Regional Bracket (PDF)
Online Bracket
MARYVILLE – The Scots are in!
It will be unranked Maryville against three ranked but familiar Southern powers when the NCAA Division III Softball Montgomery Regional starts Thursday. The Scots were selected as an at-large entry after posting a program-record for wins and sweeping their way through the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament.
That event also took place at Huntingdon in Montgomery on the very same field hosting the regional, so the Scots have four recent victories from which to build as they prepare for Thursday's matchup against No. 6-ranked Berry. In fact, Maryville is 7-0 in its last seven tournament games played on the Huntingdon field.
The Scots and Vikings play Thursday at noon Central time.
Maryville Has Played All Three Teams
Not only have the Scots already faced Berry this year, but they've played the two other potential opponents as well in 2024. Also in the regional field in Montgomery are the host Hawks at No. 14 and Transylvania at No. 22. Those teams play Thursday at 2:30 p.m. Central.
"We are the only team in this regional that has played everybody in it," Maryville head coach
Jill Moore said. "We are going to prepare for one team at a time, one day at a time, but we are excited. It's going to give us familiarity with our opponents.
"And we are on a familiar field. They have a great facility, and it will be our fourth time there in the last 13 months. It is a wonderful place to play, and we are excited to go back – almost like we never left."
Maryville enters with a 33-11 record, which set the program high mark for victories after the Scots closed the season with 16 wins in their last 18 games. Included was a 10-game winning streak and then four big victories at the CCS Softball Tournament. The last two came over then-No. 6-ranked Belhaven.
Now the Scots face another team ranked sixth in the nation in Berry. Maryville lost 3-1 and 10-2 in Rome way back on Feb. 13. They won 8-1 and 7-6 against Transy in Lexington on March 19, and then lost 2-1 and 7-6 at Huntingdon on March 23. Maryville did not face Huntingdon at the CCS Softball Tournament on the Huntingdon field.
Berry enters at 41-4, while Huntingdon is 33-6 and Transylvania 34-8.
After the Thursday doubleheader, three games are scheduled for Friday and then the championship round begins Saturday at 11 a.m. Central time.
Great Feeling to Earn NCAA Spot
Maryville has been idle since winning the CCS tournament crown May 4 in a 6-5 thriller over Belhaven.
"The break was needed; it came at a really good time," Moore said. "Rest and recovery are so important in our sport, especially after how hot it was the last time we were in Alabama. We played in it and got acclimated to it – that's going to help us too.
"We got back to practice Thursday and got back into the weight room. The girls were focused, they were ready, and then today our name popped up."
Moore said she hoped her team had earned the opportunity, and they did.
"When our name was called today, it was an unbelievable feeling for this team to know we have been recognized for the hard work and for what we have done this season," Moore said. "We earned it, and it felt good."
