WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Excitement continues to build for the inaugural season of Grizzly Softball at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) – so much so that officials have released the team’s fall schedule.
“We are very excited for the upcoming fall 2022 season of Grizzly Softball,” said head coach Don Long. “This fall, we will play 14 scheduled games, and we are pleased to host three days of softball action at home.”
The season starts Saturday, Aug. 27, when the Grizzlies travel to Harrison, Arkansas, to play North Arkansas College in an afternoon double header. Game times are set for 1 and 3 p.m.
The Grizzlies’ first home games will be Saturday, Sept. 17, when they host University of Arkansas-Rich Mountain at the Richards Sports Complex, 3411 Division Dr., in West Plains, the home of Grizzly Softball. Game times for this double header are 12 and 2 p.m.
Other home games include:
- Sunday, Oct. 9, vs. Three Rivers College and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASU-MH) in a three-team round-robin event. Game times are noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 22, vs. North Arkansas College in a double header. Game times 1 and 3 p.m.
Admission to all home games will be free, Long said.
Other away games include:
- Sunday, Sept. 25, vs. Three Rivers College and another team to be announced in a three-team round-robin event at Poplar Bluff. Game times are noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 1, vs. State Fair Community College in a double header at Macks Creek. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 15, vs. Moberly Area Community College in a double header at Moberly. Game times at 1 and 3 p.m.
Tailgate party kicks off season
The Grizzlies will kick off their inaugural season in style at their first home game by hosting a tailgate party at the Richards Sports Complex before and during the games.
Organizers said a variety of local food trucks will be on hand, as well as a number of local vendors. Those attending also can enjoy a variety of yard games, face painting and more.
Fall games just the beginning
These 14 games this fall should whet the appetite of Grizzly Softball fans for the first full season of action during the 2023 spring semester, Long said.
“For the spring, we’ve built a strong and competitive 38-game schedule for our inaugural season. We will play the traditionally strong Region 16 teams, with eight days of action on our home field,” Long said.
“We also have added non-conference teams such as Lyon College, William Baptist College, ASU-MH and North Arkansas College, to our spring schedule,” he added.
The full 2023 spring schedule will be announced at a later date, Long said. Admission to all home games during the spring season also will be free, he added.
“The coaches and I are excited to get our girls out on the field and see where the ball falls this upcoming season,” Long said. “We are looking to play hard, tough and good defense. I am very proud of our recruits and strongly feel they will be exciting to watch. We welcome our community and Grizzly fans to come out and support our team this season.”
For more information about the Grizzly Softball team, visit the team’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/GrizzlySB, or MSUWPGrizzlies.com.
Missouri State University-West Plains empowers students to achieve personal success and to enrich their local and global communities by providing accessible, affordable and quality educational opportunities. Missouri State-West Plains offers associate degrees and credit and non-credit courses, and serves as a delivery site for bachelor’s and master’s degrees offered by Missouri State University in Springfield.
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