BISMARCK, N.D. (playnorthstar.com) – The North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) announced its seventh edition of the softball Players-of the-Week Monday. Valley City State (N.D.) swept the weekly honors. Amber Stewart was selected as the Pitcher-of-the Week, while here teammate Makenzee Stone was chosen as the Player-of-the-Week.  

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

Amber Stewart – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’0” – Senior – pitcher – Welwyn, Sask., Canada – Stewart picked up a  pair of wins as Valley City State (N.D.) went 3-0 record at Dakota State (S.D.). She pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings with nine  strikeouts in her only start of the weekend. She also pitched 5 2/3 innings in relief, giving up two runs (one unearned) on  three hits. For the week, Stewart worked 10 innings and limited the Trojans to two runs (one unearned) on six hits. She struck out a total of 14 batters in the game.  

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

Makenzee Stone – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’5” – Freshman – infielder – Blaine, Minn. – Stone had three mult-hit  games at Dakota State (S.D.) as Valley City State (N.D.) went 3-0 record. She had two triples and drove in eight RBIs  and swiped two bases. For the week, Stone batted .700 (7-of-10 at-bats) and scored five runs. She recorded a slugging  percentage of 1.100 and reached on base by a walk three tims. 

Recap from last week’s games 

Bellevue (Neb.) returned to action on March 24 with a single-game contest with College of Saint Mary (Neb.). The Bruins  collected a 13-1 victory in five innings over the Flames. BU kicked off the North Star conference season with a four-game  home series sweep over Mayville State (N.D.). Bellevue won 7-6 and 3-0 on March 26, followed by a pair of victories by  the scores of 10-4 and 8-5 on March 27. Bellevue lifted their overall record to 17-11 and 4-0 record in North Star contests.  

Mayville State earned a pair of non-conference victories over Hastings (Neb.) on March 28. The Comets won by the  scores of 12-8 and 3-0. MSU is 4-12 overall record and 0-4 NSAA conference record. 

Valley City State (N.D.), receiving votes in the latest NAIA Softball Top 25 national poll, opened their North Star  conference season with a 3-0 record over Dakota State (S.D.) on March 27-28. The Vikings kicked off the conference  season with a 18-6 six-inning victory on March 27, followed by a pair of wins on March 28 by the scores of 10-0 and 9-1 in  five innings. VCSU is 10-3 overall record on season and 3-0 record in league. DaSU fell to 6-13 overall record and 0-4  NSAA record. 

Viterbo (Wis.) suffered a pair of setbacks at Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) on March 24, falling by the scores of 9-5 and 11-2. The  V-Hawks began their North Star Athletic Association season, earning their first wins of the season by ending their 12- game losing streak. Viterbo won the first game 12-4 in six innings and earned a 7-6 thriller in eight innings in the second  game. VU is 2-12 overall record and 2-0 record in North Star. PC fell to 1-13 overall record and 0-2 NSAA conference  record. 

Waldorf (Iowa) captured the North Star Athletic Association season opener with a 3-2 home victory over Dickinson State  (N.D.) on March 28. The Blue Hawks rallied back for a 7-0 shutout victory in the second game. DiSU is 12-6 overall  record, while WU is 3-9 overall record. Both teams are 1-1 record in North Star. 

Looking Ahead 

The North Star Athletic Association opening weekend continues Monday with Dickinson State (N.D.) at Waldorf (Iowa) and 

Presentation (S.D.) at Viterbo (Wis.), both games with a doubleheader. Valley City State (N.D.) and Dakota State (S.D.)  wrap up their four-game series with a single contest on the same day. 

Viterbo remains home on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader with No. 21-ranked Saint Xavier (Ill.).  

Valley City State remains on the road as they take on the arch-rival Jamestown (N.D.) on Wednesday afternoon. Bellevue  (Neb.) plays a non-conference doubleheader at College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on the same day. 

Dakota State (S.D.) kicks off their two-week road stretch as they head to in-state rival Mount Marty (S.D.) on Thursday. 

The North Star Athletic Association action resumes on Friday and Saturday with a four-game series slate. The schedule  includes Mayville State (N.D.) at Presentation; Valley City State at Dickinson State; Dakota State at Waldorf and Bellevue  at Viterbo. 

Monday’s Games 

Dickinson State (N.D.) @ Waldorf (Iowa) – 10 a.m. – Doubleheader  

(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) @ Dakota State (S.D.) – 1 p.m. 

Presentation (S.D.) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 2 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Tuesday’s Games 

(21) Saint Xavier (Ill.) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Wednesday’s Games 

(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) @ (RV) Jamestown (N.D.) – 3 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Bellevue (Neb.) @ College of Saint Mary (Neb.) – 3 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Thursday’s Games 

Dakota State (S.D.) @ Mount Marty (S.D.) – 3 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Friday’s Games 

Mayville State (N.D.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – TBA – Doubleheader 

Bellevue (Neb.) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 1 p.m. – Doubleheader 

(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT) – Doubleheader  Dakota State (S.D.) @ Waldorf (Iowa) – 3 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Saturday’s Games 

Mayville State (N.D.) @ Presentation (S.D.) – TBA – Doubleheader  

Dakota State (S.D.) @ Waldorf (Iowa) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader  

Bellevue (Neb.) @ Viterbo (Wis.) – 12 p.m. – Doubleheader  

(RV) Valley City State (N.D.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) – 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT) – Doubleheader  2021 NSAA Softball Conference Standings

School	Overall  Record	NSAA  Record	Games Behind	Streak
Bellevue (Neb.)	17-11	4-0	—-	Won 5
(RV) Valley City State (N.D.)	10-3	3-0	0.5	Won 4
Viterbo (Wis.)	2-12	2-0	1.0	Won 2
Dickinson State (N.D.)	12-6	1-1	2.0	Won 1
Waldorf (Iowa)	3-9	1-1	2.0	Lost 1
Presentation (S.D.)	1-13	0-2	3.0	Lost 12
Dakota State (S.D.)	6-13	0-3	3.5	Lost 4
Mayville State (N.D.)	4-12	0-4	4.0	Won 2