Kari Gibb/MDN Natasha Shipman (left) and Shawn Shipman (right) flank their daughter, Cadence Shipman as she signs her NLI to play softball at NDSU when she graduates from Minot North. Shipman is the first Div I athlete from the Sentinels.

Minot North experienced another ‘first’ on Wednesday, November 13, as Cadence Shipman signed her National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play softball with the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison when she graduates.

“I am super grateful to all my coaches at both Minot High and Minot North,” said Shipman. “I am surprised at how many people have shown up today, but every one of the coaches and players have meant so much to me.”

Shipman joins the Bison from Minot North High School, where she is coming off of a dominant season at first base and behind the plate under head coach Roger Coleman. Shipman hit .486 last season with a .635 on-base percentage, hitting eight home runs with 37 RBI.

Shipman earned all-conference WDA honors last season after posting the highest slugging percentage in the WDA Conference with a 1.122. Shipman also had 18 stolen bases and posted a .970 fielding percentage. Shipman has also played volleyball and basketball at Minot North and finished last season second in the WDA in kills per set.

Shipman intends to major in Social Studies Education. She has continuously earned highest honors and is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

NDSU softball head coach Darren Mueller announced the signing of two other high school student-athletes on National Signing Day. The class features signees from North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Ellie Peterson | P | Lake Nebagamon, Wisconsin | Northwestern HS

Peterson comes to NDSU from Northwestern High School in Maple, Wisconsin. The two-time All-Wisconsin performer and reigning Heart O’ North Conference Player of the Year is coming off of a 19-7 record as a junior with 261 strikeouts and a 1.49 earned run average in 155 innings pitched, earning first team all-state under the direction of head coach Scott Janigo.

Peterson allowed just 33 earned runs on the season and posted a WHIP of .929, while also hitting .433 at the plate. Peterson has earned first team all-conference honors all three season and enters her final year with a 56-13 career record with 746 strikeouts and a 1.18 earned run average in 422.2 innings pitched. Peterson has also lettered in basketball and is a two-time state medalist in DECA.

She intends to major in Sport Management and has earned honor roll all three years. Her father, Jesse, played baseball collegiately at Wisconsin-Superior and mother, Jillian, was a competitive cheerleader at Minnesota-Duluth.

Jocelyn McClary | P | Eagan, Minnesota | Eagan HS

McClary will come to Fargo from Eagan High School just outside the twin cities. The pitcher averaged 1.42 strikeouts per inning pitched last season and held opponents to a .215 batting average against with a WHIP of 1.176. McClary, under the direction of head coach Christian Duncan, was an all-conference and all-section selection with a 1.886 earned run average last season.

At the plate, McClary also hit .461 with an on-base percentage of .518 and was named the offensive player of the year. McClary is a three-sport star at Eagan, also lettering in volleyball and basketball. She was a two-time all-conference selection in both sports and has helped Eagan to the MSHSL State Tournament in both sports.

McClary intends to major in Marketing at NDSU. Her father, Jason, played football collegiately at Minnesota-Duluth.