The NCAA Softball season is on the horizon, and at the Division III level, traditional powers will clash with upstarts, all with hopes of taking the title in Texas in June.

Mark Allister is the author of Women’s College Softball on the Rise: A Season Inside the Game. He will be writing on DIII softball this spring and would welcome story ideas and comments at allister@stolaf.edu

Six teams outside of the Top 25 made it to the Sweet Sixteen sending top-seeded teams like Virginia Wesleyan, East Texas Baptist, Birmingham Southern, and more packing.