By By Ed Morrone
For the second consecutive year, the Pride softball team simply ran out of magic.
University of Alabama pitcher Stephanie VanBrakle allowed just one hit over six innings and added a two-run home run at the plate as the Crimson Tide defeated the Pride, 6-0, capturing the NCAA Tournament Regional 12 Championship at the University of Alabama Softball Complex on May 22. The loss marked the end of the Pride’s season, as the team fell disappointingly close to a berth in the Women’s College World Series (CWS) for a second straight year.
Pride starting pitcher Callie Osborne lasted just two-plus innings in the defeat, yielding four runs (three earned), three hits and two walks, while she didn’t strike out a batter. The senior ace had a fabulous two-year career for the softball program, finishing with a 37-10 record-including 25-7 this season. In 2004, she set the school record with a 0.79 ERA and reeled off another school record of 21 consecutive wins this spring. However, despite all of these accolades, Osborne just didn’t have it on this day.
The Crimson Tide jumped on the Pride early, getting sacrifice flies in each of the first two innings. The big blow, however, came in the top of the third when Osborne hit catcher Ashley Courtney with a pitch to lead off the inning. VanBrakle then followed with her 11th homer of the season, a crushing shot over the left field fence which took the Pride’s season along with it. The other half of the team’s two-headed pitching monster, Adrienne Clark then relieved Osborne, but the damage had clearly been done.
“I was one hitter too late,” Pride head coach Bill Edwards said, referring to VanBrakle’s home run. “I went with my heart and not my gut. I went with my heart today and left Callie in to face VanBrakle and it was a big mistake.”
Clark limited the Crimson Tide’s offense to just two runs over the final five innings, but the Pride could muster nothing against VanBrakle, who did it all for her team. Aside from Pride junior shortstop Laura Sweeney reaching base twice (once on an error in the first, the other on an infield single in the sixth), Alabama’s junior hurler was flawless. She struck out eight, walked none and retired 17 batters in a row in between the error and Sweeney’s single. The win improved her record to 31-6 on the season, and she would win three more times over the next two weeks, helping Alabama to advance to the CWS.
“I was able to throw three or four balls off the plate to some batters and get them to swing at it,” VanBrakle said. “When that’s working it’s good.”
Her pitching performance certainly garnered praise from the Pride.
“VanBrakle really had the drop ball going today,” Edwards said. “She was outstanding. She didn’t make a mistake today. I give her all the credit in the world.”
“She mixed it up well today, inside and outside. Her whole repertoire was on.” Clark added.
Despite the loss, this season marked the most successful one ever in the history of the softball program. The Pride finished with a record of 43-16-1, eclipsing the 2000 team’s mark of 42-21. The Blue and Gold also advanced to a regional final for the second year in a row and picked up two NCAA Tournament victories for a third straight year. Heading into the 2003 season, the Pride had won just three NCAA Tournament games in the history of the program (in five appearances). The team has won eight since, including four last year when it came just one win away from advancing to the CWS. The program’s success has not gone unnoticed.
“I have tremendous respect for Coach Edwards and his team,” athletic director Jack Hayes said. “He’s created an environment where winning two games in the NCAA Tournament is an expectation. I was proud to be a Hofstra member down there in Alabama.”
Unlike last season, the Pride will be hit a little bit harder by graduation. The team will lose six seniors-as opposed to just two last year-including Clark and Osborne, the two pitchers it has come to rely on the most. Osborne’s 25 wins this season left her one shy of the school record, which is shared by Stacy Jackson (twice) and Jen Smith. Clark finished her fantastic career with a reputation of being one of the best big-game pitchers in the country, compiling a 5-1 record in NCAA Tournament games, which included three solo shutouts and one combined shutout. Not even recruited by the Pride as a pitcher, Clark ended her four-year career with a 39-23 record in the pitching circle.
Though the Pride will be hurt by graduation, it still will bring back some very talented players, including Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year and second baseman Lisa Wambold, shortstop and leadoff hitter Laura Sweeney, defensive stalwart Tara Ulrich at third, power-hitting catcher Ashley Lane, skilled outfielder Pam Dreslinski and reliable pitcher Amy Belonick. Edwards has also recruited what should be a very talented Class of 2009, most notably two promising pitching prospects in Melissa Hodge (Hamilton, N.J.) and Kayleigh Lotti (South Attleboro, Mass). These two are expected to step in right away and help fill the void left by Osborne and Clark, although that task certainly will not be easy
“It’s been an awesome ride,” Clark said. “We’ve made so many strides in the past 10 years to know that we’re going to be in the regionals year after year. Hopefully the remaining players will open the door and we’ll get to the World Series.”