Hi everyone, here is some last minute info to be mindful of for this weekend’s tourney…

1. D3 Bracket – Unfortunately we had a D3 drop out of the tournament this afternoon. As a result, the bracket is updated. There will be very little impact to the schedules, and will only impact one D3 team Friday night (and they are already aware of this).
2. Bat Check – All bats need to be checked prior to use in the tournament by tourney staff, even if they have been checked at prior tournaments. There will be a canopy tent setup by the concessions stand where will be doing bat check. We’ll be using that tent as the DAMSL tourney HQ for other things as well.
3. Tournament Rosters – Please turn in your signed tournament rosters at the tent before your first game if possible, or immediately after the first game. We’ll also have blank forms there if you do not have one. Just a few reminders with rosters…
   1. Players can only play on ONE team during the tournament
   2. If someone gets hurt badly during the tournament where they cannot play and you have a player from an equal or lower division team within the same church to avoid a forfeit or playing shorthanded, it’s a board approval situation to allow a sub on a case by case basis.
4. Please make sure that all players on your teams are aware that swearing/smoking/drinking are strictly prohibited at the tournament.
   1. Foul language will not be tolerated. Please remind all players and coaches during pre-game field rules before each game as there will be no warnings given. If a player swears loud enough where it can be heard by others, OR directs profanity at another person no matter how quiet, the following penalties will be enforced:
      1. 1st Offense: The player is ejected from the current game.
      2. 2nd Offense: The player will be ejected from the current game and suspended from the entire next game, even if this is during the tournament. If this happens during the final game of the season, the player will serve the suspension the 1st game of the following season.
      3. 3rd Offense: The player will be suspended for the remainder of the current season and will need to appeal to the league board to get reinstated and a meeting with the church pastor will be required.
   2. This is a Christ-centered, family-friendly tournament. The use or possession of alcohol is strictly prohibited at all tournament fields, parking areas, and surrounding grounds for the duration of the event. This includes players, coaches, spectators, and anyone affiliated with a team. Any individual found in violation of this policy may be asked to leave the premises. Teams may be subject to forfeiture or disqualification at the discretion of tournament leadership.
5. Pitching Survey – we’re conducting a league-wide survey this weekend to get a pulse check on player’s views of our unlimited height limit on pitches. You will be able to find this at the canopy tent.
6. Finally, Cross Pointe is holding their first annual DAMSL DRAFT TOURNAMENT on Saturday, October 4^th to raise money for their 2^nd softball field. The tournament will be held at Cross Pointe. This is open all DAMSL players, regardless of division and will follow DAMSL rules. We are looking have enough players to fill 6 teams and can accommodate as many as 8. You will able to sign up for the tourney at our tent for an early bird registration cost of only $15 per player or max of $50 for a family.

Thanks and let’s have a great weekend!

2025-D1-Tournament-Bracket 2025-D2-Tournament-Bracket D3-Updated

With sunshine overhead and excitement in the air, the 2025 DAMSL Youth Softball Tournament brought together nearly 200 young athletes across 11 teams for a weekend filled with spirited competition and standout sportsmanship. Fans packed the sidelines, cheering loudly as each team gave it their all on the diamond.

The games were hard-fought and featured incredible plays from rising stars across the league. In a thrilling championship matchup, New Hope Cambridge / Grace Gospel emerged victorious, dethroning First Baptist, the back-to-back defending champions. This marked the third consecutive year these teams met in the title game, cementing one of the tournament’s most exciting rivalries. It featured great pitching and great defense from both teams.

North Isanti Red rounded out the top three, delivering a strong performance throughout the bracket.

We’ll be revealing the All-Tournament Team next week—stay tuned to celebrate those players who brought something extra special to the field!

Thank you to all players, families, and fans who made this season unforgettable. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2026—and maybe even some new teams too. With plenty of beautiful fields waiting, there’s room for everyone as we continue to grow this incredible league.

First Place: New Hope Cambridge / Grace Gospel

2nd Place: First Baptist of Cambridge

3rd Place: North Isanti Red

2025-DAMSL-Youth-Tourney

As we head into the final weeks of the season, here are some important updates and reminders for all teams.

Makeup Games Deadline – Tuesday, August 5th
All makeup games must be completed by Tuesday, August 5th. Per league rules, any unplayed makeup games will result in a loss for both teams. Please plan ahead to avoid forfeits. To help teams reschedule, Duke has opened up extra field time that can be reserved at Sandquist. To reserve a field, contact Chris VanAnda (same contact info used for submitting scores). The fields are open on:

Sunday, July 27th – Fields 1, 2, and 5 available all day
Monday, August 4th – All 5 fields available that night

Clarification: May 20th D2/D3 Game Cancellations
We’ve received a few questions about the league-wide cancellation of D2/D3 games on May 20th. To clarify: There is NO need to make up those games. In fact, we ask that you do not reschedule them, as this helps maintain an equal number of games across all teams.

2025 DAMSL Hall of Fame Inductees
We’re proud to announce the 2025 DAMSL Hall of Fame Class:

Percy Terpstra – Lewis Lake
Bill Friedlund – Springvale Baptist
Lee Olson – Karmel Covenant

The induction ceremony will take place Saturday night at the tournament. Last year’s event was a great time, and we encourage everyone to come out and celebrate these outstanding contributors to our league.

