Four years, 36 different players, 208 wins, 23 losses, 269 homeruns, 1650 strike outs, 77 consecutive wins at home, 4 PSAC championships, 4 Regional Championships leading to 4 trips to the NCAA DII National Tournament, 1 National Championship runner-up, 1 3^rd place, and 2 National Championship Titles.  The numbers are remarkable, the talent is through the roof, the coaching staff amazing, and the memories are truly priceless. 

I am at a loss for words beginning to work on my last blog.  I really cannot believe it is all over; my college career, my softball career, and spending everyday with the same group of girls.  It is extremely bittersweet because I am ready and excited to start this new chapter of my life but it's amazingly different.  Just like how our sport is a game of adjustments that is just want I have to do with my life now.  After being correlated with the game of softball for most of my life and with Lock Haven softball for the past four years, a small bit of identity loss is occurring now within myself and I would assume my other 7 graduated seniors.  Even though our college careers have ended... we were victorious in our very last college softball game... not many athletes are able to say that.

The NCAA Championship Tournament was incredible.  I believe the one thing that helped us in the end was how much fun we had.  We let ourselves have such a good time and we enjoy goofing off together.  From the freshmen to senior class we are so silly and we stay so loose and relaxed... on and off the field.  

We began the Championship week on Tuesday when we arrived in beautiful Salem, Virginia and ended on Monday, May 25, 2009 at the Championship game.  Our first game was on Thursday, the day after our first practice, the BBQ for all 8 teams, and the All-American Banquet.  We faced Le Moyne and were able to beat them 5-0.  The next day we were matched up against Alabama-Huntsville.  Our bats weren't as alive as usual and we fell 3-1.  Losing this game made our fight for the title a little more difficult but it did not faze the 19 players and 3 coaches of Lock Haven University.  We held our heads high because feeling sorry and down does no good when you still have elimination games to play... and play we did.  The day after our loss we beat Indianapolis 2-0 and Sunday we beat North Georgia who were previously ranked #1 twice, 8-0 and 8-1.  Beating them twice sent N. Georgia home and sent us to the championship game on Monday where it was winner takes all.  And take it all we did.

We tied an NCAA record by scoring 32 runs in our run for the title, and we're the only ever NCAA championship game to make use of the mercy rule by scoring 8 runs before the 6^th inning.  Coming in first place was our goal for the season.  We set the bar high because we knew it was in our reach.  Looking back on the beginning of our season I was laughing with our center fielder Nancy O'Connor earlier today because we started our season 1-3 in Hawaii.  It's hard to believe how far we came but like I have said before, as a team we learn from every game and every pitch and we adjust accordingly. 

Saying good-bye to the Lock Haven softball program and the athletic program in general is very difficult.  I was so blessed to be able to work with such qualified and intelligent coaches and a wonderfully supportive athletic department staff.  I'll never forget my first few months of school as a freshman.  I was extremely homesick and wasn't sure how long I would be able to last in the city of Lock Haven and its University.  Looking back now, I couldn't imagine my college career going any other way. 

I am so incredibly happy that the juniors, sophomores, and freshmen were able to experience this national championship.  Every girl on our team contributed to this successful season including those who weren't necessarily on the field.  Everyone helps to better the team and pushes those who are part of the line-up.  I also hope those younger girls who now know what being a championship tastes like it will push them for more bites in the future.  I wish the girls behind me all the luck in the world and I hope they have as much fun and success and my class did.  As I have said before, you don't know how fast it all goes until it is all gone. 

It's almost like a fairy-tale ending for Lock Haven softball this year.  We have truly been blessed with the players on the team, our coaches, and the support from staff, faculty, the city of Lock Haven, and our extremely dedicated fans.  I thank all of those who have spent time reading my blogs here on the NCAA site and I am grateful I was able to participate in this fun and interactive way of expressing myself during the most important time of my life. 

I am so proud to call myself a Lock Haven University alumna and a Lady Eagle Softball graduate.  The amount of pride is indescribable and I know my other seniors feel the same.  I wish my remaining teammates the best of luck with everything they do and I can't wait until the fact that I am a two-time National Champion actually hits me... I'm not sure if I will be smiling or crying (happy tears of course). 

