A 5-1 win over Central Lakes (#9) yesterday at the Region 13B Softball Championships has sent the #10 Ladyjacks to their first ever National Championships. The Ladyjacks improved to 27-13 and will play May 23-25 in Rochester, Minnesota at the NJCAA Division III Tournament.
After winning their opening games Thursday the Ladyjacks where waiting in the Championship game needing to be beaten twice. Central Lakes Community College defeated Northland in the B-side final to earn another shot at the Ladyjacks after losing to them in extra innings the day before.
Central Lakes won the game 3-0 forcing a deciding 2nd game.
In the final game Central Lakes scored a run in the bottom of the first inning only to have the Ladyjacks tie it in the second on a Claire Hiebert single, a sacrifice bunt by Ladaija Fitzgerald and a double by SkyLyn Karonis.
The Ladyjacks added two more runs in the third on a Hiebert double that plated Savannah Fabro and Michelle Krahn.
DCB added two final runs in the 7th inning on singles by Alysha Cantu, Stephany Ahmed and Krahn. Kassidy Cunningham shut the door for her second save in relief of starter Randee Charlo. Both pitchers were exceptional in the final giving up just 4 hits and combining for 8 strikeouts.
The Ladyjacks will join Rock Valley (Ill.) St. Cloud (Minn.), Onondaga (NY), Herkimer (NY), Brookdale (NJ), Lehigh Carbon (PA), and Suffolk County (NY) in the 8 team tournament.
Notes: DCB was chosen as the Region 13 Coaches of the Year. Stephany Ahmed, Savannah Fabro and Kassidy Cunningham were chosen All-Tournament players and Cunningham was chosen the Region 13 Tournament MVP.