1988 NIU Women's Softball Team

 

October 14, 2002
HALL OF FAME 1988 NORTHERN ILLINOIS SOFTBALL TEAM: THE DREAM WORLD SERIES SEASON
DeKALB, IL - By any success standard, 1988 turned out to be one of those Fantasy Island once-in-a-lifetime dream seasons for the Northern Illinois University women's softball team.

What a spring. To be honest, the list of 1988 Huskie softball accomplishments are jaw-droppers. It is not uncommon in major-college athletics for a strong regional program to crack into the Top 20 national hierarchy. How this Northern Illinois contingent did is a different story. This group literally went from national no-name to playing powers-at-be UCLA and Texas A&M at the National Collegiate Athletic Association College World Series in three months.

Coach Dee Abrahamson's Huskies ranked as high as No. 10 nationally by mid-season. Between April and May, NIU embarked on a school-record 16-game winning streak. The potent Northern Illinois line-up featured a three-time, First-Team All-America selection and four Academic All-America picks. The 35-11 final won-lost record represented the best team winning percentage (.761) in the program's history.

By season's end, not only did Northern Illinois go 9-0 at home, but managed an impressive 10-4 ledger vs. the country's Top 20, plus 9-3 on the road and 17-8 at neutral sites. No, this was not your average mid-level major program.

Local interest grew exponentially. The word about these Huskies eventually got as far as the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. By World Series time, veteran play-by-play man Bill Baker took the Huskie Radio Network to Sunnyvale, CA, and the Twin Creeks Sports Complex for full pitch-by-pitch coverage on WLBK-AM and WKKD-AM.
"It was one of those dream seasons," recalled Huskie All-America outfielder Jill Justin who led the NCAA in batting average (.484) and doubles (18) as a senior that spring. "Somebody was looking over our shoulders. I just remember everything falling into place the whole season."

Well, yes and no. You don't become the first Division I program to advance to the softball Final Eight in its initial NCAA appearance with horseshoes. Or take home the NCAA Midwest Regional trophy with tarot cards. This Northern Illinois bunch could play ball. After all, these Huskies did finish the season ranked No. 11 in NCAA team batting (.302), No. 11 in team earned run average (0.88), and No. 13 in team fielding (.964).
"I think we knew we could be pretty good. This team had a lot of character," Justin said. "We played together as one. We wanted to do what it took to be the best. The chemistry was there."

The idyllic trip into the nation's Top 20 and the College World Series proved to be fueled by a mixture of that all-important chemistry, strong talent, old-fashioned Midwest work ethic, the ideal offense-defense-pitching balance, heads-up play, strong goal-oriented focus, more-than-stubborn persistence, and dedicated coaching.

From the start that March, Abrahamson thought her team could be "good." Roster-wise, Northern Illinois had 13 letter-winners back from a 24-25 team that tasted some success by placing seventh at the National invitational Championships in 1987. The club also boasted four experienced seniors-catcher Pat Faletti, first baseman Sue Kause, second baseman Laura Peterson, and shortstop Amy Veld-who "…knew how to lead and knew how to play" in their coach's estimation.

Right off the bat, the Huskies served notice of things to come by finishing runner-up at the Florida State Invitational and splitting with the nationally rated hosts. A month later, Northern Illinois stunned the softball world by winning the Iowa State Cyclone Classic by beating No. 8-rated Illinois State, No. 16 Iowa State, and No. 19 Nebraska.
Two days later on April 26, Abrahamson's club ascended to the No. 10 spot in the NCAA Division I poll.

"We did what we had to do," the Huskie coach said at the time. "We played head-to-head between the chalk lines with three ranked teams and proved to be the better team this weekend. Our players believe we can play at a national level, but it's one thing to say it and another to do it. We did it."

