SAINT PETERS, MO — Elite fastpitch softball action took center stage at C N H Park for the 2026 Norb Thurmer Memorial, a premier ISC qualifier with a coveted ticket to the 2026 ISC World Tournament on the line. After a weekend of high-scoring slugfests and tense defensive battles, Jansen Dairy outlasted the competition to claim the tournament crown.
Here is how the action unfolded across the tournament’s two heavily contested divisions—the Don Dill Pool (Pool A) and the Bob Welby Pool (Pool B).
Round Robin Action: Offense Explodes Early
The tournament opened with an absolute firework display in Game 1, as Jansen Dairy made a massive statement by outslugging the St. Charles Tribe (2) in a 21-12 offensive showcase.
As pool play progressed, the St. Louis Honeybadgers and the Wabash Vipers quickly asserted themselves as dominant forces. The Honeybadgers cruise past the Kansas City Indios with a comfortable 12-2 victory, while Wabash showed no mercy in a 12-0 shutout against the Indios.
Wabash would later lay down the gauntlet in a high-profile cross-pool clash, dominating the Honeybadgers 11-1. Meanwhile, Jansen Dairy continued their steady march forward, capturing an 8-1 victory over the Tribe (2) to secure their position heading into Sunday.
Sunday Bracket Play: Grinding to the Finals
With the top two teams from each pool advancing to Sunday’s single-elimination bracket, the intensity inside C N H Park spiked.
The St. Louis Honeybadgers completely flipped the script from their round-robin performance, relying on masterful pitching and defense to navigate the bracket. They opened Sunday morning by blanking St. Charles Tribe (1) in a tight 3-0 semifinal.
The other semifinal set up a highly anticipated rematch between the Honeybadgers and the powerhouse Wabash Vipers. In stark contrast to their first meeting, the Honeybadgers dug in for a 2-1 thriller, avenging their previous loss and punching their ticket to the championship game.
The Championship: A Classic Finale
The final showdown between Jansen Dairy and the St. Louis Honeybadgers lived up to every bit of the hype.
Jansen Dairy’s potent bats clashed with a resilient Honeybadgers squad that refused to back down. In an absolute nail-biter that came down to the final frames, Jansen Dairy managed to hold off a furious push from St. Louis to capture an 8-7 victory.
With the thrilling win, Jansen Dairy officially etches their name as the 2026 Norb Thurmer Memorial Champions, taking a massive step forward on the road to the ISC World Tournament.