Dakota State Softball Warming Up for First Pitch
The Dakota State Softball team is spending their last couple of practices fine tuning some things as they get ready to start their 2018 campaign. The Trojans return 10 girls from last season, including team captains Audrey Kosman, Petyon Brokiewicz, Kelly Drake and Tatum Ronke. The ladies come off a 14-35 season, missing the North Star Conference Tournament, which they’ll aim to get back to this season. They have been voted to finish 8th in the Preseason Poll, which would earn them a postseason bid if they finish in the top eight in the conference. The coaching staff for the Trojans includes Coach Steve Kissel in his second season, and Rachel Fricke in her fourth season at Dakota State. The coaches did a great job of recruiting this offseason as they bring in a large number of new faces including transfers and freshman. The Trojans will also introduce a JV team and schedule this season, something that this program has not seen before.
The JV team will begin their season on Saturday, February 3, when they travel to the Briar Cliff Dome in Sioux City, Iowa to take on both Dordt College (IA) and Morningside College (IA). The Varsity schedule begins in Aberdeen on February 11 when they take on Dakota Wesleyan University (SD) in the annual Presentation Dome Tournament. The Varsity team spends all of February in Aberdeen before heading down to Tucson, Arizona for the second straight year where they will play 8 games in 6 days against talent from all over the Midwest. Their Conference schedule begins in February in Aberdeen when they take on Bellevue (NE) and Waldorf (IA) in the North Star Crossover tournament at the Presentation Dome.
The Trojans home opener is scheduled for March 17 when they host in state rival Mount Marty (SD) while their first home conference game will take place on March 24 against Mayville State (ND). All home games can be seen at Thue Field on SW 8th Street and S. Egan Avenue in Madison, SD.
