Belvidere North’s softball team is proving that last year’s historic NIC-10 championship was no fluke. The Blue Thunder, who captured their first-ever conference title in 2025, are making a strong case for a repeat performance this season. On Friday afternoon, they boosted their conference record to an impressive 10-1 with a commanding 14-4 victory over Freeport.

The star of the show was Miley Dobbs, who achieved the rare feat of hitting for the cycle. Dobbs started with a triple in the first inning, added a double in the fourth, crushed a home run in the fifth, and capped it off with a single in the sixth. It was a performance that had fans on their feet and left the Freeport defense scrambling.

Kaitlyn Sanders also had a standout day at the plate, collecting two hits and driving in three runs while also drawing a walk. Ava Morris contributed three hits and two RBIs, while catcher Cali Schmidt chipped in with two RBIs of her own. The Blue Thunder’s offense was relentless, putting up runs in multiple innings to keep the pressure on Freeport.

In the circle, Avery Benzel delivered a solid performance to earn the win. She pitched six innings, allowing four runs while striking out five Pretzels batters. Her composure and control were key in keeping Freeport from mounting a serious comeback.

For Freeport, Grace Muench drove in two runs, and Madelyn Barr recorded two hits in a losing effort. The Pretzels fought hard, but Belvidere North’s balanced attack proved too much to handle.

With the win, the Blue Thunder are firmly in the driver’s seat for another NIC-10 title. If they continue to play with this level of energy and execution, a second consecutive championship could be well within reach. Don’t miss the highlights in the media player above to see all the action from this impressive conference showdown.