Softball: College Park’s Morgan leads area grads into NCAA tournament

Nicole Morgan is one of the most feared hitters in all of college softball.

53743baa8135e.preview-300The Texas A&M catcher, a graduate of College Park High School, will get a chance to strut her stuff on the big stage of the NCAA tournament this weekend.

The Aggies (35-20), who also feature Montgomery High School graduates Brittany Clopton and Cali Lanphear, will play Hofstra (33-13) in the opening game of the Norman regional at 5 p.m. Friday. No. 7 overall seed Oklahoma (45-10) opens the double-elimination tournament against Bryant (32-20) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The winner will advance to a best-of-three super regional series against No. 10 Tennessee, Charleston Southern, Lipscomb or Virginia Tech. Morgan ranks among the top 65 players in the country in home runs (14), on-base percentage (.503), slugging percentage (.741) and walks (42). She is hitting .374 with eight doubles, two triples, 54 RBI and 40 runs — and has only 14 strikeouts in 147 at-bats. click here for complete story and photos