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3⃣ D3Playbook’s 3 Things. VTSU Castleton To Join MASCAC. Trine, Redlands Meet For Softball Crown. Four Teams Left In Baseball Tourney.

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“The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Council of Presidents and Commissioner Angela Baumann are excited to announce that Vermont State University Castleton will be joining the MASCAC as a core member effective in the 2027-28 academic year. The Spartans will compete in all 20 championship sports the MASCAC offers.

Castleton joins the eight Massachusetts state universities of Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University as the competing core member institutions in the MASCAC. The MASCAC currently sponsors 20 championships.

The Spartans athletics department offers 26 intercollegiate sports, including alpine skiing, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, field hockey, football, men’s golf, men’s and women’s ice hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, women’s rugby, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, women’s volleyball and men’s wrestling.”

» What They’re Saying. “We are pleased to welcome Vermont State University Castleton as a core member to the MASCAC,” Commissioner Baumann said. “As a like-public institution with strong geographic alignment and a sports sponsorship profile that perfectly matches our conference offerings, Castleton is a natural fit for the conference and strengthens our shared commitment to regional Division III athletics.”

» Quotable. "We’re excited to join the MASCAC and for what this opportunity means for our student‑athletes on the VTSU Castleton Campus," said Vermont State University President Dave Bergh. "This conference move will centralize competition, enhance the student‑athlete experience, and support student success both on the field and in the classroom.”

» Quotable II. "I would like to thank the MASCAC for inviting Castleton into the conference under full membership status," said Director of Athletics Tim Barrett. "This is a natural fit for us. Our geographic footprint, status as a state institution, and broad sports sponsorship align perfectly with the MASCAC. Just as importantly, our institutional profile—from enrollment to cost of attendance to athletics investment—mirrors the conference's existing membership."

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It will be defending national champion Trine and Redlands for the NCAA Division III softball championship.

The Thunder and the Bulldogs advanced to the best-of-3 title series with Sunday victories Trine (41-6) knocked off Belhaven for the second time to sweep through its bracket, while Redlands (46-6) ousted Simpson to win all three games in its bracket.

The title series begins Tuesday with a single game at 11 a.m. at the Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Va. Game two is slated for 11 a.m. on Wednesday with an if-necessary winner-take-all game slated for 1:30 p.m.

East Texas Baptist and Endicott are a win away from advancing to the NCAA Division III baseball championship series. Standing in their way - Denison and Adrian.

The Tigers (40-11) defeated top-seed Denison and fifth-seeded Baldwin Wallace to reach the precipice of the final, while the Gulls (42-11) toppled No. 3 Salisbury and No. 7 Adrian to move within a victory of the final round.

ETBU takes on the Big Red (47-2) at 10 a.m. at Classic Auto Group Park in Eastlake, Ohio, while Endicott faces the Bulldogs (38-13) again at 1:15 p.m. If necessary games follow at 5 and 8:30 p.m.

“The Tufts University women's rowing team etched itself into the record books as one of the most dominant teams in NCAA Championship history on Friday afternoon, winning its third straight NCAA Championship in action from Lake Lanier Olympic Park.

For the second straight season, the Jumbos first and second varsity eights dominated all four races they competed in at the NCAA Championships. With impending weather moving Saturday's racing to Friday, the Jumbos were forced to race twice on both the 1V8+ and 2V8+ sides in the same day.

The truncated time table was no match for the Jumbos, who matched last year's dominant performance of 56 points with the pair of victories. Over the last three seasons, Tufts 1V8+ won its third straight at the national meet, while the Jumbos second varsity also repeated as national champs. Bates College was second with 45 points, while William Smith College earned third place with 44 points.”

» Elite Scholar-Athlete. Wellesley’s Rachel Hu was selected as the recipient of the NCAA Division III award for women’s rowing.

» Track and Field. Former Wisconsin-La Crosse standout Sam Blaskowski ran the fastest 100 meters by an American in 2026 with a 9.89 clocking at the Music City Track Carnival in Cleveland, Tenn. The time equals the No. 2 mark in the world this year.

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