CLEVELAND -- Chemistry is far more than just a major at Case Western Reserve University.
For members of the softball team, it is the bond that brings them together in pursuit of the ultimate goal: a National Championship.
The Spartans knew they had the potential for a special season during offseason workouts, and while there were struggles at certain points of the year, they lived up to that promise by advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships, which will be played in Oklahoma City this weekend.
“You get to this point in the season, everyone has good players,” Case coach Josie Henry told WKYC.com. “Everyone has good talent. Everyone’s been practicing like crazy all year round. So when all of that’s even, what’s something that’s different?
“What I’ve really found is it’s the heart that you’re willing to play for your teammate. Are you willing to put it on the line not for yourself or to break records, but because you love the people around you? And that’s kind of a mantra that we’ve been really working towards, really to be selfless. Representing our school, we’re very proud to do that, as well. Playing for something bigger than just what a bunch of individuals can do, I think that’s really given us the opportunity to rise to the challenge.”
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 regular-season record, which featured 11 wins over the first 12 games, including a 10-1 mark in neutral-site games in the Emory and Henry Tournament and Tucson Invitational.
The Spartans ended the regular season with a four-game sweep at the University of Chicago, which extended their winning streak to eight straight. Additionally, the sweep gave the Spartans 18 wins in their final 20 regular-season games, which proved enough to earn the at-large bid.
“This team is the best team that I’ve ever played on,” junior infielder Nicole Doyle said.
“This year, the chemistry is amazing. Our talent is so awesome, and everybody gets along. There’s not a person I wouldn’t go and get dinner with, so I think not only are we good chemistry, good talent, we just genuinely like being around each other, and it’s great.”
After getting shut out in the opening game of the 2018 NCAA Tournament by the champions of the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Ohio Northern Polar Bears, the Spartans rattled off four wins, including the final two against Ohio Northern to win the St. Mary’s College Regional on Mother’s Day.
Then, the Spartans won a best-of-three series against Hope College in Holland, Michigan, in the Super Regionals to get to the NCAA Division III Championships for the first time in school history.
“This team is very special,” Henry said. “They have great chemistry. They come together. They have confidence in the big moments, and we had some younger players step up that were All-Tournament Team, and that was just amazing to see. Big moments, pressure, it was not a big deal for them.”
The No. 7 seed in the eight-team field, the Spartans (37-10) will begin their quest for the National Championship in the double-elimination tournament against The University of Texas-Tyler (43-3) this afternoon.
“We’ve got to just keep doing what we’ve been doing, hit well, pitch well, field well, high energy, got to intimidate the other team with our cheers and whatnot, and we’re just going to have fun, too,” said senior outfielder Katie Wede. “We have to have fun.”
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