Athens Regional Breakdown
Consider this four-team regional a border war. Teams from Georgia and North Carolina are involved in this part of the tournament, but it is the Bulldogs and Tar Heels that have the best chance of moving on to the super-regional round. Georgia, the host school, was ranked 11th in the nation in the last top 25 coaches poll, and it sports the 21st toughest schedule and record when it comes to the RPI (ratings performance index). Georgia has a 41-15 record and the 10th overall seed in tournament play. The problem with the Bulldogs is they play in a rough conference. Georgia is the fourth-best school in its own league, and it’s too soon to tell whether a tough schedule will cost the Bulldogs some much-needed momentum in the tournament or help when it faces lesser programs. Georgia has beaten Florida and Alabama this year, which is a very good sign that the Bulldogs won’t wilt under the spotlight. Senior Erin Arevalo is the team’s best pitcher with a 22-6 record and 234 strikeouts, and senior Kristyn Sandberg (no relation to legendary Cubs third baseman Ryne Sandberg) wields a hot bat with 17 homers and 46 RBIs. Georgia made the Women’s College World Series in 2009 and 2010, falling to Washington in 2009 and to UCLA in 2010.
North Carolina (41-13), ranked 21st in the last coaches poll, missed the tournament last year following five straight recent regional appearances from 2006-2010. In 2009 it lost twice to Georgia and 2010 was a year where Washington knocked out the Tar Heels. Pitcher Lori Spingola’s 30-8 record and 299 strikeouts is a fearsome presence, but the .294 batting average is tops in the Atlantic Coast Conference and could give Georgia some fits come the regional round. Georgia Southern (42-18), from the Southern Conference, last made the NCAA tournament in 2006 but lost twice to Georgia and beat Coastal Carolina once. Pitcher Sarah Purvis (221 strikeouts) will be big, but Georgia Southern’s .253 batting average is seventh in the conference and that could hurt. Speaking of Coastal Carolina (43-18), the Big South representative is making its first trip to the tournament since 2006. Its best tournament run was a 2-2 mark in 2000. Freshman Kory Hayden (14 HR, 44 RBIs) is the team’s top hitting threat.
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