The Gap is Closing....!

The NCAA began crowning a women's softball champion in 1982. In that time, west coast teams have dominated. Well over 250 Division I schools have softball programs, so it's hard to fathom that in it's 28 year history only Texas A&M, Michigan and Oklahoma are the only spoilers to the west coast party.

I'm making a bold prediction: The WCWS will see it's first east coast winner and they will come out of the SEC. I realize I'm displacing Arizona State, Texas, Oklahoma and Michigan but as this years women's basketball tournament upset of favored UCONN should tell you, you still have to play the games.

The Women's College World Series tournament begins with 64 teams from 16 different regions that compete in a double elimination round. The sixteen winners then enter a "super regional" usually played at the higher seeds campus in a best of three series. From there the eight winners compete in the WCWS. Although largely dominated by UCLA (10)* and Arizona (8) in number of titles, other parts of the country are represented and year after year they creep deeper and deeper into the tournament. If you have watched the softball polls this season you have seen a few SEC teams trading places in the rankings. The SEC boasts four contenders to challenge the elite pedigree of the west.

The USA Today/NFCA Division I poll has seen UGA and Alabama never fall below 7th place while Florida and Tennessee haven't fallen below 11th. Both UGA and Alabama have occupied the no.1 spot, UGA (4wks) and Alabama (3wks). Both Tennessee (2007) and Florida (2009) have been Women's College World Series runner-ups. In 2010, Alabama was one out away from making the WCWS but was knocked out by a 7th inning walk-off homer. UGA advanced to the WCWS for the second straight year and looks to contend for a third try. The four programs have talent, experience and leaders on the field. They are poised to be battling in June,...possibly each other.

The SEC regular season ends this week and the SEC Tournament begins May 12-14 at Ole Miss Softball Complex. NCAA Regionals take place on campus sites May 20-22. Super Regionals will be played on campus sites May 28-29. WCWS will be at ASA Hall Of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK June 2-8. Access the NCAA Softball Championship site here.
*1995 title vacated by the NCAA