Texas softball: Longhorns vs Aggies may again happen in NCAA softball tournament

One can’t blame Texas softball coach Mike White if he wants to spend just a bit more time living in the past. After all, the Longhorns just won their first SEC championship Saturday by beating Alabama.

But no one can blame White if he’s already living in the present, since his team hosts three squads during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament Austin Regional, including a dangerous Big Ten squad in Wisconsin.

So, why is almost every softball fan in the state of Texas — including virtually everyone that dons burnt orange — looking ahead to the Super Regional dates of May 21-24?

Because if Texas (42-10) wins its own regional as the No. 2 overall seed and Texas A&M wins its College Station Regional as the 15th overall seed, the two SEC teams would renew their blood rivalry in a three-game Super Regional series in Austin to determine a spot in the Women’s College World Series.

Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan has emerged as the Longhorns' unquestioned ace, and coach Mike White says his team will rely heavily on the sophomore in the postseason, which starts this week at the SEC Tournament in Athens, Ga. (Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman)

“I had a pretty good idea that was going to happen, you know?” White said, familiar with the often-mischievous ways of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. “It is what it is. We’ve just got to focus on where we're at in this first weekend and then worry about what's going to happen later down the road. I think, if it does happen to come to fruition, it's going to be a great series, obviously.”