Rounding Third Softball

Who would win in a fight between a Sooner, Cowgirl, Vol, Bruin, and Tiger? We will soon find out as we surge toward the postseason. This weeks D1 Softball Top 25 is out.

Rank	Team	Overall Record	Record Last Week	Previous Rank
1	Oklahoma	33-1	3-0	1
2	Oklahoma State	32-2	3-0	2
3	UCLA	32-4	3-0	4
4	Tennessee	29-3	3-1	3
5	Clemson	36-1	4-0	5
6	Florida State	29-7	3-0	7
7	Stanford	28-6	1-3	6
8	Georgia	29-6	2-0	8
9	Arkansas	27-9	3-0	12
10	LSU	31-6	5-0	11
11	Duke	28-8	2-1	13
12	Texas	30-8-1	0-3	10
13	Washington	26-8	1-2	9
14	Texas A&M	22-13	3-2	15
15	Alabama	26-11	2-1	16
16	Oregon	22-11	2-1	17
17	Kentucky	21-9-1	1-2	14
18	Virginia Tech	27-8	2-2	19
19	Indiana	28-9	6-0	24
20	Northwestern	20-9	3-1	21
21	Arizona	24-12	4-0	22
22	Utah	22-7	1-2	20
23	Wichita State	30-7	4-0	25
24	Baylor	27-9	4-1	23
25	California	24-9-1	2-1	NR
Dropped Out
	Florida	26-9	2-2	18

William Peace University Coach Charlie Dobbins notched his 500th career coaching victory on Saturday. The Pacers defeated Methodist University in Game 2 of a double header 10-8 in 11 innings. The former men’s fastpitch standout and King and His Court member is in his 24th season coaching WPU.

The NCAA regular-season attendance record was obliterated on Friday as No. 1 ranked Oklahoma downed Red River Rival No. 10 Texas 8-1. 8,930 fans saw the Sooners defeat the Longhorns at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City. The previous record was held in a contest between Arizona and Fresno State played in Fresno that drew 5,724 fans in 2000.

Softball goes Hollywood.

“I Can” tells the inspiring true story of Katelyn Pavey a one-armed softball player. The story will be told through the eyes of the parents, who had her out of wedlock due to an affair. When she was born, her father believed she was without an arm because of how she was conceived and his sins. The story is a massive redemption arc for the father as he draws closer to God and finds his faith while watching how his daughter defies all odds.

Pavey, a native of Lanesville, Indiana, would go on to earn a college scholarship and is currently a member of the softball program at Kentucky Christian University. “I Can” is set for a national release this summer.

After 181 years Iowa Wesleyan University has announced it will close its doors at the end of this semester. Like most their size, the institute attributed the cease of operation to ongoing financial problems. The closure eliminates IWU’s athletics program including softball. The Tigers have been coached for 30 seasons by alum Mike Hampton, a part of his 56 years in the sport. Hampton has amassed 1,307 wins during his time at the collegiate and high school levels. Iowa Wesleyan was founded in 1841, five years before Iowa would officially become a state

RTS has learned from sources close to the situation that Mars Hill Head Coach Scott Long has departed the program. Long was in his second season leading the Lions and had compiled a 17-48 overall record. Separate sources within the athletic program have also confirmed an ongoing Title IX Investigation into the softball program at MHU. Assistant Coach Sophie Devesa has also left the staff. Volunteer Assistant Coach Emiley Burriss has been elevated to interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

No surprises again as Oklahoma (30-1) and Oklahoma State (29-2) are still on top of this weeks D1 Softball Top 25 Poll.

Rank	Team	Overall Record	Record Last Week	Previous Rank
1	Oklahoma	30-1	3-0	1
2	Oklahoma State	29-2	4-0	2
3	Tennessee	26-2	2-1	3
4	UCLA	29-4	2-1	4
5	Clemson	32-1	3-0	5
6	Stanford	27-3	3-0	6
7	Florida State	26-7	2-1	7
8	Georgia	27-6	3-0	9
9	Washington	25-6	3-0	12
10	Texas	30-5-1	4-0	14
11	LSU	26-6	3-1	10
12	Arkansas	24-9	3-1	17
13	Duke	26-7	2-2	13
14	Kentucky	20-7-1	1-2	8
15	Texas A&M	19-11	3-1	20
16	Alabama	24-10	2-3	15
17	Oregon	20-10	1-2	18
18	Florida	24-7	2-2	11
19	Virginia Tech	25-6	3-1	16
20	Utah	21-5	0-0	19
21	Northwestern	17-8	4-0	23
22	Arizona	20-12	0-3	21
23	Baylor	23-8	1-3	22
24	Indiana	22-9	3-0	NR
25	Wichita State	26-7	3-1	NR
Dropped Out
	Louisiana	23-10	2-1	24
	Maryland	22-8	0-3	25

RTS heads to Tampa this weekend for the three-game AAC Series opener between visiting East Carolina (21-9) and South Florida (19-15). Game 1 of the series is 4 pm EST on Friday. Check-in on Twitter @Rounding3rdSB and on all RTS Social Media platforms for live in-game action and updates throughout the weekend.

Jacksonville State Coach Jana McGinnis picked up her 1,000th victory on Wednesday with a 13-1 win over Alabama State. McGinnis is just one of 12 active Division I coaches with 1,000 wins. In 30 seasons coaching the Gamecocks she holds a 1,000-564 record.

Baylor Coach Glenn Moore notched his 1,000th career coaching victory today with a 5-0 shutout win over UT Arlington. Moore is in his 23rd season coaching the Bears, and 26th season overall having led the program at LSU before his current run in Waco. He has tallied an overall record of 1,000-472.