After a month of play at THE Spring Games, where Division I programs frequently stole the show, it’s time to give the smaller schools some love.

There’s plenty of them and enough attention to go around, too.

Even though games involving Division I teams ends this week at this year’s Spring Games, the world’s largest college softball tournament continues throughout the month of March with matchups featuring schools from the Division II, Division III and NAIA/junior college ranks in sunny Florida.

With contenders and strong teams (relevant to their levels) dotted throughout the remainder of THE Spring Games schedule, it’s important to note that just because a lot of the well-known names have left, it doesn’t mean all of the elite softball has gone away with them.

Here’s a look at the matchups to check out at THE Spring Games this week, with all games being streamed live on FloSoftball.

NOTE: All game times are listed in Eastern Time and are subject to change.

Division II

Indianapolis Vs. Bentley, Thursday at 11:15 a.m.

UIndy has won 11 of its last 12 games, and the first half of its eight-game stay in Florida (with four games played over the weekend) largely was a success.

The Greyhounds were 3-1 over the weekend, including a pair of mercy-rule victories over Minnesota-Crookston and D’Youville, to improve to 19-3 on the year (as of Monday evening).

The second half of UIndy’s time at THE Spring Games begins with a doubleheader Tuesday.

We may be biased, but she’s the best to ever do it! 🐐

Congratulations, Coach Frost! #ONEHOUND https://t.co/EHvdueoQIM

— UIndy Softball (@UIndySoftball) March 13, 2023

Having won 48 games a year ago as a frequent face at the NCAA Tournament, Indianapolis is widely expected to be dangerous in Division II once again, and with five players slugging over .500 at the moment – including a superb true freshman, infielder Shelby Cook (.409 average, .682 slugging, 17 RBIs in 22 games), there’s plenty of firepower in the lineup.

Bentley has only played 10 games thus far and is on a three-game losing streak as of Monday, but the Falcons are aiming to make a push in the right direction by picking up a big win later this week against a strong Greyhounds program. 

Finding some more pop on offense would help, as Bentley has hit just one home run this season.

Division III

Case Western Reserve Vs. Westminster (Pennsylvania), Thursday at 2 p.m.

An 8-0 start, with the team averaging .340 and a .508 slugging percentage? Yeah, that’s not a bad way for Case Western Reserve to get its 2023 season going. 

The Spartans, who won 30 games and lost in their Division III Super Regional last season, are trying to pick up where they left off. Their victories this year include a 3-2 triumph over defending national champion (and then top-ranked team, per the preseason NFCA Division III Top 25 Poll) Christopher Newport and another win over ranked Babson on Monday. 

Junior infielder KaiLi Gross (.429 average, .821 slugging, six RBIs) has been one of the stars of the show, but just one of a multitude of players on the CWRU roster who have shown out during its hot start. 

The pitching rotation has posted a 1.81 team ERA – and some key individual performances from sophomore Lexi Miskey (5-0, 1.87 ERA, 41 strikeouts in 30 innings) in particular – have been highly influential, as well. 

Westminster will be looking to get some more games under its belt, as it only started its season Sunday, but the Titans have won the first four of what will be 10 matchups at THE Spring Games this week.

They opened in strong fashion with a 1.88 total ERA. 

Watch for graduate student pitcher Madison Brown (2-0, 1.08 ERA, 16 strikeouts in 13 innings) to potentially get the nod to start in this one.

NAIA/JUCO

Cuyahoga CC Vs. Iowa Lakes CC, Friday at 11:30 a.m. 

A highly regarded junior college program, Iowa Lakes looked good for much of last season on the way to a 38-12-1 record, and the squad doesn’t appear to have missed a beat to start 2023, beginning the season 9-1. Six of those victories featuring double-digit run totals. 

The early success is due largely in part to the Lakers having already smashed 16 home runs, including four (to go with 24 RBIs) from sophomore shortstop/second baseman Bryn Bohmann, who is slugging a ridiculous 1.111. 

We would like to congratulate MacKenna Jones and Bryn Bohmann for their awards this week. Jones was selected as the NJCAA pitcher of the week and ICCAC pitcher of the week, while Bohmann was selected as the ICCAC Player of the Week! pic.twitter.com/tY1jWfaBf4

— Iowa Lakes Softball (@IALakesSB) March 9, 2023

Iowa Lakes’ pitching staff, namely sophomore Mackenna Jones, also needs to be recognized.

She’s garnered nearly double the amount of strikeouts (56) as she has innings pitched (28 2/3) through seven appearances, while she’s cruised to a 5-0 record. 

Cuyahoga, meanwhile, arrived in Florida on Sunday to start its season and has gone 1-3 across doubleheaders on back-to-back days. 

The Triceratops, as great of a nickname as they have, are going to be hard-pressed to take down a Lakers squad that has been rolling through much of its schedule to kick off the year.