D 3 softball

[deiscanton]

Justafan 12-- Not bad.  You got 4 Pool C picks right.

Missed out on Southern Maine and Christopher Newport.   

I really didn't think that anyone would have gotten all 6 correct this year.

ECSUAlum-- We meet again!  Brandeis vs Eastern Connecticut in the tourney-- first time since 2010.  But way up at the Husson campus in Bangor, Maine?  Never saw that site coming.  Looking forward to the matchup of the ace pitchers Carley Stoker vs Sydney Goldman to open things up.

deiscnton
How did NCAA pick regional sites?  Husson Me not really on the radar, but must have a nice facility or something!  So Maine out to WI to ply!!!!
ECSU vs Brandeis should be a great game!  Hopefully the Warriors have the pitching to get through all these great teams. Morgan Bolduk lost her Sr yr last year and did not come back!  If we had her on the pitching roster, ECSU would be hard to beat considering their hitting/defense this year!

This year, NCAA COVID-19 policies demanded that all regional sites in all tournaments be predetermined.  In late March/early April, DIII schools were asked to submit bids to host a regional, with the understanding that if they got picked as a host site, they would have to host the regional even if their team did not qualify for the NCAAs.

I do remember earlier DIII baseball and softball tournaments before the super-regional era (2010 being one of them) where you knew where most of the regionals would be held weeks before the field would be announced.

For example, there were many DIII baseball regionals that were sponsored by the ECAC and held at a Cape Cod League stadium in Massachusetts (notably Whitehouse Field in Harwich, MA-- even though there are no DIII campuses on Cape Cod-- unless you count Mass Maritime Academy and that is on the mainland side of the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.)

Also in 2010, Wellesley College and Rhode Island College were picked weeks in advance to host 8 team regionals.  Wellesley did not qualify for NCAAs, but RI College did and got to play on their home field in a regional consisting primarily of New York and New Jersey teams.

The Wellesley Softball Regional in 2010 was also informally known as the 2010 New England regional as the teams that played at the Wellesley College Regional in 2010 were E. Connecticut, Brandeis, Coast Guard, Bowdoin, Rivier, Salem State, Endicott, and Husson.

This year, the 8 softball regional sites had to be identified by the DIII Championships Committee by the end of April, so that the hosts could be notified and given time to prepare.

BTW, Bangor is not really a bad city-- 33,000 people, largest city in Northern Maine, but just northeast enough so that a trip from Boston takes a similar driving time as the distance from Boston to New York City and the New Jersey suburbs.  However, the farthest north that I have been up in Maine was Waterville, and that was in 1992 for the ECAC DIII Men's Basketball Championship game between Brandeis and Colby.

[deiscanton]

Justafan 12-- Not bad.  You got 4 Pool C picks right.

Missed out on Southern Maine and Christopher Newport.   

I really didn't think that anyone would have gotten all 6 correct this year.

ECSUAlum-- We meet again!  Brandeis vs Eastern Connecticut in the tourney-- first time since 2010.  But way up at the Husson campus in Bangor, Maine?  Never saw that site coming.  Looking forward to the matchup of the ace pitchers Carley Stoker vs Sydney Goldman to open things up.

deiscnton
How did NCAA pick regional sites?  Husson Me not really on the radar, but must have a nice facility or something!  So Maine out to WI to ply!!!!
ECSU vs Brandeis should be a great game!  Hopefully the Warriors have the pitching to get through all these great teams. Morgan Bolduk lost her Sr yr last year and did not come back!  If we had her on the pitching roster, ECSU would be hard to beat considering their hitting/defense this year!

ECSUAlum--

Did you remember the first ever meeting between Brandeis and Eastern Connecticut way back in April, 2010?  I attended both games that were played in 2010.  Unfortunately, I did not personally attend the meetings in 2012 that were played at what is now Clyde Washburne Field, nor the return 2013 doubleheader at Brandeis in which E. Conn and Brandeis split the 2013 doubleheader with Brandeis pitcher Casey Ducinski getting the win over E. Conn pitcher Christine Acker in game 2 of the doubleheader.

