Rochester, MN-
The Itasca Community College Vikings fastpitch softball team battled through the Minnesota College Athletic Conference Northern Division regular season and post-season tournament to capture the 2018 NJCAA Region XIIIB crown, defeating top-seeded host Central Lakes College in Brainerd last week. In doing so, the Vikings earmed the right to set sail south for their next - and last stop - in the 2018 NJCAA Division III softball season.
To earn a national championship, Itasca will once again have to produce some upsets, as the NJCAA Division III Softball Committee seeded the Vikings #8 for the upcoming 2018 NJCAA Division III Softball National Championship Tournament, where they will open with top seed, Herkimer Community College.
Head coach Kyle Erickson and his ICC team have been here before however - as recently as last spring - when Itasca played their way to the 2017 Region XIIIB title and booked a trip to the 2017 national tournament. And, as in 2017, Itasca will enjoy a bit of home field advantage, as the 2018 National Championships are hosted by Rochester Sports and MCAC member school Rochester Community & Technical College on May 17-19.
For more information on the tournament site, host and important contacts, please be sure to visit: https://www.rochestermnsports.org/2018njcaad3softball
For the 2018 NJCAA Division III Softball National Championships Twitter Feed, be sure to follow Follow @RochesterSports
About Softball in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference:The Minnesota College Athletic Conference boasts a strong tradition in fastpitch softball; multiple decades of intercollegiate NJCAA competition has allowed student-athletes in the MCAC to pursue careers at four-year college programs and compete for National Championships. Currently, MCAC Softball teams compete in a two-division alignment. Northern Division teams include Hibbing Community College, Itasca Community College, Mesabi Range College, Rainy River Community College, Central Lakes College, Northland Community & Technical College. The Southern Division is home to St. Cloud Technical & Community College, Ridgewater College, M State Fergus Falls, Anoka-Ramsey CC, Minnesota West CTC, Riverland Community College and Rochester Community & Technical College. At the conclusion of the 2018 spring season, MCAC Division Champions and Divisional runner-up, as well as third and fourth-place finishing teams, will advance to the 2018 NJCAA Division III Region XIIIA and B Tournaments. The Region XIII A & B Tournaments will be hosted by the regular season champion. Winners of the 2018 NJCAA Region XIII A & B tournaments will advance to the 2018 NJCAA Division III National Tournament, held in Rochester, Minnesota on May 17-19. Softball in the MCAC features athletes from over Minnesota and many surrounding states. Our campus environments include the opportunity to attend college and compete in a variety of Minnesota State System colleges, from the urban hubs of the Twin Cities, Rochester, and St. Cloud, and the picturesque college towns ranging from Thief River Falls to Ely, Worthington to Brainerd. Learn more at: http:/www.minnstate.edu This release sponsored in part by:
Gopher Sport, based in Owatonna, is an industry leader in Physical Education, sports and fitness equipment. Gopher Sport is dedicated to providing programs and departments with the products to improve fitness, develop skills, create fun and reach a high standard of learning and living. Gopher Sport has diligently served teachers, coaches and athletic directors around the world for over 65 years. About the Minnesota College Athletic ConferenceThe Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs. |
