The NDSCS softball team completed its regular season with a 43-9 record, setting a new program-high for wins. NDSCS maintained its No. 1 national ranking from start to finish. Following its first Mon-Dak Conference Championship since 2011, the Wildcats will now enter Region XIII playoffs Thursday, May 9. 

NDSCS is led by fearsome freshman pitchers Grace Folkema and Emma Johnson. Folkema is 23-5 with a 2.35 ERA and 328 strikeouts. Johnson is 20-4 with a 3.14 ERA and 158 strikeouts. 

Offensively, Avery Martin is batting .483 with 18 home runs and 83 RBIs. Caitlyn Dannenfelzer is batting .461 with eight homers and 38 RBIs. Lara “Yaya” Dolezal is batting .419 and TK Landes has a .369 average with 10 homers. 

Dannenfelzer and Landes have 27 and 24 stolen bases, respectively. 

Mike Oehlke earned his 200th career win as head coach of the Wildcats on April 20th. Oehlke has led four NDSCS teams to the national tournament, culminating in last year’s National Championship victory.