Western North Dakota trio ready to break the mold and play DI softball in state

The Scheel’s softball all-star collection offers North Dakota athletes a singular probability to play with the identical ladies they often compete towards, however for 3 all-state gamers, that is just the start of their journey collectively.

Logan Gronberg, Brooklyn Morris, and Taya Hopfauf are three of the most effective softball gamers within the state. They’re all from the west, and all headed to play on the College of North Dakota. Whereas that will look like one thing that ought to be a standard prevalence, it isn’t.

“They haven’t had loads of North Dakota children up to now and I believe you may discuss to any of the women that have been recruited this yr, and we wish to change that considerably of a stereotype of not recruiting from North Dakota,” former Century outfielder Brooklyn Morris mentioned. “I believe it’s actually essential to have North Dakota children go to North Dakota colleges.”

Within the final 15 years simply seven gamers from North Dakota have stayed in state to play division one softball with simply two of them taking part in for greater than two seasons. That’s a possibility this trio doesn’t take calmly.

“I believe it’s wonderful to haven’t solely myself, however two different ladies from North Dakota play in North Dakota to have the ability to characterize our residence state and have the ability to play at that increased degree, and simply present North Dakota that there’s ladies right here which might be able to taking part in too,” former Dickinson Excessive Faculty catcher Taya Hopfauf mentioned.

For Morris and Gronberg this implies an opportunity to play collectively as soon as extra, one thing they’ve carried out in journey ball because the age of six. Now they’ll get to affix forces with Hopfauf, a buddy they’ve competed towards for simply as lengthy.

“I imply it makes it quite a bit simpler understanding that I’ve some type of help system up there with associates I’ve had perpetually and identified perpetually,” former Bismarck Excessive Faculty pitcher Logan Gronberg mentioned. “I’m actually shut with their households too and we’ve all identified one another perpetually and are actually snug with one another.”

“After we all three dedicated and we discovered we have been going to be teammates it was thrilling to know that these rivals that I’ve had my entire life are going to be my teammates sooner or later,” Hopfauf mentioned.

These future Preventing Hawks say they’re prepared for the subsequent degree, they usually’ll have one thing to show once they get there.

“I assume simply to show that despite the fact that we’re from Bismarck we will compete in DI,” Gronberg mentioned.