It did not take long for the Des Moines Area Community College softball program to reach a milestone. After a 32-year hiatus the program was restarted by coach Bob Ligouri and the Bears take a 40-19 record to Clinton, Mississippi this week for the division two Junior College National Championship tournament.

Ligouri admits the first season has even exceeded his expectations and believes team chemistry is a major part of that. He says it’s an example of a group of 19 girls, none of them who really knew each other very well, and they came together as a team.

DMACC is seeded 11th in the 16 team field and will open the double elimination tournament on Thursday morning against Parkland College of Illinois. Ligouri says they look at it as a chance to play at the end of the season at the highest level.