DEKALB, Ill. – In 1988, George H.W. Bush was president of the United States, "Faith" by George Michael was the top song, and cell phones were the size of breadboxes. It was also the last time a Northern Illinois University softball team advanced to the NCAA Women's College World Series.
Under the tutelage of NIU Hall Famer Dee Abrahamson and Donna Martin, the Huskies finished with a record of 35-11 and were ranked as high as 10th in the country. It featured a three-time first-team All-America selection, an Olympian, five future Hall of Famers, and four Academic All-America picks. Coach Abrahamson's club also featured two three-time COSIDA Academic All-Americans. The Huskies went 9-0 at home and 10-4 against the country's top-20 teams. NIU as high as 10th in the country and was ranked 11th in the country with a .302 team batting average while posting a 0.88 team ERA.
"I am so proud of that team because talent-wise, we were very a little above average and we just gelled, got along, and we played our hearts out," said 1988 outfielder Jill (Justin) Coffel. "We had great coaches and I am proud of that team."
The Huskies returned 13 letterwinners from the 1987 team that achieved a 24-25 record and placed seventh at the National Invitational Championship. With that many players coming back, the team chemistry was top notch. The club also carried four tremendously talented and experienced seniors – catcher Pat Faletti, first basemen Sue Kause, second basemen Laura Peterson, and shortstop Amy Veld.
"There were four seniors that were tremendous on the 1988 team in terms of playing time and leadership," Abrahamson said. "They were great people and they were everything you wanted."
The Huskies dominated ranked opponents in tournaments and in conference play. Abrahamson's team finished runner-up at the Florida State Invitational, splitting the series with nationally-ranked Florida State. In addition, the Huskies were champions of the Iowa State Cyclone Classic by beating the likes of No. 8 Illinois State, No. 16 Iowa State and No. 19 Nebraska, helping the Huskies rank No. 10 in the country.
The Huskies cruised through the North Star Conference Tournament defeating Dayton, Valparaiso, and DePaul outscoring those schools, 27-4. In the NCAA Regional, NIU was the lowest seed in its region. After knocking off Bowling Green, 4-3, the Huskies lost to Illinois State, 1-0. In the next two games, NIU bounced back defeating the Redbirds, 3-1, and 2-0, advancing to the College World Series.
The Huskies had a challenge ahead of them facing two-time National Champion UCLA in the first round. An unearned first-inning run by UCLA proved to be the difference in the game as NIU fell to the Bruins, 1-0. The Huskies then faced defending National Champions Texas A&M. A three-run sixth inning by the Aggies ended NIU's magical run.
"I was really proud of our team," said Beth (Schrader) Simmons, a pitcher on the 1988 team. "We had a chance. We were so close, and we proved to everyone that we belonged there."
The 1988 team was led by Abrahamson, an NIU Hall of Famer, and Donna Martin. Without their leadership, the players would not have been as successful.
"One of the most important strategies we learned from Dee and Donna was how to approach the game by the numbers," said 1988 outfielder Julie Sexton. "We really learned how to break the game down in a way that now a days are talked about in Major League Baseball."
"They varied our practices, they were really strategic and that caught our interests," said Schrader-Simmons. "They were playful; we played handball, volleyball, basketball, and we just did other things for conditioning and agility."
The Huskies are also celebrating 60 years of softball on campus. Pioneered by Mary M. Bell, Ruth Fender and others alike, the Huskies have a rich tradition of softball. Since 1959, NIU has seen phenomenal athletes like Christy Dalton, (Justin) Coffel, Kause, and Faletti. Recently,
Kayti Grable, Emily Naegele, and Nicole Gremillion have been stars for the Huskies.
Since 1959, when the Huskies started softball, a lot has changed. In 1972, Title IX was passed to give equal opportunity to the women in not only sport but education. As a result, the NCAA recognized softball and other women's sports as equal. Abrahamson and Martin saw a drastic change in scholarships, facilities, and funding because of the Title IX ruling.
"With the improvements with Title IX, the schools were doing the right thing and improving the situation for the women athletes," said Abrahamson. "When I first got here, I coached and taught. Then, Athletics became funded and we became full-time coaches, which was what the men had."
"I probably would have not gone to college," said (Schrader) Simmons. "My parents could not afford it, and just would have not gone."
"Title IX gave us huge opportunities," (Justin) Coffel said.
This weekend, the Huskie softball community will celebrate a lot of moments, but one thing is consistent, all Huskie softball players are driven, talented, and motivated by the players before them. NIU will play host to Western Michigan during this special weekend starting at 3 p.m. on Friday.
–NIU–
