Illiana Christian’s early offense made the difference Friday, as the Vikings built a big lead and held off Kankakee Valley 12-8 in a varsity softball win.
The game took place on May 15 at Kankakee Valley High School.
The Vikings struck immediately, plating five runs in the opening inning. Lauren Mish sparked the rally with a two‑run double, followed by an RBI single from Mya VanderWoude and a two‑run knock from freshman Grayce Scheeringa.
The momentum carried into the third inning, where Illiana broke the game open with seven more runs on five hits. Sofia Dunnett lined a two‑run single, Lauren Kreykes added an RBI hit, and Olivia Daliege lifted a sacrifice fly. Mish then delivered the biggest swing of the night, clearing the bases with a three‑run double to give Illiana a commanding 12–0 lead.
Kankakee Valley refused to fold, rallying for four runs in the fifth and four more in the seventh to cut into the deficit. Still, Illiana’s early cushion proved decisive. Mish finished with five RBIs and four hits, while Kreykes went a perfect 4‑for‑4 at the plate. Scheeringa contributed two hits and two RBIs, and Dunnett added two RBIs of her own.
The Vikings’ balanced attack and timely hitting underscored their resilience, as they held off the Kougars’ late surge to secure the non‑conference victory.
