Rounding Third Softball

Sources have informed RTS that Samford Head Coach Mandy Burford-Johnson has resigned. Burford-Johnson had been on staff with the Bulldogs since 2011, and was promoted to head coach in 2012. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history with 237 wins.

The Oklahoma Sooners have come back from losing their first game of the WCWS and have defeated the Florida State Seminoles. With the victory Oklahoma secures their Fifth National Championship in program history.

*FINAL*

Florida State 1

Oklahoma 5

RTS has confirmed that South Florida and head coach Ken Eriksen will name former UCLA great Lisa Dodd to join the Bulls Staff as pitching coach. Dodd last coached in the 2019 season in a two year run as the head coach at Santa Clara. Before her stint with the Broncos she led the program at UNLV between 2013-2017.

RTS has learned that Chelsey Barclay Dobbins has emerged as one of Georgia State’s top targets to become their next head coach. Barclay Dobbins has been part of the coaching staff at North Carolina the past six seasons and was promoted to associate head coach in 2018. She has coordinated the Tar Heel pitching staff since her arrival before the 2016 season.

Women’s College World Series Day Seven Results:

Championship Series

Game 2

Oklahoma 6

Florida State 2

(Series tied 1-1)

WCWS Championship Series Final Schedule:

Game 3

Thursday 6/10

2:00 pm CST

Florida State

Oklahoma

Harding University has hired Fort Lewis College Head Coach Ashley Reeves to lead their program. Reeves takes over for the retiring Phil Berry who coached the program the last eight seasons. During her two seasons with the Skyhawks Reeves compiled a record of 31-34. Reeves will be returning to Searcy, Arkansas where she was the head softball coach at Harding Academy from 2008-2010.

RTS is saddened to report the passing of longtime Georgia State Coach Bob Heck at the age of 95. Heck retired at GSU as the oldest head coach at the Division I level at the age of 85 in 2011. He coached a total of 24 seasons with the Panthers and amassed a career coaching record of 700-584-2. Georgia State’s softball complex at Panthersville is named the Bob Heck Softball Complex in recognition of his generosity in the construction of the top-notch venue, which includes an indoor practice facility.

West Texas A&M (43-12) is the unanimous No. 1 in the final NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. WTAMU won the programs second national title in 2021. The Lady Buffs received all 16 first-place votes.

Rank	School	Points	2021 Record	Last Poll
1	West Texas A&M (16)	400	43-12	12
2	Biola	384	26-16	24
3	Augustana	366	49-8	1
4	North Georgia	354	43-8	2
5	Grand Valley State	328	45-10	13
6	Valdosta State	310	38-11	9
7	Saint Anselm	305	33-7	18
8	West Chester University	267	34-16
9	Texas A&M-Commerce	263	33-18	10
10	Lincoln Memorial	259	38-8	5
11	Indianapolis	248	46-8	7
12	Concordia Irvine	206	34-13	11
13	Minnesota State	197	40-10	17
14	Oklahoma Christian	191	38-9	4
15	West Florida	175	33-16	RV
16	Young Harris	148	34-12	8
17	UT Tyler	142	33-7	6
18	Southern Arkansas	122	29-10	19
19	Georgian Court	117	38-6	22
20	Rollins	111	21-4	21
21	Auburn Montgomery	80	40-7	3
22	Central Oklahoma	63	36-14	14
23	Colorado Mesa	56	39-5	15
24	East Stroudsburg	46	29-16
25	UAH	27	32-14	16

New to Poll: No. 8 West Chester, No. 15 West Florida, No. 24 East Stroudsburg.

Dropped Out: No. 20 Angelo State, No. 23 Winona State, No. 25 Kutztown.

Receiving Votes: Angelo State (10), Central Missouri (9), Western Washington (9), Northwest Nazarene (3), Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2), Rogers State (1), West Liberty (1).

As was expected, Stacey Nuveman Deniz has been named head coach at San Diego State. She replaces longtime coach Kathy Van Wyk who retired at the end of the 2021 season. Nuveman Deniz has spent the last 13 seasons with the Aztecs as an assistant coach, associate head coach and head coach in waiting.

Women’s College World Series Day Six Results:

Championship Series

Game 1

Florida State 8

Oklahoma 4

(Florida State leads series 1-0)

WCWS Championship Series Final Schedule:

Game 2

Wednesday 6/9

6:00 pm CST

Oklahoma

Florida State

Game 3

(If Necessary)

Thursday 6/10

2:00 pm CST

Florida State

Oklahoma