Softball Set to Play First Game of NSAA Tournament
BISMARK, NS – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)Softball Conference Tournament's brackets have been released, with the tournament will start on Friday in Dickinson, ND.
Viterbo University earned the fifth seed off the tournament with a 17-26 (11-16 NSAA) record. They will match up with #4 Dakota State University (SD) (13-32, 12-15 NSAA) in the first game of the tournament. First pitch will be 1:30 PM from Bravera Field in Dickinson.
Bellevue (Neb.) captured the 2023 league softball outright title with a 26-2 record (39-10 overall record. The Bruins will be the No. 1 seed in the conference postseason tournament. Valley City State (N.D.) is the No. 2 seed with 18-7 NSAA record (24-21 overall record), followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) at No. 3 seed with 17-9 conference record (22-23 overall record).
Waldorf (Iowa) is No. 6 seed at 13-28 overall record and 6-15 league record, followed by Mayville State (N.D.) at No. 7 seed with 7-29 overall record and 6-22 NSAA conference record.
All eight teams will be playing on the second day of the tournament Saturday with a pair of loser's out games followed by a pair of winner's bracket contests. Saturday will conclude with another pair of loser's out games.
A pair of undefeated teams will battle out at 12 p.m. Sunday, with the winner advancing to the championship game Monday afternoon. Sunday's schedule concludes with another pair of loser's out contests, with the final elimination contest set for 4 p.m.
The NSAA Softball Postseason Championship game is set for Monday at 1 p.m. If the undefeated team loses in the first championship game, then the second championship game is set for 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.
The tournament champion receives the NSAA's automatic berth to the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, which will be played on May 15-17 on 10 sites announced by the NAIA. The national opening round winners will move on to the 42nd annual NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga. on May 25-May 31.
Presentation (S.D.) dropped out of the North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Tournament this weekend, not being able to fulfill a full squad.