Sports

Ladyjacks advance to Region XIII Tournament for first time

By Tyler Ohmann

05/07/2013

It was an historic weekend for the Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) Ladyjacks softball team as they beat the North Dakota State College of Science three out of four games to advance to the Region XIII Tournament.

The Ladyjacks captured 8-5 and 12-6 wins on Friday and then won a 9-0 gem in the first game Saturday to earn the honor and move on.

DCB lost the final game to the Wildcats, but were already the winners of the state qualifier.

“We are excited to win our first ever state qualifier series to advance to the regional play,” stated Ladyjacks head coach Wayne Johnson. “This was a great way to wrap up regular season play.”

The Ladyjacks had other success earlier in the week as well when they swept Bismarck State College (BSC) on Wednesday.

Mystics sweep

DCB traveled to Bismarck for a doubleheader with the Mystics and came back with a clean sweep.

The Ladyjacks found their offensive rhythm in game one as they stroked 13 hits and scored 14 runs ina  14-4, five-inning win.

“It was a nice win and a pretty solid game for us,” Johnson stated. “We were not sharp to start the game but got our energy going both offensively and defensively midway through the contest.”

The Ladyjacks led throughout and took the lead for good with 10 runs in the final two innings.

Jess Howard had a perfect night at the plate as she was 5-for-5 with a triple and a double.

Freshman Amber Gabel was also strong at the plate as she had four runs batted in (RBI) in the big win.

Jess Audette pitched for the win for DCB as she allowed only three hits in the win.

Game two ended in the same result as game one, a win, but it got that way in a different result as DCB outlasted the Mystics in a 7-6 squeaker.

“(It was a) good comeback by the ladies in a real nail biter,” Johnson stated.

DCB was ahead early as they scored five runs in the first three innings and Audette again started out strong on the mound.

However, Audette waned in the middle innings and allowed the Mystics to take a 6-5 lead after five innings.

Bethany Colman rapped a double to lead off the sixth and Dariann Freer drove in two runs with a double later in the inning to give the Ladyjacks the lead for good.

Danielle Gibson earned the save as she relieved Audette and pitched the final two innings without allowing a Mystics run.

“This was really a sweet two game sweep. We had good pitching from Jess and Danielle, swung the bats well, and played very solid defense,” Johnson stated. “I was especially happy with the play of our infield.”

Howard was strong for DCB in the two games as she was 7-for-9 in the sweep.

Colman, Nichole Peters, Freer, Sherry Chan and Gabel all had a pair of hits in the game two win.

Sweet taste of victory on day one

With victories in the bag early in the week the Ladyjacks looked to do more of the same as they hoped to knock off NDSCS by winning three of the four games against them over the weekend.

DCB did a good job of starting out as they came from behind to win game one on Friday in Wahpeton.

The Ladyjacks opened up a 4-1 lead after four, but the Wildcats scored four runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth to steal the lead back.

DCB kicked into action in the top of the seventh and scored four more runs to give themselves an 8-5 cushion, which held up to be an 8-5 win.

“What a great, gut check win for the Jacks in a big game setting,” Johnson stated. “It was a great team effort in a pivotal game in our series with the Wildcats.”

Freer was again the offensive catalyst for DCB as she hit a run-scoring triple to kick off the seventh inning rally. Jess Carson finished off the rally as she ripped a two-run home run, the first DCB home run of the season, to give DCB the lead for good.

Audette was again sensational on the mound, striking out 14 batters.

The Ladyjacks kept the offense and their winning ways rolling in game two on Friday as they downed the Wildcats again, this time in a more convincing 12-6 fashion.

DCB jumped out early with three runs in the first and two more in the second. The Wildcats scored three in the third to try and catch up, but DCB added two more in the fourth, three in the fifth and a pair in the seventh to earn the victory.

“I was happy with our at bats in this game obviously, as as we rapped out 17 hits,” Johnson stated. “We were aggressive at the plate and on the bases.”

Howard, Peters and Gabel each had a trio of hits to pace the Ladyjacks offense, while Gibson pitched a strong game.

“She kept the Wildcats off balance with her nifty change of speeds and had excellent control,” Johnson stated of Gibson. “She scattered nine hits without allowing a base on balls.”

Advancement to regions

In dominating fashion the Ladyjacks punched their ticket for regions in Minnesota with a 9-0 blowout of the Wildcats in Saturday’s first game.

“We saved our most complete game of the season for one of our biggest games of the season,” Johnson stated. “We needed one win today to advance to the Region XIII Tournament and left no doubt that we were ready.”

Audette was stellar on the mound as she scattered four hits and didn’t allow a run in seven innings while striking out seven. DCB also was errorless in the field and got 15 hits from their offense.

Freer and Chan each had three hits a piece, but Carson again came up big, ripping a three-run home run in the third that blew they game wide open.

After five straight victories DCB finally fell in the fourth game of the weekend to the Wildcats 10-2. However, DCB had already advanced to regions.

“We certainly were not as sharp in our final game versus the Wildcats as in our previous three games but we had accomplished our mission by this time,” Johnson stated. “To their credit, they really hit the ball well and made a number of good plays in the field.”

NDSCS hit the ball from the get go as they had 16 hits and scored runs in five of the six innings.
Freer had two of DCB’s five hits in the loss.

Johnson was just proud of the accomplishment of the team.

“Our goal was to come to Wahpeton and win three and we got that done early,” Johnson stated. “We really hit the ball well and looked solid in the field.”

DCB advances to the Region XIII finals for the first time with games at either International Falls, Minn. or Hibbing, Minn., on May 9-10.

Wherever they play, Johnson and the Ladyjacks are just happy they made it.