Seniors step up in regular season finale rainout
The Concordia class of 2026 is honored on Senior Day
Photo credit: Keith Siek
By Keith Siek
Concordia softball snuck in two games between lightning delays, while hosting the College of St. Mary for senior day at Plum Creek Park on April 25. The Bulldogs hit their way to a 9-1 win in the first game. The regular season final ended with a 3-3 tie, after inclement weather disrupted the game in the seventh inning.
The 2026 senior class honors ceremony took place before game two, with seven players receiving their varsity cords from Athletic Director Devin Smith and congratulations from the Concordia softball community. Each player was individually honored by the fans for the contributions they made to the Bulldog program and took pictures with family and friends on the diamond.
Senior Tobi Topp, from Lloydminster, Canada, played two seasons for the Bulldogs and tallied three hits in game one, adding one more on the board in her final regular season game patrolling center field.
“My time at Concordia has gone by really fast,” Topp said. “Concordia softball has been a program that has changed my life. The memories I made here will last a lifetime.”
During game one, Tobi Topp launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence in the third inning, putting the Bulldogs in control with a commanding three-run lead.
“It was awesome. I felt like I was seeing the ball well today. It’s also nice because my friends and family are here,” Top said.
The Bulldogs opened the doubleheader with a 13-hit attack against only four hits given up by junior Kaylie Denison in her five-inning appearance. Concordia’s offensive and defensive production in their opening game reflected the hard work Coach Brock Culler’s team has put in to get to where they are at.
“Our offense has gotten better as the season has gone on, due to their preparation and discipline at the plate,” he said. “I love where we are at on defence. We have a championship-level defence.”
Senior Taryn Ganstrom stole a base and batted in Topp in the bottom of the second to open the scoring for Concordia. Senior Grace Zuagg knocked in a double in the fifth and scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman Mary Beth Hart.
On the pitching side, Denison struck out four St. Mary’s hitters to secure the win for Concordia in game one. In game two, freshman Kierstyn Linn pitched five innings, and senior Isabelle Wolter pitched an inning in relief, recording a strikeout in her final regular-season career game.
More than production on the diamond, Coach Culler has seen how his seniors have shaped this team’s culture. He said that the minute last season ended, the seniors decided to make this team into the best team they can be.
“The culture shift from previous years to this year is a testament to the senior class,” Coach Culler said. “Our seniors have taken great leadership, setting the standard and have stayed committed to it every day.”
Concordia put together a 22-18-1 record on the year and will begin its attempt at the conference tournament title on April 29. Culler sees the Bulldogs taking positive momentum into the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament and believes his team will be a tough out going in post season play.
“It’s been one heck of a ride. I want this bad for the seniors. I just want to finish, giving it everything that we have,” he said.
