GO DMACC BEARS

     One of the Boone Communities best kept secrets are Boone Campus, Des Moines Area Community College athletics, especially women's softball at this time of year.

     Two old buddies of the Kornerman,  Eric Ver Helst, the Bears Sports Information Director, and Ryan Wendt, the longtime KWBG Sports Director, absolutely do the best they can of providing information about DMACC softball and other Bear athletic events to Boone area residents but there never seems to be any mention of PRINTED material in our Boone News Republican? or anywhere beyond. And that's a damn shame.

     I, the Kornerman, am here to tell you, in print, what limited knowledge I can find about the National Junior College Division II Softball World Series which runs from May 20-24 in Oxford, Alabama. And in all honesty, after spending way too much time in attempting to corral some info, I'm falling way short. I couldn't even find any details in searching the Oxford, Alabama area newspapers.

     This World Series is a big, big event but doesn't seem to receive the treatment it should.

     I do know that it appears the Bears softball team is seeded fourth in the 20-team field and would play an opening second round game, Tuesday, May 20, at 11 a.m. against the winner of an earlier game?.

    I can also tell you that the Boone Campus team, coached by Bob Ligouri, has a 2025 season record of 55-5, which included a 26-2 conference mark. The Bears, of course, have been consistent national contenders in softball in recent years and, obviously, have another outstanding team.

     A roster of 34 players includes one former Toreador player, freshman Erin Ades, and the team boasts a .408 batting average with 527 runs scored and 70 (that's seventy) home runs in their 60 games.

     Thana Heller, Bailey Richards and Gary Gorman are assistant coaches and John Wilkinson is in charge of player development.

     I wish I could tell you more about this prestigious national event but numerous facts and figures were hard to find. 

     Although DMACC came along after my time, I was proud of the degree I earned from its predecessor, Boone Junior College, and I still like to claim the school as mine. The fact the college remains in Boone and is an important part of the community adds to my devotion.

K-----K

     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located a 928 South Jackson, Boone, Iowa 50036-4792. Phone number is 515-432-1530 leave a message. To email your stories/memories/comments/death notices......https://kelleyskorner1@blogspot.com.