With the three younger Dirt Devil softball programs ending their season in late June, the Dirt Devil 16/18s and 14s closed out their regular season ahead of state compeition in early July.
Dirt Devil 16/18s, 14s open state July 4
Two of the older Dirt Devil softball programs will close out their season during the 2025 USA Softball of Nebraska Fastpitch State Championships.
From Hastings, the Dirt Devil 16/18s and 14s will compete in their respective Class C state brackets between July 4 - 6.
Both teams will open on Friday, July 4 and are guaranteed three games.
The Dirt Devil 16/18s were 15-14-1 entering a July 2 doubleheader at Ponca (the Dirt Devils won 10-3 over Ponca 16u but lost 5-2 against Ponca 18u) while the Dirt Devil 14s closed out their regular season with wins of 10-3 and 13-12 at Dakota Valley on June 30.
In the 16/18C bracket, the Dirt Devils will open with a 12:30 p.m. first pitch on July 4 against Chaos - Dunavin 18u. A win would advance the Dirt Devils to a 2 p.m. game on the same day against Pender 18u while a loss would drop the Dirt Devil 16/18s to a Saturday morning game at 9:30 a.m.
During the 14C bracket, the Dirt Devils (13-17) will first play at 11 a.m. on July 4 against Mead 14u with the winner to advance to a 5 p.m. game that evening against CNSA - Rogers/Pack 14u. A loss would drop the Dirt Devil 14s to an 8 a.m. game Saturday morning.
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Dirt Devil 14s win twice ahead of state tourney
With the season to conclude in early July, the Dirt Devil 14s youth softball team closed out their regular season on June 30.
From North Sioux City, South Dakota, the Dirt Devils visited Dakota Valley 14u.
Following a nine-day break of games, the Dirt Devil 14s picked up wins of 10-3 and 13-12. The Dirt Devils plated seven runs in the bottom of the third to win the night cap and are now 13-17 on the season.
In the opening game, Lucille Ocampo singled three times, drove in two runs and scored twice while Ady Hays singled twice and scored twice.
Elizabeth Hix singled, drove in two runs and scored; Olivia Brandow singled and drove in two runs; Chloe Kai singled and drove in a run; Reagan McManigal singled and scored twice; Hadley Woehler singled and scored as Sidney Nelson and Abbey Shultheis both scored.
Brandow (117 pitches) picked up the complete game victory in five innings allowing three runs (one earned) off three hits while striking out and walking nine batters each.
During the second outing, Nelson singled, doubled and scored; Hays doubled, drove in a run and scored twice as Hix doubled, drove in a run and scored.
Brandow singled, drove in a run and scored twice; Woehler singled, drove in a run and scored; Josie Haglund accounted for a RBI and two runs scored; Hadley Dunklau scored twice as Avery Gubbels and McManigal both scored.
Dunklau (41 pitches) pitched the opening inning allowing six runs (five earned) while striking out one batter, walking five and hitting one.
Ocampo (27) worked a third of an inning allowing five earned runs while walking three batters and hitting two. Brandow (33) closed out the final inning and two-thirds allowing one run while striking out five batters, walking one and hitting one.
The Dirt Devil 14s will open the Class C 14u state tournament in Hastings on Friday, July 4 taking on Mead 14u at 11 a.m.
Dirt Devil 16/18s compete in York Summer Slam
An older Dirt Devil youth softball team had a busy weekend with five games in two days.
From the York Ballpark Complex, the Dirt Devil 16/18s first suffered losses of 3-1 to Singers - Fink 18u, 4-3 against Force 18u and closed out pool play with a 7-3 loss to Columbus - Havoc (RLBL) 18u on June 28.
In the Silver Division on June 29, the Dirt Devils picked up a 12-7 victory over Kelly's Fastpitch 18u but dropped a 4-3 decision to Titan Nation 16u in the semifinal round.
The Dirt Devils are now 15-14-1 on the season.
For the weekend, Kinnley McGuire recorded five hits (three singles, two doubles) followed by Kassidee Holz, Lilly Johnson and Rylin Hall all with four singles.
Anna Dutcher posted a team-high four RBI while Lily Gubbels and Reagan McGuire both added three RBI.
Kinnley McGuire and Jordyn Gamble each crossed the plate four times.
Gamble (333 pitches) pitched 19 and a third innings starting four games. She allowed 17 runs (four earned) off 15 hits while striking out 22 batters, walking seven and hitting one.
Kinnley McGuire (66 pitches) worked three innings starting one game. She allowed seven runs (five earned) off six hits while striking out three batters, walking two and hitting two.
Dirt Devil 16/18s will next visit Ponca on Wednesday, July 2 at 6:30/8 p.m. before joining the Dirt Devil 14s (11-17) Friday, July 4 - Sunday, July 6 in Hastings for the USA Softball of Nebraska Fastpitch State Championships in Class C. All teams will play three guaranteed games.
The older Dirt Devils will open the state tourney on Friday, July 4 at 12:30 p.m. against Chaos - Dunavin 18u.
The Dirt Devil 14s will open the state tourney on Friday, July 4 at 11 a.m. against Mead 14u.
Dirt Devil 10s Black ended their season on June 23 splitting road games at Pender winning 15-8 before falling 17-4. The Dirt Devils closed out their year winning four of their final seven games to finish 4-20-1.
Dirt Devil 10s Red had their final games canceled due to weather on June 24 but hosted Bancroft on June 23 playing to a 15-15 tie in game one before winning 10-7. The Dirt Devils went 5-0-1 during their final six games to finish 19-16-3.
Dirt Devil 12s recorded a third place finish in the Logan Valley League Tournament in West Point after going 5-2 including playing six of their seven games in one day. The Dirt Devils ended the year 24-16-1.
