An early July state tournament closed out the Dirt Devil youth softball season.
Dirt Devil 16/18s go 3-2, finish top six in state tourney
Along with the Dirt Devil 14s playing five games over a two-day period, the Dirt Devil 16/18s took to the diamond for the 2025 USA Softball of Nebraska Fastpitch State Championships in Hastings from July 4 - 6.
The Dirt Devil 16/18s went 3-2 and earned a top six finish (tied for fifth) in the 16/18C Division.
Kim Vidlak was in her first year coaching youth sports but has spent the past two seasons in the dugout as the graduate assistant coach for the Wayne State College softball team (played for WSC from 2018 - 23).
"Each tournament provided a different learning experience," said Vidlak. "With a team of only 10 girls, and of those only one was a senior, our youth showed at times. Every competition presented new challenges that pushed us to adapt, reflect and then improve."
"Whether it was learning how to handle pressure, adjust to different styles of learning/coaching, or staying mentally tough in difficult moments, each tournament served as a unique opportunity to grow," Vidlak added. "Even when we learned from an experience, it was just the next “steppingstone” on a much longer path toward our success."
The older Dirt Devils started July 4 with a 15-11 victory over Chaos - Dunavin 18u before weather postponed games into a busy July 5. The Dirt Devils started Saturday with a 9-4 win over Pender 18u and 14-9 victory against the Rockets before suffering a 9-3 loss to Hastings Bombers 16u. On July 6, the Dirt Devil 16/18s ended their season with an 8-2 loss against Kellys Fastpitch 18u.
The Dirt Devils closed their 2025 summer at 19-17-1.
Leaders were Rylin Hall who totaled nine hits (four singles, three doubles, two homeruns) as Kinnley McGuire added seven hits (four singles, three doubles). Hall led the team with 10 RBI followed by Jordyn Gamble with eight runs batted in. Hall also posted a team-high seven runs scored while Gamble, Kinnley McGuire and Reagan McGuire all crossed the plate six times.
Coach Vidlak said there were two names that came to mind when talking leadership.
"As our only senior, Rylin Hall took on a lot of the weight of being the leader of the group," said Vidlak. "This came easy to Rylin as she is a natural leader by example. The rest of the team looks to her and her knowledge, following the work ethic and determination she possesses."
"Reagan McGuire had been our lead-off hitter for most of the season, naturally leading our offensive," Vidlak mentioned. "She is the perfect lead-off hitter when it comes to getting our offense going at any time in the game. She’s always wanting to get better for herself and her teammates, putting in extra time to be the leader the team can look up to."
Kinnley McGuire (266 pitches) pitched 11 and two-thirds starting four games. She allowed 26 runs (11 earned) off 19 hits while striking out 10 batters, walking 13 and hitting two.
Gamble (160) worked 10 innings appearing in four games and starting one. She allowed 15 runs (seven earned) off 15 hits while striking out seven batters and walking three.
"This group of girls put in a lot of work every chance they got," Vidlak mentioned. "Our practices were fast paced and always jammed packed with drills and ways to make us better. Whether it was with me or with each other, most of the girls worked outside of practice, both offensively and defensively."
"All the time and effort they put in gave us the success we ended this season with," said Vidlak. "They wanted to put the work in to see high results, and they showed. We overcame a lot of adversity when it came to being a small team, but it allowed us as a group to grow closer and stronger for next season."
The Dirt Devil 16/18s won the Silver Division brackets during the Dirt Devil Invite in Wayne along with the YGSA Father's Day Tournament in Yankton, South Dakota.
Dirt Devil 14s compete in state tourney
While the Dirt Devil 16/18s took three days to play their five games, the Dirt Devil 14s also closed out their season during the 2025 USA Softball of Nebraska Fastpitch State Championships in Hastings with action on both July 4 - 5.
The Dirt Devil 14s posted a 2-3 record in the 14C Division finishing ninth.
The Dirt Devils 14s first edged Mead 14u, 6-5 on July 4 before playing four games on July 5 due to one game being postponed from weather. The Dirt Devils lost 12-5 to CNSA Rogers - Pack 14u and 14-2 against Crofton Warriors 14u before winning 9-8 over Greshaw 14u. Dirt Devil 14s closed their state tourney run with a 13-10 loss to Waverly Heat 13u.
The Dirt Devils ended their season at 15-20.
Leaders were Lucille Ocampo with six hits (five singles, one double) followed by Ady Hays (three singles, one double, one triple) and Reagan McManigal (four singles, one double) who both had five hits. Ocampo and McManigal both recorded five RBI as McManigal led the team with six runs scored followed by Hays and Ocampo right behind both crossing the plate five times.
Olivia Brandow (272 pitches) pitched 11 and a third innings of the 17 total appearing in four games and starting two. She allowed 24 runs (17 earned) off 17 hits while striking out seven batters, walking 16 and hitting two.
Hadley Dunklau (128) worked four and a third innings appearing in three games and starting two. She allowed 17 runs (nine earned) off four hits while striking out three batters, walking 13 and hitting six.
Dirt Devil 16/18s split at Ponca
Ahead of state tourney competition, the Dirt Devil 16/18s competed against two northeast Nebraska summer teams on July 2.
From Ponca, the Dirt Devils played both Ponca 16u and Ponca 18u.
The Dirt Devil 16/18s started with a 10-3 victory over Ponca 16u followed by a 5-2 loss to Ponca 18u. The Dirt Devils are now 16-15-1 on the season.
Earlier this season, the Dirt Devils won 15-3 over Ponca 16u and tied 1-1 against Ponca 18u on June 12 in Wayne.
In the opening game, Kassidee Holz singled twice, drove in a run and scored twice; Kinnley McGuire singled twice, drove in two runs and scored as Lily Gubbels singled twice and drove in two runs.
Anna Dutcher singled, drove in three runs and scored twice; Reagan McGuire singled, drove in a run and scored; Alivia Kesting singled and scored; Gracelynn Daniels accounted for a RBI and run scored as Jordyn Gamble scored twice.
Kinnley McGuire (78 pitches) picked up the complete game victory in five innings allowing three runs (one earned) off four hits while striking out seven batters, walking two and hitting one.
During the second outing, Gamble tripled, drove in a run and scored as Dutcher doubled.
Holz singled and drove in a run; Reagan McGuire singled as Kesting scored.
Kinnley McGuire (92 pitches) suffered the complete game loss in four innings allowing five runs (three earned) off five hits while striking out five batters and walking four.
