Rounding Third Softball

First Friday of the DI College Season, and already a huge upset in a Power 5 Stronghold. Lehigh takes down No. 6 Alabama on their home turf. The Mountain Hawks defeated the Crimson Tide 7-4 banging out 12 hits at the Leadoff Classic hosted at Rhoades Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Dramatics from Irvine, CA on Opening Day of the Division I Season. Two-time defending National Champion Oklahoma survives an upset bid by Liberty going eight innings before finally dispatching the Flames 1-0. OU wins it at the Mark Campbell Invitational in the ITB as Jordy Bahl scores from second after a fielding error on a bunt by Alyssa Brito.

Being a relative newcomer to Division I there are a lot of “firsts” for California Baptist. Today was no exception down south of the border at the Puerta Vallarta College Classic in Mexico. Freshman Presley Hosick threw the first no-hitter in the DI era for the Lancers with a 2-0 shutout win over Wisconsin. It was the first collegiate start for the Bakersfield native. CBU almost double-dipped the Power 5 on opening day, earlier getting edged by North Carolina 3-2 before knocking off the Badgers.

Oklahoma and Texas have reached an agreement with the Big 12 to depart the conference earlier than expected. Both schools will now join the SEC for the 2024-25 sports season. The agreement comes after an impasse was seeming hit earlier this week. As part of the agreement both institutes will pay the Big 12 $50 million dollars apiece to depart the conference, which will be distributed between remaining members.

The move will bring juggernaut and two-time defending National Champion Oklahoma, along with last seasons National Runner-up Texas to what is already considered the strongest softball conference in the country in the SEC.

UT Tyler Head Coach Mike Reed picked up his 800th career coaching victory on Friday to leadoff the 2023 season. The Patriots downed Regis University 4-1 at the DII Spring Invitational Kickoff in Conroe, TX. Reed holds a record of 800-168 in 22 years of coaching, last 19 of which has come leading UT Tyler.

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has announced that Georgia Softball player Jaiden Fields has signed a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Deal. Fields, the sister of Chicago Bears Quarterback Justin Fields, signed on as part of the companies “Next in Line” program. The initiative recruits college athletes to develop potential future WWE Superstars. The redshirt senior, Fields plays outfield for the Bulldogs and hit .333 last season.

Hofstra has added Ophir Sadeh to their coaching staff. Sadeh joins the Pride after most recently serving as an assistant coach at New York University from 2019-2021. This is his second stint with Hofstra as he served on Hall of Fame Coach Bill Edward’s staff from 2002-2009.

Florida has been picked to finish first in the 2023 Southeastern Conference preseason coaches poll. The Gators received five of the 13 first-place votes. Tennessee was second with three first-place votes. While the back-to-back defending SEC champions Arkansas were third also garnering five votes.

1. Florida (5)

2. Tennessee (3)

3. Arkansas (5)

4. Alabama

5. LSU

6. Georgia

7. Kentucky

8. Missouri

9. Auburn

10. Ole Miss

11. Mississippi State

12. Texas A&M

13. South Carolina

USA Softball has announced the watch list for their Collegiate Player of the Year. The award will recognize the top collegiate player based on outstanding play throughout the 2023 NCAA Division I collegiate softball season. The watchlist includes 2022 finalists Baylee Klingler (Washington), Jordy Bahl (Oklahoma), Grace Lyons (Oklahoma), Kelly Maxwell (Oklahoma State), Sydney McKinney (Wichita State) and Danielle Williams (Northwestern). A complete list of the Top 50 can be found at https://www.teamusa.org/…/USA-Softball-unveils-Top-50…

Corning Community College has been voted No. 1 in the NJCAA DIII Preseason Rankings. Last years national runner-up received all seven first-place votes. The Barons finished the 2022 season 40-8.

1. Corning (7)

2. North Dakota SCS

3. Brookdale

4. Herkimer

5. Owens

6. RCSJ Gloucester

7. Suffolk County

8. St. Cloud Tech

9. Surry

10. Joliet