My 2023 Softball Regional Predictions
(This is my first softball article be nice)
Tomorrow the postseason starts for softball in a quest to see, let’s be honest, who can keep Oklahoma from hoisting the trophy a third time in a row. I think there are a handful of teams that can get that job done, but make no mistake that’s going to be the elephant in the room going into MAYhem. As for the regionals? Well, some may be harder to predict than others and with so many upsets happening this year including multiple in the top 10, some seeds may not be as safe as their fan bases might want them to think. That said, if you have read my writing before you know I’m prone to diatribe so let’s just get into it!
Norman Regional
Oklahoma (1)
Missouri
California
Hofstra
While I think Oklahoma makes it out of this regional unscathed, they might get a challenge at least from two teams in Mizzou and Cal that have been ranked at some point this season and won’t be phased having played against top competition all year. The committee didn’t do the Sooners any favors, but they really shouldn’t have any problems making it out of this regional.
Champion: Oklahoma
Los Angeles Regional
UCLA (2)
San Diego State
Liberty
Grand Canyon
Phew boy if I’m the Bruins I might write a formal complaint to the committee. Not really, but there are no easy outs for a team that’s the number two overall seed. The 4 seed Grand Canyon had 40 wins this season scoring runs for fun and Liberty almost beat UCLA earlier this season. While I do think the Bruins will come out of this regional, this isn’t the free pass you’d expect a two seed to maybe inherit. If UCLA sleeps at any point during their regional, they could get caught out.
Champion: UCLA
Tallahassee Regional
Florida State (3)
UCF
South Carolina
Marist
Florida State might have a bone to pick too. But they should always expect to be paired with UCF and the like if the Knights are not hosting. The Seminoles were one of those top 10 teams to get knocked off earlier this year by someone who isn’t even in the tournament, so I don’t expect them to take this lightly. That said whoever wins between UCF and South Carolina will have no fear facing off against FSU. But at the end of the day I expect Sandercock and crew to make it through this time and move on to Supers.
Champion: Florida State
Knoxville Regional
Tennessee (4)
Louisville
Indiana
Northern Kentucky
Tennessee has been stellar all year being one of the most consistent teams. Louisville and Indiana are fun, entertaining teams, but Tennessee has quality all over the field and could be one of the teams that can knock off Oklahoma in the WCWS should they make it that far. This regional should be fun, but I’m not expecting any surprises.
Champion: Tennessee
Tuscaloosa Regional
Alabama (5)
Middle Tennessee
Central Arkansas
LIU
We need not beat around the bush here. This regional may hinge on whether or not Montana Fouts will be stepping into the circle this weekend. If she can go, Alabama is the favorite. If not, Central Arkansas absolutely has the pitching to take it to the Tide. I do not like qualifying a prediction based on injury, but I do think Alabama will make it out of this regional, with the team rallying and Fouts making a return. I do think it takes a final game against Central Arkansas though.
Champion: Alabama
Stillwater Regional
Oklahoma State (6)
Nebraska
Wichita State
UMBC
Oklahoma State when right can beat any team in the country. That said, Oklahoma State has lost 11 of its last 13 games. Perhaps this break before postseason play was exactly what they needed to get right. That said, Nebraska has great pitching and Wichita State has already beaten Oklahoma State this year. If you have watched the Shockers this year, seeing them as a 3 seed would surprise you, which is why I have a feeling they’re going to have an upset on their mind and take this regional, not knowing which Oklahoma State team we’re gonna get.
Champion: Wichita State
Seattle Regional
Washington (7)
McNeese
Minnesota
Northern Colorado
Washington has just been up there all season minding their own business honing their craft for a deep postseason run. After visibly being upset about not being seeded last year, the Huskies left no doubt for the committee this year. Minnesota and McNeese won’t be intimidated going up to Seattle, but I just don’t think they have what it takes to come out of this regional and Washington has the WCWS in their sights.
Champion: Washington
Durham Regional
Duke (8)
Campbell
Charlotte
George Mason
First, I have to shout out (one of) my hometown teams in George Mason for making their first postseason tournament! Now that we have that out of the way, that’s about as far as it’ll go for them. Campbell and Charlotte will not be intimidated by Duke at all and in fact, the 49ers have the pitching that could cause the Blue Devils some problems should they win their game against Campbell. That said, Duke is the most talented and has been the most consistent team in this regional all year. I expect that to continue.
