Rounding Third Softball

Drexel Head Coach Carl Taylor and his entire coaching staff have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation by the university. The investigation pertains to what the school termed “troubling allegations of misconduct” in the treatment of student-athletes. Taylor just completed his seventh season leading the program. The Dragons finished the 2021 season 29-12 overall and 13-5 in CAA play.

West Texas A&M has secured the program’s second National Championship defeating Biola 4-1 in the NCAA Division II Final. The Lady Buffs needed three games to dispatch the upstart Eagles in the championship tilt as both teams split the first games in the title series. WTAMU won their first championship back in 2014.

Virginia Wesleyan has won the NCAA Division III National Championship defeating the defending champions (2019) Texas Lutheran 9-1. The Marlins and Bulldogs stretched the championship series to three games as they each split the first two. The national title is the third in five years for VWU having won back-to-back championships in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Longtime international coaching stalwart Monti Van Brunt will join the coaching staff at Dallas Christian College RTS has learned. DCC will have their first season of competition in 2022. Van Brunt is a 17 year veteran in softball serving on national team staffs of China, the Netherlands, Germany and the Czech Republic. In addition he had a stint on staff at the University of Mount Olive. Van Brunt also coached on the club level in the U.S. and in the Italian and Dutch Softball Leagues. Dallas Christian appointed Pat Hallahan as the program’s first head coach earlier this year.

Rock Valley College has won its seventh consecutive NJCAA Division III National Championship. The Golden Eagles ripped through the championship tournament out scoring opponents 57-3 and defeated Corning Community College 13-2 in the finals. RVC owns the record for most consecutive national titles across all three NJCAA divisions.

Hawaii-Hilo Head Coach Callen Perreira is retiring after his second stint with the Vulcans. Perreira coached UH-Hilo from 1990-2009 and then again 2017-2021. In-between those stints he lead programs at College of Southern Nevada and Silverado High School in Las Vegas. Perreira compiled a collegiate record of 830-526-3 through his career.

The field is set… The Elite 8 of Collegiate Softball will descend on the grandest stage in the game, the Women’s College World Series. Action will get started Thursday in Oklahoma City.

Thursday 6/3

Game 1

11 am CST

James Madison

Oklahoma

Game 2

1:30 pm CST

Georgia

Oklahoma State

Game 3

6 pm CST

Arizona

Alabama

Game 4

8:30 pm CST

Florida State

UCLA

Florida Southwestern State College won the NJCAA Division I National Championship on Saturday. The Buccaneers downed Grayson College 5-1 in the Championship Final in Yuma, AZ. FSW took home the title while finishing the season 49-4.

With the conclusion of the Fayetteville Super Regional it’s time to relocate west. RTS will be onsite tomorrow for Game 3 of the Stillwater Super Regional as No. 5 national seed and nationally ranked No. 7 Oklahoma State takes on No. 12 seed and nationally ranked No. 11 Texas. The deciding third game starts at 3 pm CST with the winner advancing to the Women’s College World Series. Follow RTS on Twitter @Rounding3rdSB for real-time in-game updates from Cowgirl Stadium.

Best story in softball right now. Georgia lost 13 of their last 15 games before entering the NCAA Postseason. The Bulldogs are undefeated (5-0) in that postseason and are now on their way to OKC for the Women’s College World Series.