DICKINSON – Not yet are the Jamestown Jimmies quite finished with NAIA softball.
A third consecutive superb pitching performance by conference Pitcher of the Year Hope Ransome helped lead Jamestown to a 7-0 win Sunday over Valley City State for the final NSAA softball tournament championship at Bravera Field at the Sanford Sports Complex.
In the last head-to-head athletic contest between longtime rivals Jamestown and VCSU for the foreseeable future, Ransome (13-7) was dominant, shutting out the Vikings for the second time in three days, allowing just three hits and striking out two while needing only 64 pitches. This was the ninth complete game and fifth shutout of the season for Ransome.
Again, the offense for the Jimmies (35-15) was a team effort, stringing together baserunners in a six-run second inning. Natalie Draper led the inning off with a walk. Kaitlin McCartney, with the first of her three hits, singled Draper to third. Tori Olson, on a squeeze play, drove in the first run with a bunt single. After Rylie Welk and Olson executed a double steal, Sydney Grendler drove them both in with a double. After a walk to Sidnie Aasen, VCSU starter Cooper Klaashen was removed in favor of Maddie Hazelton, who yielded a bunt single to Trin Gregg. A Lauren Weigel grounded ball plated the inning’s fourth run, a passed ball brought home the fifth and Maddie Spaeth brought in the last with a sacrifice fly, tying the NSAA lead with 51 RBI.
The other Jamestown run scored in the third on an infield hit by McCartney and her advance to second on an error, a groundout and a run-scoring error.
Two of the three hits by VCSU (26-23) were delivered by Katelyn MacNeill. The Vikings, after losing Friday to Jamestown, defeated Dakota State later Friday, then Mayville State and defending championship Dickinson State Saturday to reach this game.
Jamestown will learn on Tuesday where they will play in the opening round of the NAIA Softball Championship, marking UJ’s first appearance in the tournament since 2018. Play will begin on Monday, May 12.