Softball | 5/9/2023 10:53:00 AM

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The 6-21 record that Paine College held entering the NCCAA Softball South Region Championship did not tell the entire story.

Head coach Jose Taitague mentioned he liked his team's chances heading into the tournament. 

"I know we had a really good chance to come out with the last win of the tournament. It all came down to whether or not we were able to execute and hit the ball like I knew we could."

The Lady Lions had dealt with injuries throughout the year. Additionally, the squad had lost several games that could have easily been in favor of the Lady Lions.

When the NCCAA South Region was announced, four teams were slated to compete. However, one withdrew meaning top-seeded Carolina University would get a bye in the first round. 

"I went into the regional tournament were mixed emotions, definitely very excited that we had made it this far and extremely proud of my team, but also nervous knowing that this wouldn't be an easy task and that we would have to perform at our very best if we wanted to bring home the NCCAA South Region Championship" junior Montana Cagle said.

Taitague's scrappy team, playing as the No. 2 seed, ended up winning a hard-fought 7-6 game in nine innings over No. 3 Fort Lauderdale on Monday, May 1.

The team squared off against the Bruins in the second game of the championship and controlled most of the contest. However, the home team ended up scoring nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings for the 10-2 win.

With their backs against the wall, PC faced a must-win situation to keep its season alive against Fort Lauderdale.

"I thought us going up against the team we had beaten the day before gave us a good confidence boost," Taitague stated. "I knew with our confidence high and having seen what they had the day before there would not be any surprises. We knew what they had and they knew what we had. It was a matter of not only having the confidence but going out there and showing it. I told the team don't just know it, show it." 

"I regrouped by calming myself down by telling myself that it's not over yet and we still have time to make up our loss," senior Destiny Lawrence mentioned.

With not much time to think about the loss, the Lady Lions went back to work nearly immediately and bested UFL by a 9-4 score. The victory put the squad into the NCCAA South Region Championship but it had to win two games against the top-seeded Bruins to advance.

With the Lady Lions ready for action on May 3, the team trailed Carolina 3-1 heading into the sixth inning. In the sixth, PC managed to plate three runs en route to a 4-3 lead. From there, Lawrence allowed just one base runner in the bottom of the sixth and none in the seventh to force the "if necessary" game. 

With Lawrence pitching both games of the doubleheader, advancing to the NCCAA Softball World Series might have been destiny.

The Lady Lions jumped on top with three runs in the top of the first and never lost control of the game. Leading 3-1 in the fourth, the visitors added a pair of runs over the next two frames for the convincing 5-1 win, securing a berth to the NCCAA Softball World Series.

"After the winning both elimination games, I was very happy for the team," Taitague said. "I told them all year we had the potential to be the best. It was confirmation for them that they could do what we set out to do. In our very first meeting of the year back in August, we had a team goal of making it to the World Series. When I took over the team in January, I told them nothing changes. Our goal was still the same. This only being the second year for the team since covid shut us down and Paine went one year without sports, I don't think many people expected much from us, but as we grow closer as a team and continue to get better, we are going to be a hard force to slow down."

"Winning the Regional Championship, especially after winning the two games against Carolina to get there, is a feeling that I cannot even describe," Cagle said. "I am so proud of my team. We came together and played the game that we all love with every bit of heart and soul we have. Representing Paine College Softball and making history on the softball field will forever be something that I hold near and dear to my heart. I absolutely cannot wait to go to Kansas City, compete for the National Championship, and bring home the big trophy."

"After the 1^st game that we won against Carolina I was in shock, and I was like, 'oh we can do this we can beat them," Leticia Omori sated. "So when we won the second game it was team work. I couldn't even believe what we have done it was so unreal, I'm very proud of us."

"I felt overwhelmed with joy," Lawrence said. "It felt great to finally have all our hard work, tears, and dedication pay off. It was definitely a moment I will never forget."

The Lady Lions have some time to enjoy the region championship while preparing for the NCCAA Softball World Series, which will take place May 16-18 in Kansas City, Mo.