Rounding Third Softball

RTS is deeply saddened to report the passing of Jami Strinz Head Coach at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. Strinz lost her life in a traffic accident as the team was traveling home from a competition on Friday evening. Freshmen Kiley Jones from Idaho also tragically lost her life in the crash. Other staff and athletes were taken to local hospitals for treatment and some remain in critical condition.

According to the preliminary investigation, the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado was going west on Highway 42 and crossed the center line into the eastbound lane striking UCC’s mini-bus head-on. There was a total of 10 program members aboard.

Strinz, a very well thought of and respected coach throughout the sport on the college and club levels, has been the coach at Umpqua since 2023. She also headed the PNW Shamrocks Club Program which works to develop young athletes and help place them at the collegiate level. Strinz competed herself collegiately at Bradley University and for the Irish National Team.

Softball runs deep in the Strinz Family as father Tim was a longtime coach on the club level and sister Sami Strinz-Ward is the former head coach at Loyola Marymount and Texas Tech.

Limestone University in South Carolina looks as if it will cease athletics and possibly shutter the 179 year old institute. The school announced Wednesday it is just weeks from closing unless it receives $6 million in relief that would allow the institute to continue with online education. Regardless, it looks as if Limestone Athletics will come to an end. The Saints compete on the NCAA Division II level as members of the South Atlantic Conference. The LU Softball squad is currently 14-24 and 9-15 in conference play. It was announced on their athletic site that they canceled what would have been their final regular season game against King University this Friday at home.

There is a new No. 1 in this week’s Softball America Top 25. The Aggies of Texas A&M.

1. Texas A&M
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Florida State
5. Arkansas
6. Tennessee
7. UCLA
8. South Carolina
9. LSU
10. Oregon

The complete Top 25 can be found at https://www.on3.com/softball/news/softball-america-top-25-rankings-week-11/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJyXVNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHggd1ZkzbncF7Ce8xrqmcCH9Qw4P_scupbWbHp3Epr3U7nZveKCxSqT1mlrj_aem_R6CCZiXZT5z_21rGVwoayw

William Peace University will be losing their softball facility. The university has indicated it will demolish the facility to make room for a new parking lot.

WPU President Lynn Morton has stated that the softball team will move off campus to a third party facility. The William Peace Baseball program plays at the USA Baseball Training Complex in Cary, NC. It is unlikely a comparable facility could be found for the softball program bringing the move in question equality wise under Title IX.

The change comes as part of an overall master plan for the university that was developed as part of a Strategic Plan in 2017. Some students and families are opposed to this change. A petition that now includes 1,402 signatures has been started in opposition to the loss of the facility.

The Red River Rivalry rules the top in this week’s Softball America Top 25.

1. Texas
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas A&M
4. LSU
5. Florida State
6. South Carolina
7. Arkansas
8. Oregon
9. UCLA
10. Tennessee

The complete Top 25 can be found at https://www.on3.com/softball/news/softball-america-top-25-rankings-week-10/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJyXMxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHlhiShq8MvUZa8I-5bjgcdrIApNDkt4EOOmYFHFk8KY-PADyVZQ1OORd2hTN_aem_Rsle-rWicW_Ql3xu5rWPAA

The 40th International Mastenbroek Tournament in Enschede, The Netherlands has wrapped and a champion crowned. The defending Dutch League Champions Olympia Haarlem won the preseason event downing Joudrs Prague in the Championship final 6-4. Olympia Haarlem now looks to defend their 2024 championship as the Dutch League starts their regular season next weekend.

RTS will be onsite at the 40th International Mastenbroek Tournament in Enschede, The Netherlands this weekend. The event will feature Dutch Teams Tex Town Tigers, Amsterdam Pirates, Roef!, Onze Gezellen, Neptunus, 2024 Champions Olympia Haarlem, along with the Czech Republic U22 squad, SK Joudrs Prague and the Ukrainian National Team.

Check back here and on all RTS Social Media platforms for updates from The Netherlands throughout the weekend.

After 36-years coaching Mount Vernon Nazarene University, head coach Jeana Howald will retire at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Howald led the Cougars to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Tournament 10 time. She also has amassed 771 victories good for twelfth among all coaches in NAIA history.

Seven of the top 10 spots belong to the SEC with Texas still leading the way in this week’s Softball America Top 25.

1. Texas
2. Florida
3. Oklahoma
4. Texas A&M
5. LSU
6. Florida State
7. South Carolina
8. Oregon
9. Tennessee
10. Arizona

The complete Top 25 can be found at https://www.on3.com/softball/news/softball-america-top-25-rankings-week-9/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJyW6RleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHvFYt8xMXNeghYwMYTL1yfAaa739Aivqc_6cr0PgKXSVw55ym9juT3HDHtwa_aem_rX4h85htQ2cZXBgKh3JIyg

Azusa Pacific University has announced they will transition from Division II to Division III. Current members of the PacWest Conference, they will join the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 season. The institute has also indicated they will reinstate football, which is usually a move to increase tuition paying enrollment at the DIII level.

APU softball is 16-13 overall and 13-7 in conference play good for third place currently this season.