Rounding Third Softball

The USA Softball Men’s National Team has selected their roster for the World Championships, and those selections have a definite collegiate softball vibe.

The roster competing at the 2022 WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship include: Jonathan Lynch assistant coach at Central Methodist University, Jon Gwizdala assistant coach at the University of Toledo, Zac Shaw assistant coach at Mississippi State University, and Brad Kirkpatrick a student manager at the University of Florida.

The squad will also have a familiar collegiate and professional stalwart as an assistant coach on the staff in Roman Foore. The former USMNT player is the associate head coach at Bethel University (MN) and has also spent several seasons coaching the USSSA Pride and the Smash It Sports Vipers on the pro level.

Team USA will compete for the World Championship November 26-December 4 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Texas Tech will become the latest collegiate sports program to benefit from the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program. The Matador Club (TTU’s donor organization) has announced its intent to sign 27 Red Raider team members to “five-figure” annual contracts. The contract will allow each player’s name, image, and likeness to be used to support local nonprofit organizations in the Lubbock area.

Maryland and Penn State will meet for a “little” exhibition game next month. The Big Ten institutes will converge on Williamsport, PA to play each other at iconic Howard J. Lamade Stadium home of the Little League World Series. The special exhibition on October 15 highlights the Girls with Game Experience event that will also feature an instructional clinic preceding the contest led by the coaches and athletes from both the Terrapins and Nittany Lions.

Coastal Carolina has announced Michelle Gardner is joining the program as associate head coach. She comes to the Chanticleers as pitching coach after most recently spending time with the Israel National Team in the same role. Gardner last coached on the collegiate level at Indiana where she was the head coach from 2008-2017.

Former Oregon Duck Jordan Dail is joining the coaching staff at North Carolina. Dail, an All-PAC-12 selection her sophomore season, will fill the volunteer assistant role for the Tar Heels in her first excursion into coaching.

Valparaiso has named Meaggan Pettipiece their new head coach. Pettipiece joins the Beacons after serving just over two seasons as head coach at Akron. She departed the Zips during the 2022 season. Before taking the head coaching job at UA she served as the top assistant at Kent State after a long 10 year run as head coach at Northwood University.

Washington University in St. Louis has announced Casey Cromwell as their new head coach. Cromwell joins the Bears after leading the program at crosstown Fontbonne University. In 2022 the Griffins won the SLIAC title and made the program’s first appearance in the NCAA Postseason since 2015.

The highest paid softball coach in the country just lapped the competition.

Oklahoma has given head coach Patty Gasso a contract extension through 2028 and a raise that will earn her $1.625 million a year. Her base salary from OU will be $300,000, while $825,000 will come from private funds, $200,000 from annual retention bonuses, and a further $300,000 in a supplemental retirement fund. She will also receive a $150,000 bonus for every National Championship she adds to an already impressive collection of six.

Limestone University has announced that head coach Amy Yates is retiring. Yates led the Saints for 10 seasons after serving as an assistant coach in her first two years with the program. The two-time Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year compiled a 274-172 record leading the program. LU made appearances in the NCAA Postseason in 2015 and 2017.

Lyon College has announced the hiring of Rick Walker as assistant coach. Walker comes to the State of Arkansas after serving as head coach at Miami University-Hamilton from 2016-2022. Last season MUH finished seventh at the USCAA World Series.