Schedule Changes
- Rock Valley & Labette have moved to field 6 with first pitch at 1:30 p.m. (3/10 – 12:40 p.m.)
- All originally scheduled 9 a.m. games have been moved to 8 p.m. and will remain on the same fields.
- 12:30 p.m. games will be the first of the day (originally 11:30 a.m. games)
- Saturday’s start time has been moved to 10 a.m. with following games at 12:30 p.m., 3 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.
Updated Schedule (as of 3/10 – 9:25 a.m.)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Highlighted by a pair of 2016 national champions and two more nation.al runner-ups, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association sets its sights on hosting the 2017 Division II Leadoff Classic this weekend in Columbus, Ga. The 22-team field descends on the South Commons Complex, home of the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal Game, for three days (March 10-12) of round-robin action.
Programs from all three NJCAA divisions, including Division II title holder LSU Eunice and runner-up Jones County Junior College, three-time Division III champion Rock Valley College and Division I runner-up Chipola College, are represented this weekend.
In all, 11 teams reached their respective division’s 2016 national tournament and nine programs are nationally ranked, including five from Division II- No. 1 Jones County (11-0), No. 2 LSU Eunice (28-6), No. 5 Kirkwood (10-0), No. 6 Des Moines Area (10-1) and No. 19 CCBC Catonsville- entering this weekend. Representing Division I are No. 2 Chipola (30-1), No. 9 Midland (14-3) and No. 16 Shelton State (15-3). Additionally, Rock Valley (9-1) is the current top-ranked team in Division III.
Featured games heading into the weekend open Friday with a DI battle between Chipola and Shelton State and a DII matchup, Kirkwood versus CCBC. Saturday heats up with four nationally-ranked matchups, highlighted by three Division II top-six contests. The fifth-ranked Eagles clashing with the top-ranked Bobcats and the second-ranked Bengals, while Jones also goes toe-to-toe with Des Moines Area. In Division I, the second-ranked Indians play the ninth-ranked Lady Chaparrals, along with a crossover tilt between 16th-ranked (DI) Shelton State and 19th-ranked (DII) CCBC. Wrapping up ranked contests on Sunday is the No. 6 Bears and No. 19 Cardinals.
Friday kicks off at 10 a.m., while the Saturday and Sunday start time will be at 9 a.m.
For links to teams, scores and other pertinent information check out our Tournament Central page HERE.