Champion: Duke
Stanford Regional
Stanford (9)
Loyola Marymount
Florida
Long Beach State
What to do with the Cardinal of Stanford and their outstanding pitching…If that is consistent then this regional is a wrap. Florida even with their slightly underwhelming season as a 3 seed does throw a wrench into the mix here, but can we count on the Gators who while obviously incredibly talented, have been inconsistent this year. Stanford is at home and I expect that pitching to carry them through to the next round to set up a match up of perhaps the highest combined GPA in Super Regional history.
Champion: Stanford
Baton Rouge Regional
LSU (10)
Omaha
Louisiana
Prairie View
Louisiana should have been hosting a regional and the fact that they aren’t says a lot about the biases that go into the decisions made in the postseason. Their snubbing reminds me of JMU in 2019 that went to Michigan unseeded and beat the Wolverines in that regional. Now that we have that out of the way, LSU better PRAY Omaha beats Louisiana. Omaha is capable but I do think the Ragin’ Cajuns are the more complete team. LSU and Louisiana split the season series with each team winning away from home. The atmosphere is going to be rocking and tense. But I just see Louisiana super pissed to have to go to LSU yet again for another postseason regional, and pulling it out. The Cajuns are motivated, and we can just pour some more lighter fluid onto that in state rivalry.
Champion: Louisiana
Fayetteville Regional
Arkansas (11)
Notre Dame
Oregon
Harvard
Given some of the regionals from higher ranked teams, I think Arkansas can be reasonably happy with the draw they have gotten. Notre Dame has looked impressive this year and Oregon is quite capable of knocking off a seed, but the Razorbacks have come into their own and I expect their pitching to get the job done in this one. I also believe they will have a significant home field advantage throughout the weekend.
Champion: Arkansas
Evanston Regional
Northwestern (12)
Miami (Ohio)
Kentucky
Eastern Illinois
Given the way the season started out, Northwestern should be very pleased to be hosting what is a deserved regional, and with a pretty favorable draw. The wild card here is Kentucky and whether or not Stephanie Schoonover will be able to toss a few valiant efforts. I’m really not in the business of predicting injury recoveries, and I do think that regardless, Northwestern has enough to take this regional to move on to Supers.
Champion: Northwestern
Austin Regional
Texas (13)
Texas State
Texas A&M
Seton Hall
Austin has a very spicy regional with three teams that will all think they have a legitimate chance to get out. The Texas schools have all been ranked at some point throughout the season and have also played one another. What it will come down to for me is what kind of superhuman effort Jessica Mullins can put together for Texas State. If she’s on, all bets are off. That said, I do think Texas will take this one but they will have to do so with very sweaty palms.
Champion: Texas
Athens Regional
Georgia (14)
Boston University
Virginia Tech
N.C. Central
Shout out to North Carolina Central winning a MEAC that had 3 teams that most would have picked to head to the postseason instead of the Eagles. If I am not mistaken they are also the only team in the field with an overall losing record. They have no shot in this regional, but that still doesn’t mean there’s no storylines. Georgia can score as many points as their football team, and I’d imagine they weren’t expecting to be a back end seed going into the season. Pitching ace Emma Lemley for Virginia Tech has the ability to shut down any offense, so long as she can keep the ball in the park. Boston University is the biggest wild card. What does this 40 win team bring to the table? Time will tell but my gut tells me Georgia just scores endless runs in this regional.
Champion: Georgia
Salt Lake City Regional
Utah (15)
Ole Miss
Baylor
Southern Illinois
Throw a dart at a board and you have as good of a chance of picking who comes out of this bracket. Utah has home advantage and is battle tested, Ole Miss has shown they can hang with anyone, Baylor is the only team to beat Oklahoma this year. So. Who wants to pick for me? I genuinely don’t know for this one but something for some reason tells me it will come down to the Utes and the Bears. And I’m going to go with the Bears and their pitching.
Champion: Baylor
Clemson Regional
Clemson (16)
Cal State Fullerton
Auburn
UNC Greensboro
If you told me Clemson would be a 16 seed at the start of the season I would have laughed in your face. But, the Tigers have been off their game a little bit lately. Those other Tigers, Auburn, probably feel like they should have had a seed themselves, especially considering how rival Alabama is a 5 seed and Auburn won the season series. Then let’s just throw Cal State Fullerton in for fun, a team that was knocking off ranked teams left and right to start off the year. I think it will come down to the aces of Auburn and Clemson, but I think home field advantage plays a huge role in this one. Sorry to rub it in Auburn.
Champion: Clemson
Well, that was fun, and I can’t wait to be wrong! But I don’t write this to be right (though that would be amazing), I do it because I love the sports and MAYhem is my March Madness now. Can’t wait for first pitches tomorrow and look for Super Regional previews next week!