DGF’s Dynasty Continues: Rebels Claim 10th Section Title and Begin State on Tuesday

FRAZEE, Minn. (KVRR) – The Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton softball program has built a reputation for winning. Around the Rebels program, expectations are high every season — and the players embrace it.

“DGF softball tradition to me is honestly just like a dynasty,” junior pitcher Autumn Leach said. “We really hold our own against everybody and I think we always just are good, if that makes sense.”

It certainly makes sense.

On Friday morning, May 29, the Rebels captured their 10th section championship in program history and fourth in the last five seasons. But this latest title run did not come easy.

After falling to top-seeded Roseau on Thursday, DGF needed to win a decisive second game in the Section 8AA Championship round. Things looked shaky early as the Rams stormed out to a 3-0 lead in the opening inning.

The Rebels never panicked.

DGF answered immediately with three runs of its own in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-run home run from Leach that instantly shifted the momentum.

“There’s many teams that would fold after getting down 3-0 and just in this heat just give up,” co-head coach Tyler Drechsel said. “They didn’t give up. They challenged them. They kept battling.”

From there, the game turned into a pitcher’s duel.

Roseau’s Brooklyn Hulst kept Rebels hitters off balance for much of the afternoon, but Leach matched her every step of the way in the circle. The junior pitcher piled up key strikeouts while the DGF defense delivered clutch play after clutch play behind her.

The Rebels grabbed the lead for good in the third inning thanks to aggressive baserunning from senior Katie Kittleson. Leach lifted a shallow fly ball near the edge of the infield, but Kittleson never hesitated and turned the play into an RBI opportunity.

Kittleson’s impact did not stop there.

The senior center fielder added multiple hits at the plate and later made a crucial running basket catch in the outfield to preserve the lead. Then, with the final out hanging in the air, it was Kittleson once again who tracked the ball down to seal another trip to state.

“I saw the ball get hit and I just knew to run to the ball and give it all I had,” Kittleson said.

“She started off hitting wisely, getting on base, got us going,” Drechsel added. “Then at the end there, yeah, she took charge. That could have easily blooped in there. She was going for it. She was going to lay out if she had to. She got there in time and made the play. She’s another senior that really carried us all year long and took charge in that outfield.”

Leach was equally dominant all tournament long, driving in three of DGF’s four runs in the championship game while battling through difficult conditions in the circle.

“She’s amazing,” Kittleson said. “She’s been our pitcher since eighth grade, and she knows we have her back.”

Drechsel credited Leach for resetting the tone after the rough opening inning.

“She led that charge in that first inning,” Drechsel said. “We were down 3-0, and she came up with that huge home run, got her team right back in it and basically reset our whole team. She pitched an awesome tournament, especially in this heat. She pitched her heart out all weekend.”

For Leach, the Rebels’ confidence never wavered.

“Just having confidence in myself and my team,” Leach said. “I’ve never had a doubt in my team. We all just come in with revenge and we really want to go after everything.”

The Rebels’ sustained success starts at the top. Tyler and Ron Drechsel have coached the program since 2006 — the same year DGF captured its first section title. Since then, the Rebels have built one of the premier softball programs in northwest Minnesota.

“Just a lot of tradition, good kids, good parents, good administration — just a good environment,” Ron Drechsel said. “This is our 10th trip. We’re happy with that.”

Many of the current players were also key contributors on DGF’s 2023 state championship team, giving the Rebels a veteran core that understands what it takes to make a deep postseason run.

“There’s a lot of chemistry,” Ron Drechsel said. “Five of them have basically started for four years now, and they were on the state championship team. It’s been quite the adventure, and they’re great kids.”

Now, the Rebels are headed back to state once again.

DGF earned the No. 7 seed in the Class 2A State Tournament and will face Jackson County Central at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 in Mankato.