Kaneland Bats Break Out in 18-3 Rout of Rochelle

Knights score 9 runs in the 3rd inning to cruise past Hubs in Interstate 8 matchup

Apr. 9, 2026 at 1:23am

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A cubist, geometric painting in navy blue, gold, and red hues, depicting the dynamic action and energy of a high school softball game through fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes.Kaneland's explosive third-inning rally propels them to a decisive victory over Rochelle in an Interstate 8 softball showdown.Ottawa Today

The Kaneland High School softball team broke out of a two-game slump, pounding out 14 hits in an 18-3 road victory over Rochelle in an Interstate 8 conference battle on Wednesday. The Knights trailed 3-2 after two innings but exploded for nine runs in the third inning to take control of the game.

Why it matters

This win helps Kaneland bounce back after losing their last two games, including their Interstate 8 conference opener. The Knights are looking to build momentum and establish themselves as a contender in the competitive conference race.

The details

Kaneland drew just one walk off Rochelle starter Ema Heller through the first two innings, but in the third they drew six walks off Heller and reliever Chloe Escatel. Lilyana Crawford led off the third with a home run to tie the game, then Addison Coulter walked and stole second. Natalie Naab singled Coulter home for a 4-3 lead and scored on a double by Makayla Jonutz. Three of the next five Knights also walked, and the two who didn't walk did damage - an RBI double by Luciana Campise and a pinch-hit RBI single by Kylie Carriere.

  • The Knights (5-4 overall, 1-1 conference) trailed 3-2 after two innings.
  • Kaneland lost their last game before this one 5-1 to MacLean on Friday, and lost their Interstate 8 opener 4-2 to Ottawa on Monday.

The players

Natalie Naab

Had an RBI double in the second inning and an RBI single in the third inning to lead the Kaneland offense.

Lilyana Crawford

Led off the third inning with a game-tying home run for Kaneland.

Ema Heller

The starting pitcher for Rochelle, who struggled with control in the third inning as Kaneland broke the game open.

Anna Criswell

The head coach of the Rochelle Hubs, who said Kaneland's patience at the plate against her pitching staff made a difference.

Mike Kuefler

The head coach of the Kaneland Knights, who was pleased with how his team made adjustments at the plate after the first two innings.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to put some hits together if we wanted to win. Our approach kind of changed a little bit. We were all talking about what we were seeing. It helped us change at the plate and adjust better.”

— Natalie Naab, Kaneland Player

“I kind of give props to Kaneland's offense for knowing what the umpire's zone was. They knew what he was and what he wasn't calling. When the hitter learns the zone, it becomes a little more challenging for our pitcher.”

— Anna Criswell, Rochelle Head Coach

“It's stuff we've been working on all season. We don't have a whole lot of games underneath yet. Practice-wise, we were indoors up until a couple weeks ago.”

— Mike Kuefler, Kaneland Head Coach

What’s next

Kaneland will look to build on this big win when they face Burlington Central on Thursday and Oswego on Friday.

The takeaway

This game showcased Kaneland's offensive firepower, as they were able to break out of a slump and score 18 runs against Rochelle. The Knights' patience at the plate and ability to make adjustments proved to be the difference, and they will look to carry this momentum into their upcoming conference matchups.