GULF SHORES, Ala. --- Four pairs of cleats with a California Baptist University logo were left sitting on home plate surrounded by red Alabama clay, after the final game of the NAIA National Championship.
They weren’t left out of frustration or forgetfulness after the Lancers heartbreaking loss to Oregon Tech in the final, but to signal the end of an era for CBU softball.
“We wanted to go out on a good note and leave our cleats there to show that we left it all on the field,” said senior Caty Reeves, whose cleats now sit, along with the rest of her fellow seniors on the roster, on that Gulf Shores home plate.
The Lancers forced a decisive game Wednesday afternoon with a dominating 7-0 victory to open championship play, but came up just short, as Jackie Imhof tossed her second complete game shutout of the week against top-ranked CBU to give Oregon Tech the 1-0 victory. It was the Owls’ first ever NAIA National Title in just their second appearance at the national tournament.
“This was an amazing team and an amazing season for CBU softball,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “These girls accomplished so much all year and just ran into a hot team with a hot pitcher at the end. It doesn’t take anything away from what they have done to contribute to the legacy of this program.”
The Lancers, who were eying their second title in three years, finished the season with a program record 66-5 record, just one short of the NAIA record for wins. It was the Lancers fourth-straight 60-win season and seventh-straight 50-win season as they finish out their final year of NAIA play. CBU has made it to the national tournament each season for the past eight years, winning a conference title each year as well.
After being dropped into the losers bracket yesterday by Oregon Tech in another 1-0 heartbreaker, the Lancers had to win a pair against the Owls to claim the 2011 title. Everything seemed to be falling into place when the Lancers got to Imhof early and often in that opening game, chasing her in the fifth inning.
“That was CBU in the first game,” said Smith. “We made some adjustments against her and got to her early which was exactly what we wanted to do coming into that ball game.”
Sloan McHann set the tone in the first inning, slapping a clutch two-out double to left-center field to drive in Tina Galinato for the first run of the game.
The Lancers would not strike again until the fourth inning when Starr White drove a double into the right-center gap, giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead.
The 2-0 lead would have been more than enough for Emma Holden, who was dominant just as she had been all tournament.
“I felt great in that first game and my teammates really held up their end of the bargain at the plate,” said Holden, who was named NAIA National Pitcher of the Year following the final game. “We all really wish things could have ended better, but this is a great group of girls. It is probably the closest group of teammates I have ever been around.”
Holden threw six innings of three-hit ball in the opening win, holding Oregon Tech scoreless. Overall Holden pitched 42 innings at the national tournament, giving up just seven hits and one run. She struck out a total of 60 batters in championship play.
The Lancers kept the scoring going in the fifth against Imhof, scoring a pair of runs on a double by Lindsay Henry and a single by Mara Rodriguez. Imhof left the game giving up four runs on eight hits. CBU tacked on two more in the seventh to polish off the 7-0 win.
“Emma has been absolutely amazing out here and there is no doubt she deserves to be the National Pitcher of the Year,” said Smith. “She was the hottest pitcher here coming in and it’s fitting that the two best pitchers at this tournament squared off for the title.”
The Lancers entered the second game with all the confidence and momentum seemingly on their side, but it did not carry over as the CBU bats went abruptly silent in the final game.
Imhof bounced back from the pounding she took in game one to throw a four-hit shutout and seal the title for Oregon Tech.
The Owls scored their lone run of the game in the first inning off of starter Tory Ferreira, with an RBI single. Ferreira would settle in though and allow just one more hit in her 3.1 innings pitched.
Holden entered the game in the fourth and kept the Owls scoreless the rest of the way. It was not enough as the Lancers were kept down all afternoon by Imhof.
“Even though we didn’t end up with first place I still feel that this team was amazing,” said senior Briana Corral. “Even though we didn’t necessarily have the most talent, I feel this year’s team had more heart than any other one I have been on. We got this far because we played with our heart the whole way.”
The Lancers graduate four players from this 66-win team, keeping together the majority of the nucleus of the club as they transition to the Pacific West Conference and NCAA Division II play.
“These girls continually exceeded my expectations all year,” said Smith. “We graduated a ton of talent from last year’s ball club and I thought we would have a much rougher time this year. These girls just kept finding ways to win all season and I still feel they are the best team in the country. We lose some great leadership and talent that will be hard to replace, but I still feel good about how we can compete next season. There is a good mix of young talent and veteran leadership coming back and we are looking forward to some new challenges.”
