Have you heard of the Bismarck Larks, the Minot Hot Tots or the LaCrosse Loggers of Northwoods League Baseball? How about the Minot Honeybees or the LaCrosse Steam? The Honeybees and Steam are part of the history-making inaugural season of Northwoods League Softball, and NDSCS has two alum and one current athlete on their rosters. According to their website, Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) is the first for-profit Women’s Summer Collegiate Softball League. The purpose of the League is to develop players for their college, Olympic and future professional play. Any athlete with softball college eligibility can play, with select graduate High School players admitted to college also eligible. Teams are promoted similar to minor league baseball teams, playing games in front of fans in a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment.
Josie Buhr came back to ND to play for the Minot Honeybees this summer. She plays outfield and currently has 14 hits including two doubles and ten RBIs for the season. Josie was named the Northwoods League Position Player of the Night on July 16 when the Honeybees defeated the Mankato Habaneros 8-7 with her pinch hit 2-run double. Josie transferred to Kansas Wesleyan University to play for the Coyotes after graduating from NDSCS with her Associates in 2022.
Sydney Schott signed to play this summer with the LaCrosse Steam. Sydney has pitched 17 games for the Steam with 25 strikeouts. She was the Xcel Energy High Energy Player of the Game when her team played the Honeybees on July 11. Sydney graduated from NDSCS in 2022 with her Liberal Arts Degree and then transferred to Spalding University in Kentucky where she pitches for the Golden Eagles.
Current NDSCS Softball player Caitlyn Dannenfelzer also plays for the Minot Honeybees. She registered the first hit in team history.
Northwoods League Softball fields 4 teams in their first season – Minot Honeybees, LaCrosse Steam, Mankato Habaneros, and Madison Night Mares. If you’re ever in one of these areas, stop by for a game to cheer on a fellow Wildcat!
For additional information, check out the league website: https://northwoodsleague.com/softball/ Each team has their own facebook page too!