The tournament title at Iowa State proved what the team thought about its potential. "I can't speak for the entire team," said pitcher Beth Schrader, a junior who won 24 of 29 decisions and ranked among the NCAA leaders in ERA (No. 12 at 0.58) and victories (No. 15 with 24) that spring. "That (Iowa State) tournament just sticks in my mind. When we beat Nebraska and did the right things to win against a top program. It was the pinnacle, the culmination for us that made us say to ourselves 'hey, we are good.'"
Seven days later, the North Star Conference Tournament turned into the Northern Illinois Invitational for more reasons than its DeKalb location. Schrader would earn the "W" in three straight NSC triumphs against Dayton (16-0), Valparaiso (3-1), and DePaul (8-1). Six Huskies-Justin, Schrader, Faletti, Kause, plus utility players Lisa Gilfoy and
Julie Sexton-made the all-tourney squad. Justin and Faletti would share the NSC Most Valuable Player honors.

At the NCAA Regional, Northern Illinois beat host Bowling Green State in a 4-3 thriller before losing to Illinois State by a 1-0 margin and falling into the loser's bracket in the double elimination format. Once again, Abrahamson's Huskies demonstrated their mettle-playing with Justin only as a designated hitter due to a hamstring pull-against the ranked and arch-rival Redbirds. Thanks to a triple play, Northern Illinois topped ISU, 3-1, and then Gilfoy's home run spelled the difference in the 2-0 final in the title game. Justin, Faletti, Schrader, and Gilfoy all made the All-Midwest team.
"Just getting there, being competitive," Schrader said about the College World Series. "I think we proved we deserved to be there."

Now the Huskies joined the country's softball elite-No. 1-ranked UCLA, Fresno State, Texas A&M, Adelphi, Arizona, Cal Poly-Pomona, and Nebraska-and California dreaming became a reality. Seeded No. 8, Northern Illinois would be matched against eventual champion UCLA in the first round. An unearned run in the first inning would prove to be the difference as the Huskies fell, 1-0. "Except for the outcome, I thought we did a lot of good things," Abrahamson said. "Of course, it hurts to give up an unearned run."
NIU's best was certainly enough to draw a compliment from UCLA head coach Sharon Backus whose Bruin team would annex its fourth national crown in seven seasons. "I didn't have any idea about Northern Illinois except what I read in their guide and in the papers," she said. "I was quite impressed with their confidence and the way they came to play."

The dream season ended two days later in a 3-0 setback to defending champion Texas A&M. "The tough thing about making the (NCAA) tourney is that you either end on a loss or as national champion," Abrahamson said. "Making the tournament was a big step. I think we played really well when we had to. It takes some adjusting through regionals and nationals. It's an experience that they'll (NIU players) never forget."
Sexton may have been only a freshman that season, but recognized the contributions of Abrahamson and assistant coach Donna Martin. "You have to go back to Dee and Donna and how they prepared us that spring," Sexton recalled. "They always talked about a window of opportunity and kept us focused, goal-oriented."

The 1988 Northern Illinois softball team was unique, blending 18 players into one. During the NCAA Regional weekend, junior pitcher Shari Edwards warmed up in the bullpen five times and never got in a game. "As a coach, what do you say? Sure, Shari wanted to pitch, but by working in the bullpen she just made Beth (Schrader) work harder," Abrahamson recalled with a smile. "Everybody on that team played a role, on or off the field."

Northern Illinois 1988 women's softball team letter-winners: Sue Alexander (Lemont / Oak Lawn), Kathy Bulow (Oak Lawn), Susie Conway (Morton / Chicago Academy of Our lady), Kim Crotinger (Monticello), Shari Edwards (Nesconset, NY / Smithtown East), Pat Faletti (Braidwood / Reed-Custer), Lisa Gilfoy (Chicago / Resurrection), Jennie Hughes (Deerfield), Heidi Hutchison (Moline), Jill Justin (Oak Lawn / Richards), Sue Kause (South Holland / Thornwood), Lynn Lacy (Wheaton / Central), Maria Leake (South Bend, IN / LaSalle), Laura Peterson (Buffalo Grove / Lincolnshire Stevenson), Jennifer Preston (Kankakee), Mgr., Jeanne Richeal (Verona, WI), Beth Schrader (Wheaton / Central), Julie Sexton (Antioch), Amy Veld (South Holland / Thornwood), Cory Wilensky (Tinley Park), Mgr.

(For further information, please contact Mike Korcek) -30-