The Minot Honeybees are making their final preparations for the 2025 Northwoods League Softball Championship Series after securing second place in the Northwoods Division with a 21-21 record. Their opponent? The league-dominating Madison Night Mares—owners of a 35-7 regular season record and widely considered the team to beat.

The Night Mares enter the best-of-three Championship Series as the top seed in the league, riding the momentum of a season defined by power, depth, and consistency. Madison led the NWLS in nearly every offensive category—including batting average (.358), runs scored (337), home runs (55), and RBIs (300)—while also posting the fewest team strikeouts. Their pitching staff, led by 10-game winner Karlie McKenzie (1.86 ERA), was just as dominant, combining for 12 complete games and an impressive team ERA of 4.16.

Despite being swept by Madison in a three-game series to close the regular season, the Honeybees are taking plenty of positives into the postseason.

“We didn’t deserve to win, but we sure didn’t deserve to lose,” was how Honeybee head coach Craig Montvidas summed up the series. Montvidas referenced the team’s pitching improvement from previous matchups with the Night Mares. The performances inside the circle will be key in the Championship Series as the Honeybees continue to try and fill big shoes left by the departure of Julianna Verni, the Northwoods League strikeout leader.

The Honeybees have built their identity around grit, chemistry, and homegrown talent. While the roster includes international players from Italy and Australia, several key contributors hail from North Dakota or attend in-state schools, including:

• Jackie Albrecht – University of North Dakota
• Trinity Gregg – University of Jamestown
• Cadey Shipman – North Dakota State University and Minot Native
• Makenna Alexander – University of North Dakota and West Fargo Native
• Cienna Clemens – University of Jamestown and Velva Native
• Isabelle Anderson – Minot State University

In contrast, the Madison Night Mares feature a roster stacked with players from elite national programs, including the University of Wisconsin (3), University of Washington (2), University of Oklahoma, LSU, Mississippi State, University of Arizona, and Colorado State.

Offensively, the Honeybees offer a well-rounded attack—from speed at the top of the lineup to power in the middle and consistency at the bottom. Combined with a pitching staff that has risen to the occasion down the stretch, Minot is prepared to fight for a championship in front of their home crowd.

Game 1 of the NWLS Championship Series begins Monday, August 4 at 6:35 PM at Corbett Field in Minot.
Game 2 and (if necessary) Game 3 will take place in Madison on August 6 and 7.

Buy Tickets: https://minot-honeybees.nwltickets.com/SingleGame/Tickets/SelectSeats/8236