Spring competition is in full swing, and the Minot North Sentinels are making it clear this could be a special year. From clutch finishes in tight games to dominant shutouts, Sentinel athletes across softball, girls soccer, and baseball are stacking wins and building momentum. Minot North is a program on the move, and opponents are feeling it.

The Sentinels’ softball team remains one of the most dangerous squads in the Western Dakota Association (WDA), and this past week proved it. This team is known to grind out late-inning thrillers one night and dismantle teams the next morning.

It was nearly midnight on March 31 inside the MSU Bubble during a Minot North matchup when senior Kate Coleman stepped up to the plate. Senior Kinzy Welstad was ready sixty feet away on third base and the game tied 4-4. Coleman drove the first pitch she saw into right field. Welstad raced home, sealing a 5-4 walk-off win over Grand Forks Red River. None of it happens without senior Tiecyn Hertz, who earlier that evening tied the game in the seventh with a clutch two-run double to force extras.

Less than twelve hours later, the Sentinels were back in the MSU Bubble. Against Grand Forks Central on April 1, every batter got on base and drove in at least one run in a 19-9 mercy-rule win. Senior Aven Kelly led the charge, going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double, and five runs scored. Coleman and junior Eliese McCann added three hits each, and a six-run sixth inning ended it early. Walk-off drama one night, a statement blowout the next morning—that’s the Sentinel way.

Girls soccer delivered just as strong a statement. Tuesday’s 9-0 win over Williston at Sentinel Stadium showcased depth, speed, and control from start to finish. Sophomore forward Kohlee Roberts led the way with four goals, including three in the first half. Six different players scored as the Sentinels dominated every inch of the field.
The defense matched the offense. Goalkeeper Camryn Guy was never tested, while Williston’s keeper faced a constant barrage just to keep the score from climbing higher.

This was only the Sentinels’ second game. In the opener on March 27, they trailed before rallying to beat Bismarck Legacy 2-1, with Julia Lewis and Thalia Lewis scoring four minutes apart late in the second half. Two matches in, Minot North has controlled possession and created chances at a level opponents haven’t been able to match.

Julia Lewis earned additional recognition this week as the SERVPRO Athlete of the Week. Head coach Haris Bosnjak praised her all-around impact: “She’s got everything that you’d need. Work rate, technical ability, tactical awareness.” Lewis, a senior captain committed to Bemidji State, transferred when the school opened in fall 2024 and has helped establish the foundation of the program.

On the baseball diamond, the Sentinels opened their second varsity season with a doubleheader sweep of Williston on March 28 at Corbett Field. Levi Balas led the way, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs across both games. In Game 1, a 10-1 win, Gannon Hedberg sparked the offense early before Balas broke it open with a bases-clearing hit.

Game 2 was tighter, a 5-4 final that came down to the last out. Four pitchers combined to hold off a Williston comeback and secure the sweep. That close win carries weight. Last year, the Sentinels struggled to finish tight games. Closing one out in the opening weekend signals clear progress for a young program.

Across all three sports, Minot North is building something bigger than any single scoreboard. Girls soccer and baseball are both in just their second varsity seasons, yet the growth is evident. These teams are learning how to win, and doing it quickly.

The Sentinels host Minot High in girls soccer on April 7 at Sentinel Stadium. Baseball faces Grand Forks Red River and Minot High at Corbett Field, while softball heads to Dickinson for a doubleheader. Plenty more chances to keep the momentum going.