Ralph Wilson – Potomac State College
Keyser, W.Va. – The WVU Potomac State College softball team will be seeking to repeat as champions when they begin play in the 2022 NJCAA Division II Region 20 Softball Tournament on Thursday, May 12 at Anne Arundel Community College. The No. 1 seed Catamounts will face the No. 4 seeded host AACC Riverhawks at 2 pm.
Potomac State will be seeking a sixth Region 20 Championship, all in the last seven seasons played. The Catamounts won the tournament in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021. There was no tournament in 2020, Hagerstown Community College won the 2019 title.
The winner of this year's Region 20 Tournament receives a direct bid to the NJCAA DII Softball Championship, May 24-28 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
PSC enters the tournament on a 32-game win streak and an overall record of 38-2. Their last loss was a 6-4 result at the hands of Patrick Henry Community College on March 14 in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The Catamounts offense has blistered opponents pitching this year ranking them in the top ten nationally in several offensive categories. They carry a .393 team batting average into the tournament, 10th best in NJCAA DII. Their on-base percentage is .471 (8th ranked), slugging percentage .662 (5th ranked), runs scored are 432 (9th ranked) and runs batted in are 392 (7th ranked).
Maddie Anderson leads the team with a .495 batting average and 45 RBI. She also carries a .595 OBP and .889 slugging percentage to go with her 8 home runs.
Joining Anderson with batting averages of .400 or above are Jenna Burkhamer (.465), Madison Whetzel (.455), Simone Blanks (.452), Alexis Bailey (.440), Skylar Ross (.427) and Mia Kincaid (.400).
Blanks and Bailey share the team lead with 10 home runs each.
Brianne Stocks has pitched in dominating fashion to lead Potomac State. The sophomore righthander closed the regular season with an 18-0 record and a 1.55 ERA. She has recorded 137 strikeouts over 103.2 innings.
Stocks' teammate, Taylor Townsend has been every bit as effective in the circle for PSC. She enters post-season play with a 17-1 record, 2.48 ERA and 100 strikeouts of her own.
First Round - May 7th and 8th
Championship Round - May 12th through the 14th
Seeds:
#1 WVU Potomac State College Catamounts (38-2)
#2 Hagerstown Community College Hawks (23-12)
#3 Chesapeake College Skipjacks (24-9)
#4 Anne Arundel Community College Riverhawks (20-13)
#5 Howard Community College Dragons (7-22)
#6 Allegany College of Maryland (9-18)
Schedule
First Round @ Home of Higher Seed - Best 2 of 3 Format
Saturday, May 7, 2022
#1 Potomac State - BYE
#2 Hagerstown - Bye
#6 Allegany @ #3 Chesapeake (Chesapeake advances, 2-0 over ACM)
#5 Howard @ #4 Anne Arundel (Anne Arundel advances, 2-0 over Howard)
Sunday, May 8, 2022 - First Round Series Game 3 if necessary
Championship Round - All games at Anne Anrundel Community College - Arnold, MD
Thursday, May 12, 2022
Game 1 - 2 p.m. - #1 Potomac State vs Anne Arundel (PSC 3, AACC 0)
Game 2 - 4:30 p.m. - #2 Hagerstown vs Chesapeake (HCC 6, CS, 2)
Friday, May 13, 2022
Game 3 - 12 p.m. - Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2 (Potomac State vs Hagerstown)
Game 4 - 2:30 p.m. - Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 2 (Anne Arundel vs Chesapeake)
Game 5 - 5 p.m. - Loser Game 3 vs Winner Game 4
Saturday, May 14, 2022
Game 6 - 12 p.m. - Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 5
Game 7 - 2:30 p.m. - Game 6 Playback if Necessary
Live stats and streaming of all championship round games will be provided the Anne Arundel atheltics deaprtment. Tournament program available online.
Live stream link: https://www.youtube.com/aaccathletics
Live stats link: https://potomacst.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2021-22/schedule
Tournament program link: https://potomacst.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2021-22/SOFT_2022_Program.v2.pdf
Tournament Rules:
- The international tie breaker will be used in the top of 10th inning of a tied game.
- The higher seed in the Region 20 Softball Tournament is the home team for all games.
- All games will observe NCAA rules, including the 8 run rule after 5 innings of play.
- All umpires used in all games must be from fully accredited umpire associations and each umpire must be currently certified. Two (2) umpires must be used for games of all first round games, with three (3) umpires being used for all final four and championship games.
- The host college will provide an official scorer for all games.
- The championship game must be a complete 7 inning game; the 8 run rule will not be in effect.