MADISON, S.D. – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced its second installment of the softball Players-of the-Week Monday. Valley City State (N.D.) swept the weekly honors for the second straight week. Emily Smith was  selected as the Pitcher-of-the-Week, while her teammate Sierra Crocker was chosen as the Player-of-the-Week. 

North Star Athletic Association Softball Pitcher-of-the-Week 

Emily Smith – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7” – Senior – pitcher – La Prairie, Manitoba, Canada – Smith went 2-0  record for the week in the pitching circle as Valley City State (N.D.) went 3-1 record in the PC Dome Classic. She did not  allow a run and struck out 25 batters in 11 innings. In Saturday’s win against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.), Smith recorded 14  out of the 15 outs by strikeout. She totaled 25 strikeouts in the tournament, including nine strikeouts in VCSU’s 6-0  shutout against Jamestown (N.D.).  

North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week 

Sierra Crocker – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’7” – Sophomore – catcher – Napa, Calif. – Crocker slugged 1.000 for the  week with three doubles, a home run and drove in eight runs as Valley City State (N.D.) went 3-1 record in the PC Dome  Classic. She also posted an on-base percentage of .538. Crocker recorded at least a hit in all four game, holding a  batting average of .500 after going 6-of-12 at the plate. She scored four runs and reached on base by a walk one time. 

Recap from last week’s games 

Valley City State (N.D.) went 3-1 record for the second straight weekend in the PC Dome Classic, including three shutout  victories in the tournament. The Vikings opened the tournament with a pair of shutout wins, 9-0 in five innings over  College of Saint Mary (Neb.) and 6-0 over Jamestown (N.D.) on Feb. 19. VCSU fell to No. 20-ranked Morningside (Iowa)  9-1 on Feb. 20 before closing the tournament with a 14-0 win in five innings over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.). Valley City  State is 6-2 overall record on the season. 

Bellevue (Neb.), receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Coaches’ Top 25 national poll, earned an 8-2 victory over York (Neb.)  in PC Dome in Aberdeen, S.D. The Bruins are 4-3 overall record on the season. 

Dickinson State (N.D.), who also received votes to the national preseason poll, split their four games in the PC Dome  Classic. The Blue Hawks fell short in the first game to nationally ranked Morningside 3-2 on Feb. 19 before defeating  Dakota Wesleyan 15-4 in the second game. DiSU held on to a 3-1 victory over College of Saint Mary on Feb. 20 and fell  to Jamestown by the score of 1-0. Dickinson State is 3-3 overall record. 

Dakota State (S.D.) made their season debut at the PC Dome Classic, falling short to Dakota Wesleyan 8-7 in the first  game on Feb. 19. The Trojans earned their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over College of Saint May on the  same day. DaSU lost to Morningside 13-0 in five innings and Jamestown 14-2 in five innings on Feb. 20. Dakota State is  1-3 overall record. 

Presentation (S.D.) went 0-3 record on their own home field. The Saints were swept by Dakota Wesleyan 16-1 and 14-9  on Feb. 18. PC also fell to College of Saint Mary 9-5 on Feb. 21. Presentation dropped to 1-8 overall record. 

Waldorf (Iowa) made their 2021 season debut on Feb. 20 at Packer Dome. The Warriors lost to Northwestern (Iowa) 10-4  and 7-0. WU is 0-2 overall record. 

Mayville State (N.D.) went 0-4 record in the PC Dome Classic last weekend. The Comets opened with an 8-5 defeat to  Jamestown, followed by an 11-2 loss to Morningside on Feb. 19. MSU fell to CSM 8-6 and DWU 10-5 on Feb. 20. 

Viterbo (Wis.) was idle last week and remains at 0-6 overall record. 

Looking Ahead 

Bellevue (Neb.) continues their action Monday (today) in the PC Dome versus Doane (Neb.) in a doubleheader. The  Bruins head to Nevada, Mo. on Friday and Saturday to face Langston (Okla.) and Cottey (Mo.).  

Waldorf (Iowa) returns to the Packer Dome on Friday and Saturday. The Warriors play Mount Mercy (Iowa) in a  doubleheader on Friday. On Saturday, WU faces Mount Mercy for the third game and closes out the week with a  doubleheader with Saint Ambrose (Iowa). 

Dakota State (S.D.), Dickinson State (N.D.), Presentation (S.D.), Valley City State (N.D.), and Viterbo (Wis.) are idle this  week. 

Monday’s Games 

Bellevue (Neb.) vs. Doane (Neb.) – 10 a.m. – Doubleheader – Aberdeen, S.D. 

Friday’s Games 

Bellevue (Neb.) @ Cottey (Mo.) – 11 a.m. 

Bellevue (Neb.) vs. Langston (Okla.) – 1 p.m. – @ Nevada, Mo. 

Waldorf (Iowa) vs. Mount Mercy (Iowa) – 7 p.m. – Doubleheader – Austin, Minn. 

Saturday’s Games 

Waldorf (Iowa) vs. Mount Mercy (Iowa) – 11 a.m. – Austin, Minn. 

Bellevue (Neb.) vs. Langston (Okla) – 1 p.m. – @ Nevada, Mo. 

Waldorf (Iowa) vs. Mount Mercy (Iowa) – 1:30 p.m. – Doubleheader – Austin, Minn. 

Bellevue (Neb.) @ Cottey (Mo.) – 3 p.m. 

Sunday’s Games 

College of Saint Mary (Neb.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – 10 a.m. – Doubleheader  

2021 NSAA Softball Conference Standings 

School	Overall  Record	NSAA  Record	Games Behind	Streak
Valley City State (N.D.)	6-2	0-0	—-	Won 1
(RV) Bellevue (Neb.)	4-3	0-0	—-	Won 1
(RV) Dickinson State (N.D.)	3-3	0-0	—-	Lost 1
Dakota State (S.D.)	1-3	0-0	—-	Lost 2
Presentation (S.D.)	1-8	0-0	—-	Lost 7
Waldorf (Iowa)	0-2	0-0	—-	Lost 2
Mayville State (N.D.)	0-3	0-0	—-	Lost 3
Viterbo (Wis.)	0-6	0-0	—-	Lost 6