Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis & Clark’s Piper Feller slides safely into third base in front of Ray’s Brinlee Cancade during a Region 3 semifinal game on Wednesday, May 20, at Scheels South Hill Complex. Mike Kraft/MDN

If the Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis & Clark softball team is feeling the pressure of being both the top seed in the Region 3 Tournament as well as the No. 1 team in the Class B coaches’ poll, they certainly aren’t showing it.

For the second consecutive game, the Lakers overwhelmed their opponent across the dugout to punch a ticket to the Region 3 Tournament championship game once again. DL-B/L&C scored eight runs in the opening frame and never looked back, defeating No. 4 seed Ray, 18-0, in five innings in the semifinal round on Wednesday, May 20, at Scheels South Hill Complex.

In two tournament games so far this postseason, the Lakers have outscored their opponents 38-0, surrendering just one hit. The 38 runs have come in just seven combined innings.

“The girls are playing great fastpitch right now,” DL-B/L&C coach TJ Stewart said. “They come prepared every day. They come to practice with a purpose and that’s what makes the season enjoyable. They are here to want to learn, develop and get better and be successful that way.”

Wednesday was the 12th game this season that the Lakers have amassed at least 10 runs.

They are averaging 13.2 runs per game.

The Lakers (15-4) will play Bottineau on Thursday, May 21, at 3 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s championship game, won by DL-B/L&C, 8-6, to earn its ninth consecutive appearance at the state tournament. The Lakers have taken part in every state tournament since 2016, missing out only in 2020 due to a canceled season. The Lakers won their regular season matchup with the Stars, 12-0.

DL-B/L&C did the bulk of its damage at the plate with its first four hitters in the lineup. Aleia Fluhrer, Logen Ystaas, Piper Feller and Ella Smith combined to go 10-for-12 with a triple, two doubles, nine RBIs and 13 runs scored. The top four accounted for all but two of the team’s hits.

“We’re showing up and playing our game,” Feller said. “We’ve had a pretty good season so far and we’re not taking that for granted. We’ve made a lot of adjustments on little things and played very clean so far.”

Lily Schepp went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored and Jeerzee Marquart went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Lakers got the bats going early, maintaining the momentum they established from scoring 20 runs the prior day against Stanley. The Lakers brought 12 batters to the plate and the first five reached base. Fluhrer led off the game with a triple to left and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Ystaas. Fluhrer and Ystaas each drove in runs during their second at-bat of the frame. Feller, Smith and Schepp also delivered RBI hits in the first inning.

“We’re going into every single game not underestimating anyone because it is tournament time and this is when everybody plays to the best of their ability,” Ystaas said. “So we’re just ready for anything any team has to throw at us.”

DL-B/L&C put together another big inning in the third, plating six runs to build a 15-0 lead. Feller drove in two with a bases-loaded single.

The run support was more than enough for Feller in the circle. A day after watching Marquart toss a three-inning perfect game in which she struck out eight of the nine batters she faced, Feller kept the scoreless streak going, allowing just one run over five innings. She struck out six and walked one.

“It was just mixing up pitches and never getting too many of the same thing over and over really sets you up for success,” Feller said. “Also, having coaches that are knowledgeable of calling your pitches and they just know how I throw, so that helped going in.”

Having the run support also helps, Feller said.

“Our hitting has come around a lot and that is so helpful on the mound,” Feller said. “I don’t have as much stress on my back and having a good team behind me, not only hitting but in the field, they just support me and back me up in every game.”

Aletta Nelson had the lone hit for the Jays – a two-out single in the second. Sailyr Bothe drew a lead-off walk in the fifth, but was stranded at third to end the game.

Feller and Marquart have thrown all but three innings this season for the Lakers. Both have similar ERAs, with Feller leading the team at 1.66 and Marquart right behind her at 1.71. Teams are hitting just .185 against DL-B/L&C’s pitching staff. The Lakers have six shutouts this season.

In their last six games against conference opponents, the Lakers have yielded just one run while scoring 12 or more in each.

“We were rated No. 1, but we’re not letting our heads get so big,” Ystaas said. “It is what are rank is coming in here, but we still need to play every single game with our best ability that we have. People always say that tournament time is when you should be playing your best and I truly believe this team has been playing the best over these past couple of games.”

The Lakers can automatically advance to the state tournament with a win over Bottineau in the region title game. If not, they will play a state-qualifier against the winner of Renville County and Glenburn immediately following the championship game.