Crowder Softball ready for game against Iowa Western at Midwest District Championships

NEOSHO, MO — After winning a Region 16 tournament championship last weekend, the Crowder Softball team is now preparing for the next stop on its journey, the Midwest District Championship.

The Crowder Roughriders are set to take on the Iowa Western Community College River Pirates.

This will be a best of 2 of 3 series, with games one and two being played Saturday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and game three being played Sunday, if necessary.

Crowder comes into this one with a 44-19 record, while Iowa Western 23-18.

The winner of this series will advance to the 2024 NJCAA Division I Softball World Series in Oxford, Alabama.

Crowder enters the contest with a lot of confidence having won his last 7 matches.

Can they continue their success this weekend in Iowa? We discussed with the team what it will take to continue this success.

Sophomore Mazzi Jones said, “I think to be successful against them, we’re going to need a lot of good defense. Looks like they can hit the ball pretty well. And I think it’s going to be a hit-a-thon. I think we’re going to have to go up there, hit the ball like them. We’re going to have to play good defense like them. We’re just going to have to be a little better with them.”

Sophomore Laynee Tapp said, “Being together. Play as one. No “I” in the team. Knowing that you’re playing for your whole team and not just yourself and just having fun remembering that it’s just a game at the end of the day.”

Head coach Josh Barnes said, “Man, I obviously don’t make mistakes, I throw well, but I really, really attack offensively. If we can stand out offensively and be one of those teams, those guys play from behind, I think things are going to happen for us.”