They weren’t left out of frustration or forgetfulness after the Lancers heartbreaking loss to Oregon Tech in the final, but to signal the end of an era for CBU softball.
“We wanted to go out on a good note and leave our cleats there to show that we left it all on the field,” said senior Caty Reeves, whose cleats now sit, along with the rest of her fellow seniors on the roster, on that Gulf Shores home plate.
The Lancers forced a decisive game Wednesday afternoon with a dominating 7-0 victory to open championship play, but came up just short, as Jackie Imhof tossed her second complete game shutout of the week against top-ranked CBU to give Oregon Tech the 1-0 victory. It was the Owls’ first ever NAIA National Title in just their second appearance at the national tournament.
“This was an amazing team and an amazing season for CBU softball,” said Head Coach Mike Smith. “These girls accomplished so much all year and just ran into a hot team with a hot pitcher at the end. It doesn’t take anything away from what they have done to contribute to the legacy of this program.”
The Lancers, who were eying their second title in three years, finished the season with a program record 66-5 record, just one short of the NAIA record for wins. It was the Lancers fourth-straight 60-win season and seventh-straight 50-win season as they finish out their final year of NAIA play. CBU has made it to the national tournament each season for the past eight years, winning a conference title each year as well.
After being dropped into the losers bracket yesterday by Oregon Tech in another 1-0 heartbreaker, the Lancers had to win a pair against the Owls to claim the 2011 title. Everything seemed to be falling into place when the Lancers got to Imhof early and often in that opening game, chasing her in the fifth inning.
“That was CBU in the first game,” said Smith. “We made some adjustments against her and got to her early which was exactly what we wanted to do coming into that ball game.”
Sloan McHann set the tone in the first inning, slapping a clutch two-out double to left-center field to drive in Tina Galinato for the first run of the game.
The Lancers would not strike again until the fourth inning when Starr White drove a double into the right-center gap, giving the Lancers a 2-0 lead.
The 2-0 lead would have been more than enough for Emma Holden, who was dominant just as she had been all tournament.
“I felt great in that first game and my teammates really held up their end of the bargain at the plate,” said Holden, who was named NAIA National Pitcher of the Year following the final game. “We all really wish things could have ended better, but this is a great group of girls. It is probably the closest group of teammates I have ever been around.”
Holden threw six innings of three-hit ball in the opening win, holding Oregon Tech scoreless. Overall Holden pitched 42 innings at the national tournament, giving up just seven hits and one run. She struck out a total of 60 batters in championship play.
The Lancers kept the scoring going in the fifth against Imhof, scoring a pair of runs on a double by Lindsay Henry and a single by Mara Rodriguez. Imhof left the game giving up four runs on eight hits. CBU tacked on two more in the seventh to polish off the 7-0 win.
“Emma has been absolutely amazing out here and there is no doubt she deserves to be the National Pitcher of the Year,” said Smith. “She was the hottest pitcher here coming in and it’s fitting that the two best pitchers at this tournament squared off for the title.”
The Lancers entered the second game with all the confidence and momentum seemingly on their side, but it did not carry over as the CBU bats went abruptly silent in the final game.
Imhof bounced back from the pounding she took in game one to throw a four-hit shutout and seal the title for Oregon Tech.
The Owls scored their lone run of the game in the first inning off of starter Tory Ferreira, with an RBI single. Ferreira would settle in though and allow just one more hit in her 3.1 innings pitched.
Holden entered the game in the fourth and kept the Owls scoreless the rest of the way. It was not enough as the Lancers were kept down all afternoon by Imhof.
“Even though we didn’t end up with first place I still feel that this team was amazing,” said senior Briana Corral. “Even though we didn’t necessarily have the most talent, I feel this year’s team had more heart than any other one I have been on. We got this far because we played with our heart the whole way.”
The Lancers graduate four players from this 66-win team, keeping together the majority of the nucleus of the club as they transition to the Pacific West Conference and NCAA Division II play.
“These girls continually exceeded my expectations all year,” said Smith. “We graduated a ton of talent from last year’s ball club and I thought we would have a much rougher time this year. These girls just kept finding ways to win all season and I still feel they are the best team in the country. We lose some great leadership and talent that will be hard to replace, but I still feel good about how we can compete next season. There is a good mix of young talent and veteran leadership coming back and we are looking forward to some new challenges.”
