Central Cass Clinches Third Consecutive Title, Defeats Kindred in State Championship

JAMESTOWN — The Class B softball landscape remains unchanged as Central Cass claimed the state title once again, triumphing over Kindred/Richland 10-2 on Saturday afternoon. This victory marks another chapter in Central Cass's storied history, as they secured their eighth championship since the program's inception in 2012.

"It feels really good," said Central Cass head coach Scott Kost. "There is a lot of work that goes into it and the kids have worked so hard and they have done everything we've asked them to do. It's been a really good season. This is really rewarding."

Entering the tournament unranked, Kindred/Richland made a strong run, defeating higher-seeded teams including No. 3 Des Lacs-Burlington and No. 2 Velva/Drake-Anamoose. However, they faced a tough challenge against the top-seeded Squirrels. "They are a good team and they are well-coached and do a lot of things right so this was a great accomplishment," Kost acknowledged.

Central Cass has been a dominant force in recent years, having reached the state championship game in all but three years since 2012. Coach Kost emphasized the importance of resetting expectations after each victory. "What we did last year doesn't really matter. What is important is putting the work in right away — and they did that," he stated.

The game itself saw Central Cass trailing early, with Kindred's Lauren Schlieman putting the Vikings ahead 1-0 in the second inning. However, the Squirrels turned the tide during a pivotal fourth inning, scoring nine runs on five hits. "That was a big inning. We ran the bases well, we had some timely hitting and that really set the tone for the rest of the game," Kost remarked.

Senior Aspyn Prien notably contributed with her second home run of the tournament, showcasing her leadership throughout the season. Following this championship, the team will focus on preparing for future challenges, while Prien and five other seniors bid farewell to their high school careers. "We are going to take a deep breath and enjoy this and enjoy what went into this," Kost concluded.