Shaw Lady Bears In NCAA Tourney

For the first time in school history, the Shaw softball team will play in the NCAA Division II Mid-Atlantic Softball Tournament, May 8-11 in Shippensburg, PA. Shaw is one of six teams in the tournament and the winner of the tournament will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championship Series in Salem, Oregon, May 15-19.

The Lady Bears are the #6 seed in the tournament and the only team not from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Shaw's first game will be against California (Pa.) on Thursday at noon in the double-elimination tournament. If the Lady Bears win they will face #2 Bloomsburg on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. If the Lady Bears lose they will face the loser of #1 Shippensburg vs. #4 Kutztown/#5 Indiana (Pa.) on Friday May 9 at noon.

Shaw was an automatic selection by winning the CIAA Tournament Championship on April 30, 8-1 over Virginia State. Shaw is 30-12 on the season and is led by CIAA and CIAA Tournament MVP Shonda Welch, who is batting .354, has driven in 29 runs and leads the team in stolen bases (32). As a pitcher, she also has two wins on the season. The Lady Bears are also led by All-CIAA selections pitcher LaToya Martin (27-8), Branda Best (.410, 5 HR, 48 RBI) and CIAA Rookie of the Year Felicia Sprattley (.512, 6 HR, 58 RBI, .819 slugging percentage).

2003 NCAA DIVISION II MID-ATLANTIC REGION CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, MAY 8
Game #1, 10:00 a.m.        Kutztown (#4) vs. Indiana (Pa.) (#5)
Game #2, Noon              California (Pa.) (#3) vs. Shaw University (#6)
Game #3, 2:00 p.m.         Shippensburg (#1) vs. Winner of Game 1
Game #4, 4:00 p.m.         Bloomsburg (#2) vs. Winner of Game 2

FRIDAY, MAY 9
Game #5, 10:00  a.m.       Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 4
Game #6, Noon              Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 2
Game #7, 2:00 p.m.         Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Game #8, 4:00 p.m.         Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6

SATURDAY, MAY 10
Game #9, 11:00 a.m.        Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8
Game #10, 1:00 p.m.        Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9
Game #11, 3:00 p.m.        Necessary only if Winner Game 9 defeats Winner Game 7 in Game 10