Desert Stinger Tournament Page                                                                               Tournament Schedule
NCAA Div. II Softball Preseason Rankings                                                               Live Stats/Live Video Link
GNAC Desert Stinger Release                                                                                    2014 Results Page

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – What happens in Vegas doesn't necessary stay in Vegas, especially when it's the annual Desert Stinger tournament week. Thirty-two teams from all over the West, Central and South Central Regions have their eyes on one thing—the tournament title.
 
The Desert Stinger tournament is the largest NCAA Div. II softball tournament hosted by a single institution, and it returns to Las Vegas, Nevada for the fifth time. Montana State University Billings' welcomes 31 other DIV. II programs to Majestic Park for the tournament, which runs Friday Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 9.
 
"We are honored to host this tournament as it is great for our institution, conference, and NCAA Div. II Softball," MSU Billings Athletic Director Krista Montague said.  "We are proud to have set a stage to give DII institutions an opportunity to pick up competitive non-conference DII games with little difficulty.  We all know how important playing against strong competition outside of our conferences is when it comes to NCAA post-season selections." 
 
Each year the tournament grows, making this year the biggest number of teams yet. In 2001, the first year it began, the tournament started with 16 teams on four fields, then it grew by eight the second, four the third, and then four more this year, giving a grand total of 32 teams playing 80 games on eight fields.
 
"It is an honor to host this tournament and we are excited with how big it has turned out to be," MSUB Head Coach Lisa Allen said. "We have doubled in size from our first year."
 
The conferences represented in this year's field are the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (10), the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, including MSUB, (6), the Pacific West Conference (5), the California Collegiate Athletic Association (4), the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (3), the Lone Star Conference (2), the Heartland Conference (1), and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1).
 
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference sends the largest contingent of teams for the second straight year. The defending NCAA Div. II national champions, Central Oklahoma, becomes the first member from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association to play in the tournament.
 
Six schools that appeared in the preseason 2014 national rankings, released Feb. 2, are in this year's tournament: No. 1 Central Oklahoma, No. 4 Humboldt State, No. 8 West Texas A&M, No. 14 Texas Woman's, No. 22 Augustana (S.D.) and No. 23 Dixie State.  Also, receiving votes and playing in the tournament are: St. Mary's (TX), Cal State Dominguez Hills, and Hawai'i Hilo.
 
This year's tournament field also features six teams that won their conferences last season (2013). Humboldt State won the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Colorado School of Mines won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Hawaii-Hilo became the Pac West Conference champions, Texas Woman's finished on top in the Lone Star Conference, Saint Mary's (TX) finished first in the Heartland Conference, and Central Oklahoma claimed the MIAA title.
 
Central Oklahoma, Colorado State-Pueblo, and Texas Woman's are all attending the Desert Stinger for the first time. Saint Mary's (TX) and the 2013 Desert Stinger champion, West Texas A&M, are the only teams with an undefeated record. Both teams have won all five of their games at the Stinger tournament. The University of Mary's 15 victories are the most wins in the tournament's history.
 
Central Oklahoma picked up all 16 possible first-place votes for the 2014 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Preseason Poll. First-year Head Coach Cody White returns eight starters off last year's NCAA Div. II champion team, including a pair of NFCA All-Central Region sections in senior pitcher Kalynn Schrock (34-6 record, 1.69 ERA, 312 strikeouts in 265.2 innings) and sophomore second baseman Ally Dziadula (.355 average, 58 runs scored, 5 HR's, 11 stolen bases, 21 RBIs).
 
Humboldt State came in at number four in the NFCA ranking with a 53-14 2013 record.  No. 8 West Texas A&M  finished at 43-13, No. 14 Texas Woman's University 51-14, No. 22 Augustana 32-17, and No. 23 Dixie State at 40-14. Although they were not ranked in the top 25, St. Mary's (TX), Cal State Dominquez Hills, and Hawaii-Hilo received some votes, but are looking for a great outcome in the tournament.
 
Montana State University Billings, the University of Mary, Dixie State, New Mexico Highlands, Fort Lewis, and Chadron State are the only six teams that have attended all five years of the Desert Stingers.
 
"We work diligently year round to prepare for these three days and it a pleasure to see it all come together by tournament time," Montague said.   "We are extremely thankful to the Tournament Director Steve Johnson, the entire tournament staff, umpires, and local help we receive. This tournament would not happen without them."
 
All games this year will have live stats available, and new to the tournament this year will be seven featured games that will have a video live stream available to view on-line, including all five of the MSUB games.
 
The tournament begins this Friday, Feb. 7.   For more information on game times and results, fans are encouraged to check out the tournament webpage on MSUBSports.com.