ROCHESTER, Minn. – For the second consecutive season, Rock Valley (Ill.) defeated Herkimer (N.Y.) in the NJCAA Division III Softball Championship Game. This year’s edition saw the top-seeded Golden Eagles hold off a seventh-inning push from the No. 2 seed Generals for a 3-2 victory.

Spurring Rock Valley on to victory was freshman pitcher Morgan Adolph. For her dominance throughout the tournament, she was named the championship’s Most Valuable Player and received the Most Outstanding Pitcher award.

Sophomore catcher Vivi Marquez excelled as well for the Golden Eagles, earning the Most Outstanding Offensive Player award. Rock Valley sophomore first baseman Kaytee Keefe received the Marucci Elite Hitter award, while sophomore third baseman Haley Love was tabbed Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the tournament. The trio was joined by Golden Eagles freshman pitcher Katie Starkey and freshman left fielder Abby Kissack on the all-tournament team.

Rock Valley began its quest for the championship with an 18-0 run-rule victory over Allegheny County-South (Pa.) in the opening round. The Golden Eagles defeated St. Cloud Tech (Minn.) 4-1 in the quarterfinals before topping Herkimer for the first time in the tournament with a 2-1 win in the semifinals.

Rock Valley finished off the season with a 52-5 record after the title game victory. Herkimer dropped to 38-9 for the year with both of their only two losses DIII opponents coming at the hands of the Golden Eagles.

-- Courtesy of NJCAA.org