In the first 3 E. Conn wins over Brandeis, the winning pitcher was Molly Rathbun (A 2 hitter in the April 2010 contest at Brandeis, followed by a 1 hitter in the 2010 NCAA tournament win at Wellesley-- in the NCAA tournament game, Brandeis ace pitcher Emily Vaillette was chased out of the game after 4 innings  Vaillette would conclude that 2010 season with a 1.84 ERA after entering the NCAAs with a 1.49 ERA-- it was a Brandeis school record at the time.)  In the 3rd win in 2012,  the losing pitcher, then starter Casey Ducinski of Brandeis only lasted an inning and a third at the field now known as Clyde Washburne Field. (The following year, Ducinski would get the win in game 2 of the 2013 doubleheader.)

In Eastern Connecticut's 4th win over Brandeis, the winning pitcher was senior Kassandra Silva.

In Eastern Connecticut's 5th win over Brandeis (the first game of the 2013 doubleheader), Erin Miller got the win.

In all previous 6 games vs Eastern Connecticut, Jessica Johnson coached the Brandeis Judges-- she is now the head coach at Amherst.

Trivia fact:  The first ever game between Brandeis and Eastern Connecticut was delayed 1 hour in the top of the 4th inning by a passing thunderstorm over Waltham, MA.  As a result of the thunderstorm, they attempted to play Game 2, but darkness fell with the second game tied at 3-3 in the 4th inning, and the second game of the 2010 doubleheader was ruled a no-contest.

Just a tidbit:  I just discovered that the Tufts softball team hosted a doubleheader over the weekend vs DI Ivy League team Dartmouth.  (both Tufts lacrosse teams had played road games at Dartmouth earlier this spring and both Tufts lacrosse teams got wins over the Big Green.)

The Dartmouth Big Green swept both games vs Tufts softball on May 15.  In the first game, the Dartmouth pitcher put on what I would describe as a Molly Rathbunesque performance at the mound in the win.

[justafan12]

Tweet from Belhaven softball coach:

"On the road to Illinois for NCAA Regionals.  Everyone complaining about NCAA D3 flying teams this year- well, we are on a bus!  The flight options were insane!  We have longer bus trips for conference games!  #BusinessTrip  #AllGasNoBrakes"

[TheChucker]

Tweet from Belhaven softball coach:

"On the road to Illinois for NCAA Regionals.  Everyone complaining about NCAA D3 flying teams this year- well, we are on a bus!  The flight options were insane!  We have longer bus trips for conference games!  #BusinessTrip  #AllGasNoBrakes"

I love that attitude. Belhaven has a very good pitcher in Kennedy Carruth. That team could go far if she can get a bunch of innings in and they play decent in the field (their weakness IMO).

[ECSUalum]

Justafan 12-- Not bad.  You got 4 Pool C picks right.

Missed out on Southern Maine and Christopher Newport.   

I really didn't think that anyone would have gotten all 6 correct this year.

ECSUAlum-- We meet again!  Brandeis vs Eastern Connecticut in the tourney-- first time since 2010.  But way up at the Husson campus in Bangor, Maine?  Never saw that site coming.  Looking forward to the matchup of the ace pitchers Carley Stoker vs Sydney Goldman to open things up.

deiscnton
How did NCAA pick regional sites?  Husson Me not really on the radar, but must have a nice facility or something!  So Maine out to WI to ply!!!!
ECSU vs Brandeis should be a great game!  Hopefully the Warriors have the pitching to get through all these great teams. Morgan Bolduk lost her Sr yr last year and did not come back!  If we had her on the pitching roster, ECSU would be hard to beat considering their hitting/defense this year!

ECSUAlum--

Did you remember the first ever meeting between Brandeis and Eastern Connecticut way back in April, 2010?  I attended both games that were played in 2010.  Unfortunately, I did not personally attend the meetings in 2012 that were played at what is now Clyde Washburne Field, nor the return 2013 doubleheader at Brandeis in which E. Conn and Brandeis split the 2013 doubleheader with Brandeis pitcher Casey Ducinski getting the win over E. Conn pitcher Christine Acker in game 2 of the doubleheader.

