Sean Williams/MDN Sierra Yale (7) of the Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers delivers a pitch during a Region 3 Tournament game against the Bishop Ryan Lions on Monday afternoon.

The Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers softball team is hoping to make another run to the state tournament, which is something they have been familiar with in recent years.

Before they can achieve that goal, however, they must make it through the Region 3 Tournament, and they had their first shot at making that happen on Monday afternoon.

Entering tournament play as the No. 2-seeded team, the Lakers met a familiar foe in the Bishop Ryan Lions to begin their postseason journey. Guided by a complete team effort, the Lakers moved closer to their goal with a 23-4 win over the Lions.

In a game that got out of hand quickly, the Lakers piled on 12 runs in the bottom of the first to take a commanding 12-0 lead.

An RBI single by Shaylie Holen opened the scoring, then Zannah Bjerklie added a three-run double, Sierra Yale added an RBI double, Logen Ystaas walked with the bases loaded, Teegyn Anderson, Ella Brown and Ystaas scored on a passed ball, and Bjerklie had another productive trip to the plate with an RBI single to highlight DLB’s big first inning.

Holding that score momentarily, the Lions were able to strike next as they scored two runs in the top of the third. Rylie Deeter walked then came around to score on a groundout from Braelyn Deeter, and Aubrey Griedl followed that up with an RBI single to make it a 12-2 game.

Orchestrating a huge day at the plate, the Lakers countered by adding six more runs in the bottom half of the frame, then five more in the next inning to reach their run total of 23 in the contest.

Kaelyn Bachmeier, Grace Schaefer, and Brown got on the board with RBI singles, then walks and errors were prominent in helping the Lakers continue to build their large lead. With three outs separating them from a win, Kirstin Brunner of the Lions kept fighting till the end by driving in two runs on a single, bringing the game to its final of 23-4 in favor of the Lakers.

Yale took the mound for the Lakers and went the full five innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Bjerklie’s big day at the plate helped lead the Lakers, as Bjerklie went 2-for-2 with a double, walk and four RBI. The Lakers were also led by Bachmeier who went 1-for-2 with three walks and three RBI, Yale who went 2-for-4 with a double, walk and three RBI, and Holen who went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

From top to bottom of the lineup, the Lakers got a variety of contributions. Six members of the starting lineup reached base at least twice in the win.

The Lions were led by Brunner who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, followed by Griedl who went 2-for-2 with an RBI, and B. Deeter who drove in a run.

DLB’s win sets them up for a contest with the Bottineau Stars, which will take place this afternoon at 4 p.m. The Lions had to turn around and meet Tioga at 6 p.m. last night after the loss.