St. Cloud Cathedral Softball Team Returns To State Tournament

The St. Cloud Cathedral softball team is back in the Class 2-A State Tournament. The 23-2 Crusaders are seeded #4 and will play against 5th seeded Spectrum at 7pm (originally 3pm) Tuesday in the State Quarterfinals at Caswell Park in North Mankato. Cathedral finished 3rd in the Class 2-A State Tournament in 2024.

Get our free mobile app

PHOTO: Libby Auger

Section Playoffs

Cathedral won the Section 6-2-A championship last week with wins over Milaca, Holdingford, Pierz, and Kimball twice. Cathedral's two loses this season came on May 3 against Lake Crystal Welcome Memorial 3-2 and to Kimball in the first section championship game 8-5.

Cathedral Captains

Cathedral has been led this season by their 3 captains Tayla Vought, Bayley Schneider and Sam Dingmann. Those 3 and head coach Todd Dingmann joined me on WJON.

Hitting Has Been Strong

Coach Dingmann says their hitting has really been their strength this season. Vought says this team is younger than past Cathedral state tournament teams and their hitting and defense has been solid. She says the lineup is solid from top to bottom.

photo courtesy of Libby Auger

Junior Class Leads the Way

Sam Dingmann says there is a close bond with this team with 11 juniors on the squad. She says this group has an unbreakable bond. Bayley Schneider recalls winning the section title over Kimball. She says there was a rush knowing they were state tournament bound.

Facing Spectrum

Cathedral's opponent Tuesday in the quarterfinals is Spectrum. Coach Dingmann says Spectrum is unbeaten and has been relying on their pitching. He says they'll need to take good at bats, put the ball in play and put some pressure on Spectrum's defense. Dingmann is uncertain on his pitching plan for the week but did highlight their top pitching options Berkley Mathiason and Keira Alexander.

Strong Field

The top 7 seeds in the Class AA State Tournament have a combined 13 losses. Dingmann says it will be a good fight this week.

2025 Cathedral Roster:

Number	Name	Year
2	Jerzak, CJ	9
3	Koenig, Kyah	10
4	Fox, Emily	11
5	Buckentine, McKenna	11
6	Polipnick, Finley	11
7	Schneider, Bayley	11
8	Alexander, Keira	11
9	Mathiasen, Berkley	8
10	Mulliner, Cole	11
11	Bell, Elizabeth	11
13	Dingmann, Samantha	11
14	Kayser, Natalie	12
16	Bovy, Jordan	10
19	Dorr, Rachel	12
21	Smith, Addie	11
24	Fleege, Isabella	9
26	Meyer, Sadie	11
32	Vought, Tayla	11