#1 Wildcats Win Region XIII Championship

The Wildcats Softball Team played in the Region XIII Postseason in St. Cloud, MN on Thursday and Friday this past week.  The Wildcats went a perfect 3-0 to win their fifth straight Region XIII Championship.

The Wildcats first took on Ridgewater where they prevailed by a score of 6-1 behind great pitching and defense.  Ella Stewart got the start for the 'Cats where she had a great game going five innings giving up three hits and one earned run.  Stewart struck out nine of the 17 batters that she faced.  Heeley Taylor came in for relief and pitched two innings giving up only one hit and zero runs.  Katie Edmonds had a multi-hit game where she went 2-4 with a run scored.  The story of the game was the base running and the defense for the Wildcats.  NDSCS stole a total of 12 bases on the game with Meridith Frey stealing four bags to add to her school record.  The defense turned multiple double plays and had only one error on the game.

Game two saw the Wildcats blank St. Cloud Technical & Community College by a score of 8-0.  Grace Folkema was outstanding on the day giving up one hit and two walks.  Folkema struck out 13 of the 18 batters that she faced being almost untouchable all game.  NDSCS provided runs early and often as they put up eight runs in just four innings.  Emma Johnson went a perfect 3-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs.  Six other Wildcats contributed to the RBIs where NDSCS scored eight runs on nine hits with zero errors to advance to the championship game.

The championship was highlighted by a monster first inning for the 'Cats as they scored seven runs in the first inning.  St. Cloud TCC answered with three runs of their own in the third inning to make it a 7-3 game.  Emma Johnson got the start and the win for the Wildcats going four innings giving up five hits and three earned runs with five strikeouts.  Taylor and Folkema both came in for relief in the game.  Kendyl Moss had three hits including two doubles with an RBI and two runs scored.  Rayelle Cooley went 2-5 with three RBIs while Caitlyn Dannenfelzer, Johnson, and Taylor each had two RBIs.  The Wildcats were very solid at the plate scoring 12 runs on 13 hits to top SCTCC by a score of 12-5 to win their fifth straight Region XIII Championship.

NDSCS will now host Joliet College on Tuesday May 13 at 3 PM and 5 PM at the Gayle Miller Softball Complex.  There will be a free will donation with hamburgers and hot dogs to be provided for fans.  There will be an "if necessary" game three hosted on Wednesday.