NCAA Division II South Super Regional Info

ROME, Ga. – There are times when just about everything goes one's way. For the Shorter softball team, that time has arrived in more ways than one.

Fresh from winning their first foray into the NCAA Division II postseason, when they won the South Region I championship defeating top-ranked Valdosta State on the Blazers' home field, the Lady Hawks will find themselves back on their home diamond at the Alto Park Softball Complex this weekend when Shorter hosts the South Super Regional.

The event – it's the first time Shorter will host an NCAA function – pits the Lady Hawks, now 39-15 sweeping through the Region I field that included fellow Gulf South Conference members Valdosta State and No. 11 Alabama-Huntsville, against the Florida Tech Panthers (38-18) of the Sunshine State Conference, who downed GSC foe North Alabama for the South Region II title.

The winner of the Super Regional, one of eight being played this weekend, advanced to the Division II national championship that will be held May 21-25 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Okla.

"This is something we never expected in our wildest dreams. We anticipated playing on the road the entire postseason," said Shorter head coach Al Thomas, who saw the Lady Hawks turn in a pair of stellar performances over the past two weekends in Valdosta, winning the GSC championship two weeks ago before returning to the south Georgia city last weekend where they won the South Region I crown.

But when the team began their long drive back from Valdosta to Rome late Sunday afternoon, Thomas and his staff learned that the door to host the Super Regional became wide open.

"Those who bid on hosting the super regional were eliminated," explained Thomas, "so on our way back from Valdosta, we put the bid in while riding in the car and got it."

Thomas said that Florida Tech's Panthers are scheduled to arrive in Rome on Wednesday and on Thursday the two teams will each have an hour's worth of practice time at Alto Park.

The best-of-three series begins on Friday with the first pitch of Game 1 set for 5 p.m. The showdown resumes on Saturday with Game 2 starting at 1 p.m. with a Game 3 to follow at 3:30 if needed.

Plans are being made to stream the games via a live webcast. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors, children ages 6-17 and for students who valid ID.

"We're excited to be one of just 16 teams still playing," Thomas said, "and even more excited to be playing at home again with the opportunity of going to Oklahoma City."