Waldorf opens the Midwest Collegiate Conference softball tournament later this morning in Moline, Illinois. Coach Denny Gilbertson’s team is coming off a fifth consecutive regular season title but he considers this one a pleasant surprise.

Gilbertson says they lost eight starters and his expectations were a little lower coming in, but he says he told the team they far exceeded his expectations and it has been one of his most gratifying seasons.

After struggling out of the gate, Gilbertson says they did a lot of experimenting and gave some people a shot. After going 8-7, he says they found out who needs to be on the field and started playing better.

Walddorf is 33-12 on the season.