Veteran international coach Craig Montvidas has been named to lead the Minot Honeybees of the new Northwoods Collegiate League. Montvidas most notable coaching stops include leading the Netherlands National Team. He also coached on the professional level with the Pennsylvania Rebellion. Stops with the Greek and British softball national teams also highlight his career.
Gasso To Receive Statue At Love’s Field
The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved a vote today to erect a statue of Coach Patty Gasso outside the Sooners’ brand new Love’s Field. Nationally known sculptor Brian Hanlon of Toms River, NJ received the contract. Hanlon is the same sculptor who created like type sculptures of legendary OU Athletes Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray.
Gasso is in her 29th season leading the Sooners. She has won seven National Championships in her time in Norman.
RTS Heading To Tampa
RTS heads to Tampa tomorrow for a doubleheader between South Florida (18-8) and Colgate (8-10). Action between the Bulls and Raiders starts at 5 pm EST. Game 2 will follow at 7:30 pm EST. Check back here and on all RTS Social Media platforms for live in-game updates.
Longtime Pitching Coach Bo Reid Passes
RTS is saddened to report the passing of longtime collegiate coaching assistant and pitching coach Bo Reid. Reid coached on the collegiate level for parts of three decades.
With early successes at Spartanburg Methodist and Furman, that led Reid to join the first coaching staff at the University of Georgia in what was the infancy of softball in the SEC in the 1990s. He would later join the staff at Mississippi Staff working under Hall of Fame Coaches Kathy Arendsen and then Jay Miller.
Reid was a well-accomplished pitcher himself competing at the Men’s Major Levels from 1959 to his retirement in 1995.
OU Still Atop DI Top 25
Oklahoma still tops this week’s Softball America DI Top 25 followed by LSU and Duke.
| Rank | School | Record | Last Week’s Record | Last Week’s Ranking |
|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 22-1 | 4-0 | 1 |
| 2 | LSU | 22-0 | 3-0 | 4 |
| 3 | Duke | 19-1 | 3-0 | 3 |
| 4 | Texas | 21-2 | 4-1 | 2 |
| 5 | Stanford | 18-4 | 5-0 | 5 |
| 6 | Georgia | 20-3 | 5-0 | 6 |
| 7 | Oklahoma State | 20-3 | 3-1 | 7 |
| 8 | Washington | 18-3 | 2-1 | 8 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 18-4 | 5-0 | 12 |
| 10 | Virginia Tech | 18-3-1 | 3-0 | 11 |
| 11 | Missouri | 20-3 | 3-1 | 14 |
| 12 | Florida | 21-3 | 2-0 | 16 |
| 13 | Texas A&M | 23-2 | 4-0 | 19 |
| 14 | Baylor | 14-5 | 3-2 | 13 |
| 15 | UCLA | 14-6 | 3-0 | 22 |
| 16 | Clemson | 17-6 | 4-2 | 10 |
| 17 | Alabama | 19-3 | 0-2 | 9 |
| 18 | Mississippi St | 19-4 | 2-1 | 18 |
| 19 | California | 21-4 | 2-2 | 15 |
| 20 | Arkansas | 20-5 | 3-1 | 21 |
| 21 | Arizona | 19-5-1 | 2-2 | 17 |
| 22 | South Carolina | 18-5 | 0-3 | 22 |
| 23 | Boston | 17-1 | 4-0 | 23 |
| 24 | Texas State | 20-6 | 3-0 | NR |
| 25 | Georgia Tech | 18-7 | 4-0 | NR |
Dropped out of Rankings: Auburn, Kentucky
Received Votes: Auburn, Louisiana, North Carolina
Wells Retiring At LeTourneau
LeTourneau University Coach Stan Wells will retire at the end of the 2024 season. Wells served on the staff at LeTourneau for 11 seasons, the last eight as head coach. He amassed 124 victories during that time. Assistant Coach Macey Mize will transition to the next head coach at the conclusion of this season. She has been on staff with the program for the last five years.
UAV Ceases Operation
The University of Antelope Valley in Lancaster, California has closed its doors and ceased operation of their athletic programs in the middle of this spring semester and season.
The institute announced the move in a statement this week. The private, for-profit university’s accreditation agency, the WASCC, placed UAV on probation last summer after the commission found that UAV “has serious issues of noncompliance with WSCUC standards.” On Feb. 29, the state Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education ordered UAV to cease all business citing the school’s severe financial position, insufficient administration and insufficient facilities.
Antelope Valley Athletics sponsored seven sports and were NAIA members of the California Pacific Conference. UAV Softball was 3-9 on the season and last played March 1 before the institute shuttered.
Mendoza Contract Extended At ESPN
Former All-American and Gold Medalist Jessica Mendoza has signed a multi-year extension to remain at ESPN. The star at Stanford then with Team USA has worked as a baseball and softball analyst for the company for the last 17 years. Her duties will continue to be coverage of the World Series on ESPN Radio, studio duties including Get Up, First Take, SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight. She will also handle color commentary responsibilities for the Women’s College World Series and the Little League World Series Championship.
RTS Heads To Lakeland, Flordia
RTS heads to Lakeland, Florida tomorrow for a doubleheader matchup between Southeastern (13-7) and Calumet College of St. Joseph (4-13). Game 1 between the Fire and Crimson Wave begins at 1 pm EST. Game 2 will follow at 3 pm EST. Check back here and on all RTS Social Media platforms for live in-game updates from the Sunshine State.
NCAA Releases RPI
The NCAA has released the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), and the undefeated LSU Tigers sit atop at 19-0. The rating is used to rank teams based upon a program’s wins and losses and on its strength of schedule. The RPI is also a quantitative used in selection of the NCAA Postseason in May. The complete rating of all 307 Division I teams can be found at https://www.ncaa.com/…/soft…/d1/ncaa-womens-softball-rpi