The William Penn and Morningside softball teams are in Golf Shores, Alabama, for Thursday’s start of the NAIA softball championships. It will be the first of three days of pool play and Penn opens against Azusa Pacific of California.

Penn coach Mike Christner says in a national tournament there are so many close games it comes down to the little things that make the difference. Christner says they are now at the level where it will come down to who makes the plays at the right time to advance.

 Christner says many games are lost, not won. “It all comes down to who makes the least amount of mistakes, I’m one that teaches here…most of the time you give it away, they don’t beat you,” Christner says.

Morningside opens against Central Baptist of Arkansas.