FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Conference Season to Begin on March 20.
MANSFIELD, Mass. – Northeast-10 Conference softball teams had their 2020 spring season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March. A little more than one year later, however, on March 20, the year-long wait will end.
The NE10 has released its 2021 softball schedule, which features a divisional set-up – Northeast and Southwest – with all programs slated to compete in 24 conference games. Series will consist of four games on weekends in doubleheader format against divisional opponents. Click here for the full schedule.
All scheduled games are subject to change based on COVID-19 health and safety protocol. Schools will also have the ability to extend weekend series to three days or alter the days on which they play in accordance with their academic calendars.
The dates for the NE10 Softball Championship will be announced in March, as will the procedure for tournament seeding and playoff structure.
"Announcing our NE10 competition schedules marks another step on our road to resumption of play next month," said NE10 Commissioner Julie Ruppert. "Our spring sport schedules have been reimagined from previous years and represent a Conference-wide philosophy to maximize competitive opportunities while responsibly managing and minimizing travel time and exposure off campus. Our teams will be focused more than ever on NE10 play as intra-Conference games will comprise the vast majority of teams' competitive schedules."
In accordance with the announcement made by the NE10 Council of Presidents on Monday, Feb. 15, league institutions will have the autonomy to determine if they cannot safely participate in intercollegiate athletics this spring and in which sports they will not permit competition.
All teams will be subject to follow NE10 COVID-19 testing protocols, in addition to health and safety guidelines from their institutions and local communities. The safety and well-being of student-athletes remains the primary focus of the league.
"The unique approach to scheduling in 2021 adheres to the guidelines set forth by our Council of Presidents last week in approving our return to competition and for now is our new normal," said Ruppert. "Many individuals across our membership have worked cooperatively to chart this safe and responsible pathway forward for the spring sports and we are so appreciative of their efforts."
Saint Anselm is ranked No. 13 in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) national rankings – the only NE10 program in the Top 25. The Hawks were 16-4 at the start of the 2020 season prior to the shutdown and are reigning NE10 champions from the 2019 campaign. Adelphi is receiving votes in the poll.
Opening weekend for NE10 softball is March 20-21. The entire schedule consists of seven weekends, concluding on April 30-May 1. Key matchups include Adelphi visiting Pace on the first weekend – a pair of teams who competed in the 2019 NE10 Softball Championship weekend – and Saint Anselm traveling to play Franklin Pierce on April 17-18.
Attendance policies will be determined by NE10 institutions, but schools will work to provide live streams of home softball games when possible on NE10 NOW – the digital home of the Northeast-10 Conference. Visit NE10NOW.tv for the full list of games as they become available.
The NCAA selection date for softball is Sunday, May 16. Regionals are scheduled for May 19-21 at eight different sites and the NCAA Softball Championship will take place from May 27-31 at the Regency Athletic Complex at MSU Denver.
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
