PRESS RELEASE: MAY 5, 2026

Vikings softball wins state tournament, celebrates notable honors

After winning their third straight regular season conference title (37-21), the Lady Vikings hosted the FCSAA DII Region 8 Championship April 30 – May 2, winning all three games.

With an 8-6 win on May 2 over second-seeded State College of Florida, the win gives the 40-21 Vikings their third straight regional appearance and an 11-game win streak.

The Vikings will travel to Alabama for a best-of-3 South Regional starting May 8, with the winner advancing to the Division II World Series.

Tournament honors are:
Tournament Most Outstanding Player- Jenelle Cruz
Tournament Most Outstanding Player - Emma Shipley
All-Tournament Team - Jenelle Cruz, Madison Driggers, Hailey Pyle and Isabel Lewis
Coach of the Year - Joe Pound

Celebrating notable honors for the regular season, five student-athletes were named to the all-conference teams:
Jenelle Cruz was named the FCSAA All-Conference/All Region Player of the Year.
Making the First Team are Emma Shipley, Jenelle Cruz and Crimson Lawerence.
Making Second Team is Juliet Fogel and Hailey Pyle.
For a third consecutive year, softball head coach Joe Pound has been named FCSAA DII Coach of the Year.
This is Pound’s fifth year coaching the Viking softball team.

MORE COVERAGE

FCSAA DII Region 8 Champions.