Alabama Crimson Tide softball

Alabama Crimson Tide
2015 Alabama Crimson Tide softball season

University University of Alabama
Conference SEC
Western Division
Location Tuscaloosa, AL
Head Coach Patrick Murphy (14th year)
Home Stadium Rhoads Stadium
(Capacity: 3,940)
Nickname Crimson Tide
Colors Crimson and White

             

National Championships
2012
WCWS Appearances
2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Conference Tournament Champions
1998, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2012
Conference Champions
2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014

The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is currently led by head coach Patrick Murphy and assistant coaches Alyson Habetz and Stephanie VanBrakle. The team plays its home games at the Rhoads Stadium located on the university's campus. The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team won its first National Championship in 2012, after they defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the championship series of the Women's College World Series.

History

On September 28, 1995, Alabama athletics director Glen Tuckett announced the school would sponsor a softball program to begin play in the 1997 season.[1] At the time of its addition, softball became both the 20th varsity sport overall and 11th women's sport sponsored at Alabama.[1] On January 3, 1996, Kalum Haack was hired from Kansas to serve as the first head coach for the team.[2] The next spring, Haack recruited his first class for the inaugural 1997 team.[2] On February 15, 1997, Alabama defeated Tulsa 5–2 in their first all-time game at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.[3] Two weeks later, the Crimson Tide won their first all-time home game in their home opener at Sokol Park against Delta State 4–3.[4]

After he led the Crimson Tide in their inaugural season and to their first SEC championship in their second season, on June 30, 1998, Haack resigned as head coach.[5] He cited personal reasons for his resignation.[5] During his two year stint as head coach, Haack compiled an overall record of 78 wins and 47 losses (78–47).[5] A week later on July 9, Alabama assistant coach Patrick Murphy was promoted to the Crimson Tide's head coach position.[6]

Since Murphy took over in 1999, the Crimson Tide has won 9 SEC championships (4 regular season and 5 tournaments), made 14 consecutive NCAA tournaments (every year since 1999) and have advanced to the Women's College World Series eight times.[7][8] In 2012, Alabama defeated the Oklahoma Sooners, 2 games to 1, in the championship series of the Women's College World Series, to win its first national championship in school history and the first softball national championship in the history of the SEC.[9]

Head coaches

Name Years Record
Kalum Haack 1997–1998 78–47 (35–21 SEC)
Patrick Murphy 1999–present 789–214 (323–102 SEC)

Alabama's Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans

Player Year(s)
Kelly Kretschman 1998, 1999, 2000†, 2001†
Carrie Moreman 1999
Ginger Jones 2000†
Shelley Laird 2000, 2001
Suzanne Olcott 2001
Ashley Courtney 2002†, 2005
Jackie McClain 2002, 2003, 2004
Stephanie VanBrakle 2005, 2006
Brittany Rogers 2006, 2007, 2008†, 2009
Lauren Parker 2007†
Chrissy Owens 2007
Kelley Montalvo 2008†
Charlotte Morgan 2008†, 2009†, 2010
Kelsi Dunne 2008, 2009†, 2010, 2011†
Kayla Braud 2010, 2011†, 2013†
Whitney Larsen 2011
Jackie Traina 2011†, 2012†, 2013, 2014†
Kaila Hunt 2012, 2013
Amanda Locke 2012
Jennifer Fenton 2012
Haylie McCleney 2013, 2014†
Reference:[10]

†Denotes 1st Team selection

Year-by-Year Records

Season Coach Record Notes
1997 Kalum Haack 29–29 (16–14 SEC)
1998 Kalum Haack 49–18 (19–7 SEC) SEC Tournament Champions
1999 Patrick Murphy 39–26 (19–11 SEC) NCAA Regionals
2000 Patrick Murphy 66–14 (25–5 SEC) NCAA Regionals, Women's College World Series
2001 Patrick Murphy 50–11 (24–6 SEC) NCAA Regionals
2002 Patrick Murphy 46–21 (22–8 SEC) NCAA Regionals
2003 Patrick Murphy 49–21 (22–8 SEC) SEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Regionals, Women's College World Series
2004 Patrick Murphy 45–20 (18–12 SEC) NCAA Regionals
2005 Patrick Murphy 63–15 (23–7 SEC) SEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
2006 Patrick Murphy 54–11 (25–4 SEC) SEC Champion, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
2007 Patrick Murphy 55–10 (21–6 SEC) NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals
2008 Patrick Murphy 58–8 (25–3 SEC) NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
2009 Patrick Murphy 52–9 (21–6 SEC) NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
2010 Patrick Murphy 52–11 (23–4 SEC) SEC Regular Season Champion, SEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals
2011 Patrick Murphy 51–9 (19–6 SEC) SEC Regular Season Champion, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
2012 Patrick Murphy 60–8 (23–5 SEC) SEC Regular Season Champion, SEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
2013 Patrick Murphy 45–15 (13–11 SEC) 2013 SEC Softball Tournament, NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals
2014 Patrick Murphy 53-13 (19-5 SEC) NCAA Regionals, NCAA Super Regionals, Women's College World Series
Reference:[11]

See also

References

General
Specific
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Bama will sponsor women's softball program". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News). September 29, 1995. p. C4. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Haack to direct Bama softball". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News). January 4, 1996. p. C3. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Tide softball team opens season with win". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News). February 16, 1997. p. C8. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  4. ↑ Deas, Tommy (February 28, 1997). "Alabama softball team triumphs in home opener". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News). p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Deas, Tommy (July 1, 1998). "Bama softball coach Kalum Haack resigns". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News). p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  6. ↑ Deas, Tommy (July 10, 1998). "Murphy takes over Bama softball". The Tuscaloosa News (Google News). p. C1. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Tide softball season ends with loss to ASU, 3–1". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations - RollTide.com. June 1, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
  8. ↑ "Alabama softball falls to Florida 6–5, ending its Women's College World Series run". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations - RollTide.com. May 31, 2008. Retrieved June 30, 2008.
  9. ↑ Hays, Graham (June 7, 2012). "Alabama's title a milestone for SEC". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
  10. ↑ 2012 University of Alabama Softball Media Guide, p. 50
  11. ↑ 2012 University of Alabama Softball Media Guide, pp. 75–79

External links