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COLLEGE SOFTBALL: OC ready for final regular season series

It’s tough for the Odessa College softball team to not look ahead to next week’s Region V Tournament.

Especially with first place in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference all wrapped up.

However, the No. 7-ranked Lady Wranglers have one more regular season series before they can think about the region tournament and nationals.

Odessa College (39-4 overall, 20-0 in WJCAC) will face El Paso Community College (15-21, 8-12) in a four-game series, beginning at 1 p.m. Friday with a doubleheader at the Wrangler Softball Complex.

Both teams will conclude the series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday at the Wrangler Softball Complex.

Odessa College will then begin the Region V Tournament the following Wednesday at home, going up against the No. 4 team in the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference.

“I always preach to take one game at a time, one pitch at a time and field the ball one ground ball at a time,” Odessa College head coach Doug Eastman said. “So we’re we’re not looking ahead but we do want to gain momentum in these next four games. We want make sure that we’re set and ready to go for next Wednesday. One of the toughest regions in the country is coming our way so it should be fun.”

>> A LOT TO BE POSITIVE ABOUT: The Lady Wranglers have a lot to feel good about. The team is coming off another series sweep, this time against Howard College as Odessa College won by scores of 6-1, 21-6, 12-3 and 8-0 last week in a home and away series.

“We feel really good,” Eastman said. “Again, our pitching staff has been fantastic. We’re swinging the bat well. I don’t think there’s any facet in the game that I’m concerned about. It’s just let’s show up and play our best game at the right time.”

>> MOVING ON UP: It’s no secret that the NJCAA polls haven’t been too kind to the Lady Wranglers this spring.

This week, however, Odessa College did move up in the national rankings … just one spot.

Eastman isn’t bothered by that.

“Well, it’s lucky seven,” Eastman said. “I like that. You know, we got to the seven spot and I think it’s kind of a reflection of us not playing as many games as some of the ones that are ahead of us. Some teams have played 55 games and we haven’t played that many. But the games we have played, we played very well.”

>> SOPHOMORE DAY: While it won’t be their last time playing at the Wrangler Softball Complex just yet, the Lady Wranglers will still be honoring their ten sophomores who have, so far, put together a combined record of 43-1 in conference play from the last two seasons.

“We have Sophomore Day coming up this weekend,” Eastman said. “It’s a tribute to them. Just thinking about what they’ve accomplished is pretty amazing.”

NJCAA Region 5

WJCAC

Team Overall Conference

Odessa College 39-4, 20-0

Midland College 41-8, 14-4

Western Texas College 25-31, 15-9

El Paso Community College 15-21, 8-12

Howard College 13-28, 8-12

Frank Phillips College 7-31, 4-14

Clarendon College 1-46, 1-19

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