Blue Knights 12–15 as of April 14, 2010
Ashlee Hunt, Rachel Sydow, Ranae Fasig, Tara Kimberly (standing) Michelle Hinz, Maria Leidner (one knee)
In mid-March, the DCTC fastpitch softball team returned from a spring road trip to Tuscon, Ariz., with a record of 8–8, closing out the trip with a 6–4 win over the RCTC Yellowjackets, a team that had beaten them 2–5 at the Yellowjacket Classic earlier in the season. The Knights returned home and knocked off the Hamline University JV squad 2–0, avenging a 2–5 loss in the opening game of the season.
The team hit a rough patch over the next two weeks, going 3–7. They dropped two to the University of St. Thomas Tommies JV, 5–9 and 1–7, March 24 at St. Thomas. The Knights split against the Riverland Community College Blue Devils in Austin, Minn., March 30, 2–1 and 5–10. Traveling to Northfield, Minn., the next day, the team swept a doubleheader against NJCAA Div. III Carleton College, 5–3 and 5–4. The St. Thomas JV again took two from the Knights April 5, 5–10 and 0–2, this time at home at Erickson Park in Rosemount, Minn. On the road again, the Knights faced the Iowa Lakes Community College Lakers, ranked #14 in the current NJCAA Division II poll with a 34–4 record. DCTC fell to the Lakers 3–11 and 0–12.
Wednesday, April 14, at 5 p.m., the Blue Knights square off against St. Kate’s JV in St. Paul. The following day in Winona, Minn., at 4 p.m., the Knights go up against the JV squad from St. Mary’s University.
This coming Saturday, April 17, DCTC plays a doubleheader at Erickson Park against the Kirkwood Community College Eagles, ranked #8 in the current NJCAA Division II poll with a 33–3 record. Game times are at 2 p.m. & 4 p.m.
The following Thursday, April 22, the Knights throw down again against Iowa Lakes in another doubleheader at Erickson. Game times are 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Freshman shortstop Maria Leidner leads the team in batting with a whopping .477 average, going 41 for 86 with 12 RBIs and a team-leading 12 doubles. Freshman outfielder Kassie Young is hitting .390 with 16 hits in 41 at bats. Freshmen Michelle Hinz, Rachel Sydow and Ashlee Hunt are all batting over .300 with Hinz and Sydow racking up 18 and 15 RBIs respectively. Third baseman Hinz also has a team-leading three home runs. Second baseman Ranae Fasig is hitting .286 with 24 hits and a team-leading six stolen bases.
Pitcher Tara Kimberly has 27 starts with a 4.50 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 168 innings pitched.
For all Blue Knights fastpitch softball stats, visit DCTC Season Statistics. Visit Schedule & Results for list of upcoming games. To learn more about DCTC athletic programs, visit GoBlueKnights.com.
