HELENA – The Carroll College softball team arrived safe and sound Thursday in Ashland, Ore. for its return to the Cascade Conference tournament for the first time since 2016.
But as a No. 6 seed, the Saints will have a challenge on their hands Friday when they open up against the third-seeded Oregon Tech. It’s a challenge, though, that they have been building toward.
“We’re excited,” said head coach Aaron Jackson. “Anytime you get to the postseason it’s an exciting time. You’re back to 0-0. There is a lot to play for, there is a championship on the line, national tournament bid on the line, so it’s just great to have that opportunity to compete again and get another week of softball with this group.”
“We’re super excited. We had a plan coming into this season that it was going to be a restoration project from last year, because, obviously last season didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” said Saints junior Brittany Smith. “We came into this season with a new attitude to restore the team and restore what this program can do, and that’s what we did. We made it back to the place we wanted to get to at the end of the season, so we’re coming in with a great attitude and it couldn’t be better.”
Cascade Conference Tournament Schedule
Friday May 4
#4 Eastern Oregon vs. #5 British Columbia- 9 a.m.
#3 Oregon Tech vs # 6 Carroll College- 11:30 a.m.
#1 Southern Oregon vs. winner of game 1- 2 p.m.
#2 Corban vs. winner of game 2 – 4:30 p.m.
Saturday May 5
Game 5 @ 9:00 a.m. – Loser game 2 vs. Loser of game 3 (loser eliminated)
Game 6 @ 11:30 a.m. –Loser of game 1 vs. Loser of game 4 (loser eliminated)
Game 7 @ 2:00 p.m. – Winner game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Game 8 @ 4:30 p.m. – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6 (loser eliminated)
Sunday May 6
Game 9 @ 11:00 a.m. – Loser Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8 (loser eliminated)
Game 10 @ 1:30 p.m. – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 9 (championship)
Game 11 thirty minutes after completion of Game 10 if necessary
Monday May 7
Designated as makeup day if needed
