CCC releases softball pairings as Endicott claims top seed

Release courtesy of Shannon O'Brien, CCC Assistant Commissioner

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Endicott will be the top seed for the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball championship, which begins with opening-round games on Saturday, April 27th.  The Gulls (18-18 overall) earned the top seed by virtue of their 17-1 conference record.

Endicott, second-seeded Roger Williams (18-18 overall, 14-4 CCC), third-seeded Western New England (23-16, 13-5) and fourth-seeded University of New England (21-14-1, 12-6) all earned byes directly into the double-elimination phase of the tournament.

A pair of single-elimination opening round games will take place Saturday.  Saturday's tournament action will include #5 seed Salve Regina (21-17, 11-7) hosting #8 seed Gordon (13-22, 4-14) at 1:00 p.m., and #6 seed Curry (22-16, 9-9)  hosting #7 seed Eastern Nazarene (10-23, 7-11) at 1:00 p.m.  The winners of Saturday's games will advance to the double-elimination phase of the tournament which is scheduled to begin Monday, April 29. 

The winner of the Curry vs. Eastern Nazarene contest will face #3 seed Western New England at 2:30 p.m. at Roger Williams.  The winner of that game will face the second-seeded Hawks 20 minutes after the end of the first game.

The winner of the Salve Regina vs. Gordon matchup will face #4 seed University of New England at 2:30 p.m. at Endicott.  The winner of that game will face the top-seeded Gulls 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

Tournament action will continue through the week, culminating with the championship game on Saturday, May 4. The CCC tournament champion will earn an automatic berth in the upcoming 2013 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

The complete tournament schedule appears below.

2013 CCC SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

PLAY-IN PHASE

Saturday, April 27th

Game 1 #8 Gordon at #5 Salve Regina 1:00 p.m.
Game 2 #7 Eastern Nazarene at #6 Curry 1:00 p.m.

DOUBLE ELIMINATION PHASE

Monday, April 29th

Game 3 Game 1 Winner vs. #4 Univ. of New England (at Endicott) 2:30 p.m.
Game 4 Game 2 Winner vs. #3 Western New England (at Roger Williams) 2:30 p.m.
Game 5 Game 3 Winner at #1 Endicott *
Game 6 Game 4 Winner at #2 Roger Williams *
* Games 5 and 6 begin 20 minutes following the completion of Games 3 and 4, respectively.

Thursday, May 2nd

Game 7 Game 3 Loser vs. Game 6 Loser – at Endicott) 2:30 p.m.
Game 8 Game 5 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser – at Gordon) 2:30 p.m.
Game 9 Game 5 Winner vs. Game 6 Winner – at Endicott) *
Game 10 Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Winner – at Gordon) *
** Games 9 and 10 begin 20 minutes following the completion of Games 7 and 8, respectively

Saturday, May 4th

Game 11 Game 10 Winner vs. Game 9 Loser – at highest remaining seed) 10:00 a.m.
Game 12 Game 11 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner – at Game 11 site) 12:00 p.m.
Game 13 — If Necessary 2:00 p.m.