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OGDEN — After the Weber State University softball team clinched the Big Sky Conference regular season title last weekend, the two-time defending champions are preparing to host the three-day, double-elimination Big Sky Conference tournament for the second year in a row.
“We have to embrace the expectations,” head coach Mary Kay Amicone said. “Once you are picked to be the champion, it is really easy to play underneath that. When you embrace the expectations, it makes you better and has brought out the best in us.”
Beginning Thursday, the Wildcats will look to earn their third consecutive Big Sky Championship title at the Wildcat Softball Complex in Ogden.
“Home-field advantage is huge,” Amicone said. “Our fan base is incredible, and our seniors get to play on their home field. Not having to travel allows us time to focus on other things.”
In 2015, the Wildcats defeated Sacramento State in Pocatello, Idaho, claiming their first-ever Big Sky Conference championship title. Weber State went on to compete in the NCAA Regional Tournament, where it lost to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Mississippi State.
Last year, after claiming the regular season title, the Wildcats hosted the Big Sky Conference Tournament in Ogden, where they defeated Montana and Idaho State to reign as champions. The Wildcats made their second NCAA regional tournament appearance where they went win-less in Seattle — dropping game one to the University of Washington, and the second game to North Dakota State.
This season, Weber State will enter the tournament with a 31–17–1 overall record, and 15–5 conference record.
With the addition of many Wildcats this year, junior pitcher Kirtyln Bohling has given advice to her younger teammates, heading into the tournament.
“I think the biggest thing is not making it bigger than it is,” Bohling said. “As a freshman, you can try and outplay yourself instead of trusting your talent and the work you’ve put in, and I think us upperclassman bring that view and perspective to them.”
Freshman outfielder Takesha Saltern, who was named 2017 Division I National Freshman of the Year, will participate in the Big Sky Conference tournament with the Wildcats for the first time.
“I always tend to get a bit nervous,” Saltern said. “The seniors and everyone that has been in this situation really help though. They encourage us to do what we are used to doing and just play how we normally play. We are going to come in, play as a team and have fun.”
Senior outfielder Sara Hingsberger plans to leave it all out on the field this weekend, knowing this could be her last time suiting up in the purple and white uniform.
“Even in my junior year, I played every game like it is my last game,” Hingsberger said. “That mindset won’t change in this tournament. You never know what can happen, so I play every single pitch and every single at-bat like it is my last.”
The tournament will open Thursday, as the No. 4 Southern Utah Thunderbirds take on the No. 5 North Dakota Fighting Hawks at 9:30 a.m. The winner will advance to take on Weber State in game three at 2:30 p.m.
Tournament passes are $25 at weberstatetickets.com or at the Dee Events Center ticket office. Individual day passes are also available: $10 for adults and $5 for youths, seniors and Weber State students.
Thursday, May 11
- Game 1 – No. 4 Southern Utah vs. No. 5 North Dakota, 9:30 a.m.
- Game 2 – No. 3 Sacramento State vs. No. 6 Idaho State, 12 p.m.
- Game 3 – No. 1 Weber State vs. Game 1 winner, 2:30 p.m.
- Game 4 – No. 2 Montana vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 12
- Game 5 – Game 3 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 9:30 a.m.
- Game 6 – Game 4 loser vs. Game 1 loser, 12 p.m.
- Game 7 – Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 2:30 p.m.
- Game 8 – Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 13
- Game 9 – Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 11 a.m.
- Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1:30 p.m.
- Game 11 – If necessary, 4 p.m.
(All times are Mountain Daylight Time.) Cydnee Green is a senior at Weber State University studying multimedia journalism. Contact her at cydneegreen@mail.weber.edu or on Twitter @TheCydneeGreen.
