NCAA SOFTBALL SUPER REGIONAL
PREDICTIONS AND WCWS PICKS
The Women's College World Series is fast approaching with 16 softball teams participating in the super regional round of the NCAA Tournament, all two wins away from a trip to Oklahoma City to play for the national championship. But only eight can make it. The winners in the best-ofthree super regionals on campus sites will advance to the WCWS. So which eight will make it? Experts who cover softball for the USA TODAY Sports Network have picked the super regional winners and the eventual WCWS champion. Here are their picks:
Tallahassee Super Regional Georgia at Florida State
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Florida State Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Florida State Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Florida State Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Florida State Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Florida State Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Florida State Christina Long, Greenville News: Florida State Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Florida State Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Florida State
Stillwater Super Regional Oregon at Oklahoma State
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Oregon Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Oregon Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Oregon Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma State Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Oregon Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma State Christina Long, Greenville News: Oklahoma State Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Oklahoma State Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Oregon Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma State
Norman Super Regional Clemson at Oklahoma
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Oklahoma Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Oklahoma Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Oklahoma Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Oklahoma Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma Christina Long, Greenville News: Oklahoma Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Oklahoma Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Oklahoma Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma
Durham Super Regional Stanford at Duke
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Stanford Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Stanford Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Stanford Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Stanford Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Duke Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Stanford Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Stanford Christina Long, Greenville News: Stanford Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Stanford Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Stanford Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Stanford
Tuscaloosa Super Regional Northwestern at Alabama
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Alabama Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Alabama Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Alabama Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Alabama Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Alabama Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Northwestern Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Alabama Christina Long, Greenville News: Northwestern Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Alabama Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Alabama Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Northwestern
Knoxville Super Regional Texas at Tennessee
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Tennessee Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Tennessee Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Tennessee Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Texas Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Tennessee Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Tennessee Christina Long, Greenville News: Tennessee Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Tennessee Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Tennessee Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Texas
Seattle Super Regional Louisiana at Washington
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Washington Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Louisiana Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Louisiana Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Louisiana Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Washington Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Washington Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Washington Christina Long, Greenville News: Louisiana Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Washington Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Louisiana Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Louisiana
Salt Lake City Super Regional San Diego State at Utah
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Utah Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Utah Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Utah Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Utah Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: San Diego State Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: San Diego State Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: San Diego State Christina Long, Greenville News: Utah Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: San Diego State Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Utah Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Utah
Women’s College World Series
Ryan Aber, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma. With UCLA out of the field, the number of teams that could even seriously push the Sooners for multiple games shrinks even more. The Sooners' pitching depth is the primary reason why it's hard to see anyone beating the Sooners over a series. Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Florida State. The Seminoles tasted a little bit of adversity during regionals and came through went it mattered. That'll be all the lift FSU needs as Kathryn Sandercock and company have shown they can push through en route to emerging victorious in Oklahoma City. Maxwell Donaldson, Tuscaloosa News: Oklahoma. The Sooners are still the safe bet to win the softball title, and nothing happened in the regional round that should change that thought process. Cora Hall, Knoxville News Sentinel: Oklahoma. The Sooners showed no signs of slowing down in their regional, recording run-rule wins in every game. There are other legitimate contenders still in the mix, but none as well-rounded as Oklahoma, and it's hard to imagine this season doesn't end in a three-peat. Thomas Jones, Austin American-Statesman: Oklahoma. The Sooners entered the tournament as the heavy favorite to win a third straight title, and they did nothing to change anyone's opinion in the first round. Oklahoma tied a NCAA Tournament record with six home runs in a 16-3 win over California in the regional final and outscored its three regional foes 38-3. Ehsan Kassim, Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State. The Seminoles exorcised their demons by overcoming last season's upset loss at the hands of Mississippi State. Ace Kathryn Sandercock is hitting her stride at the right time, and freshman sensation Makenna Reid has improved as the season continues. Ainslie Lee, The Gainesville Sun: Oklahoma. The NCAA's regional round had a ton of drama. That is, with the exception of the Norman Regional, where the hometown Sooners outscored their opponents 38-3. Simply put, no one is playing better softball than Oklahoma right now. Christina Long, Greenville News: Oklahoma. The Sooners are the most complete team in the field, and they have a deep pitching staff built for the postseason. They've won 46 straight, and it's hard to imagine anyone stopping them now. Tyler Tachman, Indianapolis Star: Florida State. Picking Oklahoma might be the safe option, but don't sleep on Florida State. The Seminoles won the ACC regular-season and tournament championships, plus they have the league's pitcher and coach of the year. Jack Williams, Tallahassee Democrat: Oklahoma. Still standing by the Sooners to win it all this spring. They've outscored their opposition 38-3 over three games and none of those games went over six innings. So far, they've been unchallenged. Scott Wright, The Oklahoman: Oklahoma. The Sooners' regional domination did nothing to detract from their status as the far-and-away favorite in this tournament. Whether it's hitting, pitching or fielding, this team remains elite at everything it does.