DCTC Blue Knights Baseball (37-16) Region XIII Champions
The DCTC Blue Knights captured the 2025 Region XIII Championship this past weekend in Williston, ND!
Region XIII Game 1
DCTC Blue Knights defeated Miles CC Pioneers 8-0 on Friday as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. LJ Manning and Austin Madler each pitched for the Blue Knights in the game.
Evan Nelson collected three hits in five at bats in the win. Nelson hit a solo home run to left field in the ninth inning, doubled in the eighth inning, and singled in the second inning.
DCTC got on the board in the top of the second inning after Jun Moeller tripled to center field, Teddy Heller grounded out, Nate Heymann singled to center field, and George Anderson singled to center field, each scoring one run.
A single by Heller extended the Blue Knights lead to 5-0 in the top of the third inning.
Manning earned the win for DCTC: the UNLV commit surrendered two hits and zero runs over eight innings, striking out 10 and walking one. Mayson Shively began the game for Miles CC Pioneers. The pitcher surrendered six hits and four runs over two innings, striking out two and walking none. Madler tossed one inning of no-run ball for DCTC in relief. The righty allowed zero hits, striking out one and walking none.
The Blue Knights accumulated 12 hits in the game. Heller, Moeller, and Nelson each drove in two runs. Moeller and Anderson each stole multiple bases. DCTC ran wild on the base paths, tallying eight stolen bases for the game.
With the win the Blue Knights advanced to the Winners game at 7pm vs Bismarck State.
Blue Knights Win 11-1 vs Bismarck State
Nate Heymann collected three hits in three at bats as DCTC defeated the Mystics 11-1 on Friday night.
DCTC jumped out to the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Brady Schafer doubled, scoring two runs, Jun Moeller grounded out, scoring one run, and Nick Brandt singled, scoring one run. DCTC added one run in the second after Schafer doubled down the left field line on an 0-2 count.
Kane Sheahan earned the win for the Blue Knights. The starter allowed six hits and one run over six innings, striking out two and walking two. Cole Shirley started on the hill for Mystics. The pitcher surrendered six hits and five runs (four earned) over two innings, striking out one and walking one.
DCTC tallied 11 hits in the game. Schafer drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Blue Knights with three runs batted in. The first baseman went 2-for-4 on the day. Teddy Heller and Brandt each collected multiple hits.
The game ended in the 6th inning due to run rule 11-1. With the win DCTC moves into the Region XIII Championship Game.
DCTC sweeps the Region XIII Tournament, beating Bismarck State 10-6
Mystics were the first to get on the board in the first when Caleb Gimbel grounded out, scoring one run.
Nate Heymann hit a sacrifice fly, which helped DCTC tie the game at one in the bottom of the second.
In the bottom of the third, DCTC broke up the tie when Jun Moeller doubled, scoring two runs. Then a sacrifice fly by Teddy Heller followed to extend the lead to 4-1.
Three more DCTC runs crossed the plate in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 9-1. Evan Nelson doubled, scoring one run, and Nick Brandt homered to left field, scoring two runs.
Carter Simonson earned the win for the Blue Knights. The right-handed pitcher allowed one hit and one run over six innings, striking out four and walking three. Alex Panitzke started the game for Mystics. The pitcher allowed six hits and six runs over four innings, striking out three and walking four. Cooper Sanders collected the save. Taylor Morrissette and Lake Hagen each appeared in relief for DCTC.
DCTC piled up 13 hits in the game. Heller, Moeller, Reese Tripp, Heymann, and Brandt each collected two hits. Heller, Moeller, Heymann, and Brandt each drove in two runs.
DCTC will now represent Region XIII in the North Plains District Championship, beginning Friday at 3pm at Iowa Central. Friday is 1 game, Saturday 1pm start with the IF necessary game to follow 45 minutes after.
All Region Awards:
MVP: LJ Manning
All Region Team:
LJ Manning – LHP (SO)
Nate Heymann – OF/P (SO)
Brady Schafer – 1B (SO)
Evan Nelson – SS (FR)
Region XIII Coach of the Year: Blaine Barthel