The UH-Hilo softball team spent the past three weekends trying to improve its standing in the Pacific West Conference.
This weekend at the Tournament of Champions, the Vulcans (15-8) will try to make sure that standing matters, with five games in three days against West Region competition in Turlock, Calif.
With the hardest part of their conference schedule out the way, UH-Hilo is fifth in the PacWest race. Just how many conference teams are selected for regionals – last year it was just two – will depend in part on how strong the PacWest is perceived to be in comparison to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and California Collegiate Athletic Association
That’s why a weekend like this matter.
The Vuls open with Western Washington (8-15) and Northwest Nazarene (11-14) and the GNAC on Friday, then follow with three teams from the CCAA, Cal State East Bay (11-19), CS San Bernardino (14-9), CS Monterey Bay (13-15).