The Linfield Wildcats' quest to return to the College World Series reaches an important juncture this week as the 'Cats prepare to compete in a three-team NCAA Division III regional playoff tournament at Claremont, California. 
 
Action begins Friday and runs as late as Sunday in Claremont, a city of about 36,000 located on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County. The tournament is hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges.
 
Joining Linfield in the double-elimination tournament are host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and Whittier, both members of the Southern California Collegiate Athletic Conference.
 
TRAVEL
Linfield departed McMinnville Wednesday afternoon and arrived in Los Angeles Wednesday night. The Wildcats practiced Thursday at CMS in preparation for Friday's first-round game.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
CMS is providing video webcasts of all regional tournament games. Live statistics are also available.
 
Friday, May 10
Game 1: Whittier 9, Claremont-M-S 1, 5 innings
Game 2: Linfield 6, Whittier 5
 
Saturday, May 11
Game 3: Linfield vs. Claremont-M-S, 11 a.m.
Game 4: See scenarios below, 2:30 p.m.
 
Scenario 1 (If two teams remain after Game 3)
Game 4: Two remaining teams play at 4:30 p.m. If the undefeated team wins, that team wins the regional tournament and advances to the super regional tournament;
 
If the 1-1 team wins, then Game 5 is played on Sunday and the winner advances to the super regional tournament.
 
Scenario 2 (If three teams remain tied at 1-1 after Game 3)
Game 4: No. 2 vs. No. 3, 4:30 p.m.
 
Sunday, May 12
Game 5: If necessary, noon (winner advances to the super regional tournament)
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The 16 surviving regional champions from across Division III advance to compete in eight two-team, best-of-three super regional tournaments next week.
 
The eight super regional champions move on to the NCAA World Series, May 23-28, at Tyler, Texas. A double-elimination format will also be used there with the last two teams left standing facing off in a best-of-three series to determine the national champion.

A LOOK AT LINFIELD
35-6-1 (25-3 NWC)
Home record: 14-2
Road record: 15-2-1
Neutral record: 6-2
Head coach: Jackson Vaughan (18th season)
Last season: Reached NCAA Tyler Super Regional
 
2019 Record vs Whittier: 0-0
2019 Record vs CMS: 0-0
 
TEAM STATISTICS
Runs per game: 7.9
Runs allowed per game: 2.9
ERA: 2.79
Batting Average: .361
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Average: Darian Stedman (.397)
Home runs: Paige Smotherman (11)
RBI: Darian Stedman (48)
Stolen Bases: Kelsey Wilkinson (22)
ERA: Tanna Benson (2.33)
Strikeouts: Shelby Saylors (122)
 
The Wildcats enter the regional tournament having won 10 of their last 11 games, including a 3-0 sweep at the Northwest Conference Tournament two weeks ago.
 
Linfield is one of the top offensive teams in the nation, ranking second nationally in doubles (2.33 per game), third in home runs (1.38), fifth in scoring (7.90) and 11th in batting average (.361). Darian Stedman stands third nationally in doubles (21) while leading the club in batting average (.397), RBI (48) and walks (18). The senior outfielder also has 18 stolen bases to her credit.
 
In addition to Stedman, Katie Phillips (.383) and Abi Proffitt (.384) have been among Linfield's most consistent hitters. Proffitt and Phillips each have 10 home runs. The two Wildcat freshmen have combined for 76 RBI. Chelsea Horita has been another tough out for the 'Cats, sporting a .387 average with 11 doubles and three homers.
 
Kelsey Wilkinson is a force on the base paths, swiping 22 bases in 24 attempts. The junior outfielder boasts a .362 batting average with 11 doubles, four home runs and 31 RBI. Paige Smotherman leads the team in home runs with 11 while driving in 32 runs.
 
Linfield also brings a pair of talented senior pitchers to the regional tournament. Shelby Saylors, the NWC Co-Pitcher of the Year, together with NWC first team all-star Tanna Benson, give the Wildcats a capable 1-2 punch in the pitching circle. Saylors' 20 wins this season ranks seventh in Division III. She has piled up 122 strikeouts while issuing just 34 walks. Benson has enjoyed her finest season in a Wildcats uniform, rolling up a 14-2 win-loss record with a 2.99 ERA.
 
 
A LOOK AT CLAREMONT-MUDD SCRIPPS
31-11 (24-4 SCIAC)
Home record: 20-8
Road record: 11-3
Head coach: Gina Oaks Garcia (second season)
Last season: Reached Championship round of NCAA McMinnville Regional
 
2019 Record vs Whittier: 2-4
2019 Record vs Linfield: 0-0
 
TEAM STATISTICS
Runs per game: 5.8
Runs allowed per game: 4.1
ERA: 3.04
Batting Average: .319
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Average: Megan Perron (.459)
Home runs: Maddie Valdez (11)
RBI: Perron / Valdez (42)
Stolen Bases: Chloe Amarilla (13)
ERA: Lauren Richards (2.62)
Strikeouts: Lauren Richards (62)
 
ABOUT THE ATHENAS
Ranked 24th in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll, CMS finished the season rated fourth in West in the NCAA Regional rankings. The Athenas' hot start to 2019 rolled into March where CMS went 17-3. Megan Perron, the top hitter from the SCIAC, leads the Athenas at the plate. She enters the tournament with a .459 batting average. No player in CMS softball history has hit more home runs in a single season than Maddie Valdez, who has 11 on the year. The duo of Chloe Amarilla and Lauren Richards are the Athenas' top options in the circle. The two have combined for 17 complete games this season and pitched all but 32 innings.
 
A LOOK AT WHITTIER
23-18-1 (16-12 SCIAC)
Home record: 15-7-1
Road record: 6-10
Head coach: Trisha Senyo (first season)
Last season: Reached the SCIAC Tournament
 
2019 Record vs CMS: 4-2
2019 Record vs Linfield: 0-0
 
TEAM STATISTICS
Runs per game: 6.0
Runs allowed per game: 4.7
ERA: 3.65
Batting Average: .322
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Average: Brianna MaGee (.412)
Home Runs: Brittany Attaway (9)
RBI: Brittany Attaway (38)
Stolen Bases: Jade Sanchez (22)
ERA: Amanda Melodia (3.26)
Strikeouts: Alexis Vargas (32)
 
ABOUT THE POETS
The unranked Poets surprised many by winning the SCIAC Tournament last weekend. Whittier entered the postseason tournament as the fourth seed with a record of 16-12. The Poets knocked off CMS twice in the final weekend of the regular season before beating the Athenas two more times in the SCIAC tournament. Whittier dropped to the losers' bracket before bouncing Pomona-Pitzer twice for the tournament crown and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Brianna MaGee leads the Poets at the plate, hitting .412 this season. Look for Whittier to put the game in motion. The Poets have three players with 14 or more steals.
 
 
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING
Linfield is making its 16th appearance in the NCAA Championships in 17 seasons and previously advanced to the College World Series six times, winning national titles in 2007 and 2011.
 
The Wildcats have faced CMS four times in postseason play, winning three, including two victories at last season's McMinnville Regional by scores of 10-1 and 2-1. Linfield leads the all-time series with CMS 18-9.
 
Linfield meets Whittier for the first time in the playoffs, though the Wildcats hold a 10-1 series advantage over the Poets in regular-season play.