Softball shows they can play with D-I competition
Allan Lewis
Issue date: 5/27/09 Section: Sports
When the pairings for the 2009 NCAA softball tournament were announced May 10, SIUE was not called. The annual Division II contenders have to sit out the next two postseasons as a part of their transition to D-I, but that didn't stop the Cougars from proving they belonged.
"If we were eligible, we would have been in the tournament," softball Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said.
The SIUE softball team wanted to bring their winning tradition to the next level after nine straight NCAA tournament appearances and four straight 40 win seasons in D-II. After being placed on the fast track to D-I by the university, the Cougars had to show they belonged.
They would not disappoint.
In the end, SIUE won 40 games, went 11-3 against the Ohio Valley Conference, came seven votes short of appearing in the Ultimate College Softball national poll, had eight players earning national honors and Montgomery was named Independent Coach of the year.
"No one really expected us to get to 40 wins," Montgomery said. "We had a huge nucleus of players who know what it's like winning, and we got bigger and stronger to play at a higher level on a consistent basis, and is something we had to adjust to."
The Cougars were not able to take their first game of the season, dropping a 4-2 decision to Centenary College. Later in the day, the team would collect the first of its 40 wins in a big way, dismantling Bryant College 14-0 opening up a 10 game winning streak, taking place during a 26 game stretch of consecutive road games.
Against Bryant, the Cougars used the tools that senior pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo said helped them become successful throughout the year: strong pitching, an explosive offense and a team-oriented philosophy.
"Someone may have gotten the big hit, but it takes all of us, and we play for each other," Colosimo said. "All three of our pitchers did a good job each time… (and) hit our spots. And as a pitcher I knew I had a good defense to back us up."
"If we were eligible, we would have been in the tournament," softball Head Coach Sandy Montgomery said.
The SIUE softball team wanted to bring their winning tradition to the next level after nine straight NCAA tournament appearances and four straight 40 win seasons in D-II. After being placed on the fast track to D-I by the university, the Cougars had to show they belonged.
They would not disappoint.
In the end, SIUE won 40 games, went 11-3 against the Ohio Valley Conference, came seven votes short of appearing in the Ultimate College Softball national poll, had eight players earning national honors and Montgomery was named Independent Coach of the year.
"No one really expected us to get to 40 wins," Montgomery said. "We had a huge nucleus of players who know what it's like winning, and we got bigger and stronger to play at a higher level on a consistent basis, and is something we had to adjust to."
The Cougars were not able to take their first game of the season, dropping a 4-2 decision to Centenary College. Later in the day, the team would collect the first of its 40 wins in a big way, dismantling Bryant College 14-0 opening up a 10 game winning streak, taking place during a 26 game stretch of consecutive road games.
Against Bryant, the Cougars used the tools that senior pitcher Kaitlin Colosimo said helped them become successful throughout the year: strong pitching, an explosive offense and a team-oriented philosophy.
"Someone may have gotten the big hit, but it takes all of us, and we play for each other," Colosimo said. "All three of our pitchers did a good job each time… (and) hit our spots. And as a pitcher I knew I had a good defense to back us up."
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