MARSHALL, Texas — For the East Texas Baptist University softball team, the saying "there's no place like home" is hitting a little different this week. The Tigers sit at an incredible 43-2 this season and are one of eight teams that have earned a berth into the Division III National Championship tournament.
Even better, they happen to be hosting the tournament at Bell Park at Taylor Field, their home field on campus in Marshall.
"Obviously, there's some comfort to playing at home. The girls love playing here, but the huge thing is just having the ability for people to come and watch," head coach Janae Shirley said. "We have quite a few local girls and that's been a great experience for them to have their families come out and watch them at the collegiate level."
For ETBU, they're taking the home field advantage to a whole new level with a handful of East Texas talent who have remained local to play for the Tigers.
Mary Frances Ellis, an Elysian Fields alumna, has been not just one of the best players in the region, but in the entire country this year. She won the Super Regional Most Outstanding Player and is a three-time All-ASC team player.
Those with East Texas ties also include Maddie Melton, Mallory Pyle and Makayla Menchue, all of Hallsville, and Elizabeth Watkins, of Lindale. They all wholeheartedly agree that having the opportunity to play less than an hour from their home has really helped them thrive and succeed at the next level due to the support.
"We've looked up in the stands multiple times and seen old high school coaches and teammates," Melton said. "The fact that so many of us are from East Texas gives us an advantage because we'll have so many people wanting to see us play. If they came for conference, they'll definitely come for the World Series."
Now, ETBU sits only a few wins away from potentially lifting the trophy right on their own home field in Marshall. For all the girls that have grown up in East Texas, it only continues to light the fire and makes the opportunity even more special.
"Every game there's always someone showing out and doing their part. It's not the same person every time and I think that's what's so special about this team," Ellis said. "The whole year we've been saying that we're already hosting, so we might as well go play in it too. Now that it's starting up and we actually are playing in it, it gives us more confidence. We can do it and we might as well since it's on our home field. It makes it that much more special."
The No. 2 Tigers will open up the tournament on Thursday at 4 p.m. against No. 7 Rowan at Bell Park at Taylor Field in Marshall.