The DCB Ladyjacks improved their record to 9-4 after 6 wins at the Minnesota Classic softball tournament in the Irish Dome at Rosemount, Minnesota.
It was the first time in the program's history that the Ladyjacks had won 6 at this annual tournament. They accomplished this with just 11 healthy bodies, all freshman, and just two pitchers.
DCB was lead by freshman starting pitcher Kassidy Cunningham who went 4-0 on the weekend giving up just 3 runs in 23.67 innings and striking out an incredible 40 batters.
On Monday the Ladyjacks defeated St. Cloud TCC 5-2 with Cunningham going the distance in the circle. Stephany Ahmed, Sky Lyn Karonis and Summer Darc Angelo all had two hits in the win.
In game two the Ladyjacks jumped out to a 3 -0 lead in the 2nd inning and held on for a 5-3 win over Lake Region State College. Randy Charlo pitched the first 3 1/3 while Cunningham picked up her second win in relief going the last 3.2/3 innings. Michelle Krahn and Karonis had two-hit games with Karonis hitting her first homerun of the season.
The final game Monday saw DCB defeat Itasca Community College 10-2. Charlo picked up the win going 5 innings while Cunningham closed out the final 2. Charlo and Cunningham each had two hits while Krahn, Elisa Clay and Savannah Fabro each added a pair of hits.
On Tuesday the Ladyjacks rolled over and inexperienced Vermillion College team 18-0 in 5 innings. Charlo went the distance striking out 12 for her second win of the season. Fabro picked up three hits while Haley Crawford had a double and a triple. Krahn, Ladaija Fitzgerald and Charlo all added two hits.
In the rematch it was a pitching dual between Cunningham and St. Cloud's S. Patton. Patton would give up just 5 hits striking out 7 while Cunningham gave up just 4 hits and struck out 12. The Ladyjacks would win 4-0 in a hard fought battle. Cunningham helped her cause with a pair of doubles.
The final game of the tournament saw DCB again defeat Itasca, this time by a score of 6-0. Cunningham picked up her fourth win of the tournament going 4 strong innings. Charlo pitched the final two innings for the Ladyjacks 6th win in a row. Claire Hiebert and Ahmed each added a pair of hits.
The Ladyjacks defeated the pre-season #8 team Itasca twice , and defeated one of the top teams in Minnesota South, St. Cloud to push their overall record to 9-4.
The Ladyjacks are scheduled to play a home and home double-header series with Williston this weekend. It has already been decided that they will not be playing in Bottineau and it is expected that the teams will meet in Williston for double-headers Saturday and Sunday March 30 and 31.