Despite what your GPS app may indicate, the road to Oxford, Ala., leads through Houston.

The record-setting Cardinal softball team departs Friday for the Region XIV Tournament scheduled Saturday-Tuesday on the campus of San Jacinto-South, located at 13735 Beamer Rd.

At stake in the eight-team tournament are a pair of automatic berths in the national tournament May 20-25 in Oxford. The regional tournament winner and runner-up will represent the region on the national stage. There is also the possibility the region could receive one of four at-large berths available this  year.

But first things first. The Cardinals, who captured their first Region XIV Conference championship with a 20-4 record, must negotiate the regional tournament. With a 44-14 mark, the Cardinals take the most wins into the tournament. They know, though, it will take three more at the very least to come away with the college's first-ever regional title.

The Cardinals will be looking for the program's third national tournament berth. In 2013, the Cardinals advanced to nationals with a regional runner-up finish. In 2021, they won the regional zone tournament when two separate tournaments (east and south) were played due to COVID restrictions still being in place.

Third-year head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff's Cardinal squad is scheduled to play Alvin (26-27) in the first round at 5 p.m. Saturday. A win would move them into a 5 p.m. championship bracket semifinal at 5 p.m. Sunday against the Bossier Parish-San Jacinto winner. The championship game is set at 5 p.m. Monday.

The runner-up bracket title game is scheduled at noon Tuesday.

All tournament games are scheduled to be webcast at https://tsbnsports.com/