With two wins needed to win the Region XIIIB Softball Tournament and qualify for the NJCAA DIII World Series, Rainy River Community College (International Falls, MN) took care of business. The Voyageurs secured a spot in the Region XIIIB championship game by defeating Northland Community and Technical College in Game 2 of the tournament by a score of 6-1.
Northland had earlier defeated Central Lakes College 12-8 in the opening game of the tournament. The loss to Rainy River in Game 2 set up a Northland vs. Central Lakes rematch in Game 3 of the double elimination tournament. Central Lakes got the better of Northland this time around 12-1.
In the championship game battle between Rainy River and Central Lakes, Central Lakes made a push in the 7th inning to tighten the score, but with a double play to end the inning, the Voyageurs got the win 9-6 and punched their ticket to their first NJCAA DIII World Series appearance since 2014.
Following the Region XIIIB Championship Game, the All-Tournament Team was announced:
Region XIIIB Coach of the Year: Dieter Humbert, Rainy River
Region XIIIB Tournament MVP: Taylor Sears, Rainy River
All-Tournament Team:
Mariah Leahy Rainy River
Marissa Kerry Rainy River
Maddison Lehto Rainy River
Taylor Sears Rainy River
Addie Sanford Central Lakes
Cassidy Zontelli Central Lakes
Sarah Kossan Central Lakes
Isis Johnson Northland
Alexis Huot Northland
Rainy River received the #8 seed and will face the #1 seeded Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL) in their opening game of the national tournament in Syracuse, NY on Thursday, May 27 at 10:00 AM ET. Rainy River enters the World Series with an 18-12 record while Rock Valley sits at 47-7.