Joliet takes Region 4 title en route to third place at NJCAA National Tournament
JOLIET, ILL. - Joliet Junior College successfully defended its Region 4 Division III Softball Tournament championship in 2026 with a sweep of a best-of-three series with the College of DuPage on May 1. The Wolves won by scores of 8-3 and 13-3 in five innings for their second straight crown. (Recap: Joliet)
Joliet JC used a four-run third inning to break open the day's first game. After the Chaparrals trimmed their deficit down to 5-2 in the fourth, the Wolves added two runs in the fifth before both teams scored a run in their respective half of the sixth. Rightfielder Taylor Wells was 3 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored, and one batted in, while third baseman Skylar Welcome followed in the lineup with two hits, three RBI, and a run scored. Pitcher Karli McMillin tossed all seven innings and limited COD to three runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out two.
Game two also featured a big third inning for the Wolves, who turned a 2-2 tie into an 11-2 differential with nine runs in the frame. They added two more in the fourth before the game ended via run rule. Designated player D'arcy Ness hit a home run as part of a 2 for 4 effort with three runs batted in and two runs scored. Three others had multiple hits, including catcher Lea Herkel with two hits, two runs, and two RBI. Averi Jury allowed two earned runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings of work.
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The Region 4 championship advanced Joliet Junior College to the NJCAA North Plains B District Championship against Region 13 champion St. Cloud Technical & Community College on May 8. The Wolves again needed just two games to win the series as they took down the Cyclones 3-0 and 12-0. (Recap: Joliet)
The Wolves took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning of the series' opener, and maintained a one-run edge until the sixth inning. They added a pair of insurance runs sixth before closing out the win. The team's top four hitters in the lineup accounted for all five of their hits, led by pitcher Karli McMillin with two hits, one run driven in, and one run scored. In the circle, she struck out seven batters and scattered six hits over seven scoreless innings.
Much like the Region 4 series, JJC took care of business in five innings to earn the sweep with a five-inning victory for another shutout win. The Wolves put up multiple runs in each of the first three innings, scoring three in the first and four runs in both the second and third innings. McMillin, Skylar Welcome, and Avery Scheuer each hit a home run in the game, with McMillin and Welcome each driving in four runs. Averi Jury three a one-hit shutout over five innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
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DEWITT, N.Y. - Joliet Junior College was awarded the #3 seed for the 2026 NJCAA Division III Softball World Series from May 20-23, and went 3-2 in the double-elimination tournament to finish third in the nation.
After an 8-0 loss to #6 Patrick & Henry Community College in the opening round, the Wolves recovered to win three straight games in the loser's bracket. They got back on track with a 4-2 defeat of #7 Suffolk County Community College before routing #4 Corning Community College 13-3 in five innings. A rematch with PHCC resulted in a 3-2 victory to put the Wolves one win away from a spot in the championship. in a semifinal showdown with # Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute, JJC was held to one hit and lost a narrow 2-0 contest to earn the third place trophy following a 44-15 season. (Joliet Recaps: Game 1 | Game 2 & 3 | Games 4 & 5)