Not really a D3 topic any more but UT Tyler Head Softball coach Mike Reed is retiring from coaching.  UT Tyler was a national power D3 program for many years before moving to D2 in 2019.

https://uttylerpatriots.com/news/2026/1/9/softball-reed-transitions-to-full-time-administrative-role.aspx

ETBU softball coach issued public reprimand.

https://www.ncaa.org/news/2025/8/8/media-center-east-texas-baptist-softball-coach-issued-public-reprimand.aspx#:~:text=The%20Division%20III%20Softball%20Committee,umpire%20to%20work%20the%20game.

Someone please explain to me how a player can be national player of the year and not even be the player of the year in her own conference.  D3 awards can be a bit strange at times.

One year the national player of the year was only a 2nd team AA. 

In the never seen before area, umpires interference.  My daughter, who caught for 15+ years and has coached HS for 10 more has never heard of that. 

Having the blessing of having 2 daughters play at a high level D3, I have attended many regionals, super regionals and finals games.  In my opinion, the order of competitive games are at:

super regionals
regionals
finals

The best 8 teams, again in my opinion, don't make it to the finals.  This is due to geographical seeding of teams in regionals.  I believe it has gotten better over the years but it still happens; or it seems to happen to me.

Quote from: hoopstermom on May 27, 2025, 10:09:50 AMI do think I read somewhere that teams would be re-seeded for the final 8, and I would expect RMC to be the last team on that list.  However, Rowan and Trine are both ranked higher than VWU as of May 6th by the NFCA Coaches poll.  NPI rankings as of May 11th have VWU higher than Rowan and Trine.  I re-checked postings and confirmed that the NPI rankings were used to seed for finals as St. Mary's is also ranked lower than Redlands and Tx Lutheran in the coaches poll but higher in NPI rankings, thus the higher finals seed.

In the end, it really doesn't matter, just got to beat whomever shows up in the other dugout. I hope they are good games throughout and not a bunch of run rule games.

Well so far 2 games and 2 run rules.
Since 2014 (9 years total) 10% of games at D3 Championship have been run rule games.  That is too many for a championship in my opinion.

In my history of D3 softball the NCAA ignores the NFCA poll. 

At one point NCAA did not re-seed teams once they reached the WS (yea I know).  I thought that changed several years ago but not real sure.  Is that the rule now?

Quote from: scottiedawg on May 14, 2025, 08:58:46 AMand thank goodness they didn't just smash Linfield and Redlands into the same pod.

Honest question, why would that be bad?

Quote from: Caz Bombers on May 13, 2025, 12:09:49 PM

Quote from: justafan12 on May 13, 2025, 11:22:23 AMTLU getting sent to Ithaca, NY for a regional.  I think that might be a travel record for D3 softball (1,763 miles)  in the regional / super regional format.  Linfield and PlU both traveled to Tyler for regionals in the just regional format days.

not even the longest this year. Johnson & Wales (RI) is going to Linfield.

Yep, I would think so.  I had no idea where Johnson & Wales was located.  Does the NCAA not follow the 600 mile rule any more.  Maybe I have just not followed softball like I use to.

TLU getting sent to Ithaca, NY for a regional.  I think that might be a travel record for D3 softball (1,763 miles)  in the regional / super regional format.  Linfield and PlU both traveled to Tyler for regionals in the just regional format days.

#1 ETBU goes down to Virginia Wesleyan 6-1.

I looked at their website and they currently don't sponsor football.  Is there a plan to do that as well?

Quote from: UMHB03 on February 25, 2025, 01:04:18 PM

Quote from: justafan12 on February 25, 2025, 12:42:29 PMPardon my not knowing all the ins and outs of this but what would be wrong with UMHB going independent in football?  I guess it could be finding games at the end of the season as most schools are playing conference games then.  What are some other reasons?

No AQ, and scheduling, which is hard enough currently, would be almost impossible for all sports.

Would another conference take UMHB without football?  Football would be an independent.  Just wondering.

Pardon my not knowing all the ins and outs of this but what would be wrong with UMHB going independent in football?  I guess it could be finding games at the end of the season as most schools are playing conference games then.  What are some other reasons?