In the first 3 E. Conn wins over Brandeis, the winning pitcher was Molly Rathbun (A 2 hitter in the April 2010 contest at Brandeis, followed by a 1 hitter in the 2010 NCAA tournament win at Wellesley-- in the NCAA tournament game, Brandeis ace pitcher Emily Vaillette was chased out of the game after 4 innings  Vaillette would conclude that 2010 season with a 1.84 ERA after entering the NCAAs with a 1.49 ERA-- it was a Brandeis school record at the time.)  In the 3rd win in 2012,  the losing pitcher, then starter Casey Ducinski of Brandeis only lasted an inning and a third at the field now known as Clyde Washburne Field. (The following year, Ducinski would get the win in game 2 of the 2013 doubleheader.)

In Eastern Connecticut's 4th win over Brandeis, the winning pitcher was senior Kassandra Silva.

In Eastern Connecticut's 5th win over Brandeis (the first game of the 2013 doubleheader), Erin Miller got the win.

In all previous 6 games vs Eastern Connecticut, Jessica Johnson coached the Brandeis Judges-- she is now the head coach at Amherst.

Trivia fact:  The first ever game between Brandeis and Eastern Connecticut was delayed 1 hour in the top of the 4th inning by a passing thunderstorm over Waltham, MA.  As a result of the thunderstorm, they attempted to play Game 2, but darkness fell with the second game tied at 3-3 in the 4th inning, and the second game of the 2010 doubleheader was ruled a no-contest.

Just a tidbit:  I just discovered that the Tufts softball team hosted a doubleheader over the weekend vs DI Ivy League team Dartmouth.  (both Tufts lacrosse teams had played road games at Dartmouth earlier this spring and both Tufts lacrosse teams got wins over the Big Green.)

The Dartmouth Big Green swept both games vs Tufts softball on May 15.  In the first game, the Dartmouth pitcher put on what I would describe as a Molly Rathbunesque performance at the mound in the win.

deiscanton,
i am embarrassed to say that I have not physically attended that many Eastern softball games, however I have watched many web casts as I live on the other side of the state now.!  I did attend the game ECSU won vs Rowan in 2019, at Clyde Washburn, to propel them to the Softball College World Series in Texas!
BTW Molly Rathbun, was a lights out pitcher!!  Coach Pepin always seems to recruit great pitching talent to Willimantic!

[deiscanton]

Justafan 12-- Not bad.  You got 4 Pool C picks right.

Missed out on Southern Maine and Christopher Newport.   

I really didn't think that anyone would have gotten all 6 correct this year.

ECSUAlum-- We meet again!  Brandeis vs Eastern Connecticut in the tourney-- first time since 2010.  But way up at the Husson campus in Bangor, Maine?  Never saw that site coming.  Looking forward to the matchup of the ace pitchers Carley Stoker vs Sydney Goldman to open things up.

deiscnton
How did NCAA pick regional sites?  Husson Me not really on the radar, but must have a nice facility or something!  So Maine out to WI to ply!!!!
ECSU vs Brandeis should be a great game!  Hopefully the Warriors have the pitching to get through all these great teams. Morgan Bolduk lost her Sr yr last year and did not come back!  If we had her on the pitching roster, ECSU would be hard to beat considering their hitting/defense this year!

ECSUAlum--

Did you remember the first ever meeting between Brandeis and Eastern Connecticut way back in April, 2010?  I attended both games that were played in 2010.  Unfortunately, I did not personally attend the meetings in 2012 that were played at what is now Clyde Washburne Field, nor the return 2013 doubleheader at Brandeis in which E. Conn and Brandeis split the 2013 doubleheader with Brandeis pitcher Casey Ducinski getting the win over E. Conn pitcher Christine Akcer in game 2 of the doubleheader.

