Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Makayla Walleser of Kee connects for a single against Montezuma on Monday at Rogers Park.

Defending Class 1A state champion Kee made an early statement here Monday, earning a record-setting 18-1 victory over Montezuma in opening round action at Rogers Park.

The top-ranked Hawks (36-2 overall), who have made three championship games in four years, will face Westwood (30-10) on Thursday night on Diamond 1 at 7 p.m. in the semifinals.

After failing to get the leadoff runner home in the first, Kee opened the floodgates in the second with six hits and five runs. Both Kendra Cooper and Sydney Strong had two-RBI doubles in the inning.

The hot-bats of the Hawks continued in the fifth, as they plated four more, and once again in the seventh with a nine-spot highlighted by a Chloe Severson two-run homer. In the three innings they scored, Kee batted around its lineup, including 12 plate appearances in the final frame.

“We just kept it going and stayed focused,” Kee head coach Elizabeth Hill said. “We truly take it one game and one pitch at a time, and by scoring nine in the seventh, we did just that. We stayed focused for all seven innings and all 21 outs and took care of things.”

That was more than enough support for Cooper, as the junior improved to 19-1 on the year with 13 strikeouts and three hits allowed. She had a no-hitter intact until the fifth inning and assisted or made 10 of the first 12 outs in the game.

The Hawks had a perfect run through the Upper Iowa Conference and won all three regional games without allowing a run and just three hits total by Kendra and Courtney Cooper inside the circle.

Kendra Cooper finished 5-for-6 on the game with three RBI and a double, while also reaching on a fielder’s choice. Courtney Cooper was 3-for-5 and also drew a walk, Severson reached all five times up to plate and Katie Brennan had three hits.

Four other Kee batters had two hits in the game, as the Hawks set a new 1A record for hits in a game and tied the all-time record with 23. The 23rd hit was Severson’s home run blast.

Kendra Cooper also tied the 1A record for hits in a game, equaling the performance of Melinda Gerrietts of Remsen St. Mary’s from 2013. The all-time hit record of 23 was set by Carlisle four years ago.

Last year, the Hawks set a 1A team batting average record by hitting .373, which included a 7-for-9 effort by Severson — also a 1A all-time best.

Montezuma (19-13) will take to action on Wednesday in the consolation bracket, facing off against Colfax-Mingo (25-12) at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning on Diamond 1. The Bravettes, who advanced to their first state tournament with a regional final win over St. Edmond, had their seven-game win streak snapped.

KEE 18, MONTEZUMA 1

Kee 050 040 9 — 18 23 0

Montezuma 000 001 0 — 1 3 3

Kendra Cooper (W, 19-1, 7 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 13 K, 3 BB) and Chloe Severson; Hanna Jones (L, 16-11, 6+ IP, 21 H, 10 ER, 3 K, 2 BB), Kailey Jones (1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 0 BB) and Cassidy Watts.

HR–K: Chloe Severson. 2B–K: Kendra Cooper (2), Sydney Strong. RBI–K: Kendra Cooper (3), Makayla Walleser (2), Sydney Strong (4), Nicki Wood, Chloe Severson (3), Katie Brennan (2), Annabelle Dibert, Casey Welsh (2); M: Cassidy Watts. LOB–K: 12; M: 6. DP–M: 1.