Previewing the Division II World Series: Who to Watch

Eight teams will vie for a national championship when the Division II World Series kicks off in Chattanooga on Wednesday.

Following the Super Regionals, the D2 Softball Committee reseeded the eight teams ahead of the championship round. Overall #1 seed UT-Tyler maintained that position entering the championship round.

Central Oklahoma and North Georgia – both of which were the top-seeded teams in their respective regionals – are the #2 and #3 overall seeds entering the World Series. Seeded #4-#8 are Wilmington, Grand Valley State, East Stroudsburg, Nova Southeastern, and Cal State San Marcos.

The two most recent national champions are both out of the race in the preliminary rounds. 2021 national champion West Texas A&M were defeated in the Super Regional by UT-Tyler, while 2022 title winners Rogers State were eliminated in the Regional round.

The D2 championship bracket is double-elimination, formatted similarly to the Division 1 Women’s College World Series.

With roughly 24 hours to go until the opening pitch in Chattanooga, here’s a look at who to watch and some names to know from all eight teams.

UT-Tyler (59-4)

The Patriots have not missed a beat, and in fact might have gotten better as a program since moving up to D2 from Division 3. Mike Reed’s club dominated their competition this season and their high seed reflects their body of work. The Patriots head to Chattanooga riding a 36-game winning streak, not having lost since March 10th.

Who to Watch: Pitcher Tatum Goff was named the South Central Region Pitcher of the Year last week and owns an undefeated 37-0 record on the year. She has been sensational in the circle for the Patriots and has also earned the Lone Star Conference’s Pitcher of the Year award and an All-Region nomination. Statistically, she has notched 217 strikeouts on the year along with a 1.27 ERA.

Pitcher Shealyn O’Leary (yes, the former Longhorn hurler) has also been stellar in the circle after transferring to UT-Tyler. She owns a 16-2 record this season, with a 1.45 ERA; 106 strikeouts; and the Lone Star Conference’s Newcomer of the Year award already to her credit.

Central Oklahoma (52-7)

While the Bronchos are returning to the World Series for the first time since 2013, this is a UCO club that is loaded and has had a solid showing this season. Winners of 19-straight games prior to the Super Regional against Southern Arkansas, UCO dropped game one to SAU before winning back-to-back games to clinch a World Series berth.

Who to Watch: Third baseman Shayla Harper has been a rock at the plate for UCO this season, leading the squad in seven statistical categories on the year. Her batting average of .398, 14 home runs, and .464 on-base percentage all paced the program this season. She’s been solid defensively, but has made the most eyebrow-raising impact with her bat. She’s also notched 54 RBIs and scored 56 runs on the year.

Freshman Emily Deramus has performed incredibly well in her rookie season, as she leads the team in at-bats, hits, doubles, and triples. She’s also second on the team with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases. The first-year standout has been a major bright spot for the Bronchos’ offense.

North Georgia (59-6)

A look at how their Super Regional against Wingate fared is as much an indication of the Nighthawks’ strength as anything else. UNG swept past their foes in two games, throwing a pair of shutouts and throwing a no-hitter in the opening game of the Super. The regular season included a 38-game winning streak for UNG, a record-setting mark in its own right.

Who to Watch: Tybee Denton has been a reliable arm in the circle for the Nighthawks this season. While four pitchers have seen significant work in the circle for North Georgia this season, Denton leads the squad in innings pitched (128) and wins (19). Her season’s numbers include a 2.60 ERA, 126 strikeouts, and a .167 opponent’s batting average.

Sophie Mooney leads the Nighthawks’ roster with a .436 batting average and 65 RBIs, and also owns eye-popping numbers including 89 hits, 15 doubles, 18 stolen bases, and ten home runs. She’s a multi-faceted threat at the plate and ranks second on the team with 204 at-bats on the year.

Wilmington (44-14)

The regional 2-seed, the Wildcats emerged successfully from the Regional round before dispatching regional top-seed Adelphi in three games in the Super Regional. Wilmington’s season included a 21-3 conference showing and a 19-1 showing on their home turf.

Who to Watch: Lexi Moore’s sensational season at the plate have earned the junior shortstop a full trophy case this season and certainly make her a factor in the World Series. Moore’s numbers include a .446 batting average, .465 on-base percentage, nine doubles, and 57 runs scored. She also tied for the team lead with three triples on the year.