In the first 3 E. Conn wins over Brandeis, the winning pitcher was Molly Rathbun (A 2 hitter in the April 2010 contest at Brandeis, followed by a 1 hitter in the 2010 NCAA tournament win at Wellesley-- in the NCAA tournament game, Brandeis ace pitcher Emily Vaillette was chased out of the game after 4 innings  Vaillette would conclude that 2010 season with a 1.84 ERA after entering the NCAAs with a 1.49 ERA-- it was a Brandeis school record at the time.)  In the 3rd win in 2012,  the losing pitcher, then starter Casey Ducinski of Brandeis only lasted an inning and a third at the field now known as Clyde Washburne Field. (The following year, Ducinski would get the win in game 2 of the 2013 doubleheader.)

In Eastern Connecticut's 4th win over Brandeis, the winning pitcher was senior Kassandra Silva.

In Eastern Connecticut's 5th win over Brandeis (the first game of the 2013 doubleheader), Erin Miller got the win.

In all previous 6 games vs Eastern Connecticut, Jessica Johnson coached the Brandeis Judges-- she is now the head coach at Amherst.

Trivia fact:  The first ever game between Brandeis and Eastern Connecticut was delayed 1 hour in the top of the 4th inning by a passing thunderstorm over Waltham, MA.  As a result of the thunderstorm, they attempted to play Game 2, but darkness fell with the second game tied at 3-3 in the 4th inning, and the second game of the 2010 doubleheader was ruled a no-contest.

Just a tidbit:  I just discovered that the Tufts softball team hosted a doubleheader over the weekend vs DI Ivy League team Dartmouth.  (both Tufts lacrosse teams had played road games at Dartmouth earlier this spring and both Tufts lacrosse teams got wins over the Big Green.)

The Dartmouth Big Green swept both games vs Tufts softball on May 15.  In the first game, the Dartmouth pitcher put on what I would describe as a Molly Rathbunesque performance at the mound in the win.

deiscanton,
i am embarrassed to say that I have not physically attended that many Eastern softball games, however I have watched many web casts as I live on the other side of the state now.!  I did attend the game ECSU won vs Rowan in 2019, at Clyde Washburn, to propel them to the Softball College World Series in Texas!
BTW Molly Rathbun, was a lights out pitcher!!  Coach Pepin always seems to recruit great pitching talent to Willimantic!

This year, there was no choice.  I had to watch Brandeis on streaming TV because Massachusetts rules demanded that NCAA DIII outdoor sporting events be played without spectators, and Brandeis limited access to campus for this academic year to (basically) students and faculty only and operated on a hybrid system of learning due to the pandemic.   Even Eastern Connecticut had a limited cap on spectators late in the regular season.  All of Husson's regular season was played under a no in-person spectator rule, and each NCAA tournament game in Bangor will have a limited cap of 150 spectators per game with a requirement to clear out the stadium between games.  $5 ticket per game-- no one price tournament pass this time. (There was a single price tournament pass for the Wellesley Regional in 2010-- I think that it ran between $20 and $30 for all 4 days of admission.)

Of course, there is an advantage to watching games on a Chromebook or streaming TV-- you do not have to worry about going inside if lightning is on the way.

[WLCALUM83]

Tweet from Belhaven softball coach:

"On the road to Illinois for NCAA Regionals.  Everyone complaining about NCAA D3 flying teams this year- well, we are on a bus!  The flight options were insane!  We have longer bus trips for conference games!  #BusinessTrip  #AllGasNoBrakes"

Finlandia (C2C) would have reason to say "Hold my Gatorade".

[Caz Bombers]

Ohio Northern forced to withdraw due to protocol. Salisbury gets a pass to day 2 of that regional and the bracket will be adjusted accordingly.

[hoopstermom]

Why doesn't OAC runner-up get to attend in their place? or another Pool C team?

[justafan12]

My guess would be all teams that did not get an Pool C invite packed it up and headed home after Monday's announcements.  Given the Covid world we are in, could the NCAA have had a team on "standby?"  Not sure anyone would have taken that as an option. 

