Lock Haven and Kutztown to Play in Atlantic Region Super Regional
Lock Haven's Host Page
Lock Haven, Pa. - It will be a battle of two PSAC heavyweights for the NCAA Softball Atlantic Region Championship this weekend as four-time defending PSAC Tournament champion Lock Haven hosts PSAC East champion Kutztown in a best-of-three super regional this weekend for a trip to the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series.
This year is the first year of the new sub regional/super regional format for Division II softball. In previous years, eight teams all played in one regional for the regional championship. Starting this year, the regional was broken down into two four-team sub regionals, with the two winners meeting in a super regional the following weekend.
Lock Haven will be seeking its fourth consecutive trip to the CWS. The Lady Eagles won the national championship in 2006 and finished as the runner-up in 2007. The advanced to the super regional by defeating Bowie State and California (Pa.) twice last weekend.
Kutztown defeated West Chester and West Virginia Wesleyan twice last weekend, knocking off WVW after it had lost the first championship game on Sunday, to advance to this weekend. The Golden Bears will be looking for their first regional title in school history.
Both squads feature at least two previous PSAC Players of the Year. The Lady Eagles have three with this year's PSAC Central Player of the Year, Sarah Norris, last year's PSAC West Player of the Year in Amanda Roosa and the 2007 West Player of the Year in Ilia Lopez. They also feature four-time PSAC Pitcher of the Year and all-time NCAA Division II wins leader Kristin Erb on the mound. Kutztown has two-time PSAC East Player of the Year and NCAA Division II all-time home run leader Steph Denlinger as well as last year's East Player of the Year, Ashley Fitzgerald. Pitcher Katlin Arbogast is also a two-time PSAC East Pitcher of the Year.
The super regional kicks off on Friday with game 1 at noon on Lock Haven's Lawrence Field. Game 2 wil lbe Saturday at noon with the third game, if necessary, to follow on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The winner advances to the World Series, which will be held in Salem, Va. beginning next Thursday, May 21.