D 3 softball

[justafan12]

I 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.

[hoopstermom]

Well, 3 out of 4 first round games complete in five innings. 

Hope things get a bit tighter and more interesting next round.

It's a shame to travel to the big event, as a player or a spectator, and not get to see or experience more of the game.

[justafan12]

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.

[hoopstermom]

Well the games after the first round made up for a less than desirable start.  The 2nd day included all full games and pretty much either team could have won in each instance, with St. Mary's being eliminated first with a 3-6 loss to RMC, then Tx Lutheran bowing out with a 0-2 loss to Redlands. VA Wesleyan overcame Linfield 8-4 and Trine outlasted Rowan 5-1 in the undefeated games.

Saturday elimination games resulted in a great pitching dual game with RMC breaking through in the top of the 7th with the run to beat Rowan 1-0.  Linfield closed out Redlands season with a 6 inning 9-1 defeat.

Then on to the POD playoffs.  GREAT games all day on Sunday.  RMC handed VWU it's first loss in their past 18 games taking the first game 6-2 with an overwhelming 1st inning 6 run start that VWU's heavy bats just couldn't recover from.  VWU came back in the "if" game using a freshman pitcher to finally take down RMC 3-1.  Interesting fact is that this was the SEVENTH  game these two teams have played against each other just this year, including the 3 in this final playoff bracket.

The other POD final game between Trine and Linfield was a thriller as well, with Trine having to score 3 to tie in the bottom of the the 7th inning, then sealing the win in the 8th for a final 10-9 score to end Linfield's season.

So - we have Virginia Wesleyan University and Trine in the finals. Another interesting fact, is that VWU and TU have played for three of the past four walnut & bronze trophies.

The Marlins won the third of their three titles in 2021 over Texas Lutheran University, adding to their championships in 2017 over then St. John Fisher College and 2018 over current host Illinois Wesleyan. The Thunder finished as the runner-up to Christopher Newport University in 2022 and then claimed the final prize over Salisbury University in 2023.

Should be a great final series.  Congratulations to all the young ladies who have played so hard all season to reach the finals. 

[Little Giant 89]

If you watch enough games you will eventually see something you've never seen before, watching the Texas Longhorns turn an attempted intentional walk into a two run single was one of those things.  They earned that bit of magic after a crazy obstruction call at second base.

Hook'Em!

[justafan12]

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.