It will be a battle between southern and northern fast-pitch softball teams when East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., and Mott Community College of Flint, Michigan, begin first-round action of the 2010 NJCAA Division II National Softball Championship at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 20 in Normal, Illinois.

The Lady Diamond Warriors, winners from NJCAA Region 23, bring a 44-9-1 record to the double-elimination event and the Lady Bears of Region 12B are 37-12.

The winner will play the Mercyhurst North East (Pa.)/Johnson County Community College (Kan.) victor at 4 p.m. Thursday. The losing squads of the two matchups meet at 2 p.m. Thursday in an elimination game.

Competition in the three-day event concludes with the championship contest scheduled at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 22.

The ECCC softball program is led by head coach Scott Hill and assistant Kristin Chaney.