Back to the Illinois Fighting Illini Newsfeed

Jaguars softball earns first national tourney berth

DANVILLE — Matt Cervantes' Danville Area Community College softball team led 2-1 through 41/2 innings in Thursday's NJCAA Division II District P Championship series opener against Cottey (Mo.) College.

So how did the Jaguars manage to produce 20 runs over their next eight innings' worth of at-bats en route to 10-1 and 12-2 victories at Winter Park, as well as their first-ever berth in the D-II national tournament?

"We talked with the girls about having a certain approach when they got to the box," Cervantes said. "All of a sudden, we decided we'd figure out how to swing (in Game 1).