[WLCALUM83]

Muskingum would have been the next OAC team in line.

[Caz Bombers]

Division 1 has a 48 hour bracket replacement rule and this fit the window for that. I guess D3 has no such rule. Just another way for the NCAA to show us how little we matter to them.

[deiscanton]

The withdrawal by Ohio Northern came too late for the OAC to send a backup AQ.  Backup AQs had to be announced no later than 24 hours after the DIII selection announcement.  This withdrawal occurred on Tuesday, but apparently the announcement occurred more than 24 hours after the bracket was revealed, as the statement by the NCAA DIII Softball Committee seems to infer.

As of this morning, any withdrawals by NCAA DIII teams from the tournament due to COVID-19 issues will lead to games being declared no-contests, and their upcoming opponent will be given a bye to the next contest.

Source:  March 31, 2021 minutes of the DIII Championships Committee videoconference-- According to the minutes, the Ohio Athletic Conference had to confirm a replacement AQ by 1 PM Eastern yesterday (May 18) in order for the replacement to take part in the NCAA DIII Softball tournament.  The replacement AQ would have played Salisbury if the OAC confirmed a backup AQ.  As the AQ belonged to the OAC, only the OAC had the right to replace Ohio Northern.

How it affects the Marshall, TX regional:

1.)  Only 2 games will be played on Friday-- #1 East Texas Baptist v #6 Eastern Nazarene(Game 1), and #3 Birmingham Southern vs #4 Redlands (Game 3)

2.)  Games 2 and 4 on Friday are no-contests.  #2 Salisbury enters the regional with a bye on Friday and will play its first game on Saturday in Game 6 of the regional against the winner of BSU/Redlands.  The loser of ETBU/E. Nazarene advances to Game 7 on Saturday-- opponent to be determined based on how many teams are left after Game 6 concludes.

3.)  Game 5 of the regional would be the first game on Saturday-- winner of ETBU/E. Nazarene vs loser of BSU/Redlands.

If loser of Game 3 wins Game 5, then the Game 5 winner plays the loser of ETBU/E. Nazarene in Game 7.

If winner of Game 1 wins Game 5, then the Game 6 loser plays the loser of ETBU/E. Nazarene in Game 7.

[deiscanton]

Update from Decatur, IL Regional per the regional page and the Calvin softball website--

#2 seed Geneva was forced to withdraw from the NCAA Softball DIII tournament on Wednesday due to COVID-19 issues.

The Decatur, IL regional starts today, as Calvin has a no Sunday games policy for athletics contests.

The Decatur, IL regional now is as follows for the first 7 scheduled games:

Thursday, May 20

Game 1-- 11 AM Central/noon Eastern first pitch:   #1 seed DePauw vs #6 Mt. St. Joseph

Game 2-- no contest-- #5 Calvin advances to Game 6 per NCAA COVID 19 protocol rules.

Game 3-- 2 PM Central/3 PM Eastern first pitch-- #3 Millikin v #4 Belhaven

Game 4-- no contest-- Loser of Game 1 advances to Game 7 per NCAA COVID 19 protocol rules.

Friday, May 21

Game 5-- 10 AM Central/11 AM Eastern-- Winner of Game 1 vs Loser of Game 3  (Elimination game for G3 loser)

Game 6-- Noon Central/ 1 PM Eastern-- #5 Calvin vs Winner of Game 3

Game 7-- 2 PM Central/ 3 PM Eastern-- Loser of Game 1 vs  either (1) Winner of Game 5 (if G3 loser wins Game 5), or (2) Loser of Game 6 (if Winner of Game 1 also wins Game 5). (Elimination game)

[WLCALUM83]

Tongue in cheek ode (to the tune of "King of the Road):

"Family car, freeway lane
Destination, Bangor, Maine
Team Uni, gloves and shoes
And we're paying our softball dues

There'll be star pitchers on the mound
On those clean softball grounds
And the fans of means by all means ( to cheer their)
Queens of the Road"