College softball: Harper eager to host Region IV tourney
Some might be fooled by fourth-seeded Harper College's 17-23 record in softball this spring.
The recent history, however, is pretty encouraging: The Hawks are 8-6 in their last 14 games and had a six-game win streak in a cluster of games between April 14 and 19.
More good news for the Hawks is that they'll be on their home field - where they are 9-4 this season - for this weekend's NJCAA Region IV softball championships.
The four-team, double-elimination tournament begins Saturday, with a champion scheduled to be decided Sunday.
"Could be a tournament nobody is expecting," said second-year Harper coach Scott Plaza.
The Hawks' tournament opener is against top-ranked Rock Valley College at noon Saturday. The Golden Eagles have outscored Harper 38-2 in two matchups this spring.
"Our biggest thing has been hurting ourselves," Plaza said of the matchup with Rock Valley. "If we limit the extra outs, we stand a chance."
Fifth-ranked College of DuPage (25-25) plays the session's first game, meeting No. 3 seed Joliet Juniior College (20-26) at 10 a.m.
The 2 p.m. Saturday contest will be the first elimination game of the event and will include the losers of the first two games.
Harper enters the weekend 1-4 against the other tournament qualifiers.
"Hopefully it's time for it to go our way," Plaza said.