The DCB Ladyjacks softball team opens up their 2020 season this weekend with games vs Williston State College, Lake Region State College and North Dakota State College of Science.
The Ladyjacks are coming off a season which saw them finish with a school record 28 wins (16 losses) and a 6th place finish at the NJCAA Division III National Tournament. The Ladyjacks are ranked 9th in the pre-season rankings to open up this season and they are lead by a large group of returning sophomores.
The loss of All-American pitcher Kassidy Cunningham to the NCAA after just one year with the Ladyjacks certainly hurts the pitching staff but Coach Mike Smith has a solid group of California pitchers to rely on in 2020.
Destiny Lewis red-shirted last season and looks to be the Ladyjacks #1 chucker. Freshman Twins Vivionna and Vannity Robles look to be the other main starters for DCB. SS Brittney "Mouse" Villalobos will also get some time in the circle.
The team is lead at the plate by a group of hard hitting infielders. SS Michelle Krahn batted .440 with 9 doubles, 1 triple and 4 HRs her freshman year. 3B Savannah Fabro hit .380 with a team leading 44 RBI. 1B Elisa Clay batted .316 and looks primed to have a big year batting in the middle of the Ladyjacks line-up. 2B Ladaija Fitzgerald batted .322 and gives DCB yet another power source from the infield.
Catchers Claire Hiebert and SkyLyn Karonis both return and supply important experience behind the plate.
All-Conference and All-Region CF Stephanie Ahmed gives the team a proven top end center fielder. Ahmed batted .326 with 5 triples and 12 stolen bases adding speed to the top of the line-up.
OF Haley Crawford and Utility player Summer DarcAngelo also return and provide solid defense and speed on the bases.
Villalobos and North Dakota product Lauren Gangl join the infield with the Robles sisters likely starting in the outfield when they are not pitching. Gangl will join the Ladyjack softball team when her basketball season is completed.
The schedule for February 1st is as follows: vs Williston State College 12:15pm, vs Lake Region State College 4:15pm
Sunday Feb. 2: vs North Dakota State College of Science 8:00am
All games will be played as part of the MonDak Pre-Conference Tournament at the Minot Bubble.