Minot North graduate Aven Kelly rounds third after hitting a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning of Game 2 of the SCHEELS Softball All-Star Series on Monday, June 1, at Tharaldson Park in Fargo. Photo provided by Cory Erickson/Hillsboro Banner. Submitted Photo

It didn’t matter if the games were being played in Eastern North Dakota in Fargo or in Central North Dakota in Bismarck, the West All Stars’ offense traveled in a big way.

The West All Stars amassed 36 runs in three games across two days in two different cities, sweeping the East All Stars in the 2026 SCHEELS Softball All-Star Series. The two-day event began on Monday, June 1, at Tharaldson Park in Fargo, with the West taking Game 1, 9-2, as well as Game 2, 16-2. The festivities concluded the following day on Tuesday, June 2, at Sanford Sports Complex in Bismarck, with the West completing the three-game sweep, 11-8.

The field featured 29 seniors, with 15 suiting up for the East and 14 for the West. The rosters included four players who had just won a state title over the weekend and three others whose team advanced to the championship game. In total, 22 teams were represented, with 17 players representing Class A programs and 12 supporting Class B teams.

The West never trailed in the opener in Fargo, scoring the game’s first nine runs. They put up 13 total hits, led by three hits from Wilton-Wing’s Taylor Zimmerman. She finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Mandan’s Kaebry Weekes, Williston’s Chloee Stundal and Hazen’s Ava Jungers all collected two hits. Stundal doubled and Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis & Clark’s Logen Ystaas tripled, drove in a run and scored twice.

Beulah’s Addison Dale-Geiger earned the win in the circle, pitching all seven innings. She allowed two runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking three.

Hillsboro-Central Valley’s Sanna Kritzberger tripled and drove in a run for the East.

The West was even more dominant in the finale in Fargo, putting up 16 runs on 16 hits. All 16 runs came over the final five innings after falling behind 1-0. Minot North’s Aven Kelly homered for the West and Dickinson’s Kyndall Peterson doubled and finished with a game-high four RBIs. Twelve batters recorded a hit for the West, eight registered RBIs and 11 scored runs.

Minot High’s Darby Mowbray went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Glenburn’s Emma Jones finished 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Peterson was the winning pitcher for Game 2, tossing a complete-game three hitter. She allowed two runs and struck out eight.

Fargo Shanley’s Alexa Gregg had two of the East’s three hits, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. West Fargo Sheyenne’s Madison Aadland had the other RBI for the East.

The venue change the following day didn’t slow down the West’s offense in the slightest. They used a seven-running second inning to jump out to a 7-1 lead. The East fought back, plating three runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to get within 7-5. The East got as close as 8-7 entering the bottom of the sixth, but the West tallied three runs in their final at-bat to come away with the series sweep.

Zimmerman and Williston’s Kyah Stundal both had multi-hit games. Kyah Stundal, Zimmerman and Dale-Geiger all doubled. Jungers, Kyah Stundal and Weekes all registered two RBIs. Mowbray went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored and Kelly had a hit and scored a run.

Peterson suited up for both teams, starting with the West and finishing with the East. She had an RBI and a run scored for the West before coming into pitch in the fourth inning for the East. She homered in her lone at-bat with the East.

Fargo North’s Jada Purdy led the East with a pair of hits.

For the first time in all-star series history, the MVP was shared among two players. Peterson and Dale-Geiger were named co-MVPs. Dale-Geiger had two wins in the circle and registered two RBIs. Peterson had the West’s other pitching victory while homering and tallying seven RBIs.

Another first was the inaugural North Dakota Softball All Star Hall of Fame class. Former Bismarck Century and current University of North Dakota outfielder Brooklyn Morris and former Dickinson and current UND catcher Taya Hopfauf were enshrined prior to Tuesday’s contest.

Also included in Tuesday’s festivities was the skills competition, consisting of four events: fastest runner, infield throwing accuracy, outfield throwing accuracy and a modified home run derby.

Emma Jones captured the fastest runner title in 10.76 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 10.98 set by May-Port-CG’s Rylee Satrom in 2024. Mowbray also competed in the event.

Ystaas took home the win in the infield throwing accuracy skills competition with eight points. She was the lone Class B competitor among the seven-player field.

Jungers earned 13 points to win the outfield throwing accuracy skills competition and Dale-Geiger was crowned champion in the modified home run derby with 30 points. Kelly also competed in the home run derby.