Field: The championship field comprises 32 teams. Four teams will participate at each of eight on-campus regional sites in a double-elimination format. Winners of the regionals will advance to an eight-team, double-elimination final.

Dates and sites: Regional play is scheduled for May 12-13 on the campuses of competing institutions. The finals will be played at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Georgia, May 18-22.

Information/results: The fax-on-demand telephone number is 770/563-1133 (pin code 1915); request numbers are 1474 for brackets and schedules, 1475 for ticket information and 5171 for championship schedules and results. Championship results will appear in the June 5 issue of The NCAA News.

Championship notes: Defending champion Humboldt State has found its way to the top of the polls again this season behind the pitching of Jessame Kendall and the play of Shelli Maher and Terry Marroquin, each all-tournament team selections for the Lumberjacks in 1999. The Lumberjacks are 32-4 early this season and have company at the top of the rankings in Kennesaw State. The Owls are 34-2 and return Lacey Gardner to the mound this year. Gardner led all pitchers in last year's championship with a 0.82 earned-run average. Although the Owls return two of the batting leaders from last year's title run, Audra Thomas and Krissy Bamford, Kennesaw State will be without Kathy Le, who hit .667 in the 1999 championship. Nebraska-Kearney, last year's runner-up, is 24-7 so far this season behind returning pitchers Terrisa Eckmann and Amanda Kelly, who was 2-0 last year with a 1.99 tournament earned-run average.