Lions softball team in playoffs

The Vanguard University softball team is the No. 3 seed in a six-team double-elimination tournament that will advance one team into the four-team NAIA softball championship opening-round tournament.

The Lions (34-22) will meet William Jessup on Thursday at 11:45 a.m. at Concordia University in Irvine. Vanguard finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference, which has four teams in the event that runs through Saturday.

Concordia, ranked No. 1 nationally, is the top seed. Simpson, representing the California Pacific Conference, is the No. 2 seed.

Should Vanguard beat William Jessup, it would play Friday at 11:45 a.m. If the Lions lose their first game Thursday, they would play again at 2 p.m. for the right to advance Friday’s 9:30 a.m. game.

— From staff reports