2022-2023 NDSCS Softball – Journey to the National Championship

A Journey to Becoming National Champions

REGULAR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

NDSCS began conference play with their first-ever No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA Division III. During a rough early Spring with prolonged winter weather, the Wildcats were unable to play some of their scheduled games, weather caused delays in travel, and the team had to push through long practices and distance games, when the weather cooperated. Softball team members traveled across the country in a bus, through at least 12 states, seeing countless US landmarks, staying in numerous hotels, eating great food, and spending quality bonding time together. They played hard, laughed a lot, encouraged each other, and grew as individuals and a strong team along the way.

As the Spring season progressed, Wildcat Softball maintained a No. 2 national ranking. Once May rolled around and the weather perked up, the Wildcats had to work hard to maintain their record before the upcoming playoff season.

Wildcats Win Awards

Throughout Regular Season

Other awards received during the season (prior to the National tournament run) include:

• Mon-Dak MVP – Katelyn Strauss

• All-Conference – Avery Martin, Shai Pachel

• All- Region – Katelyn Strauss, Shai Pachel, Avery Martin, Karissa Comer

• All-Region Tourney Team – Katelyn Strauss, Avery Martin, Grace Foster, Riley Tappy (Katelyn was named MVP)

REGION 13 TOURNAMENT BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK REGION XIII CHAMPIONS

On May 11-12, 2023, NDSCS Softball team traveled to Cambridge, MN to compete in the NJCAA Region XIII Championship series.

During their first game on Thursday, May 11th, NDSCS defeated Saint Cloud Tech with a final score of 9-3. That win led the Wildcats to play Anoka-Ramsey Community College, who had also won their first game. A final score of 6-1 secured the Wildcats’ spot in the Championship game.

On Friday, NDSCS took on Anoka-Ramsey College for a final time. After an impressive win with the final score of 12-4, the Wildcat Softball team became back-to-back-to-back (that’s 3 years in a row!) Region XIII Champions.

KATELYN STRAUSS

was named the #1 pitcher in the nation with the highest number of strikeouts for the spring 2023 season (finishing the season with 306 strikeouts). Katelyn is also number 1 in the NJCAA for appearances, innings pitched, and wins, and is a back-to-back Mon-Dak MVP. Katelyn graduated from NDSCS in Building Construction Technology, and has signed with UND to continue her education and her softball career.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS

Eight student athletes from the softball team were slated to graduate from NDSCS that Friday, but instead of walking across the stage for their diploma during the 2023 Commencement ceremony, they received a different kind of award – an NJCAA Region XIII championship plaque.

From here, the Wildcats prepared to travel to DeWitt, NY on May 24-27 to compete in the NJCAA DIII World Series for the third consecutive year.

NDSCS TRAVELED TO THE 2023 NJCAA DIII WORLD ON MAY 24-27, 2023

On Friday, May 19th, NDSCS held a Softball send-off celebration at the Gayle Miller Softball Field before the team was set to depart Wahpeton for the national tournament in New York. A crowd gathered, and Stu Engen, Athletic Director gave a speech to the team and handed out a bag of games for on the bus. The Alumni Foundation handed out treat bags for each of the players and coaches. On Saturday, the team buckled down for their final practice on their home field for this season.

WORLD SERIES

The team stayed in Wahpeton until after the NJCAA bracket announcement on Sunday morning, May 21st. During the bracket announcement, NDSCS was named as the No. 1 seed in the national tournament!

The team left Wahpeton on Sunday afternoon and traveled over the following few days to Syracuse, New York. They cruised through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and finally arrived in New York on Monday morning, May 22nd. They even got to see Niagara Falls during their trip on Monday.

On Tuesday, May 23rd, the Wildcats had their last practice before the tournament started on Wednesday, May 24th. Opening ceremonies on the evening of May 23rd meant the start of the last leg of the Wildcat season — the national championship series.

GAME 1 (WEDNESDAY) NDSCS VS. MN NORTH – ITASCA

FINAL SCORE: NDSCS 5 MN North – Itasca 3

GAME 2 (WEDNESDAY)

NDSCS VS. HERKIMER COLLEGE

FINAL SCORE:

NDSCS 8 Herkimer 4

GAME 3 (THURSDAY)

NDSCS VS. CORNING

After a tough game with a close final score, Corning handed NDSCS their first loss of the double-elimination tournament. The Wildcats were defeated 2-3, moving them down to the elimination bracket.

GAME 4 (FRIDAY) NDSCS VS. HERKIMER COLLEGE

The Wildcats knew that this was a last-chance game, and they had to use this chance to fight their way out of the elimination bracket and back toward a chance at the National title.