Sara Miller leads the squad with ten home runs, accounting for more than half of her team’s 19 longballs on the year. Miller also owns a .365 batting average, twelve doubles, and 64 RBIs on the year; she is easily the Wildcats’ greatest power threat.

Grand Valley State (44-6)

The Lakers lost just one game in conference play this season, putting together an impressive resume that included a 20-game winning streak at one point in the year. Indicative of the squad’s impressive showing in the circle, the Lakers have thrown 21 shutouts this season, including back-to-back shutouts against Saginaw Valley State to clinch the Regional victory.

Who to Watch: Hannah Beatus is the Lakers’ standout in the circle; the veteran hurler owns a 0.78 ERA and a 27-1 record this year. She has notched nearly 171 innings of work, collected 187 strikeouts on the year, and has held opponents to a miniscule .158 batting average against her. Beatus has dominated opposing offenses all year, allowing just 19 earned runs and just 18 extra base hits.

Lydia Goble, also a redshirt senior, helms the Laker offense, including posting a .465 batting average that is nearly 70 points higher than her next-closest teammate. Goble ranks second in the country in triples and also leads her team with five home runs and 26 stolen bases. A multi-talented threat in all the offensive arenas, she’s the unquestioned leader of the GVSU offensive attack.

East Stroudsburg (43-17)

A sensational year for the Warriors, one that included a 24-8 conference showing, led to the #1 Regional seed and has now helped guide the program to their first-ever World Series. The Warriors had to come from behind in their Super Regional against Charleston, winning back-to-back games to clinch the championship-round berth.

Who to Watch: Pitcher Paige Zigmund has put together a ridiculously-impressive season in the circle to this point, as she owns a 25-6 record and a 2.00 ERA on the year. During the regular season, she allowed three or fewer earned runs in 23 of 28 appearances in the circle and held opponents to a .231 batting average. She also set a program single-season record with 184 strikeouts this season.

Leigh Ann Jenkins has been impressive in her own right in the circle, owning a 3.18 ERA and a 12-7 record to compliment Zigmund’s efforts. Jenkins has thrown 130 innings this year, notched 116 strikeouts, and owns a WHIP of 1.38.

Nova Southeastern (43-14)

Fresh off of an upset win over Regional top-seeded Tampa, the Sharks are riding a lot of momentum entering the championship round. The Sharks’ season included a 22-8 record in conference play and a 13-5 record in true road games. NSU also boasts a 3-1 record against fellow World Series opponents this season, having swept East Stroudsburg in an early-season doubleheader and splitting a two-game set with UT-Tyler.

Who to Watch: Not a huge power-hitting team, more than 50% of the Sharks’ home runs this season belong to Alexis Smith. The senior has been utterly sensational at the plate for NSU this season and leads the team in most major statistical categories. Her numbers include a .412 batting average, 63 runs scored, 15 doubles, 14 triples, 48 RBIs, 38 stolen bases, and a .476 on-base percentage. She is the straw that stirs the NSU offensive drink.

Pitcher Alyssa Drogemuller has made a similar impact on the Sharks from the circle. She owns a 1.63 ERA on the year and boasts a 24-7 overall record. Not a big strikeout pitcher, Drogemuller owns just 69 Ks on the year but does boast a strikeout/walk ratio nearing 3/1. Her numbers also include an opponent’s batting average of .235.

Cal State San Marcos (32-19)

The lowest Regional seed to make the World Series, CSUSM entered the postseason as a Regional 6-seed and proceeded to run the table in both the Regional and Super Regional rounds. The Cougars have posted a pair of shutouts during the postseason, including a 5-0 shutout over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Regional round and a 9-0 shutout to open the Super Regional against Concordia Irvine.

Who to Watch: Underclassman infielder Paige Donnelly leads the team with a .345 batting average; her 11 doubles and 8 home runs on the year also pace the Cougar roster. Donnelly has been solid at the plate and also has worked a team-leading 30 walks on the year.

Savannah Coyle and Jayline Sloss have notched similar workloads in the circle this season, with Coyle pitching 130.2 frames and Sloss adding 123 innings of work. Coyle leads the staff in most categories, including with a 1.87 ERA and 15 wins. Sloss paces the group with 88 strikeouts and an opponent’s batting average of .200. The duo will be relied upon if the Cougars are to make a championship-round run.