TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (March 7, 2023) – 'Busy' would be a fine word to describe the Salt Lake Community College Athletic Department this week.
 
SLCC will host the NCAA Western District championship game in Men's Basketball, along with seeing its Baseball and Softball programs host their home-opening series in Scenic West Athletic Conference play. To top it off, SLCC Women's Basketball is on the road in Idaho for the Region 18 tournament.
 
For more information and upcoming schedules, visit slccbruins.com.
 
Baseball: After a split weekend in Nevada, the Bruins will return home this week for their first games of the year at Cate Field.
 
SLCC is scheduled to play Colorado Northwestern in a four-game series that will start on Friday, with doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday. This will be the first time this season the Bruins will play at Cate Field, due to weather and scheduling.
 
Men's Basketball: A surprise run to the Region 18 title has given the No. 9 Bruins the chance to host this week's NJCAA Western District game.
 
SLCC will host Region 1 champion Arizona Western in the title game on Saturday at 3:00 p.m., which will played inside the Lifetime Activities Center. The Bruins are looking for their fourth consecutive NJCAA tournament trip, with the team finishing as last year's NJCAA runner-up.
 
Bruins coach Kyle Taylor said the postseason presents different challenges for teams.
 
"The key to winning in the postseason is discipline and grit," he said. "Opponents are all good when you get to the postseason, so it's important to value every possession on both offense and defense. You also must weather runs from the other team, that is going to happen, and how your players respond is going to determine the outcome of the game."
 
Softball: The SLCC Softball program had a strong start to the regular season last week, earning 3-1 win in a road series with USU Eastern.
 
Salt Lake returns home this week for the first time in 2023, hosting a four-game series at Norma Carr Field. Provided the field is playable, the Bruins will host doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.
 
In advance of the home opener, Bruins coach Cyndee Bennett noted the team will have its focus on playing consistently.
 
"Our key is consistency," she said. "If we can play our consistent game, we give ourselves a good chance to win."
 
Women's Basketball: There have been ups-and-downs in the 2022-23 season for the Salt Lake Community College Women's Basketball team, although many more 'ups' than 'downs'.
 
Regardless, the Bruins are taking their No. 3 seed into this week's Region 18 tournament at Southern Idaho, facing off against No. 2 USU Eastern in the semifinals. Salt Lake went 1-2 against the Lady Eagles this season, with the winner of the USU-SLCC game advancing to face the winner of a semifinal between top seed Southern Idaho and Snow.
 
In preparation for the tournament, Bruins coach Marcilina Grayer noted her team's key in the postseason will be focused more on mental continuity.
 
"In my opinion, the key to beating good teams is mental focus and fight," she stated. "We must stick to the game plan and fight every minute we have. Postseason Is the most exciting time of year, and it is what we practice all year for."