UPDATE AS OF MAY 3
Presentation (S.D.) had dropped out of the North Star Athletic Association Softball Postseason Tournament this weekend, not being able to fulfill a full squad. Please check below for the complete update of the brackets and pairings.
May 1, 2023
BISMARCK, N.D. – The brackets and pairings for the 2023 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Postseason Softball Tournament are set for May 5-8. Dickinson State (N.D.) will be this year’s host for the conference tournament, held at the newly turf Bravera Field (220 1st Ave. W) in Dickinson, N.D.
All eight teams will play in the NSAA Softball Postseason Conference Tournament, which feature a double elimination format. The seeding is based on the regular-season North Star conference record (winning percentage).
Bellevue (Neb.) captured the 2023 league softball outright title with a 26-2 record (39-10 overall record. The Bruins will be the No. 1 seed in the conference postseason tournament. Valley City State (N.D.) is the No. 2 seed with 18-7 NSAA record (24-21 overall record), followed by Dickinson State (N.D.) at No. 3 seed with 17-9 conference record (22-23 overall record).
No. 4 seed belongs to Dakota State (S.D.) (13-32 overall record, 12-15 NSAA conference record), followed by Viterbo (Wis.) (17-26, 11-16 NSAA) at No. 5 seed, and Presentation (S.D.) at No. 6 seed (11-27, 7-17 NSAA record). Waldorf (Iowa) is No. 7 seed at 13-28 overall record and 6-15 league record, followed by Mayville State (N.D.) at No. 8 seed with 7-29 overall record and 6-22 NSAA conference record.
The NSAA softball postseason tournament begins at 11 a.m. (Central Time)/10 a.m. (Mountain Time) with Viterbo (Wis.) facing Dakota State, followed by Bellevue taking on Mayville State at 1 p.m. (CT)/12 p.m. (MT). The other two opening round contests include Valley City State facing Waldorf at 4 p.m. (CT)/3 p.m. (MT) and wrap up with Dickinson State playing Presentation at 6:30 p.m. (CT)/5:30 p.m. (MT).
All eight teams will be playing on the second day of the tournament Saturday with a pair of loser’s out games followed by a pair of winner’s bracket contests. Saturday will conclude with another pair of loser’s out games.
A pair of undefeated teams will battle out at 12 p.m. (CT)/11 a.m. (MT) Sunday, with the winner advancing to the championship game Monday afternoon. Sunday’s schedule concludes with another pair of loser’s out contests, with the final elimination contest set for 4 p.m. (CT)/3 p.m. (MT).
The NSAA Softball Postseason Championship game is set for Monday at 1 p.m. (CT)/12 p.m. (MT). If the undefeated team loses in the first championship game, then the second championship game is set for 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.
The tournament champion receives the NSAA’s automatic berth to the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round, which will be played on May 15-17 on 10 sites announced by the NAIA. The national opening round winners will move on to the 42nd annual NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga. on May 25-May 31.
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2023 North Star Athletic Association Softball Championship – hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.) University
Dakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark – Dickinson, N.D. – Times in Mountain Time Zone
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| Friday, May 5, 2023 - NSAA Softball Opening Round |
| Game 1: No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 8, No. 5 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 4 - FINAL |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
| Game 2: No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) 2, No. 7 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 1 - FINAL/8 innings |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
| Game 3: No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 9, No. 6 seed Waldrof (Iowa) 4 - FINAL |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
| Saturday, May 6, 2023 |
Game 4 (Loser’s Out Game): No. 5 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 6,
No. 6 seed Waldorf (Iowa) 3 - FINAL
Waldorf (Iowa) ends season at 13-30 overall record, 6-12 NSAA |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
Game 5 (Winner’s Bracket Game): No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) 2,
No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 1 - FINAL |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
Game 6 (Winner’s Bracket Game): No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) 12,
No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 10 - FINAL |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
Game 7 (Loser’s Out Game): No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 10,
No. 7 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 6 - FINAL/8 innings
Mayville State (N.D.) ends season at 7-31 overall record, 6-22 NSAA) |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
Game 8 (Loser’s Out Game): No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 8,
No. 5 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 5 - FINAL
Viterbo (Wis.) ends season at 18-28 overall record, 11-16 NSAA |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
| Sunday, May 7, 2023 |
Game 9 (Winner’s Bracket Game): No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) 9,
No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) 1 - FINAL/5 innings |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
Game 10 (Loser’s Out Bracket Game): No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 4,
No. 4 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 3 - FINAL/9 innings
Dakota State (S.D.) ends season at 15-34 overall record, 12-15 NSAA |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
Game 11 (Loser’s Out Game): No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) 6,
No. 3 seed Dickinson State 1 - FINAL
Dickinson State (N.D.) ends season at 25-25 overall record, 17-9 NSAA |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
| Monday, May 8, 2023 |
Game 12 (Championship Game): No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) (41-11, 26-2 NSAA) vs.
No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) (27-21, 18-7 NSAA) – 12 p.m.
Valley City State (N.D.) (28-21, 18-7 NSAA) advances to NAIA Softball National Tournament Opening Round on May 15-17.
Bellevue (Neb.) (41-12, 26-2 NSAA) awaits to see if they will receive an at-large bid to the NAIA Softball Natinoal Tournament Opening ROund |
LIVE VIDEO |
STATS |
RECAP |
NIck Huntimer, North Star Athletic Association Sports Information Director