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Posted: May 24, 2025

Black Hawk ends Region 4 title drought, Bryant & Stratton earns repeat crown

Black Hawk ends Region 4 title drought, Bryant & Stratton earns repeat crown

MOLINE, ILL. - Black Hawk College, the #4-seed in the Region 4 Tournament, was on the brink of elimination after a semifinal loss in the quarterfinal tournament; however, the Braves found a spark and strung together five consecutive wins that culminated with a 5-0 shutout of #2-seed Bryant & Stratton College. After the Braves secured their first region title since 2014, the Bobcats repeated as District B champs with a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Rock Valley College. Joshua Keener of BHC was named Region 4 Coach of the Year. (Recaps: Black Hawk | Bryant & Stratton)

After falling into the loser's bracket of the quarterfinal tournament on their home field, Black Hawk College answered the bell three wins on May 3, including back-to-back defeats of #5-seed Madison College in the championship. The following weekend, the magical ride continued for the Braves, who were serving as the host of the Region 4 Tournament on May 9-10. A 3-0 upset of RVC - previously unbeaten against region competition - earned Black Hawk College a spot in the title game, and they finished their journey with another shutout victory, this time taking down Bryant & Stratton College with a 5-0 decision to secure the Region 4 Midwest District A crown.

The Bobcats and Golden Eagles returned the next day for a single game to determine the Region 4 Midwest District B champion. Bryant & Stratton College posted a run in the top of the first, and added another in the third to go-ahead by two runs. Despite allowing a run to score in the fifth, they held off the other defending region champs for a 2-1 win to join BHC with an automatic berth in the national tournament.

2025 Region 4 Coach of the Year
Joshua Keener - Black Hawk College

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OXFORD, ALA. - Region 4 was awarded three representatives to the 2025 NJCAA Division II Softball Championships in Oxford, Alabama, from May 19-24. In addition to Black Hawk College and Bryant & Stratton College, Rock Valley College was awarded one of the tournament's at-large bids into the field of 20.

The Golden Eagles were given the #12 seed and a first round bye. They lost their tournament opener in the second round with a 4-1 setback to #5 Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Rock Valley College recovered to blank #15 Lansing Community College by a 5-0 tally in an elimination game. In their second elimination game, RVC suffered a heartbreaking 8-7 loss to #10 Iowa Central Community College despite holding a 7-4 lead entering the bottom of the seventh inning. They finished their season with a 47-11 record.

Black Hawk College entered the tournament as the #14 seed and a sent a message with an 8-0 win in five innings over #19 Delaware Technical Community College in the first round. In the second round, the Braves were upended by #3 Jones College by a 10-2 final in five innings. Now facing elimination, BHC squared off with #20 Mott Community College and dropped a high-scoring 12-10 contest despite leading by five runs after three innings. Black Hawk College set a program record for wins with a 48-17 record.

Bryant & Stratton College was awarded the tournament's #18 seed and a first round matchup with #15 Lansing Community College. The Bobcats won 6-1 to reach the second round, but then lost 8-0 against #2 Murray State College to fall into the losers bracket. Bryant & Stratton College, however, was not done yet, and managed to prolong their season with a 5-1 victory against WVU Potomac State College and a 2-0 win over Kirkwood Community College before a 6-1 loss to Northwest Mississippi Community College. The Bobcats completed 2025 with a 39-16 record. Sophomore pitcher Holly Lowenberg was named to the NJCAA Division II Softball All-Tournament Team.

(Images courtesy of Black Hawk College Athletics and Bryant & Stratton College Athletics)

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