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RTS Heads To The Scenic City

RTS will be in the Scenic City this weekend for a big Southern Conference matchup between Samford (30-18, 11-4) and Chattanooga (33-12, 10-4). Game one of the three-game series gets started Saturday at 1 pm EST, game two will follow. The series will conclude with game three Sunday at 2 pm EST. Check back here and on all RTS Social Media platforms for live in-game updates all weekend from Frost Stadium.

Gradecki Retiring From Carroll

Amy Gradecki has announced she will retire as head coach at Carroll University at the end of the season. Gradecki has coached the Pioneers for 16 seasons compiling a record of 271-285 with the DIII institute. She was named Midwest Conference North Division Coach of the Year in both 2012 and 2014.

Umpqua Community College Coach And Player Killed

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 In Peril, Will Discontinue Athletics

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.

William Peace Losing Facility

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.

Olympia Haarlem Wins Mastenbroek Tournament

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.