TUCSON, Ariz. – Keeping its 2022 record undefeated on Sunday at Lincoln Regional Park, No. 10 Concordia University Irvine claimed the title at the 12th Annual Desert Stinger Classic hosted by Montana State University Billings.
 
The Eagles (12-0) won all five games at the tournament – the only team to go undefeated during the three-day event. The first team to win multiple Desert Stinger titles, Concordia also won the 2016 event – the Seventh Annual Desert Stinger Classic at Majestic Park in Las Vegas.
 
Chico State University senior pitcher Brooke Larsen shattered the tournament record with 46 strikeouts over the weekend, and was named the Desert Stinger Classic Most Valuable Player.
 
2022 Desert Stinger Classic All-Tournament Team

Player	School	Position	Class
Brooke Larsen	Chico State	Pitcher	Senior
Cortney Koelmans	Concordia	Pitcher	Sophomore
Sidney Booth	Northwest Nazarene	Pitcher	Junior
Alyssa Olague	CSU Dominguez Hills	Pitcher	Junior
Trinity Valentine	Minot State	Pitcher	Senior
Devyn Connolly	Saint Martin's	Catcher	Senior
Missy Nemeth	Concordia	First Baseman	Junior
Lehua DeLeon	San Francisco State	Second Baseman	Sophomore
Miia Campos	Regis	Third Baseman	Freshman
Rylie Rohr	Concordia	Shortstop	Sophomore
Kianna Abellera	CSU Dominguez Hills	Outfielder	Senior
Taylor Berens	Chico State	Outfielder	Freshman
Lauren Blaschak	MSU Billings	Outfielder	Freshman
Tatum Dow	Western Washington	Designated Player	Senior
Hannah DiFabio	Metro State	Utility	Sophomore
Jamie Odlum	Minot State	Utility	Senior

 
Tournament Most Valuable Player: Brooke Larsen, Chico State
 
Rewriting her personal record book alongside the tournament record book, Larsen thrice reached her collegiate career high in strikeouts. The veteran right hander struck out 14 on Friday in the Wildcats' 6-5, extra-inning win over Central Washington,

before matching the figure on Saturday with 14 strikeouts in Chico's narrow 4-2 triumph over Saint Martin's. Larsen saved her best for last, blasting past the Stinger tournament record with 18 strikeouts in the Wildcats' 5-4, extra-inning win over host Montana State Billings.
 
Larsen struck out 46 hitters in 23 innings pitched, while posting a 2.13 earned run average and winning all three of her complete-game performances. Larsen blew away the record of 35 strikeouts, set by Rita Hokianga of West Texas A&M University during the 2014 tournament.
 
Larsen earned all-tournament recognition during the 2019 Desert Stinger, and became the 15th player in the 12-year history of the event to earn all-tournament recognition in multiple years. She is just the second player to earn all-tournament twice and win the Most Valuable Player award, joining Lexi Stephens of St. Edwards who was the inaugural MVP of the Desert Stinger in 2010 and earned all-tournament again in 2011. Larsen is the second Wildcat to earn MVP honors, joining 2018 Desert Stinger MVP Wendy Cardinali, and Chico State is the first team in the history of the event to have multiple MVPs.
 

Concordia out-scored the opposition 46-15 throughout the weekend, for a run differential of plus-31. Three Concordia players earned all-tournament honors, including first baseman Missy Nemeth who hit a tournament-high three home runs while ranking second among the field with nine RBIs. Shortstop Rylie Rohr led the team in hitting at .533 while driving in six, and playing error-free defense in 19 chances. In the circle, Cortney Koelmans was singled out for posting a 1.75 ERA with five strikeouts and no walks in her eight innings pitched. Despite playing in just five Desert Stingers, the Eagles are tied for fourth in tournament history with seven all-tournament selections.
 
Chico State outfielder Taylor Berens also earned all-tournament honors, after leading the Wildcats with a .636 batting average (7-for-11). The figure tied for second highest among all players in the tournament, and she also ranked second among all players with a .692 on-base percentage. With this year's two selections, the Wildcats have had six players earn Desert Stinger all-tournament recognition in their fourth tournament appearance.
 
