By Matt Browning

The Valley Center softball team was chosen as the Visit Wichita Team of the Month for May. The Hornets have been one of the top teams in Class 5A this season.

Valley Center swept doubleheaders at Salina South and Salina Central this season.

The Hornets have a couple of players on their team with interesting stories.

Shortstop Lucy Hooper’s dad is Kevin Hooper, who played baseball at Wichita State and in the big leagues. He is currently an infield instructor with the Atlanta Braves.

Pitcher Tori Turner was in a terrible car accident heading to a softball tournament in Oklahoma City last summer and had to be life-flighted back to Wichita. She suffered serious injuries to her pitching shoulder.

“This year our expectations were pretty high,” head coach Corey Jones said. “We went to state last year with nine sophomores and a freshman in the lineup, so we had everybody back for this season. We have met one of the expectations so far and that is winning the league.”

Turner is 8-0 with a 2.34 ERA, while striking out 34 batters. Hooper is batting .484 this season, while Macy George is batting .527 with six home runs.

And it goes on and on for the Hornets who are a threat to win 5A.

“Sometimes it’s luck who you play first but it is always somebody good,” Jones said. “If we move runners and have good pitching, I like our chances. Defense will keep us in the game.”