Former Vanden High School player Samanie Simmons’ collegiate team to play in the NCAA D1 Softball Championship starting Friday, May 17

Former Vanden High School player and current Northern Colorado Bears pitcher and utility player, Samanie Simmons, will compete in the NCAA D1 Softball Championship Tournament.

There are 64 teams in the tournament, with the final eight teams receiving an invite to Omaha, Nebraska to play for the College World Series title.

The Northern Colorado Bears begin the tournament as a number five seed and will square off against the fifth seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls.

The first round, Regionals, is double elimination where a team is only eliminated after two losses. From there, 16 teams will make the Super Regionals and play a best-of-three series.

Finally, the eight winners from Super Regionals will head to Omaha for a chance to play for the title of College World Series Champion!