CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 4 ranked Parkland College Softball team grabbed an early lead and held on to it, defeating No. 18 Danville Area Community College 4-1 in the Region 24 Championship Game to win the NJCAA II Central A District Championship on Tuesday, May 9th. The win means the Cobras (49-10) advance to the NJCAA DII National Championship Tournament for the 10th time in program history. Freshman Karley Yergler (25-7) pitched a complete game on Tuesday, allowing just one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out nine, and freshman Ellie Vetter led the Cobras with 2 RBI in the win.
 
"These kids deserve this," co-head coach Kristi Paulson said after the Region 24 Championship. "They've worked hard all year, and it's been a great season. We're super proud of these kids for playing for each other every game."
 
"We got 24 players who play for each other, who hang out with each other and have fun together, and that turns into positive things on the field." Co-head coach Dan Paulson stated after the game.
 
Up next, Parkland will compete in the NJCAA DII National Tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina, beginning on Tuesday, May 23rd. The double elimination tournament will be played at Tyger River Park, and the bracket will be revealed on the NJCAA Network on Friday, May 19th, at 10:00 AM ET.
 
Game 1: No. 4 Parkland College 4, No. 18 Danville Area Community College 1
 
The visiting Jaguars (40-21) loaded the bases in the top of the 1st inning, but Cobra starting pitcher Karley Yergler got out of the jam, and Parkland took a 2-0 lead in the bottom half following shortstop Lizzie Stiverson (2-4, R, SB) scoring on a passed ball and an RBI single from Kami Pearson (1-3, RBI). DACC responded with a run in the top of the 2nd, trimming the deficit to one.
 
The Cobras added to their lead in the bottom of the 3rd when right fielder Ellie Vetter (2-3, 2 RBI) grounded a 2-RBI single to right field, scoring Jaidi Davis (1-2, 2 R, BB, SB) and Emma Mason (1-3, R). The Jaguars loaded the bases again in the top of the 5th, but Yergler struck out her eighth batter of the day to preserve the 4-1 lead, and the Cobras blanked their opponent the rest of the way to secure their 10th Region 24 title in program history.
 
Yergler (7.0 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K) earned her 25th win of the season over the Jaguars, striking out nine batters to bring her season total to 265, most in the country.
 
"We're not going (to the National Tournament) to have fun; we're going there to win it," Dan Paulson said after the win. "We've challenged this team against the best competition we could all year long to prepare them, and that makes a difference in tight games like this."