The 2025 DII softball championship is upon us. The eight areas toss their first pitches on Might 8 for a weekend of double-elimination regional motion resulting in tremendous regional play, which in the end lands eight groups in Frost Stadium at Warner Park in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the finals.
Which eight groups are going to be there? Nicely, the great thing about sports activities is we do not know. It is not all the time reduce and dry; the most effective groups do not all the time advance. Final 12 months, 4 No. 1 seeds did make up half the finals area, however there have been additionally two No. 4 seeds and a No. 3 seed that made it. In 2023, we noticed sixth-seeded Cal State San Marcos make all of it the best way to the finals.
Let’s check out the workforce with the most important goal on their again in every area, in addition to a sleeper choose that will simply have the momentum to sneak by.
Breaking down the DII softball championship bracket
Atlantic Area
Staff to beat: East Stroudsburg. The Warriors are the No. 1 seed right here, and water is moist. East Stroudsburg has been the No. 1 seed within the Atlantic Area three years in a row, and although it was shocked within the regionals final 12 months, the Warriors captured their first-ever Atlantic crown in 2023. This 12 months, they received their first PSAC event title since 1980. They have not seen Bowie State, their first-round opponent, this 12 months, however they swept West Chester and cut up with Shippensburg, in order that they have some familiarity earlier than they get to tremendous regionals.
Staff to observe: Charleston (WV). The Golden Eagles snuck by final 12 months because the No. 3 seed, and this 12 months are a No. 7. The chances are in opposition to them, particularly having to face Kutztown, however what they did within the MEC event was spectacular. After shedding their first sport, they bounced again and received the MEC, just about in dominating style. When you might have a pitcher like Addison Mass in a short-tourney format, you go into it with an edge. She’ll need to pitch at her finest, which she was within the MEC event, permitting simply 4 runs in her closing 5 video games.
Central Area
Staff to beat: Augustana (SD). In three of the previous 4 seasons, the No. 1 seed has emerged from the Central to advance to the finals. These Vikings have been certainly one of them in 2021, and so was present No. 1 seed Central Oklahoma — making the Bronchos a workforce to observe. Nonetheless, the Vikings have earned the correct to all the time be the workforce to beat right here. They received all of it in 2019, have been the No. 1 seed in 2021 and superior again to the finals final 12 months because the No. 4 seed. That is a formidable five-year resume. Oh, additionally they enter the event on 21-game successful streak.
Staff to observe: Southern Arkansas. Central Oklahoma is the simple choose to observe. The Bronchos have been a top-10 workforce for what appears to be the previous decade. So, sure, they’re a workforce to each watch and beat, however let’s give attention to the Muleriders right here. They personal the longest successful streak of the season in DII softball this 12 months (27 wins from Feb. 28-April 15) and are 7-2 in opposition to event groups with wins in opposition to Augustana, Missouri Southern and Harding on this a part of the bracket.
East Area
Staff to beat: Wilmington (DE). The Wildcats have received the final two East Area titles and because the No. 2 seed are lined as much as do it once more. They’ve additionally been up to now three East Area tremendous regional collection, so this program is aware of how one can win. Each of their beginning pitchers — Kylee Gunkel and Delani Sheehan — have been on the East Area championship squads, and that form of expertise within the circle offers the Wildcats the sting.
Staff to observe: Tempo. Nicely, no kidding, the Setters are the No. 1 seed. Nonetheless, what makes them so robust is pitcher Gisselle Garcia, who can completely dominate this a part of the bracket. She is certainly one of a number of Tempo pitchers that had the Setters entrance and heart within the breakdown of DII’s finest pitching staffs in April.
Midwest Area
Staff to beat: Saginaw Valley State. The Midwest is a area the place we usually see the No. 1 or 2 seed advance, and that is often due to the big variety of recent faces annually. SVSU is in acquainted territory on the heels of its fourth-straight GLIAC title and in prime place to dominate this portion of the bracket. Having Macy Irelan is the circle positively helps.
Staff to observe: UIndy. It is not the way you begin, however the way you end. It was a bumpy season for the Greyhounds, however right here they’re as soon as once more proper within the thick of issues in Might. They closed the season by splitting a collection with Lewis after which defeating Drury alongside the best way to a GLVC event championship. This workforce is event examined for a very long time and will very properly shock this weekend.
South Area
Staff to beat: Auburn Montgomery. Tampa is an excellent softball workforce and deserving of the No. 1 seed. Nonetheless, AUM has made two tremendous regionals up to now three years, and this pitching workers might make it back-to-back this 12 months. With one of many prime rotations in DII, the Warhawks can be fueled by that dramatic loss within the Gulf South event, through which they misplaced a two-run lead in walk-off style within the seventh inning.
Staff to observe: West Florida. Once more, do not sleep on this Tampa workforce; Mariah Galhouse and the gang are maybe the scariest group within the circle on this portion of the bracket. However there is no such thing as a query you’re watching the No. 1 seed already. As an alternative, let’s level to the Argos, who’re within the event for the primary time since 2021 and within the nationwide rankings for the primary time since 2022. Coming off that walk-off win could give them surprising momentum… or took every thing out of them.
South Central Area
Staff to beat: UT Tyler. That is clearly probably the most tough area to choose a winner. Each the Patriots and West Texas A&M are within the prime 3 of DII softball. The Buffs haven’t solely among the many finest pitching staffs, however they’ve certainly one of — if not probably the most — explosive offenses as properly. However UT Tyler is simply as spectacular in all points and often is the most well-rounded workforce within the event. They have been a favourite to repeat as nationwide champions again in February and nothing has modified. They only defeated the Buffs 13-2 within the LSC championship, and once more, the Buffs are the No. 3 nationally ranked workforce in DII.
Staff to observe: West Texas A&M. See above. The Buffs are No. 3 within the NFCA ballot and it could be too low. This workforce can flat out rake and has the pitching to maintain runs off the board. There are some actually good groups on this area, however I do not know the way any of them get previous West Texas A&M and UT Tyler to advance.
Southeast Area
Staff to beat: North Georgia. Francis Marion is a good squad, however that is the Nighthawks’ nation. North Georgia has reached the tremendous regionals in each season for the reason that canceled 2020 event, has reached the finals thrice and received all of it in 2023. The Nighthawks have among the finest gamers within the nation in Carleigh Knowles and have a potent offense that ought to make it a troublesome workforce to beat.
Staff to observe: Lenoir-Rhyne. Once more, the Patriots are a unbelievable workforce, ranked No. 2 in DII softball, sit at 49-4 and captured their third-straight Convention Carolinas event championship. In fact you’ll be watching them. However do not sleep on the Bears. They’re the defending Southeast Area champs and are contemporary off one other SAC championship, getting into the DII regionals on a 10-game successful streak.
West Area
Staff to beat: Western Washington. Good luck selecting a winner right here. There was a unique champion yearly since 2017. On prime of that, some are No. 1 seeds, like Western Washington final 12 months, and a few are No. 6 seeds like Cal State San Marcos. So, let’s go along with No. 4 Western Washington to repeat. No. 1 Cal State East Bay simply misplaced two in a row in an early exit from the CCAA event, so it could have a chip on the shoulder. Nonetheless, the Vikings have the expertise to navigate a tough area.
Groups to observe: San Francisco State and Sonoma State. That is extra so of the storyline than the expertise, which there’s loads of. Sonoma State is chopping its athletics applications heading into 2025-26 and whereas the Gators’ softball program will nonetheless be alive subsequent season, a number of applications — together with their baseball brethren — have been reduce. These two colleges are enjoying for far more than a trophy.
