Columbia, MD - For the first time in program history, the Howard Community College Dragons will host a home playoff series this weekend at Kiwanis Wallas Park.

The Dragons will host the rival CCBC Catonsville Cardinals on Friday, May 1 at 11:00 AM in a best-of-three series. Howard Community College president Daria J. Willis will throw out the first pitch for game one.

Game two is scheduled for 1:00 PM, while game three, if needed, will be played the next day at 7:30 PM. 

The home playoff game represents a major step forward in the Dragons' softball program, with Howard having played every playoff game of its' existence on the road. That ends this weekend.

"This moment belongs to every player who chose to believe in something bigger," said head coach Shannon Riley. "Five years in and we're just getting started."

The Dragons clinched the #4 seed in the NJCAA Region 20 postseason tournament by sweeping the Cardinals on April 22. The Dragons won a tough pitchers duel in game one, then took a wild game two in extras to clinch the top seed.

This year marked the best regular season in program history for the Dragons. Howard finished the regular season with a 21-15 record and 12-6 conference record. Led by returning stars Marissa Webb, Sophia Steele, Taylor Pence, and Madison Falby, along with newcomers Gianna Peluso, Madison Hamolia, Layla Walker, Kaylee Brogan, and Katherine Wright, the Dragons have set program records for hits, home runs, total runs, and RBIs over the course of the year.

The match up will be the second-straight year the Dragons and Cardinals have faced off in the postseason. Last season saw the Dragons make the playoffs as the #5 seed. After losing game one, the Dragons won their first postseason game in program history in a bizarre game delayed by rain and darkness. While Howard lost game three, the win marked a significant step for the young program. Now one year later, the Dragons have a chance to do something even greater.

"Hosting our first playoff game is a milestone - but not the finish line," said coach Riley. "It's the standard of what HCC Softball is becoming."

Two wins will launch the Dragons to the second round of the Region 20 tournament, hosted by WVU Potomac State College in Keyser, West Virginia. The Dragons would play in a double-elimination tournament to reach the finals.