The Hottest Softball Colleges of 2009/2010.

In the sun-drenched foothills of Los Angeles county, a softball juggernaut looms. This highly competitive program is led by gold medalist Julie Smith and has appeared in the NCAA tournament 6 of the last 10 years. To the dismay of their opponents, they show no signs of slowing down - recent highlights include a 13-game winning streak.

The Warhawks come prepared to do battle, and with impressive victories over highly-ranked opponents, they're a dominant force in DIII softball. The team finished with a monster 36-6 record in 2009, including a 10-2 showing in Florida, and they're gearing up to continue the domination in 2010.

How does a national DIII title sound as a present to celebrate your 300th win? That was Coach Amy Weaver's treat in 2009, as Messiah won its first national title in softball. Nuff said.

With a 30-11 overall record, a 12-2 performance in their conference and a senior elected to ESPN Magazine's second Academic All-American team, the Titans are living up their name. They're supported by awesome facilities, and led by a coaching staff that earned no less than Coaching Staff of the Year for the Great Lakes division.

Originally built for the professional Chicago Bandits, the Benedictine softball complex is one of the best facilities in college softball. It's a good thing the Eagles play so well -- they've taken conference titles in 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002, the last season including a 12th-place finish in the NCAA regionals.

Ranked sixth in the competitive Great Lakes division, North Central's softball squad has a reputation for toughness. Head coach Jim Kulawiak has been named CCIW coach of the year no less than six times. We'd guess the team's overall win percentage of .703, 8 NCAA tournament appearances and roster of All-Conference nominees has something to do with it.

Some people choose to go to college in cold places like Siberia. Others prefer the rolling hills of southern California. At Cal Lutheran, they don't just bask in the nice weather, they play great softball in the competitive SCIAC. Cal Luthern is a classic liberal arts school, which provides its players with a well-rounded experience.

Aurora takes their softball seriously, providing athletes with a sizable training complex off-campus. The hard training pays off: two Spartans were recently named to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN Magazine Academic All-District Teams. In 2009, the Spartans had a 31-7 record, including a 19-win streak that has established them as a powerhouse in DIII softball.

The University of Chicago is more than a bunch of nerds and a mere 85 Nobel Prize winners. Beyond being a world renowned research institution that has spun off such things as, oh, the atom bomb, Chicagoans also play great softball. Led by Ruth Kmak, Chicago players work hard on the field and in the classroom. They also travel -- really far. In 2009 Coach Kmak took her team to Europe to play against the continent's finest.

Elmhurst prides itself on its diverse student body, but the Blue Jays softball squad is united in their desire to win. Veteran coach Lori Brown has built a team successful on the field and off it - in 2005, the Blue Jays' GPA was second-highest in the nation for Division III. Recent highlights include a 9-3 stretch during the team's spring break training in Florida.