A loss here, and the Wildcats’ journey in the national tournament was over.

NDSCS’s early lead was cut short by a five-run fourth inning by the Herkimer Generals. The Wildcats tied the game in the fifth inning, and the game carried on.

It took some extra time and patience, but during the eighth inning, NDSCS pulled ahead to a final score of 8-5, putting them back in the championship game(s) on Saturday! Review

GAME 5 (SATURDAY) NDSCS VS. CORNING CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 1

Corning Red Barons (No. 2 seed) entered Saturday’s contests without a tournament loss, meaning the Wildcats needed to beat them twice to win the championship title in the double-elimination tournament.

With an early lead in the game, Wildcats looked like they were going for payback from the earlier tournament loss to the Red Barons. The game went back and forth, with Corning stringing together a lead in the third inning. Fortunately, in the top of the 5th inning, the score turned around in the Wildcats’ favor, creating a 7-3 lead.

In the sixth inning, Takiah Landes robbed a home run with an over-the-fence grab! By the end of the game, the Wildcats won with an amazing 11-4 final score.

Winning Game 1 of the Championship was a huge accomplishment for the Wildcats, and was made possible by major plays from numerous members of the team. Wildcats had outstanding plays during that game to help clinch the win. Amanda Hiner hit a home run, Shai Pachel had 3 hits (a double and a triple) during the game to make a big impact, and Karissa Comer went 3 for 4 on the day. TK Landes also had a big double and a triple to help support the Wildcats.

The game 1 win was key for the Wildcats – it showed they could play with Corning and knock their best pitcher around for 11 runs, which was only her third loss of the year, and forced them to start a different pitcher in Game 2.

Now the pressure was really on, as the Wildcat were set to play one more game for double elimination to get the championship title.

GAME 6 (SATURDAY) NDSCS VS. CORNING CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 2

Championship Game 2 was a winner-takes-all game with the highest stakes possible. Win the National Championship, or go home defeated.

Game 2 was highlighted by Ashley Bisping coming in relief and throwing four solid innings, keeping the Wildcats in the game. Grace Foster, Shai Pachel, Amanda Hiner got on base to get batters to the middle of the order, which made a huge impact for the Wildcats. Corning, the program which led the nation in runs scored, then put the Wildcats to task, tacking on four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. By the bottom of 7th, the score was 7-12, with only 3 outs left for Corning to take home the national title. Wildcats were up for a fight, and were determined to see this one through, starting with Riley Tappy hitting a clean single with 1 out. The Wildcats were able to push a few runs in, making the score 10-12. Grace Foster than slapped a ball through the middle to get the rally started. After Pachel grounded out, the Wildcats were down to their last out. Hiner came up huge with a triple, scoring two. After Avery Martin’s single brought in a run, Bree Switzler and Karissa Comer reached on a walk and was hit by pitch to load the bases. The dugout went silent during an at-bat by Takiah (TK) Landes that took a hop, helping her beat out a bobbled ball to second to get a run home, and cut the Corning lead to 1. Finally, Lara Dolezal came up to bat with 2 outs and bases loaded. She quickly found herself in a tough spot, with a 0-2 count, before hitting a single up the middle, and scoring 2 of her teammates to win the game with a final score of 13-12!

News outlets are calling this one of the biggest comebacks in college softball history! Of the rally, the NJCAA said “You had to see it to believe it!” NDSCS fans, from College employees, students, alumni, families, and other friends were all cheering as those who couldn’t attend were able to watch the game online through the NJCAA Network. NDSCS is proud of the tenacity and grit of the team that brought home the first National championship in school history!

Besides the NJCAA DIII National Softball Championship title, members of the NDSCS

team also received other top honors and awards. Mike Oehlke was named Coach of the Tournament; Shai Pachel was the Most Valuable Player; Karissa Comer was awarded the Most Outstanding Offensive Player; and Katelyn Strauss received the title of the Most Outstanding Pitcher.

Other awards presented following the tournament included two Wildcats being named to the All-Tournament Team: Amanda Hiner and Avery Martin.

Since the championship win, the Wildcats have continued to be named to some of the most outstanding awards throughout collegiate softball, including two Wildcats, Katelyn Strauss and Amanda Hiner, being named NFCA All-Americans. And not to be left out, Coaches Mike Oehlke and Matt Fellows were voted as one of the 2023 ATEC/NFCA NJCAA National Coaching Staffs of the Year.

Through it all, the leadership and calm demeanor of the sophomores definitely showed through. Many freshman came up clutch in big situations for a total team effort.

