This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Will the third time be the charm for the Salt Lake Community College women's softball team?
For two consecutive seasons, the No. 6-ranked Bruins (48-9) have lost in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Tournament championship game.
This season, SLCC is looking reach the top as the 2013 tournament begins Wednesday at the Canyons Complex in St. George.
The Region 18 champions enter the NJCAA Nationals as the No. 2 overall seed. The Bruins will face Region 17 and No. 15 seed Georgia Perimeter College (21-14) in the opening round at 6:30 p.m.
The NJCAA National Tournament follows a double elimination format with 16 region winners from around the nation competing for the national championship. SLCC has finished as NJCAA National Runner-up in each of the last two seasons.
SLCC has outscored its opposition by 263 runs and is batting .348 with 37 home runs.
Sophomore pitcher MaCauley Flint (25-3), the Scenic West Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and Region 18 Tournament Most Valuable Player, struck out 239 batters and owns an earned-run average of 1.12.