BATON ROUGE, La. – The Prairie View A&M 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference softball champs will open play at the Chef Celeste Softball Challenge hosted by Southern over the three day weekend.
 
"We're ready," Head PVAMU softball coach Vernon L. Bland said. "We're excited to start this process and try to defend our championship."
 
The team won their first SWAC Championship after 20 years, winning six straight elimination games during the 2018 season.
 
With 18 returning players from the championship team, in addition to 10 newcomers, the group wanted to focus on growing close and developing together. Junior Alyssa Garcia said that hasn't been difficult.
 
"I think this team has been the closest ever," she said. "I know we're really close this year and gelling is not our problem. We really don't even have any problems. We're just an all-around good team."
 
As Lady Panthers prepare for the upcoming tournament, Bland said sticking to the basics will be key for the team in their first game.
 
"We want to stick to the fundamentals and stick to basics," he said. "That's what won us the championship. We need to play solid defense and do some timely hitting."
 
The Lady Panthers will first face Howard University on Friday for a 6 p.m. first pitch. They will play North Carolina Central on Saturday Feb. 9 at noon and Southern later in the evening at 6 p.m.
 
The team will close out the tournament against Alabama State on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 9 a.m.