Arizona Western softball earns 19 seed in NJCAA Tournament

The Region I and West District Champs will come into the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex for their first tournament appearance since 2019

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Western Softball (33-21) will be a 19 seed going into the upcoming NJCAA Tournament.

The Lady Mats, who are coming off a West District and Region I title, get back to the tournament for the first time since 2019.

All the achievements also coming in head coach Joel Prickett's first season with the program, after being hired almost a year ago to the day.

"It was a lot of hard work, all the admin has been just super supportive," Prickett said.

As far as how he felt about where his team was ranked for the tournament, Prickett feels it's a justified spot.

"We get what we deserve, we fought hard to get in and that's all that matters," Prickett said.

For freshman pitcher Krisilyn Corral, the Mats' seeding is actually a chance to prove doubters wrong.

“I know it’s a 19 seed, a lot of people are going to be like ‘oh that’s a low seed,’ but in all reality it just gives us a fighting chance, shows us that we can fight through a lot more games than other teams,” Corral said.

Corral has been among the biggest reasons AWC has been successful this year.

The El Paso, Tex. native batted for a .431 average with 37 RBI's, along with a 11-6 record as a starting pitcher with an ERA of 3.70.

"I feel like just the trust that we have with each other definitely plays a part in like my success," Corral said.

Another impact on Corral has been Prickett's influence.

"I feel like he helped a lot of us grow and especially he helped me grow a lot," Corral said.

Sophomore outfielder Jayleen Espinoza was also praising Prickett's after the seeding was revealed.

"I was even more happy for him because I know, you know, it means a lot," Espinoza said.

Espinoza was one of three returners for the Lady Matadors, and says while initially anxious about the change at coach, Prickett's first year has been a great one for her.

"I wasn't sure what I was going to be coming into, but it's been a blessing, to say the least," Espinoza said.

Now, all focus is on trying to pull off a first-round upset against 14 seed Southern Union State Community College.

The game will coincide with the first day of tournament on Monday, May 19 at the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex in Yuma, with first pitch set for 4:30 p.m.

Being the hometown team is something Prickett knows the advantages of.

"You get to sleep in your own bed, you get to have local fans, you get to have that support, and it brings bring something to the to the town of Yuma, so that's that's exciting," Prickett said.