantle place as the outstanding pitcher continues to compile award after award. Crown was the top vote-getter for the 2019 Region IV Division III All-Region Team, making this the seventh straight year the honor has gone to a member of the Golden Eagles. She is joined by freshmen Ashley Phelps of Joliet Junior College and Megen Johnson of Rock Valley College as the region's All-American nominations. Nine Rock Valley College players made the all-region team, the most of any program, while Joliet Junior College was second with seven honorees.
Kankakee, Madison repeat as Region IV DII champions with impressive showings
May 15, 2019
FREEPORT, ILL. - Two teams played head and shoulders above the rest at the Region IV Division II Softball Tournament, and as a result, Madison College and Kankakee Community College earned repeat championships on Sunday. The top-seeded WolfPack claimed the District B title for the second time in program history after defeating Prairie State College 7-0 in the title game, while the top-seeded Cavaliers used a 16-5 win over Illinois Valley Community College to earn the District C trophy for an impressive 20th straight year.
Rock Valley survives test to win seventh Region IV title
May 14, 2019
ROCKFORD, ILL. - It may not have come as easy as other years, but in the end, Rock Valley College remained the NJCAA Region IV Division III Softball Tournament champions for a seventh consecutive year. The top-seeded Golden Eagles were taken to the limit by second-seeded Joliet Junior College before eventually claiming the crown with a 5-0 victory in the second title game. Rock Valley College is in pursuit of a record sixth NJCAA national title.
Crown of Rock Valley makes it three NJCAA Pitcher of the Week honors
April 26, 2019
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has named Rock Valley College's Breanna Crown as the Division III Softball Pitcher of the Week for April 15-21 (Week 13). The honor is the third time this season - and the sixth time in her career - that Crown has been recognized as the best in the nation, while also marking the fifth weekly honor overall for the Golden Eagles this season.
Gill of Prairie State nabs NJCAA Player of the Week honor
April 19, 2019
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has named Prairie State College's Alyssa Gill as the NJCAA Division II Softball Player of the Week for April 8-14 (Week 12). The honor is the first such award for Gill, and the first this season for the Pioneers.
Kankakee's Lanie runs to NJCAA Player of the Week honor
April 12, 2019
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has named Kankakee Community College's Matti Lanie as the Division II Softball Player of the Week for April 1-7 (Week 11). The award is the first for Lanie, and the first this season for the Cavaliers.
Joliet's Phelps nabs NJCAA DIII Player of the Week
April 05, 2019
The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has named Joliet Junior College's Ashley Phelps as the Division III Softball Player of the Week for March 25-31 (Week 10). The award is the first such honor for Phelps, and the first for the Wolves this season.
RVC sweeps NJCAA weekly awards for second time as Crown, Alexander earn honors
March 22, 2019
For the second time in three weeks, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) named a Rock Valley College tandem as the Division III Player and Pitcher of the Week for March 11-17 (Week 8). Breanna Crown earned the top pitcher honor for the second time this season, while Cara Alexander took home her first career award as the top position player. The top-ranked and five-time defending national champion Golden Eagles now boast four weekly honors this season.
Rock Valley's Johnson, Crown sweep NJCAA Player of the Week awards
March 08, 2019
The five-time defending NJCAA Division III National Champions Rock Valley College Golden Eagles, rebounded from an 0-3 start and have won seven straight games, including all six at the N4C Dome Jamboree from March 1-3. The success is due, in part, to the stellar play of sophomore Breanna Crown and freshman Megen Johnson, who swept the NJCAA DIII Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week awards for February 25-March 3 (Week 6).