Softball
The athletic department at DCTC is proud to announce the signing of Ryli Kendrick to a softball scholarship! Ryli is from Burnsville, Minnesota. She attends the Academy of Holy Angels High School. Her parents are Will and Katy Kendrick. Her high school coach is Jackie Poidinger. She plays for the Minnesota Stars Club team, and her coaches are Darryl Boerger and Pat Abernathy.
Dakota County Technical College Athletics has announced that Sophie Quesenberry has signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball starting in the fall of 2025. Sophie is from Elk River, MN. She attends Elk River High School and plays for coach Matt Beck. Her club team is Minnesota Elite, where she is coached by Dan Rubischko. Her parents are Sarah and Tyler Quesenberry. Sophie will be enrolling in the Nursing program at DCTC.
The DCTC Blue Knights Softball team traveled to Glendive, Montana to play in the NJCCA Region 13 softball tournament May 2-4.
Blue Knights sign 11 new players The Blue Knights NJCAA DII softball team at Dakota County Technical College has signed 11 new players for the 2024–2025 season. Tom Cross, head softball coach, reported that next season’s softball recruiting class features all positions in the sport backed by top high school softball and fastpitch club resumes. “This class gives us a chance to compete at a very high level,” Coach Cross said. “DCTC, the college’s Softball program, and our campus community are super-excited and thankful for the great group of student-athletes who will join our school and team this fall!”
The DCTC Blue Knights hosted the annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Emerald Greens Golf Course on August 26th. The fundraiser helps support current and future Blue Knight student-athletes, and had a great turnout that included many Blue Knights athletes, staff, friends, family, partners, and supporters.
The DCTC Blue Knights Softball team traveled to Glendive, Montana for the NJCAA Region 13 Championship May 4-6. The tournament featured six teams including Dawson CC, Bismarck State, Williston State, Miles CC, Lake Region State, and DCTC. The first game was against Lake Region State and it was a battle! The Knights were down two runs in the bottom of the 7th when DCTC tied it up to go into extra innings. In the top of the 8th the Royals scored two runs but the home teamed battled back to get within one run when Fr. Rhiannon Horien (2B) hit a three run homer to give the Blue Knights a 9-7 walk-off, come-from-behind victory! Soph. Emily Kuehl pitched all eight innings to gain the victory! Allie Sibbald was 3-4 with 4 RBI’s. The second game was a tough game for the Knights losing to #2 seed Miles. DCTC was held to just five hits. The Blue Knights came back the next day in the first elimination game vs Bismarck State. The Blue Knights got off to a good start leading 2-0 going into the 4th inning when the Mystics score four unanswered runs to take the lead. The game stayed at 4-2. In the bottom of the 7th being down by two runs again didn’t faze the home team as they earned their 2nd walk off win when Fr. Callie Adams ( LF ) singled to left to knock in the winning run giving the spirited Blue Knights team the victory! Kuehl again got the victory on the mound. Soph. Molly Erickson, Adams, Kuehl, Sibbald and Horien all had at least two hits. Again facing elimination, the Knights played Williston State in the 2nd game of the day. It was 2-2 after two innings. The Tetons then scored three runs in the top of the 3rd to take the lead. They then scored three more runs in the top of the 5th to take a 8-2 lead. The Knights then scored two in the 5th and three in the sixth to get within one run! Sibbald pitched marvelously in the sixth and 7th to hold them scoreless the rest of the way! In the bottom of the seventh the home team scratches a couple more runners on base to bring up to bat Fr. Preslie Annala (3B). Annala had homered earlier in the game in bringing the Blue Knights close again. With the game in the balance, with two players on she did it one more time for a three run homer giving the DCTC softball team it’s third walk off win! Annala ended up 4-5 with six RBI’s! Sibbald was the winning pitcher and added three hits! FR. Hailey Schneller was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’S! FR. Izzy Okeson caught all the games and registered two hits. Soph. Monica Brown had two hits for the victory! DCTC then took on Miles CC for the second time on the final day of the tournament. Down 2-0 in the 3rd, Sibbald hit a towering homerun that ties it up! The Knights struggled after that losing again to the Pioneers. “The team really played with great enthusiasm and togetherness throughout the tournament” stated head coach Tom Cross. "Winning three walk off games in a row is really something!"
The softball program at DCTC has announced the signing of Kennedy Noth (Greenfield, Wisconsin) to a National Letter of Intent starting in the fall of 2023. She is a very versatile player that can play outfield, 1st or shortstop. She attends Tomah High School and is coached by Dan Wall. Kennedy also plays for the Fire Pro Club team. Her parents are Kim and Gary Noth. Noth has been awarded numerous academic and athletic awards over the course of her career. Her academic interests includ Pre-Vet and Nursing. “I’m very excited for the opportunity to work with Kennedy next year! She will bring a lot to the table including having great versatility as a player, a solid left handed bat, and a fun personality! “ says Tom Cross, DCTC Head Softball coach.
Kylee McDaniels from Cottage Grove, MN has signed a National Letter of Intent to play Softball at Dakota County Technical College starting in the fall of 2023. Kylee is a pitcher and plays shortstop. Her mom is Kristin McDaniels. She is coached by Scott Christopherson of the St. Paul Park club team. Kylee will be enrolled in the Dental Assistant program at DCTC. “Kylee is a very good athlete who will get an opportunity in our program. We are hoping for big things for her in the near future” says Head Coach Tom Cross.
The DCTC Athletics Department has announced softball player Chloe Lingelbach has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Dakota County Technical College starting the fall of 2023. Chloe will be a graduate of Cannon Falls High School. Her parents are Patti Maki and Jamie Lingelbach. Her high school coach is Tom Langfeldt. She plays club softball for the St. Paul Rookies. Chloe will pitch and play 3rd base for the Blue Knights. She will pursue a major in Logistics. “Chloe is a solid player! She has all the pitches and plays the hot corner (3B)! Her bat is powerful!!! We are very excited to work with her. Gabby Heckmann, our Assistant Coach, played a very important part in recruiting Chloe! “ says Head Coach Tom Cross.
The DCTC Softball team celebrated Halloween by dressing up and having fun passing out candy on campus!
Spenser Mohr (FY-COVID. Catcher, Fargo, ND) and Natalie Nusbaum (FY-COVID. Infielder, Spring Lake Park, MN) have been named to the NJCCA All Region 13 softball team. The twelve-member team represents Region 13 which includes Lake Region St., Williston State, Dawson, Bay College, Gogebic College, Miles College, Bismarck College and DCTC. Mohr was named catcher of the team and Nusbaum was named as an infielder. Mohr has signed to attend Ursuline College in Ohio on a softball scholarship. Nusbaum will be accepting a position as a Medical Assistant in the Twin Cities area. Olivia Weinberg (Fy. Infielder, Apple Valley, MN) was named Honorable Mention to the team. The Blue Knights finished their season 15-15.
