Vikings Claim 6th Straight Central Conference Tournament Championship

(York, NE) - The Northwest softball team wrapped up the regular season on Thursday afternoon, picking up three victories, winning the Central Conference tournament championship for the sixth straight year. 

Northwest would get an opening tournament win, defeating Lexington 13-0 to advance into the semi-final round vs Aurora. The Huskies would defeat York 6-2 in the quarter finals. 

The Vikings would find themselves down 7-0 after three innings vs their rival, Aurora. Northwest would then scratch across three runs in the top of the fourth, and then three more would come around in the top of the fifth on a Libby Loman three-run home run to put the Vikings down by one run, 7-6. Gracyln Simmons in relief would shut down Aurora quickly in the bottom of the 5th inning, giving the Vikings an at-bat in the top of the sixth up against the 90-minute time limit. Lauren Jones would rip a ball down the first base line to bring in a run, tying the game at 7-7. Then, Abby Dinkelman, later in the half inning, would blast a two-run home run to give the Vikings their first lead of the game, 9-7. The Northwest defense would get the final three outs and Northwest would punch their ticket to the championship game vs Crete. 

Crete would get to the championship game with wins over Adams Central (10-0) and would defeat Seward (3-1). 

In the final game of the day, Northwest would hit the gas offensively and never look back. The Vikings would score seven runs in the first and eight more in the second as the game would end in run rule after two and a half innings. 

Northwest, with the three wins on the day, moves its record to 23-2. The Vikings have won 21 games in a row and will be off now until the postseason starts next Thursday, October 9th. The schedule is too be announced. 

Central Conference Tournament Bracket - HERE 

BYE BYE SOFTBALL! Abby Dinkelman goes yard to give @GINWSoftball a 9-7 lead vs Aurora. T6 #nebpreps Central Conference Tournament. pic.twitter.com/0CUskZC1u7

— KRGI Sports Network (@KRGIsports) October 2, 2025