Amy Smotherman-Burgess

Tennessee's Ashton Ward pitches against BYU at the new Sherri Lee Softball Stadium on Thursday.

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The rebuilding is over for the Tennessee softball team.

It’s time to see if the Lady Vols are strong enough to weather stiff competition on their home field in their NCAA regional this weekend and make softball’s Sweet 16.

Louisville (30-21) plays Virginia Tech (44-15) at 2:30 today at Lee Softball Stadium and UT (47-14) follows up against Winthrop (36-17) at 5 p.m.

The winners of today’s games meet at noon Saturday in an ESPN2-televised event, while the losers meet in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The winner of Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game plays the loser of the noon game at 5 p.m., and the winner of that game advances to play at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Ralph Weekly, who along with his wife, Karen, serves as the Lady Vols co-head coach, said the key to UT’s success is obvious.

“We’ll advance as far as our pitching will take us,’’ he said. “The circle becomes more important this time of year because we’re going against some really good hitters.

“Winthrop’s first three hitters are as good as anyone’s top three in the country, and the rest of their lineup can hit, too.’’

The Lady Vols have split starting duties between senior Megan Rhodes and freshman Ashton Ward.

“Nothing that has happened before matters,’’ Rhodes said. “I think I tried to grow into my role as quickly as I could this season, and at times I put too much pressure on myself. It’s just a matter of doing my thing.’’

Former UT ace Monica Abbott, the NCAA all-time strikeouts leader now with the Olympic team, said the Lady Vols’ pitchers have the talent to succeed.

“They just need to realize the postseason is the best time of the year; it’s what you play and live for,’’ Abbott said. “You play to win, and you can’t get frustrated. I think there’s just too much thinking going on.’’

Winthrop coach Mark Cooke thinks the Lady Eagles are in for a challenge, regardless of how inconsistent UT’s pitching has been.

“I hope I could be ‘disappointed’ like Ralph one year,’’ Cooke said with a chuckle. “Tennessee has speed, power and tremendous athletes. They keep outscoring people, and that’s why they keep winning.

“The dominating pitcher is gone, but the team that remains there is more than just rebuilding.’’

Unless Louisville could pull a major upset, Tennessee or Winthrop will have the chore of facing Virginia Tech’s star pitcher, Angela Tincher, on Saturday.

Tincher is arguably the top pitcher in the nation, having no-hit the U.S. Olympic team this year.

Reserved seat tickets for all sessions are $30 apiece with general admission seats going for $18. Single-game reserved tickets are $12, general admission $7 and youth single game tickets are $5.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.