Some schools have an array of championship banners hanging from their gymnasium rafters or home-run fences, but at Valley Center it has only happened three times. That short list includes:  The 1978 girls track team, the 2018 boys tennis team, and last year’s 2022 girls softball team, which returns 90% of their team for the 2023 season.  The 2023 senior softball class is a special group, with 8 players committing to play next year at the collegiate level.  Valley Center has had a high caliber roster before, such as the 2016/2017 teams, which included Wylie Glover (Wichita State) and Ashley Thorne (UMKC), and several others that went on to play at the collegiate level.  In middle school about five years ago, some could see a unique storm brewing, that this class could be “the class” that only comes around once in a great while.  Entering high school in 2019-2020, this group came in ready to contribute as freshman, but days before the first game covid took that season away.  That group as sophomores went 17-6, establishing themselves and making the 2021 State Tournament. But they lost their opening game to Basehor-Linwood on a walk-off homerun.  A year later in 2022, they finished 23-2, winning their last 20 games to capture the 5A State Softball Title, defeating undefeated Basehor-Linwood 4-1 in extra innings.  During their championship campaign, they turned 16 double plays, and shut out their opponents 6 times in the last 11 games.  In Valley Center’s final 12 games last season, the Hornets only gave up 7 total runs, with only 4 being earned.  The 2022 VCHS Softball team had a team batting average of .387, hit 55 doubles, 12 triples, 28 home runs, and scored 224 runs.  From April 8^th to May 27^th (game 7 through game 23), the Hornets did not record a single defensive error through that 17-game span.

Mykah Klumpp, senior outfielder for Valley Center has committed to play for Western Nebraska Community College next year in Scottsbluff.  Mykah has played outfield for VCHS the past 3 years and was voted 2022 First Team All-League Outfield and Second Team All-State. She hit .333 last year (.432 o.b.p.) and had 3 homeruns and 16 RBI.  In the State Tournament she contributed 2 hits and 5 walks, getting on base 7 out of 9 plate appearances, helping set the table for some of the big VC moments that ensued against Eisenhower and Basehor Linwood.

Ainsley Kraus, senior outfielder has been a steady, consistent and productive player for Valley Center during her career with the Hornets.  She batted .348 in 2021 and .423 in 2022 and contributed 3 hits and 2 walks at the 2022 State Tournament.  She was voted second team All-League outfield in 2022 and honorable mention All-State.  Ainsley plans on attending Wichita State University and majoring in dentistry after finishing up her final year of softball and high school.

Beyond the 8 seniors previously discussed, the Hornets also have Junior second baseman Morgan Thatcher (second team all-league 2022) who brings power to the VC line-up and solidifies the middle infield with Lucy Hooper.  Junior Alyssa Crumbliss, currently on injured reserve (knee surgery), was second team All-League pitcher 2021 and second team All-League DH in 2022).  Freshman Abreya Perry has brought a great bat, defensive skills, and great instinct to this 2023 team.   Her elite speed, base running, and bunting ability has strengthened Valley Center in multiple areas and made the Hornets an even tougher match-up.  Senior Emma Taylor (utility) adds depth in the outfield and has committed to play next year for the Jets of Newman University in Wichita.  Head Coach Corey Jones enters his 17^th season with Valley Center with a 215-137 record and was named the 2022 5A State Kansas High School Coach of the Year (Women’s Sports) by media group “Sports in Kansas”, in addition to being selected the 2022 Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. 2 Coach of the Year.