2011 NAIA Softball National Championship Preview
May 18, 2011
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. - (Press Book - PDF) The 31st Annual National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Softball National Championship will begin on Thursday from the Gulf Shores Sportsplex in Gulf Shores, Ala. Thirty-two teams will participate in pool play format from Thursday through Saturday, with each club playing a total of three games. The eight pool-play champions will advance to double-elimination bracket competition starting on May 23. The national champion will be crowned May 25. The Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports Commission, in conjunction with the University of Mobile (Ala.), are hosting for the first time.
Some games in the double-elimination bracket will be video-streamed live via NeuLion. Game 9 on May 23 will be the first of as many as seven games that will be available. Games 9 - 15, which may include the "if necessary" game, will be streamed for a subscription price of either $6.95 per day, or an event fee of $19.95. Click here for more information.
Twenty-seven teams earned a ticket to Gulf Shores by winning its conference/independent/unaffiliated group tournaments. Four teams were awarded an at-large bid using the final Top 25 poll released on May 10. The host berth went to Mobile. The Southern States Athletic Conference sends the most teams to the National Championship with four. Belhaven (Miss.) and Shorter (Ga.) received the automatic bids, while William Carey (Miss.) is an at-large and Mobile gained the host berth.
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) and Friends (Kan.) will kick-off the tournament with a 9 a.m. CDT game on Field 1. The Pioneers were champions of the Heart of America Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament. Friends earned the automatic bid as the tournament champion in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Defending national champion Simon Fraser (B.C.), who is one of two teams with a sub-.500 record, begins the tournament with a 12:30 p.m. game on Thursday against Reinhardt (Ga.). The Clan (16-24), who are appearing in their 15th National Championship, are led by sophomore pitcher Cara Lukawesky. Named the Association of Independent Institutions Tournament MVP, she pitched four complete-game victories to lead Simon Fraser to the title. SFU is currently ranked second all-time in wins at the National Championship with 59.
No. 1-ranked California Baptist (59-3), who has been No. 1 all season in the Softball Coaches' Top 25 poll, faces newcomer SUNY Canton (N.Y.) at 2 p.m. on Thursday on Field 1. The Lancers are one of four squads with 50-plus wins entering the National Championship. SUNY Canton is one of seven teams who is making its first appearance in the National Championship. The other newcomers include: Central Baptist (Ark.), Davenport (Mich.), Iowa Wesleyan, Reinhardt, St. Thomas (Fla.) and Simpson (Calif.).
The all-time championship wins leader with a 99-36 record, Oklahoma City (44-12), matches up against Mobile at 1 p.m. on Field 4. The Stars are making their NAIA-record 25th overall trip and have played consecutively in the National Championship since 1992. Mobile (34-17) punched its ticket to Gulf Shores for the 16th overall time, which is ranked second-most among current participants.
The last five national champions, dating back to 2005, all will compete in the 2011 event. Simon Fraser is back with four trophies to its credit (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2010). The four other programs in the 2011 National Championship to win the title are Mobile (2006), Oklahoma City (2007), Lubbock Christian (Texas) (2008) and California Baptist (2009). Overall, 17 teams have won at least one National Championship and only two squads have repeated as champions: Emporia State (Kan.) (1983-84) and Oklahoma City (1994-97; 2000-02).
Of the teams that have appeared at least one previous time, Oregon Tech is breaking the longest drought. The Lady Owls (35-12) last made the trip in 1997. They will face Northwood (Texas) at 9:30 a.m. on Field 2. Also playing in the event for the first time in over 10 years is Azusa Pacific (Calif.). The Cougars are snapping an 11-year drought and will battle St. Thomas at 6 p.m. on Field 4.
Overall, there are 10 programs making at least their fifth National Championship appearance. Conversely, 18 teams are relative newcomers with this trip being their third-or-fewer appearance.
For more information on the National Championship, click here.
