DICKINSON — Sunday was the grand opening of the Sanford Sports Complex that featured a doubleheader between Dickinson State University and Dakota State and the opening ceremony of the Dickinson Diamonds youth softball season.
Making the most out of the historic moment, The Blue Hawks (14-9, 19-23) would sweep the Trojans (11-10, 12-27), which included a two extra inning game, ending 6-5 and then fending off an early lead 11-7 in game two.
Dickinson would continue their good form, with another doubleheader sweep the following day, climbing the North Star Athletic Association standings to third and are now on a seven game winning streak.
“Without the City of Dickinson and all the sponsors and all the community, there is no way that this could have come together,” Ty Orton said. “This shows what teamwork is about and to have a complex that is based on teamwork is just such a blessing to have a community make this thing a reality.”
Before the first game, the sponsors of the complex including: The Eagles Club, Devon Energy, Bravera Bank, Dakota Community Bank & Trust and Sanford Health all had members participate in the ceremonial first pitch on the Bravera championship field.
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After the doubleheader, Dickinson Diamonds had all the local youth teams enter the Bravera field for their opening ceremony, with Dickinson High School and DSU head coaches throwing a ceremonial pitch.
DSU were down 4-0 in game one at the top of the sixth inning, capped off by a homer by Maycee Bricker. Suddenly, the Blue Hawks would inched their way to a tied game at the bottom of the seventh inning to keep hopes alive. After a quick ending eighth inning, right fielder Madeline Peralta would hit a single at the bottom of the ninth to give her team a walkoff finish.
Game two saw Dakota State take a one-run lead at the top of the first, before Dickinson would completely run away with the game with a six-run second inning, followed by five runs in the third. The Trojans fought hard to rally back, scoring six runs between the fourth and fifth inning, but Dickinson’s defense would prevail.
The doubleheader victory was the perfect celebration to the grand opening and with hundreds of young female athletes watching their local college team triumph Dickinson culture around softball continues to shine bright.
The Blue Hawks continued the beat down against Dakota State on Monday, with another doubleheader sweep. They shut out the Trojans 11-0 in game one and squeaked by in game two with a 6-5 finish. They are now on a seven game winning streak , with only two more doubleheaders to go in the season, which will be on the road against Waldorf University, who are currently sixth in the NSAA standings.
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