The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the official seeds and bracket for the 2016 NAIA Softball World Series, including host and #7 seed Morningside.
The 10-team, double-elimination event takes place from May 27 – June 2 at the Elizabeth & Irving Jensen Softball Complex in Sioux City, Iowa. The City of Sioux City and Morningside College serve as official hosts for the second-straight year.
Two-time defending national champion Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) claims the No. 2 seed in the World Series and will face the winner of No. 7 seed and host school Morningside (Iowa) (47-8) and No. 10 Webber International (Fla.) (30-14) Saturday, May 28 at 4 p.m. CDT. The Warhawks carry a 13-6 postseason record into their fifth World Series.
The Warhawks (51-6) are the only repeat qualifier from the 2015 event.
Top seed Oklahoma City (61-2), who awaits the winner of the No. 8 Marian (Ind.) (47-10) / No. 9 Williams Baptist (Ark.) (38-19) match-up on May 28 at 7 p.m., boasts a few NAIA World Series records, including most titles (8), most victories (114) and most appearances (29th). The Stars will be appearing in their 24th World Series in the last 25 years. Oklahoma City won its third National Championship Opening Round in the last four years with a 10-2 triumph over Houston-Victoria (Texas) today.
Besides Oklahoma City, the other nine participants will be competing in their seventh-or-less World Series. No. 4 Saint Xavier (Ill.) (43-8-1) and No. 3 St. Gregory’s (Okla.) (46-5) each are playing in their seventh event.
No. 6 Southeastern (Fla.) (42-14) is the lone newcomer in the 10-team field. The Fire were the top seed in the Davenport (Mich.) Opening Round Bracket and rattled off three-straight wins to punch their first-ever World Series ticket. Southeastern is competing in just its fourth year as a softball program.
Amongst teams who have previously qualified, Marian is snapping the longest World Series drought, with its last appearance back in 2003.
St. Gregory’s currently owns the longest NAIA active season-winning streak with 13-straight victories. The Cavaliers went 3-0 to win the St. Gregory’s Opening Round Bracket. Morningside is next in line as the Mustangs sport an eight-game streak.
The other team in the pool is No. 10 Simpson (Calif.), who qualified after winning the Simpson Opening Round Bracket. With a 43-5 overall record, the Red Hawks won the California Pacific Conference regular-season title.
