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 1^st/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 1^st 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 7^th inning when the Mystics took the lead 7-6. Down by one run in the bottom of the 7^th, 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 2^nd 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 2^nd base when Horien took off from 2^nd  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 5^th 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 5^th 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!