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MITCHELL, S.D. — Pipestone Area Schools’ senior softball player Kaitlyn Adelman has made up her mind.
Adelman signed an NAIA National Letter of Intent to play for Dakota Wesleyan University during a special ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 19, in the PAS library.
“It has always been a dream of mine to play college softball,” Adelman said in an email to the Pipestone County Star. “Once I had this opportunity, I took it.”
New DWU head softball coach Stephen Oswald, Jr., was present for the event.
Pipestone Area Schools’ Kaitlyn Adelman is joined by her family and coaches during a special signing ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Also photographed are (front row), dad Joel Adelman, mom Shannon Adelman, brother Parker Adelman. Back row, PAS head coach Robert Petersen, Dakota Wesleyan University head coach Stephen Oswald, Jr., and Arrow assistant Shelby Baatz. Kaitlyn will play for DWU next year. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“Kaitlyn was one of the first student-athletes I had the pleasure of recruiting at DWU,” Oswald said. “The emphasis on this 2026 class has been on finding good people who work hard and fit into our culture. Kaitlyn definitely fits for us.”
Oswald encourages all of his recruits to play as many positions as possible; however, he expects Adelman to be primarily a catcher for the Tigers.
“I also want her to stay very sharp in the corner (infield spots).” Oswald added.
Oswald most recently was the assistant softball coach at Ohio Dominican University, an NCAA Division II school, and worked at Mount Marty.
Adelman also has experience playing first base. Last season, Adelman recorded 127 putouts and four assists while committing just two errors. Her fielding percentage was a stellar .985.
Adelman visited the DWU campus on Oct. 24, 2025, attending a softball camp and also touring the campus.
“I liked the community at DWU,” she said. “Everyone is very welcoming.”
Adelman said she is eager to play the sport she loves on the collegiate level.
Kaitlyn Adelman is shown with friends (from left) Brynn Schulze, Carmen Wiese, Jersey Fenicle, Trevor Doppenberg, Allie Pottratz, Jadyn Kor and Taryn Tuinstra. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“I am so thankful for the opportunity,” Adelman said. “It truly means the world to me, and I can’t wait to join the team, show my abilities on the field and build strong relationships with my teammates.”
Adelman thanked PAS head coach Robert Petersen and assistant Shelby Baatz for helping mold her as a player, helping her getting out of hitting slumps.
During the 2025 season, Adelman recorded a slash line of .365/.459/.540. A slash line is a player’s batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage combined together.
Adelman smacked 23 hits, including eight doubles and one home run.
She finished with 16 RBI and seven runs scored (a lower figure because of the courtesy runner rule).
So what are Adelman’s goals for 2026?
Pipestone Area Schools’ Kaitlyn Adelman has the ball graze her body while she attempts to score during the first game of a Big South Conference doubleheader versus Blue Earth Area. The Arrows swept the Buccaneers. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
“I want to be a good leader for our team, to put the ball in play a lot, throw some girls out while catching and have fun,” she said.
The Arrows are coming off a 12-11 season, falling to Morris Area-Chokio-Alberta and Windom Area during the Section 3AA tournament at Marshall on Saturday, May 24.
DWU is a member school of the rugged Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC). The Tigers’ tentative 2026 season schedule opens with conference school Hastings (Neb.) on Saturday, March 21, at Dr. McWhirter Field.
Last year, DWU put together a 34-16 record, including 14-8 in the GPAC. Northwestern (Iowa) eliminated the Tigers in the conference tournament, 12-4, back on May 1.
DWU is affiliated with the Methodist church, and the school features a reported student enrollment of 733.
Kaitlyn Adelman is shown with her father, Joel, mother Shannon and brother Parker Adelman. (Star photo by Eric Viccaro)
At DWU, Adelman plans on studying athletic training.
Kaitlyn Adelman is the daughter of Joel and Shannon Adelman.