Husky Softballers Are National Champs
Highlights above of Washington's 3-2 victory in game two of the Women's College World Series, giving them a sweep of Florida for the championship. It's the first national championship for Husky softball, the fifth overall NCAA title for the school.
Danielle Lawrie, the national player of the year, gets the win, her 42nd of the year. It wasn't easy; Lawrie allowed two runs in the first inning due to shaky Husky fielding, and Florida looked to be on their way to tying the series. But the Huskies scored two runs of their own in the first (with Lawrie herself driving in one run), and went ahead in the bottom of the third inning when Kimi Pohlman scored on a Florida error.
The Gators had the tying run in scoring position in three of the final four innings, including the seventh and final one, but Lawrie held them off, ending the game with a strikeout.
UW coach Heather Tarr, who lost in the '96 NCAA championship as a Husky, told ESPN's Graham Hays: "I knew when we recruited Danielle's class we were going to have the potential to do this; and for it to become a reality, and to do it the right way, I can't even put it into words. We just have an amazing group of young women."
Florida finishes the season with an overall record of 63-5, with three of those losses coming to Lawrie and the Huskies. Presumably they will be cursing her name in Gator Softball Nation for time immemorial. Hell, they may have to contend with Lawrie next year as well, the Husky hurler is just a junior.
The Huskies arrive back in Seattle (after a three-week, 6,899-mile road trip to compete in the NCAA playoffs) tomorrow afternoon, their buses will arrive at Husky Softball Stadium on lower campus at 12:15. The team will be honored by the Mariners at Safeco Field Friday (in a nice touch, the M's showed the final out on the big screen at Safeco), and the athletic department is hosting a celebratory reception Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Don James Center.
We watched the game with an M's pre-game crowd at the Triangle, most of the bar was watching intently and cheering. Husky softball, you brought us joy, and we thank you.
