CLEVELAND -- From big wins to University Athletic Association championships, there have been plenty of good memories made by the Case Western Reserve University softball team at Mather Park in recent seasons, but the Spartans always fell short of the ultimate goal, making it to the NCAA Tournament.
Fell short, that is, until this week, when the Spartans were awarded an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they are playing in regional action at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, this weekend.
“We’re just thrilled,” said Case softball coach Josie Henry, who along with her assistants, was selected as the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
“I think there’s been a lot of years coming. We’ve had a lot of close chances at Selection Shows. I know this team has been working hard all season, so we’re thrilled and excited to be on our way to the championships.”
Freshman infielder Sarah Miller added, “It’s definitely one of the most exciting moments of my life. This has been a dream. Growing up playing softball, you always want to go to the NCAA Tournament, so being a part of it, especially in my first year, it’s like so exciting.”
PHOTOS: Case Western Reserve excited to be back in NCAA Softball Tournament
Before the Spartans earned their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001, they put together a 31-8 record, which featured 11 wins over the first 12 games of the regular season, including a 10-1 mark in neutral-site games in the Emory and Henry Tournament and Tucson Invitational.
“A lot of offseason training,” Henry said of the reason for the quick start. “I think they really poured their heart and soul into being ready and well-prepared, and I think the way that our conference is set up, we really have to work hard to get an at-large bid.
“Securing those 31 wins for us was extremely important, and I think they did a great job, especially going into the last weekend of the year, to really capitalize on our opportunities in our final four games.”
Despite losing all four games in a series at Emory, including a pair of one-run setbacks, the Spartans fought through adverse weather conditions and trips to New York City and Chicago late in the year and closed the regular season with 18 wins in their last 20 outings.
Ending the year with a four-game sweep at the University of Chicago and an eight-game winning streak proved enough for the Spartans to earn the at-large bid.
“Our four losses were to a really strong program, and we had a couple losses that were only by one run,” Henry said.
“I think we didn’t lose confidence from that. I think we grew as a team. I think we didn’t necessarily play our best ball in that weekend, and again, we didn’t lose confidence. We just held strong and got back after it when we got back to Cleveland.”
After playing the champions of the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Ohio Northern Polar Bears, in the first round, the Spartans continue play in the four-team double-elimination regional today against Mount Aloysius.
“We set goals very early in the season, and one of our team goals was obviously to make it to the tournament because we knew the talent that we had,” Miller said. “Now that we’re actually doing it and it’s happening, it’s amazing.”