The East Central Community College Lady Diamond Warriors softball team will take the field to open their season Feb. 4 as the No. 2-ranked team in the nation, according to the 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association preseason Division II softball rankings released Jan. 27.

East Central was ranked second behind Phoenix College, a team it defeated in last season’s national tournament.

The Lady Diamond Warriors advanced to the championship game of the 2015 NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship last May before falling to Kankakee Community College of Illinois 5-1.

The second-place finish in the nation was the highest-ever for the Decatur college’s softball program.

The Lady Diamond Warriors ended their 2015 record-breaking season with a 48-14 record. In addition to finishing second at the NJCAA National Championship, Head Coach Kristin Chaney’s team also finished second in the South Division of Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges league play, second in the MACJC State Tournament, and runner-up in the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

East Central opens the 2016 season on Thursday, Feb. 4, hosting Alabama Southern Community College at home in Decatur. Doubleheader action is at 2 and 4 p.m.