Northwest Nazarene University went 4-1 on the weekend behind an electric effort from Sidney Booth, who struck out 27 hitters while posting a 1.43 ERA in 14 2/3 innings pitched. Booth flirted with a no-hitter in the tournament opener, holding Metro State without a knock until the sixth inning on her way to a career-high 16 strikeouts. Not only was Booth dominant on the mound, but she led the team in hitting at .500 while driving in three runs. Booth is the seventh Nighthawk all-time to garner all-tournament honors, which is the fourth-most in tournament history.
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills joined Chico State and Northwest Nazarene going 4-1 on the weekend, and had a pair of players recognized on the all-tournament team. Ace Alyssa Olague posted a 1.83 ERA in 23 innings pitched, while striking out 13 and earning three victories including a pair of shutouts. Outfielder Kianna Abellera hit .529 on the weekend, going 9-for-17 with five RBIs and stealing three bases. The Toros had just one previous all-tournament selection, which was 2013 MVP Adriana Sanchez.
 
Trinity Valentine of Minot State University paced the tournament with a spotless ERA, allowing no earned runs over 11 1/3 innings in her five appearances. Valentine struck out 10 hitters while holding the opposition to a batting average of just .220, helping the Beavers go 3-2 on the weekend. MSU's Jamie Odlum was one of the top sluggers, tying for the tournament high with 10 hits on her way to a .667 batting average and a .933 slugging percentage. Odlum drove in five runs, scored five times, and stole three bases while playing perfect defense in 35 chances at first base.
 
Metro State University had a positive overall tournament, going 3-2 thanks in large part to the play of all-tournament selection Hannah DiFabio. The third baseman led the team with a .467 batting average, going 7-for-15 including two doubles and a home run. DiFabio is the first Roadrunner to earn all-tournament honors, with Metro State playing in its third Desert Stinger.
 
Regis's Miia Campos earned all-tournament recognition, as she led the Rangers with a .529 batting average (9-for-17). Campos was perfect in 12 chances at third base, while driving in four runs, stealing two bases, and striking out just once in her 17 plate appearances. Regis also picked up its first-ever all-tournament selection, while participating in the event for the eighth time.
 
San Francisco State University emerged with a 3-2 record over the weekend, and relied heavily on star second baseman Lehua DeLeon in all five games. The versatile DeLeon hit .471 (8-for-17) with five RBIs, while leading the tournament with six stolen bases and making 20 plays at second base. DeLeon is the second Gator to earn all-tournament recognition, with SF State participating in the Desert Stinger for the fourth time this year.
 
The tournament host Yellowjackets landed one player on the all-tournament team, with true freshman Lauren Blaschak making her way onto the list in record-breaking fashion. Blaschak tied the MSUB single-game record with seven RBIs, hitting a grand slam and a three-run home run in MSUB's tournament-opening 10-2 win over Washburn. Blaschak tied for the tournament high with a 1.000 slugging percentage, and her eight RBIs were third-most in the tournament as well. Blaschak is the 11th Yellowjacket to earn all-tournament honors – the most selections by any school in the 12-year history of the tournament.
 
Devyn Connolly stood out among the catchers in the tournament, hitting .400 (6-for-15) with three doubles and five RBIs. Connolly played perfect defense in 12 chances behind the plate, and caught 1 of 4 runners stealing against her. Connolly is the fifth Saints player all-time to earn all-tournament honors.
 
In the midst of a tough weekend for Western Washington University, shortstop Tatum Dow put forth an elite performance at the plate to make her way onto the all-tournament team. Dow tied for the tournament high with a 1.000 slugging percentage and for the tournament high with 10 hits, hitting .625 with three doubles, a home run, and four RBIs. Dow was in the top-four in batting average, slugging, and on-base percentage. Dow becomes the fifth Viking to earn the honor, in the team's eighth Desert Stinger appearance.
 
The Desert Stinger was founded in 2010, with the first 11 tournaments taking place at Majestic Park in Las Vegas. After being called off in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the tournament returned this weekend for its 12th occurrence at the new location in Arizona. The complete history of the Desert Stinger Classic can be found online here.