DCTC Captures Third Place in Regional Tournament!

DCTC Captures Third Place in Regional Tournament!

The DCTC Blue Knights Softball team traveled to Glendive, Montana to play in the NJCCA Region 13 softball tournament May 2-4. They opened up against a very strong Bismarck State and lost the opener 16-8. Brynn Swift (Hutchinson, MN, LF So.) and Kylee McDaniels (Cottage Grove, MN, SS Fr.) led the way with 3 hits each. Summer Way (Green Bay, WI, C FR.) and Callie Adams (Lakeville, MN, DP So.) added 2 hits each. Natalie Nusbaum (Spring Lake Park 1st/P So.) had a double and 3 RBI's. Rhiannon Horien homered in the game. 


In game two facing elimination, the Blue Knights came out strong with the bats again earning a 13-10 victory over Lake Region State of North Dakota. The team collected 10 hits. Nusbaum and McDaniels were both 3-4 with 3 RBI's. Horien added 2 RBI'S to the victory! Nusbaum notched her 1st pitching win of the tournament. Chloe Lingelbach (Cannon Falls, MN, 3B/P FR.) got the save.


In the showdown again against Bismarck St. with elimination again on the line, it was back and forth the whole game going into the 7th inning when the Mystics took the lead 7-6. Down by one run in the bottom of the 7th, Preslie Annala (Proctor, MN, OF SO.) entered the batter's box and launched the first pitch over the centerfield wall to tie the game! Then the home team scratched a hit and a walk between a pop up. With one out and Horien on 2nd and Lingelbach on first, Nusbaum came to plate and hit a liner just to the right of their first baseman tipping off her glove. They decided to make a play at 2nd base when Horien took off from 2nd  base and slid safely head-first into home plate for the most exciting play of the game!   Allie Mae Sibbald (Forest Lake, MN, P/3B/1B SO.) pitched the complete game for the win eliminating Bismarck State. Nusbaum, Adams and Annala all collected two hits with 3 RBI's. Adams also hit a two-run homer! A walk-off win for the Blue Knights!!! 


In the final day of the tournament, DCTC faced the #1 seed and host Dawson Community College. Continuing the monster hitting weekend, Nusbaum starts the game with a shot off the left center field wall for a two-bagger. Next up, Swift blasts a double in the same area and the Knights are up one! The visitors weren't able to hold the Bucs down as they built a 5-1 lead into the 5th inning. DCTC stormed back with a two-run homer by Horien to get within two. The Bucs then scored two in the bottom of the 5th to make it 7-3 in after five innings. With their backs to the wall, DCTC scores 3 runs to get within one. With two outs and no one on base, Dawson battles for two more runs to win 9-6 and finish the Blue Knights' season.  Sibbald smashed out 4 hits for the day! Nusbaum, McDaniels and Horien all chipped in two hits apiece. Hannah Lemna (Lakeville, MN, C FR.) hit a double in her last collegiate at bat! 


The DCTC softball team had a very strong showing in the Regional tournament again this year! Natalie Nusbaum was named to the NJCAA Region 13 Softball All-Region team as an infielder. Preslie Annala and Allie Mae Sibbald were named honorable mention. Congratulations to Blue Knights softball on an exciting end to the 2023-2024 season!