By Billy Watkins
Belhaven University’s softball program did its part, then the school’s administration did the same.
The result: Belhaven will host a Division III Super Regional against Wisconsin-Oshkosh beginning Thursday at McLeod Field in Jackson. The winner of the best-of-three series advances to the national championship tournament May 28-June 3 in Salem, Va.
Game times are set for 11 a.m. Thursday, 1 p.m. Friday with a third game if necessary following the second game. With scattered rain in the forecast, game times could change.
Belhaven, 40-10, won its first regional at home last weekend.
“Up until two years ago, we didn’t have lights on the field,” said head coach Kevin Griffin. “But we now have a $3 million state-of-the-art facility that is one of the best among D-III schools in the country. I think the NCAA has taken notice of that and our teams.
“ Our program this year felt a responsibility to make it worth it to our administration and be able to host these tournaments.
“To be honest, hosting can be tough. There are so many distractions at home for players, and there is so much to do when you have three teams coming in. But anytime Belhaven hosts something, they’re going to do it right. They did such a great job.”
The Blazers are consistently in the postseason tournaments and in 2024 were runner-up for the national championship.
Griffin, in his 16th season as head coach, won his 500th game on March 21 — 13 days before his son, Konnor Griffin, was promoted to the Major League’s Pittsburgh Pirates.
Now, all focus is on Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which boasts a pitching staff that has the third-lowest ERA among Division III schools.
But Griffin likes his team. Nine players were selected All-Collegiate Conference of the South — either first, second or third team.
“We are deeper in every area than we’ve ever been in my 16 years here,” he said. “And our players are competitors. Several who aren’t starting would be starting elsewhere. But at the end of the day, they all want to win. I see them cheering for each other and that’s the main thing on their minds.
“I’d like to think we recruit players who are the right fit and buy into that philosophy.”
This year’s team has a good mixture of pitching, defense and hitting.
Macy Funderburk, a junior from West Monroe, La,. is 18-5 with a 1.85 ERA. She has struck out 113 batters and walked just 25
“Macy spins it well,” Griffin said. “She’s really hard on herself and hates to lose. She’s a gamer.
“She started just about every game for us last year. But because of neck soreness earlier this year, we had to flip her role. She went from a starter to the bullpen. Karley Rouse switched from the bullpen to starter.
“Then for the postseason, Macy became the starter again.”
Rouse, a junior from D’Iberville, handled the move by going 8-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 91.1 innings pitched.
Also, AR Sharp, a freshman out of Parklane Academy in McComb, is 9-0 with a 2.95 ERA.
At the plate, Maryanna Guy, a third baseman who attended PIsgah High School, is leading the team with a .427 average, 10 homers, 16 doubles and 54 RBI.
Guy originally attended Longwood University in Virginia.
“We were happy to get her back home,” Griffin said. “She has such great power. Really strong. And I think credit goes to our weight program. Cody Anderson does a great job with that.”
Other notable players:
*Reagan Bryan, a senior from Meridian who has a strong arm from centerfield, is “one of our leaders who seems to get us going,” Griffin said.
Bryan is batting ..321 with 20 extra-base hits and 42 runs scored.
*Kaleigh Steverson, a junior first baseman who attended Germantown High School, is hitting .388 with 62 hits, eight homers and 41 RBI.
*Melissa Lopera, a junior shortstop from New Orleans, has 18 extra-base hits, 36 RBI and a .395 average.
“She’s the best shortstop I’ve seen in the country this year,” Griffin said. “And she’s been hurt part of the time. She dislocated her non-throwing shoulder while swinging the bat.”
*Grace Langston, a junior outfielder from Niceville, Fla., has scored 40 runs to go with her .371 average.
“Grace has done a really nice job from the top of the order,” Griffin said.
Griffin said the formula for advancing is “not having a letdown.”
“We need to have quality at-bats and then play good defense behind our pitching,” he added. “Pitching and defense have carried us this far, and we need to show that again.”
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