V-Hawk Season Comes to a Close on the Road

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- In a must-win game of the CCAC Tournament, the V-Hawks came up just short in extra innings to fall to the Crimson Wave of Calumet. Despite a 13-run performance, the V-Hawks were unable to top the Crimson Wave, dropping to 21-28 to close out the 2026 season. With the loss, the V-Hawks still had one of their best seasons in program history. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

In the first inning, the Crimson Wave struck first, putting up two runs immediately. The V-Hawks didn't score in the second inning, but the Crimson Wave came back swinging again, adding three more runs to their total and going up 5-0 over the V-Hawks. In the top of the third, Elie Klar put the V-Hawks on the board with a double that ran in Ava Anderson and Courtney Denton. The Crimson Wave responded with two more in the bottom of the third to go up 7-2. 

In the fourth inning, the V-Hawks broke open the scoring, putting up six runs. 

• Natalie Martin singled to run in Marissa Carter-Olson
• Alexis Watson found home plate stealing
• Ava Anderson doubled to run in both Courtney Denton and Natalie Martin
• Elie Klar tripled to bring in Ava Anderson
• Makella Jacobs tripled to bring in Elie Klar

With their massive fourth inning, the V-Hawks took the 8-7 lead over the Crimson Wave. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Calumet responded with a couple of their own to take the 10-8 lead. The V-Hawks continued fighting, adding five runs between the fifth and sixth innings, allowing none from the Crimson Wave in the fifth. 

• Courtney Denton singled to run in Alexis Watson
• Ava Anderson singled to run in Rylee Koeller
• Alexis Watson sent a double to left field to bring in Aydenn Sutton
• Rylee Koeller also doubled to bring in Alexis Watson
• Rylee Koeller made her way home on a wild pitch

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Crimson Wave were able to score three more runs to tie the competition at 13-13. In the seventh inning, neither team was able to score, pushing the competition to extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Calumet hit a walk-off single that brought in their final run of the game to take the 14-13 victory. 

Throughout the game, many V-Hawks shined. Courtney Denton led the way with four hits in five appearances, while Ava Anderson and Elie Klar added three hits and three RBIs each in their appearances. Other hits on the game came from Makayla Nortman, Makella Jacobs, Marissa Carter-Olson, Alexis Watson, Rylee Koeller, and Natalie Martin. 

At the mound, Sydnie Newell pitched the first two innings of the game for the V-Hawks, allowing two hits and five runs. She threw 62 pitches that resulted in 32 strikes and one strikeout. Alexis Watson picked up the end of the game, pitching 5.2 innings, allowing 13 hits and nine runs. Watson threw 130 pitches for 74 strikes and two strikeouts. 

With the loss, the V-Hawks' season comes to a close.