Save the Date: Cross Pointe Draft Tournament – Early October
Exciting news! Cross Pointe will host a draft tournament in early October, celebrating the debut of their second field. More details will be shared soon, but it’s shaping up to be a fantastic event. Be sure to keep your schedules clear—you won’t want to miss it!

Let’s close out the season on a high note—after all, we’re part of the greatest church softball league on the planet!

The much anticipated umping video has been posted to our YouTube channel. You can watch it below or can easily find it on the YouTube app on your device by searching our channel name, which is @DalboAreaMSL.

Salem held its annual One Pitch Tournament on Saturday, April 26th. This is a unique event that is held the Saturday before the DAMSL regular season begins. For those unfamiliar, the rules are simple but intense: every at-bat boils down to one pitch. A ball means a walk, while a strike or foul ends the at-bat with an out. This quick-decision gameplay keeps the energy high and the games fast-paced (games take about 45 minutes each) making it a favorite event for players to shake the rust out after a long winter.

This year, seven teams participated: Karmel, New Hope, North Isanti, Oxlip, Refuge, River of Life, and Salem.

The tournament unfolded amidst great weather, with afternoon temperatures settling comfortably in the mid-60s. Players and fans alike enjoyed the sunshine as teams battled through elimination rounds, bringing their A-game to each one-pitch showdown.

In the championship game, host team Salem faced off against Karmel in a nail-biting finale. Both teams showcased impressive teamwork and determination, but in the end, Karmel edged out Salem by just one run, earning the title of 2025 Salem One Pitch Tournament champions.

Congratulations to Karmel for their hard-fought victory and a big thank-you to all participating teams for making this year’s tournament a success. The excitement, camaraderie, and sportsmanship on display were a perfect kickoff to the DAMSL season ahead.

The DAMSL is gearing up for another thrilling season, and with it comes a handful of new or modified rules designed to enhance gameplay, ensure fairness, and uphold the league’s values. Here’s a rundown of the key changes for 2025:

1. The courtesy runner rule has been modified for D1 only. The previous rules still apply to D2, D3, and youth. The new D1 rule is: Two pinch runners are allowed per inning w/o restriction. Any player can pinch run for any other player. All batters must get to first base before a courtesy runner can come in. If a courtesy runner is on base and his/her turn at bat comes up they shall be called out at the base they are on, vacate the base and shall take their turn at bat.
2. The foul language rule/penalties have been re-written to establish clear guidelines. The new wording is: Foul language will not be tolerated. Please remind all players and coaches during pre-game field rules before each game as there will be no warnings given. If a player swears loud enough where it can be heard by others, OR directs profanity at another person no matter how quiet, the following penalties will be enforced:
   • 1st Offense: The player is ejected from the current game.
   • 2nd Offense: The player will be ejected from the current game and suspended from the entire next game, even if this is during the tournament. If this happens during the final game of the season, the player will serve the suspension the 1st game of the following season.
   • 3rd Offense: The player will be suspended for the remainder of the current season and will need to appeal to the league board to get reinstated and a meeting with the church pastor will be required.
3. The rule regarding switching teams has been updated to the following: Players are allowed to switch teams once during the season, but once they make the switch, they must remain with the new team for the rest of the season. Players from an equal or lower division team within the same church may temporarily sub for an equal or higher division team to prevent a forfeit and then return to their original team. However, higher division players may not sub for a lower division team. They are, however, allowed to make a permanent switch to a lower division team, following the same one-time transfer rule.
4. There is a new rule regarding churches sponsoring teams: All teams must have a single sponsoring church. The intent of this rule is to ensure that there is a pastor/board to work with if any issues arise with a team.
5. A new rule has been added regarding writing in spots for missing females into the top 10 of the lieup: Females need to be written into the lineup when missing to account for rule 47. Note: Rule 47 is: On a walk to a male batter with a female batter following (intentional or not) the male batter will advance to 2nd base and the female batter will bat for herself. All base runner will advance to the next base forced to. If a male batter is walked and there are 2 outs, the female will be given the option of hitting or receiving an automatic walk. (This rule does not apply to youth)
6. New penalties have been added for cancelled games: Cancelled games need to be made up before the last game of the regular season or both teams will take a loss.
7. Finally, there is a new rule for roster limits to ensure teams are not so large that not everyone is able to play: There is a limit of 20 players per roster.

These updates reflect DAMSL’s dedication to creating a fun, inclusive, and faith-centered softball experience. As we step into the 2025 season, let’s embrace these changes and continue to celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship and community that defines our league. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the league director or any of the board members.

Attention DAMSL softball players and coaches! Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 2025 tournament dates: Saturday, August 2nd for the youth league, and Friday, August 8th to Sunday, August 10th for the adult leagues. A quick reminder: all players need to have participated in at least four regular-season games to be eligible for the tournament. Make sure you hit the field this season and get ready for some exciting action. Good luck to all, and let’s make this year unforgettable!

The 2025 DAMSL adult schedules are officially live! Players and teams can now access their full season lineup by visiting the Schedules tab on the website. For added convenience, you can click on your team name wherever it appears—such as the Standings page—to instantly view your complete schedule. Get ready for another fantastic season of friendly competition and fellowship on the field. Best of luck to all teams, and enjoy the season!