This year, the level of competition in ACC softball was at a whole different level than in years past. For the past few years it was almost a given that Florida State would be among the top teams in the nation and thus lead the conference. But this year, well this year was different. Virginia Tech ended the season as the top team from the conference in the D1Softball Top 25 at No. 2. Florida State was No. 3. Duke, Clemson and Notre Dame rounded out the ACC teams in the rankings.
The regular season was akin to the wild, wild west. Without a doubt it was some of the best softball that the ACC has seen in years. Amazingly, it got even better when teams headed to Pitt for the conference championship. Championship titles are often won by teams gutting it out, reaching deep to find that second wind or morsel of energy needed to make a critical play.
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Florida State
For your, ‘on any given Saturday’ moment the title game found No. 5 seed Clemson mixing it up with No. 3 seed Florida State. Keep in mind, the Tigers are the new kids on the block when it comes to softball in the conference having joined in 2020. The Seminoles, the seasoned team that’s used to the spotlight and pressures that come with it.
Clemson wanted their first title so much they could taste it and frankly, they’d taken a big bite out of Florida State in this matchup. It took the Seminoles until the bottom of the sixth to overcome a deficit with a four-run flurry.
Florida State won their 18th overall ACC softball title with the 8-6 final and finished with an incredible 52-5 record. The Seminoles’ Kalei Harding earned the ACC Championship MVP following a spectacular tournament week.
What’s Next?
The NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals and WCWS in Oklahoma City. Who’s in? There are six teams that have been invited.
- Florida State #2 -Tallahassee, FL
- Virginia Tech #3 – Blacksburg, VA
- Clemson #10 – Clemson, SC
- Duke #12 – Durham, NC
- Notre Dame – unseeded – Evanston, IL
- Georgia Tech – unseeded – Gainesville, FL
Click here for the complete rundown of games, times and locations plus the bracket.
