Minot North senior Kinzy Welstad fires the ball from the pitching circle in the Sentinels' first game of their home double header against the Century Patriots on Friday, Apr. 10. Nathan Beitler/MDN

The Sentinels’ varsity softball team was back in town on Friday, Apr. 10, for their first outdoor home game of the 2026 season and after a pair of tough losses to the Dickinson High School Mavericks earlier in the week, they were looking to work their way into a couple of wins as they faced the Century High Patriots.

Early into the first game of the Sentinel’s double header, it looked like their offensive woes were set to continue. Both teams remained scoreless through the first inning of play, and the Patriots were the first to put runs on the board with a sacrifice and a two-run RBI single into right field.

The Sentinels went three up and three down in the bottom of the second inning and the Patriots widened their lead to 5-0 in the top of the third.

Two walks and single loaded the bases for the Sentinels in the bottom of the third with just on out on the board. Under the pressure of loaded basses, the Patriots’ pitcher hit Sentinel senior Aven Kelly with a pitch and walked junior Mya Bagwell and Eliese McCann in three back to back at bats to put Minot North on the board.

Ignited by their hot scoring streak, Sentinel junior Cole Kotaska hammered the ball into left field to drive two runners home and tie the game at 5-5. Junior Mylee Ackerman quickly followed up with an RBI of her own with a ground ball to third base, giving the Sentinels their first lead of the night.

Senior Kinzy Welstad doubled on a fly ball to center field and senior Kate Coleman singled to short stop for two more RBIs before the Patriots could secure their third out. In just three outs, the Sentinels went from an 0-5 deficit to a four point lead at 9-5.

The Minot North defense held the line through the rest of the game, allowing the Patriots just two more runs while earning themselves an additional four.

The first game ended after the top of the seventh inning with a victory for the Sentinels at 13-7.

The Sentinels carried over their first game momentum straight into the first inning of the second game. The Sentinels quickly ran the game up to 5-0 before the Patriots could secure their first three out of the game.

The Sentinels maintained their lead straight through to the top of the sixth inning when an RBI double put the Patriots on even ground with Minot North at 9-9.

The Sentinels grew their lead to 13-9 through the bottom of the sixth and held out against the Patriots for long enough in the top of the seventh to win them the second game at 13-12.

The Sentinels improved to a positive 4-2 record on the season after their wins on Friday.

The team will be back on the road for their next pair of games as they take on the Legacy High Sabers on Tuesday, Apr. 14.