Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Kaylin Kinney of Cedar Rapids Kennedy connects for a double against Pleasant Valley on Monday at Rogers Park. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

What makes Cedar Rapids Kennedy so tough to defeat is the fact that the Cougars are far from just a one player team.

Kaylin Kinney, who had not allowed an earned run in 51 innings entering this week, surrendered three to Pleasant Valley on Monday in the Class 5A state quarterfinals.

But that wasn’t near enough to slow down the Nebraska recruit or her team.

Kinney helped her own cause with one of four home runs hit in the game, leading the Cougars to a commanding 10-4 victory and into the semifinals where they will meet Muscatine. That game is set for Wednesday at 11 a.m. on Veterans Diamond.

Kennedy (24-1 overall) features six players who have signed to play softball in college including Kinney, who struck out six in six innings. She also finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored.

Mya Dodge added a home run and drove in three, with Keaton Gerber also going yard for the Cougars. Abby Spore drove in two and Alyssa Martin added an RBI.

Kennedy jumped on the Spartans early, scoring solo runs in the first and second before plating two in the third. With Pleasant Valley (17-7) pulling within 4-3 in the sixth, the Cougars exploded for six runs in the frame on five hits with three walks.

The Spartans, who won back-to-back state titles in 2017 and ’18, did not qualify last season. Emily Wood had two hits and scored two runs while Christin Hartman struck out seven in relief.

CEDAR RAPIDS KENNEDY 10, PLEASANT VALLEY 4

Pleasant Valley 000 102 1 — 4 6 0

CR Kennedy 112 006 x — 10 10 0

WP — Kaylin Kinney (10-0, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 6 K, 0 BB); LP — Sophia Lindquist (10-3, 1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 0 K, 1 BB).

2B — PV: Jessi Meyer; CRK: Mya Dodge, Kaylin Kinney, Mary Krystofiak. 3B — PV: Emily Wood. HR — PV: Kaitlyn Drish; CRK: Mya Dodge, Kaylin Kinney, Keaton Gerber. RBI — PV: Emily Wood, Sophia Lindquist, Peggy Klinger, Kaitlyn Drish; CRK: Kaylin Kinney (3), Mya Dodge (3), Abby Spore (2), Keaton Gerber, Alyssa Martin. SB – PV: Emily Wood. LOB — PV: 1; CRK: 5.