A Cinderella Story
7/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The 1990 Golden Flashes softball team left its stamp on the history of Kent State athletics with its unprecedented run to the College World Series. As part of the University's Centennial Celebration, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is Celebrating A Century of Kent State Women's Athletics Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 8-10. This feature article is the first in a three-part series highlighting the teams and student-athletes that built a historic foundation for the current women's Intercollegiate Athletics program to stand proudly upon.
By Mike Ashcraft
Athletic Communications Intern
With all due respect to the movie starring Hilary Duff and even to Kent State's own 2002 men's basketball Elite Eight squad, the 1990 Golden Flashes softball team wrote a "Cinderella story" that was just as magical and unbelievable.
Kent State entered the '90 campaign as a team coming off a respectable 23-14 1989 season in which it finished fourth in Mid-American Conference. Led by fifth-year head coach Sue Lilley, the squad was youth-laden with just two seniors and 10 players of only sophomore or freshman status. The fact of the matter was, nobody really expected this group to be among the eight to clinch a trip to the NCAA College World Series in Oklahoma City at the end of May. Little did the softball world know what was about to hit them.
"We were the underdogs," said Darby (Seegrist) Vorce, Kent State's All-America right-handed ace. "We were the small town in Ohio, not one of the top-10 teams. We were a true Cinderella story."
The Flashes certainly got the 90s off on the right foot, opening the season with nine victories in 10 games and six days at the Houston Games at Sam Houston State. Kent State began conference action by losing its first two MAC meetings at Western Michigan, then proceeded to rattle off 19 straight conference victories and finish the regular season with a 40-7 overall record (20-4 MAC).
"It wasn't like we got good overnight, or we started setting records overnight," said Vorce. "We played four games per weekend and two during midweek, and after each game, we'd come away with more and more wins. It started that momentum and changed the level of expectation from, 'I hope we win' to, 'We better win.'"
Pauline Maurice, the team's All-America outfielder in 1990, believes that attitude developed because of the camaraderie the players enjoyed.
"Everybody was different, but the big thing was that we had fun," said Maurice. "We cheered a lot and trusted each other's ability. That makes the game so much more relaxed and made the team that much better."
Guiding all those different personalities was Lilley, who could dish out the tough love when needed but was quick to counter with a pat-on-the-back or a high-five when deserved.
"Sue Lilley is the best coach I ever had, bar none," said Maurice. "She really knew how to get the best out of the players. She would push you to the point where you didn't think you could do what she wanted you to do, but I think deep down inside she knew that you were capable. We had a lot of respect for her. When she pushed us really hard, it was for the betterment of the team."
With Lilley's coaching and the combination of talents peaking at the perfect time, KSU captured its first MAC softball crown and punched its ticket to its first NCAA postseason appearance. Despite being ranked 17th in the country going into the NCAA Mideast Regional in Columbus, Ohio, the Flashes certainly did not receive the noteriety that Ohio State and Oregon did.
"Everybody was confident that we could do it," said Maurice. "When we went into the Regional against Ohio State, we felt like they didn't give us the respect that we deserved. We went out there to prove ourselves, and we did it. I think we just went in there with a lot of confidence. We weren't a big school like Ohio State, but we knew we had the talent and skills to win the Regional."
The Golden Flashes responded to the doubters in emphatic fashion, posting back-to-back shutouts of the Buckeyes and Ducks and then sealing the regional championship with a 5-3 victory over OSU on its home turf.
"Surreal is probably the most common word to come to mind," said Vorce. "You expect it and want it, but until it comes to fruition, there's always that bit of doubt that lies within you. Once we did that, it was truly like, 'Oh my gosh, this is really happening.' I just remember looking up at the stands when we clinched it. It was surreal, to see the absolute true joy out of not only your teammates and coach, but of the fans, too."
The regional title set Kent State up with a date against two-time defending national champion UCLA in the opening game of the College World Series. Kent State's stay in Oklahoma City was short, as the Flashes fell to UCLA and UNLV in the double-elimination tournament.
"It was exciting and nerve-wracking," Maurice said of the CWS experience. "We had a lack of experience of playing at that caliber and that level, but I think people really had a respect for our school. Although we didn't really do well, we played as hard as we could."
The 1990 Kent State softball team represents the standard of excellence for the program to this day. The players remain close and are able to constantly update each other on the goings-on in their lives through Facebook. Their successes in life have not been limited to the collegiate softball diamond, either. Vorce is an executive director of a non-profit organization in her hometown of San Diego and a mother of three. Maurice, a native of Welland, Canada, represented her country at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and now works as a systems analyst for a major Canadian company.
A reunion for the team will be held at the Kent State softball field Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. in conjunction with the program's annual Alumni Game. This "Cinderella story" is one that will be recalled fondly, not only during the reunion weekend, but for years to come among those who hold a special place for Kent State athletics.
1990 Kent State Softball Achievements & Awards
• Team won school's first MAC softball title and advanced to NCAA postseason for the first time, finishing season with a 43-9 record (20-4 MAC).
• Outfielder Pauline Maurice and pitcher Darby Seagrist garner All-America honors.
• Sue Lilley named MAC Coach of the Year and Mideast Region Coach of the Year.
• Seegrist and Maurice named to All-Mideast Region First Team.
• Seegrist, Maurice, Kim Henzler and Katie Joyce named to All-MAC First Team. Shana Delp named to All-MAC Second Team.
• Delp, Henzler, Maurice, Gina Ruggerio and Lisa Spotleson named to Academic All-MAC First Team. • Samantha Gordon named Academic All-MAC Honorable Mention.
• Gordon, Henzler and Spotleson earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. Gordon named third team Academic All-America.
• Seegrist compiled a 30-5 record in 1990, carrying a school-record 0.82 ERA that still stands. Her 36 complete games and 16 shutouts are also still school season records. She ranks second on the school's career complete games list with 71.
• Maurice was the only Flash to start all 52 games in 1990. She led the Flashes in stolen bases (13) and triples (5) and set then-school season records in at-bats (165), total bases (83), hits (67) and runs scored (38). Maurice remains Kent State's all-time leader in batting average (.396) and hits (219).
• Michelle White registered a 13-2 record as KSU's number two hurler, setting a school season record for winning percentage (.867) that still stands today. Her 0.83 ERA in 1990 ranks second in the school season records.
• Kim Henzler, a co-captain of the 1990 team, wrapped up her career as the team's then-career leader in at-bats (537), hits (168), RBI (80) and doubles (38).
• MeMe Vencl set a then-school season record with six home runs.
