Dickson Law/Knife River/Vue Community Credit Union's ascension to the top of the E/Rec classification in the region started with a bit of a slow burn.  In May, they emerged from pool play in the Bismarck Whirlybird tournament with a meager 2-2 record, but fought their way through the bracket to a second place finish. That didn't translate to success in June and the big stage at McQuades, however, as they were eliminated in the second round.

It was in July that the boys from Bismarck caught fire by running the table in Dickinson's Miller Lite tournament, including a 1-run victory over growing rival Northern Energy Services out of Williston in the championship game.

With their confidence growing as they entered August, Dickson Law weathered three narrow victories to open the Rec 1 state tournament before falling in the winner's bracket semifinals to Minot's Kelly Chiropractic. Three games later, they would avenge that loss and reach the championship game. It was eight games into their weekend that they gave their best effort, putting up their first and only dominating wins of the tournament in sweeping Center Merchants by a combined 25 runs and winning the state championship.

September began with the team rightfully entering the Men's E/Rec Northern National Tournament in Mandan as one of the favorites....and they did not disappoint. In fact, they practically cloned their performance from just a few weeks earlier. They took a loss deep in the winner's bracket, leaving them a shorter road back to the championship game - this time, outlasting Northern Energy Services once again - and a rematch with the team that knocked them off, Hazardous (Watertown SD).

Their pair of championship wins were not quite as dominant as at state, but the defense was simply too overwhelming for Hazardous, who scored only 9 runs over those games to Dickson Law's 25.

Congratulations to Men's E/Rec Northern National Champion Dickson Law/Knife River/Vue Community Credit Union and tournament MVP Ty Oakland (pictured above).

Pictures courtesy the Mandan Softball Association.