CELEBRATION | SB | ETBU Receives National Championship Rings

The East Texas Baptist University Softball team etched their names into history by capturing the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championship, a dream realized on their home field, Jason Bell Park at Taylor Field, before a crowd of family, friends, alumni, and community supporters.

Led by Head Coach Janaé Shirley, the Tigers dominated the regular season, securing a remarkable 35-2 record, and went on a 12-game winning streak in April to clinch the American Southwest Conference regular-season title.

The Tigers carried this momentum into the postseason, hosting and winning the ASC Tournament, the NCAA Marshall Regional, and the NCAA Marshall Super Regional without a single loss, entering the National Championship tournament as the No. 2 seed. With a perfect home record of 24-0, they opened the Championship Tournament with a 7-0 victory over Rowan.

ETBU faced longtime rival Behaven in front of an electric crowd, claiming the 3-2 victory. The win brought the Tigers one game away from the Championship series, and after a 5-2 victory over Rowan, they secured their spot in the best-of-three final against Belhaven. After losing the first game of the championship series to Belhaven in a close 4-3 battle, ETBU rallied in game two. ETBU tallied the 8-2 win to force the decisive game three. With standing-room-only attendance, the Tigers took the lead in the first inning of the final game with back-to-back home runs from freshmen Haylie Stum and Tauryn Cummings. ETBU held off Belhaven's attempts to rally and ultimately secured the national title with a final score of 10-8.

ETBU became the first team in modern-day NCAA Division III softball history to win a National Championship on its home field. This historic season, marked by a 48-3 record and a 28-1 record at home.

ETBU's 2024 softball season will be remembered not only for its remarkable achievements on the field but also for the enduring legacy of a team that played with faith, joy, and a commitment to each other. The 2024 National Championship win is a proud milestone for ETBU, inspiring future Valor Gals and proving, once again, that there truly is no place like home.

On Sunday, December 15, the ETBU softball team was honored by Marshall as the Grand Marshalls of the Christmas Parade.