Softball Nick Huntimer, Dakota State (S.D.) Sports Information Director

2024 NSAA Softball Tournament Central

Conference postseason tournament returns to Bravera Field on Sanford Sports Complex in Dickinson, N.D.

April 29, 2024

BISMARCK, N.D. – The brackets and pairings for the 2024 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Postseason Softball Tournament are set for Friday through next Monday.  The postseason softball tournament is hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.) for the second straight year, held at Bravera Field on Sanford Sports Complex (220 1st Ave.) in Dickinson, N.D.

All seven 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.) won the North Star softball regular-season title for the third consecutive year with an overall record of 30-18 and 19-3 record in the league.  The Bruins receive a bye in the opening round and will not play their first game until Saturday at 1 p.m. (Central Time)/12 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Valley City State (N.D.) is the No. 2 seed with 17-6 NSAA record (25-20 overall record), followed by Dickinson State at No. 3 seed with 15-9 conference record (20-22 overall record).

Mayville State (N.D.) secured the No. 4 seed at 14-29 overall record and 9-15 record in the league.  Dakota State (S.D.) is No. 5 seed at 11-28 overall record and 8-14 NSAA conference record.

The sixth and seventh seeds were not decided until Monday (today).  Waldorf (Iowa) secured the No. 6 seed with 9-27 overall record and 8-15 NSAA conference record.  Viterbo (Wis.) is the No. 7 seed at 9-38 overall record and 5-19 NSAA conference. 

The NSAA softball postseason tournament begins Friday at 1:30 p.m. (Central Time)/12:30 p.m. (Mountain Time) with Dakota State facing Mayville State, followed by Valley City State taking on Viterbo at 4 p.m. (Central Time)/3 p.m. (Mountain Time).  Waldorf plays Dickinson State in the nightcap at 6:30 p.m. (Central Time)/5:30 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Saturday's schedule includes three loser's out games, with the first loser's out game starting at 11 a.m. (Central Time)/10 a.m. (Mountain Time).  Two winner's bracket games follow at 1 p.m. (Central Time)/12 p.m. (Mountain Time) and 3 p.m. (Central Time)/2 p.m. (Mountain Time).  Saturday concludes with a pair of loser's out games at 5 p.m. (Central Time)/4 p.m. (Mountain Time) and 7 p.m. (Central Time)/6 p.m. (Mountain Time).

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 13-16 on 10 sites announced by the NAIA.  The national opening round winners will move on to the 43rd annual NAIA Softball World Series at South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga. on May 23-29.
2024 North Star Athletic Association Softball Championship – hosted by Dickinson State (N.D.) University
Bravera Field – Sanford Sports Complex – Dickinson, N.D. – Times in Mountain Time Zone
(Overall Record, NSAA record)
LIVE VIDEO - LIVE SCOREBOARD
Friday, May 3, 2024 - NSAA Softball Opening Round
Game 1No. 4 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 10, No. 5 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 6 - FINAL LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 2No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) 15, No. 7 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 4 - FINAL/6 innings LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 3:  No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 8, No. 6 seed Waldorf (Iowa) 0 - FINAL/5 innings LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Game 4 (Loser's Out Game):  No. 3 seed Waldorf (Iowa) 3, No. 5 seed Dakota State (S.D.) 2 - FINAL
Dakota State (S.D.) ends season at 11-30 overall record, 8-14 NSAA
LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 5 (Winner's Bracket Game):  No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) 8, No. 4 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 0 - FINAL/5 innings LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 6 (Winner's Bracket Game):  No. 3 seed Dickinson State (N.D.) 4, No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) 3 - FINAL/8 innings LIVE VIDEO  STATS RECAP
Game 7 (Loser's Out Game):  No. 4 seed Mayville State (N.D.) 6, No. 7 seed Viterbo (Wis.) 1 - FINAL
Viterbo (Wis.) ends season at 9-40 overall record, 5-19 NSAA
LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 8 (Loser's Out Game):  No. 6 seed Waldorf (Iowa) (10-28, 8-15 NSAA) vs. No. 2 seed Valley City State (N.D.) (26-21, 17-6 NSAA) - 6 p.m.
Waldorf (Iowa) ends season at 10-29 overall record, 8-15 NSAA)
LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Game 9 (Winner's Bracket Game):  #3 Dickinson State 2, #1 Bellevue University 0 LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 10 (Loser's Out Bracket Game):  #2 Valley City State 7, #4 Mayville State 3
Mayville State is eliminated.
LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Game 11 (Loser's Out Game): #1 Bellevue University 6, #2 Valley City State 3
Valley City State is eliminated.
LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP
Monday, May 6, 2024
Game 12 (Championship Game):  No. 3 Dickinson State (N.D.) 4, No. 1 seed Bellevue (Neb.) 3 - FINAL
Dickinson State (N.D.) (24-22 overall record, 15-9 NSAA) advances to 2024 NAIA Softball National Tournament Opening Round on May 13-16
Bellevue (Neb.) (32-20 overall record, 19-3 NSAA) awaits to see if they will get an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round
LIVE VIDEO STATS RECAP