MINOT, N.D. -- The Jamestown High School softball team's bats got the squad to the final day of the West Region Tournament.
Jamestown defeated Minot North 15-5 in Friday's WDA Tournament loser-out game. Head coach Mike Soulis and company will play Bismarck High at 11 a.m. on Saturday for the chance appear at the 2025 NDHSAA State Softball Tournament.
The Blue Jays got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Megan Jarrett singled, scoring one run, Sophia Bond doubled, scoring two runs and Brynn Sorenson doubled, scoring two runs. The team added to its early lead in the bottom of the second inning after a triple to right field by Jarrett and a sac fly by Avery Graves each scored a run.
Minot North just couldn't catch up only producing three runs in five innings. In the sixth, Aven Kelly homered to right field, scoring the Sentinels final two runs.
Jamestown, on the other hand, just kept whacking the ball.
"We hit very well," JHS head coach Mike Soulis said. "We finally continued to put pressure on them and scored when they did -- something we haven't done well this year."
Jamestown produced a second five-run inning in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman Rilie Wolf started the scoring run with a single that drove in two runners. Pitcher Maddie Hoff and Jarrett drew walks, each scoring one run. Minot North pitcher, Tiecyn Hertz, induced Graves to hit into a fielder's choice, but one run scored.
Sophia Bond was credited with three of the Blue Jays' 15 total hits against the Sentinels. The junior went 3-for-4 at the plate. Wolf and Jarrett each drove in three runs while Sorenson, Jordan Mikkelson, Brooke Jackson and Hoff each collected multiple hits. Soulis' crew had a strong eye at the plate, tallying eight walks for the game.
Hoff earned her second-straight win on Friday, giving up five runs -- four earned -- off seven hits. She threw for three Ks and walked five.
"Maddie (Hoff) is continuing to throw well and the defense is supporting her," Soulis said.
Minot North had three players in the circle but it was Kinzy Welstad who took the loss for the Sentinels. Welstad went 4.2 innings and surrendered 10 runs on 12 hits. She struck out two and walked one. Kelly drove the middle of the lineup, with three RBIs. The cleanup hitter went 2-for-2 on the day.
MIN-N: Kinzy Welstad, Aven Kelly (5), Tiecyn Hertz; JHS: Maddie Hoff. W -- Hoff. L -- Welstad.
Highlights: JHS -- Hoff (6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 3 K) 2-3, RBI; Brooke Jackson 2-4; Brynn Sorenson 2-4, 2B; Rilie Wolf 2-4, 3 RBI, 2B; Sophia Bond 3-4, 2 RBI, 2B; Megan Jarrett 2-3, 3 RBI, 3B.
MIN-N -- Cadence Shipman 1-2, 2B; Aven Kelly 2-2, 3 RBI, HR; Kate Coleman 1-4; Tiecyn Hertz 1-4, RBI; Mya Bagwell 1-2; Mylee Ackerman 1-2.