WILDCATS RETURNED HOME TO NDSCS WITH A PARADE ESCORT

On Monday, May 29th, the NDSCS community welcomed their National Champions home to NDSCS Wahpeton at 7:50 a.m., led by a fire truck escort into and through town. A crowd of people were waiting for the team outside of the Blikre Activities Center as they departed their bus after their long travels.

“We Are the Champions” by Queen played on a speaker as the team rallied around their National Champion trophy, and the crowd cheered.

Watch their return on this Facebook Video – Fire truck parade.

2023 SPECIAL COMMENCEMENT

During their time cheering the Wildcats on at the National Tournament, President Rod Flanigan, Ph.D. and his wife, Michele, were able to talk with many of the student athletes about their experience at NDSCS. Nearly every one of the players wished they could have attended the Commencement ceremony, finalizing their education at NDSCS. At least one of the players is a first-generation college grad. Another player was a 2020 high school graduate who didn’t get to have a ceremony at that time.

President Flanigan decided that since they missed the May 12th NDSCS commencement ceremony due to qualifying for the National tournament, the eight graduating softball players deserved a special commencement ceremony to honor their academic accomplishments.

The special ceremony was held on Monday, May 29, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Gayle Miller Softball Field on the NDSCS campus. Family and friends of the athletes, along with numerous faculty and staff attended the ceremony that was planned and put on by the President and his wife, Michele.

President Flanigan, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer Lisa Karch, Ph.D., and each graduating student gave speeches during the ceremony.

CEREMONY

Sentiments given during all of the speeches left the graduation’s observers and participants in tears.

“These last two years have been the greatest part of my life” said Grace Foster, talking about how glad she is that she has made such lasting friendships during her time at NDSCS.

“The people that I met here are absolutely amazing” noted Amanda Hiner, who also said “being a Wildcat is something that I take pride in and will forever take pride in”. “This moment right here is something I will never forget.”

A laugh was shared during Lily Reed’s speech when she said “Mike, thanks for letting me be on the team. I know I wasn’t signed, but I sure did walk on.” Lily also commented that “My education was unreal this year… and I’ll be coming back for a second year.”

“With all the experiences I had here at NDSCS, I’m very proud to say that I was able to come here.” said Shai Pachel, who thanked coach Oehlke for “seeing something that a lot of other people didn’t see in me.” Shai also commented that “The people that I’ve met here and the memories that I’ve made will be forever grateful and unforgettable, and I will just never be able to thank everybody enough for that.”

Brianna Switzler showed bravery when she came to tears during her speech, saying that she was a transfer student after graduating high school in 2020, and attending her first year of college elsewhere, and was proud to be able to start her college experience over at NDSCS. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else” she said through tears, after sharing that she didn’t get to have a graduation ceremony after high school, so being able to participate and walk through her college graduation was extremely meaningful to her.

Karissa Comer repeated a frequent statement during these speeches, in saying that her two years here [at NDSCS] were the best two years of her life.

Katelyn Strauss noted the same, and added that “these last 2 years have been the most physically and mentally taxing of my life, and I wouldn’t change a single bit of it.”

Ashley Bisping brought the whole crowd to tears when she said that she is “the first in my family to graduate, so for this to be happening is super important to me.”

The Wildcats Softball team has been a family for the student athletes over the past 2 years, and that relationship was outlined by Ashley’s comment to the team, “Thank you to my teammates for believing in me, even though I didn’t believe in myself.”

The graduating students who received their diplomas from President Flanigan during this ceremony were:

• Ashley Bisping; AAS – Welding

• Grace Foster; AA – Liberal Arts

• Shailyn Pachel; AAS – Business Management

• Katelyn Strauss; AAS – Building Construction

• Brianna Switzler; AA – Liberal Arts

• Lily Reed; Certificate – Welding

• Karissa Comer; AA – Liberal Arts

• Amanda Hiner; AA – Liberal Arts

Check out the NDSCS Flickr page for more photos.

NDSCS Wildcats Softball

@NDSCSsoftball

@softballNDSCS

A small reception was held at the field after the ceremony, which included bars and cookies made by Michele Flanigan, ice water, and great conversation celebrating the students’ academic and athletic achievements this year.

Share your best photos of the National Championship series and Softball Commencement ceremony by emailing them to NDSCS.Marketing@ndscs.edu.

Photo credits for this publication go to NDSCS College Relations & Marketing, NDSCS Softball, Emily Bakken, NJCAA-Mathieu Starke, Michele Flanigan, Danielle Foster