College softball: Odessa College hopes for national title run

Odessa College softball coach Joel Prickett knew something had to change.

In his first two seasons, Prickett enjoyed quick success at the helm of the Lady Wranglers program, taking the team to the National Junior College Athletic Association national championships each season.

In 2005, Odessa College finished third at the national tournament and then added a fifth-place showing in 2006.

The past two seasons, however, the Lady Wranglers fell in the NJCAA Region V Tournament and didn't advance to the national stage. And it was the way they lost in 2008, to rival Midland College, that convinced Prickett that he had to reevaluate his coaching style.

Odessa College advanced to the regional championship game undefeated, while the Lady Chaparrals had to battle back through the consolation bracket. When Midland College won the first game to force the dreaded "if necessary" game, Prickett gathered his team together and spoke about the upcoming contest and what it meant.

"I put way too much pressure on them in that game," Pricket said. "I really learned a lesson right there about letting things happen instead of trying to force things.

"I should have just let them relax and get ready for the game instead of putting everything else in their heads."

Midland College came back to sweep the Lady Wranglers with a 10-inning victory, earning the trip to the national championships and leaving a bitter memory, but important lesson in Prickett's mind.

That's why today's game against Wabash Valley College of Mt. Carmel, Ill., is so satisfying for Prickett - it's the first round of the 2009 NJCAA National Championships at the Canyons Complex in St. George, Utah.

It's a game that Prickett wasn't sure his team would see as it went into this year's Region V tournament as the No. 3 seed. But a first-round victory over Clarendon College and then back-to-back victories against Midland College sent Odessa College to the national tournament for the third time in Prickett's five seasons with the team.

All this after the Lady Wranglers (35-26) had struggled through a roller-coaster season during tournament and WJCAC play, finally clinching a berth in the postseason on the penultimate day of the regular season.

A split with Clarendon College on the final day of the season gave Prickett reason to hope, but not get overconfident.

"I learned last year that these players are pretty resilient and pretty smart," Prickett said. "They have the ability to play at this level and I just needed to let them play.

"We work on a lot of things during practice and then when it comes to games, I've found myself backing off a little bit this year and just letting things happen, which is hard for me to do sometimes. And the team responded, especially in the regional."

Leading the response has been first baseman/designated player Louisa Stover of El Paso. She has team highs is batting average (.421), doubles (16), home runs (13), RBIs (55) and walks (31). Stover, who hits in the third spot in the lineup, has played well all season at first base with just eight errors in 300 chances.

"It's a great feeling to get to the national tournament," Stover said. "We wanted it just as bad last year, but weren't able to get here, so it means a lot

"We've had such and up and down year that Coach Prickett has been talking to us about just playing the game and not worrying about the opponent, that we have to take advantage of what we can do and things will work out for us. But it's great to have a chance to play in the national tournament and hopefully leave with a title for Odessa College."

Second baseman Alisha Carrasco, a Permian graduate, ranks just behind Stover in batting average (.417) and leads the team with 51 runs scored and 58 stolen bases, in 62 attempts.

Sarah Martinez and Angel Castro each have 14 doubles to back up Stover, with Castro adding 52 RBIs to the mix, as well.

In the circle, Katelyn Stanley and Hannah Dodson, of Alpine, have been the workhorses for the Lady Wranglers, combining for a 25-22 mark on the season.

Both pitchers, however, came up big for Odessa College over the final four games, with Dodson twice beating Clarendon and then Stanley earning the back-to-back victories against Midland College.

"I know it's a cliche, but we are playing well at the right time of the year," Prickett said. "All the teams are good, but I like the way we are playing."

2009 NJCAA Division I Fast Pitch National Championship

Thursday-Saturday

Canyons Complex

St. George, Utah

Thursday

Championship Bracket

11 a.m.

Game 1-No. 1 Yavapi College (Az.) (55-7) vs. No. 16 Darton College (Ga.) (34-9)

Game 2-No. 8 Odessa College (35-26) vs. No. 9 Wasbash Valley College (Ill.) (43-3)

Game 3-No. 5 Florida Community College-Jacksonville (44-18) vs. No. 12 Southeastern Community College (Iowa) (28-15)

Game 4-No. 4 Blinn College (53-9) vs. No. 13 North Central Texas College (46-16)

2 p.m.

Game 5-No. 3 Salt Lake Community College (Utah) vs. No. 14 Otero Junior College (Colo.) (26-20)

Game 6-No. 6 Spartanburg Methodist College (SC) (35-5) vs. No. 11 Seminole State College (Okla.) (49-10)

Game 7-No. 7 Gulf Coast Community College (Fla.) (37-20) vs. No. 10 Motlow State Community College  (Tenn.) (40-14)

Game 8-No. 2 Wallace State Community College (Ala.) (58-8) vs. Seward County Community College (Kan.) (38-14)

8 p.m.

Game 13-Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner

Game 14-Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner

Game 15-Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner

Game 16-Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner

Consolation Bracket

6 p.m.

Game 9-Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser

Game 10-Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser

Game 11-Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser

Game 12-Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser

Friday

Championship Bracket

1 p.m.

Game 21-Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner

Game 22-Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner

8 p.m.

Game 27-Game 21 winner vs. Game 22 winner

Consolation Bracket

11 a.m.

Game 17-Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 loser

Game 18-Game 11 winner vs. Game 14 loser

Game 19-Game 10 winner vs. Game 15 loser

Game 20-Game 9 winner vs. Game 16 loser

1 p.m.

Game 23-Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner

Game 24-Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner

4 p.m.

Game 25-Game 23 winner vs. Game 22 loser

Game 26-Game 24 winner vs. Game 21 loser

Saturday

Championship

2 p.m.

Game 30-Game 27 winner vs. Game 29 winner

Game 31-Game 30 winner vs. Game 30 loser (if necessary)

Consolation Bracket

10 a.m.

Game 28-Game 25 winner vs. Game 26 winner

Noon

Game 29-Game 28 winner vs. Game 27 loser