Cf) 0 ~ w .....J I ~ ::::::: DOMINATING THE DIAMOND SOFTBALL CELEBRATES BEST YEAR YET WORDS Garrett White I I PHOTOS Jejf Montgomery Though the program had only been around for four years, the Harding softball team continued to challenge itself to improve with each new season. The Lady Bisons found great success in the 2017 season with a conference record of 40-4 and overall record of 58-9. Beginning on May 18, 201 7, Harding, ranked No. 2 in the country, hosted the CAA Division II Central Regional and played against Minnesota State (MSU), ranked sixth, in a best-of-three-game series. The Lady Bisons fell to MSU in the third game of the series. Lady Bisons head softball coach Phil Berry was pleased with his team and how well they competed. He said the team continued to rise and succeed since the program's inception in fall 2013. "We had laid the foundation with the team that started four years ago," Berry said. "That group of freshmen were seniors, and we supplemented their talents with additional talents for [successive] years, so the maturity of those seniors and an exceptionally talented pitching staff last year all came together to enable us to have a pretty special year." Senior Madison Wickline, a manager for the Lady Bisons and also a former player, was a part of the program's start in 2013. According to Wickline, no one expected the Lady Bisons to be such a success at the start of the first season. "[There were] no expectations, and no other team was really expecting us to do much," Wickline said. "We ended up with a winning record and made it to the conference tournament." The same amount of dedication was carried into the 2017 season, as the Lady Bisons played passionately until the very end. "Last season was so special because everyone who had come in for the first year of the program was in their senior year/' Wickline said. "It was so cool to see the team grow and evolve from a team who kne,v nothing my freshman year to an elite ball club that won the conference and was one of the top ten teams in the nation last year." Junior Peyton Mills agreed with Wickline, noting that the Lady Bisons' performance was something she was thrilled to have experienced. "Last year was an amazing season," Mills said. "I couldn't have asked for anything better. I'm glad I got to experience it with such a hardworking and dynamic team and coaching staff." With only six returning players and nine new freshman for the next season, Berry looked forward to the challenge that came with a reset team. "We believe in the talent we've brought in," Berry said. ''And we look forward to the opportunity to see what we can do this year. But, I know already in the short two weeks that we've been out there working, they're prepared to compete effectively in our conference." Sophomore Autumn Humes pitches to the Henderson State University (HSU) player at bat on March 4, 2017, at Jerry Moore Field. Harding won both games against HSU. // Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery Alumni Mackenzie Jones catches the ball at the NCAA Super Regional Tournament against Minnesota State University (MSU) on May 19, 2017, at Jerry Moore Fis!d. MSU took home the victory against Harding.// Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery Junior Alexus Lawellin swings at the ball at the NCAA Super Regional Tournament against Minnesota State University (MSU) on May 19, 2017, at the Jerry Moore Fie!d. MSU defeated Ha,ding, eliminating the Lady Bisons from the tournament.// Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery Alumni Mackenzie Jones and Amanda Berdan and sophomore Kimberly Slaughter stop to encourage each other before the next play begins on March 4, 2017, at the Jerry Moore Field. The win over HSU was the first series sweep since Harding won all four games at Northwestern Oklahoma University last season.// Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery SCOREBOARD : Missouri University of Science and Technology// 7-6, W Missouri University of Science and Technology// 11-4, W University Of Missouri -St. Louis// 2-1, W Missouri Western State University// 8-0, W Northwest Missouri State University// 1-0, W Pittsburg State University// 3-0, W Minnesota State University - Mankato// 0-1, L University Of Central Missouri// 7-0, W Emporia State University// 5-3, W University Of Nebraska At Kearney // 4-7, L Southwestern Oklahoma State University// 4-5, L Southwestern Oklahoma State University// 6-4, W Southwestern Oklahoma State University// 2-0, W Southwestern Oklahoma State University// 9-1 , W Henderson State University// 6-2, W Henderson State University // 3-2, W Henderson State University// 12-1, W Henderson State University// 3-0, W Christian Brothers University // 8-0, W Christian Brothers University // 8-4, W Ouachita Baptist University// 5-3, W Ouachita Baptist University// 5-4, W Ouachita Baptist University// 7-0, W Ouachita Baptist University// 11 -0, W Oklahoma Baptist University// 2-0, W Oklahoma Baptist University// 8-0, W Oklahoma Baptist University// 8-0, W Oklahoma Baptist University// 3-0, W Southern Nazarene University// 10-6, W Southern Nazarene University // 20-3, W Southern Nazarene University// 6-2, W Southern Nazarene University// 17-5, W Southeastern Oklahoma State University// 2-1, W Southeastern Oklahoma State University // 7-2 , W Southeastern Oklahoma State University// 4-3, W Southeastern Oklahoma State University// 8-0, W I
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==