Photo by Samantha Davis: Dawson-Boyd pitcher Kadyn Perkins throws a pitch during a Camden Conference softball game against Lakeview on April 17 in Cottonwood.

DAWSON — Powered by a young core, the Dawson-Boyd softball team will look to make deeper strides in the 2026 season. The Blackjacks hold lone senior Macy Moen, who will take on a heavier leadership role this year.

Despite having one senior, Dawson-Boyd has returned a lot of experience from a season prior as it looks to build off the team chemistry that was already established. Particularly, both Kadyn Perkins and Shay Bothun are back with the Blackjacks for their junior seasons, who will serve as the main pitchers.

“It’s good, we are a young team again, but they have all played a lot of ball,” head coach Nick Gruwell said. “It is good to have them all back, and we didn’t lose anybody.”

Dawson-Boyd has gotten a later start to the season compared to most other area teams. The Blackjacks have dropped both of their first two games, but have particularly looked strong on the defensive end.

In the Blackjacks’ most recent game against Lakeview on April 16, their second game of the season, Perkins struck out seven batters in her five innings pitched. She also tossed five strikeouts in 3 1/2 innings in Dawson-Boyd’s season-opener on April 14 against Yellow Medicine East, and Bothun has come in as relief in both games.

Against Lakeview, the Blackjacks had a handful of impressive defensive plays, and Gruwell noted the team will work on making progress on both offense and defense as the early season moves forward. Gruwell also said that the team will work on not stepping out of the box too early when batting.

Following the Lakeview game, Gruwell said he saw improvement compared to the team’s first game of the season that was two days prior, which is a positive sign.

Moen is projected to switch positions between catcher and center field, playing both positions through the Blackjacks’ start to the season. Rylin Viessman will also play in the catcher position.

“She [Moen] is definitely a leader. She’s really good for the girls, she runs them pretty hard in practice and it’s good to have her on board,” Gruwell said.

Dawson-Boyd finished last season 2-15 overall, which came to an end with an 8-2 loss to Lac qui Parle Valley in the Section 3A North Subsection first round.

In the final game last season against LQPV, Alivia Estling, Bothun and Rylin Viessman all had a strong offensive performance, going 2 of 3 at the plate with the season on the line. All three also return this season, again looking to help lead the offense.

Looking ahead into the season, Dawson-Boyd will have its season opener on Thursday, April 23, when it hosts MACCRAY in a doubleheader beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Blackjacks will also look to build up some momentum when they have a strong home schedule in the middle of the regular season, hosting five of seven teams.

Dawson-Boyd will host Renville County West on April 28 to start a three-game homestand, and then quickly return back to its field on May 11 to take on Russell-Tyler-Ruthton. The games at home on April 30 against Ortonville, May 5 against LQPV and May 12 with Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg are also slated to be doubleheaders.

“I just want everyone to stay healthy, that’s a huge thing, obviously,” Gruwell said about looking into the season. “And then, we got to perform from there.”