Blue Knights win two in Region 13 tourney before losing to Williston State
The Blue Knights fastpitch softball team at Dakota County Technical College finished the 2013–2014 season with a 21–9 record, matching a team record for wins. The team went 21–11 last year. The Knights compete in NJCAA Division II softball.
DCTC traveled to Bismarck, N.D., for the NJCAA Region 13 Fastpitch Softball Tournament May 3–4, 2014, at the MDU Resources Community Bowl. The Knights took their first two games, downing the Lake Region State College Royals 14–4 and the Williston State College Tetons 8–1. The Tetons (29–15) went on to defeat DCTC 2–12 and 4–12 to advance to the District F Championship Series in Columbus, Neb.
DCTC Blue Knights Fastpitch Softball 2013-2014In 30 games, DCTC batted .355 as a team, scoring 178 runs with a .437 on base percentage and .516 slugging percentage. Sophomore Amanda Orrell (1B, CF) led the team in batting with a .568 average. Sophomore Kendall Palfi (P,1B) went 14–5 on the season with a 3.24 ERA.
Head Coach Tom Cross was pleased with his players and their performance. “We had a terrific season,” Cross said. “Our team was mostly sophomores who enjoyed a lot of success over the course of two years. Next year will be a rebuilding process, but we do have outstanding talent coming into our program.”
DCTC vs Century College | @home April 19, 2014 | 11–1 Blue Knights
Player spotlights
Amanda OrrellAmanda Orrell
Age: 20
Hometown: Santa Maria, Calif.
Residence now: Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Program area: Individualized Studies
Degree: A.S.
Year: Sophomore
Position: 1B, CF
Number: 3
A 2012 graduate of Pioneer Valley High School in Santa Maria, Calif., the largest city in Santa Barbara County with population topping 110,000, Amanda Orrell played fours years of varsity softball for the PVHS Panthers. Amanda was featured in the Santa Maria Times article, “Panthers’ distinguished hitter: Amanda Orrell an all-around star on the softball field,” where her coach called her “…one of the best pure hitters I’ve ever had.” She hit .529 that year was named to the First-Team All-PAC 7 League.
Amanda chose DCTC for the chance to play for the Blue Knights. She likes that DCTC is a smaller college and all her classes are in the same building. Her program, Individualized Studies, allowed her to custom-design her courses to help meet her long-term educational goal of achieving a baccalaureate degree while giving her more opportunities to explore her career options. Her first love is fastpitch softball.
“I like the hitting,” said Amanda, who made the NFCA NJCAA Division II All-Region Midwest Region Team in 2013. “I like being the lead-off power hitter. I like how softball is a team sport. Everybody’s producing and getting their job done. We are always picking each other up and staying positive.”
Amanda Orrell 2013–2014 stats
Batting
- Games: 26
- Average: .568 *
- Runs: 37
- Hits: 50
- Doubles: 15
- Triples: 2
- HR: 4
- RBI: 22
- On base percentage: .500 **
- Slugging percentage: .700 ***
* 2nd in NJCAA Region 13
** 1st in NJCAA Region 13
*** 13th in NJCAA Region 13Head Coach Tom Cross: “Amanda Orrell was a key player in our success especially as our lead-off hitter. She is a combination of speed and power.”
For all 2013–2014 statistics, visit:
NJCAA Softball: Dakota County Technical College
Amanda’s plans for after DCTC include attending either Mayville State University in Mayville, N.D., or the University of Jamestown, in Jamestown, N.D. Her major of choice is psychology with an emphasis in social work. She would like to play NAIA softball for either the Comets or Jimmies. Amanda is looking forward to a career in social work after earning her bachelor’s degree.
Kendall PalfiKendall Palfi
Age: 21
Hometown: Lakeville, Minn.
Residence now: Farmington, Minn.
Program area: Individualized Studies
Degree: A.S.
Year: Sophomore
Position: P, 1B
Number: 13
Kendall Palfi was active in a number of roles on the DCTC campus, earning recognition as the 2014 Dave Schroeder Outstanding Student of the Year. Kendall served as a student ambassador and secretary of the Student Senate. She participated in Leadership from the Heart, an intense two-day leadership training seminar offered to DCTC student leaders, and attended Minnesota State College Student Association (MSCSA) leadership conferences.
A transfer student from the University of North Dakota, Kendall chose DCTC to advance her education and play fastpitch softball. She pitched two seasons for the Blue Knights and was named team captain both years. She earned NJCAA Region 13 MVP in 2013 and also made the NJCAA All-Region 13 and All-Tournament teams.
“I really love the pressure of pitching,” Kendall said. “I enjoy the camaraderie of a team sport. We can generate hits through the entire lineup and everyone steps up when needed.”
Kendall Palfi 2013–2014 stats
Pitching
- Games started: 19
- Record: 14–5
- Innings pitched: 121
- Strikeouts: 117
- ERA: 3.24
Batting
- Games: 24
- Average: .414
- Runs: 17
- Hits: 29
- Doubles: 9
- Triples: 1
- HR: 3
- RBI: 16
- On base percentage: .500
- Slugging percentage: .700
Head Coach Tom Cross: “Kendall Palfi was the backbone of our team. She is very positive player who led us with her arm and her bat.”
For all 2013–2014 statistics, visit:
NJCAA Softball: Dakota County Technical College
A 2011 graduate of Lakeville South High School, Kendall is making plans to transfer to the University of Arizona in the fall to pursue a B.A. in Communication and the chance to play NCAA softball for the Wildcats. In her free time, she enjoys working on Plymouth muscle cars, including a 1970 Superbird, a 1967 Barracuda and a 1968 GTX convertible.
For more information about Blue Knights fastpitch softball at Dakota County Technical College, contact:
- Tom Cross
Fastpitch Softball Head Coach
651-423-8677