Well I guess now the real world is calling my name... I don't think I'm going to answer quite yet.

Oh and don't forget... GO HAVEN!

Norris #22

This week has been absolutely remarkable.  I am so proud and honored to be on this team and with these girls.  We came out of the elimination bracket and are now heading to the National Championship game tomorrow afternoon at 3:00.  We lost our second game here in Salem Virginia but are now ready for the big game tomorrow.  I havn't written a blog in a week or two but I blame my lack of updates on a busy schedule and just having too much fun.  As you now know we have made it to the National Championship.  We beat Kutztown in Super Regionals the first and second game.  It was a tough two game series but we came out on top.  We went extra innings in both games and we scored our "one-up" run on a Brittany Muthard bomb to put us ahead of the Golden Bears.  We held them in the end and received our ticket for Salem. 

            So far this week has been very exhilarating.  We arrived in Salem on Tuesday night and spent the evening getting unpacked and adjusted.  On Wednesday we attended the bbq that all the teams were invited to.  It included karaoke, corn hole, basketball, and some delicious food.  After spending some time in the sun, we traveled to a local elementary school to read to the kids there.  We were able to do this in 2006 when we were at the National Tournament so it was fun to be able to do it again.  The kids were so cute and surprisingly curious about our reason for being in Salem Virginia.  Some of us were assigned to first graders while some of my other teammates and I went to fifth graders. The fifth graders were great and asked some really intelligent questions.  They wondered what conference we played in, where was the furthest we have ever traveled with the team, and if we visited a spa while we were in Hawaii over spring break.  The students in my class also wanted to hear some jokes and I gave them a few of my classics.  My teammate with me however, asked them "What kind of bee gives milk?"... The kids had no idea and Amanda Roosa thoughtfully told them the answer which is "Boo-Bee." Wonderful.  I was so proud of my catcher and fellow senior for telling 10-year olds that tasteful and appropriate joke. 

            After the comedy show by Roosa, and a class full of first graders asking for our autographs, we headed to practice where we had our usual productive yet entertaining practice.  After practice we headed back to the hotel to shower and get ready for the All-American Banquet held at the beautiful Salem Civic Center.  We were all looking gorgeous and had a wonderful time at the banquet.  Great food, good company, creative opening speeches from all 8 teams, and the All-American Awards.  Our pitcher Kristen Erb received her FOURTH 1^st Team All-American Award.  We are all so proud of her and her accomplishments.  She deserves everything she is awarded and I am so lucky to have been able to play with her for four years.

            We won our first game on Thursday against Le Moyne and on Friday we lost a game to Alabama-Huntsville.  This put us in the elimination bracket and we had to play one game on Saturday vs. University of Indianapolis.  We were able to win that game where after we would have to play a double header on Sunday and beat the same team twice.  This team was North Georgia and we won both games at 12:00 and 4:00.  We played so well together as a team and our bats came alive.  We had 5 homeruns over the two games and 16 hits combined over both matches.  We had so much fun playing today and this fun included dancing to songs in between innings.  For example; the YMCA, the Macarena, and Twist and Shout.  Knocking out North Georgia put us into the national championship game which is tomorrow at 3:00pm.  We are so ready and pumped to play Alabama-Huntsville again.  I'll be sure to be quicker with my updates after tomorrow's games.  At this time I would really like to thank everyone who has supported us so far this season and for the four years my fellow seniors and I have been playing.  Our fans are so dedicated and loving, we are the luckiest girls in the world.  We have so many fans down here in Salem, Virginia let alone all the supporters we have listening on the radio and watching on the computer.  The support is overwhelming and helps more than you know.  So thank you for everything you have done for us, even if you don't think it means a lot, it is so very important to us. 

Stay tuned...

Norris #22

As of right now all the Lock Haven Lady Eagles have to do is sleep, eat, and play softball.  School is out and me and 4 of my teammates graduated last weekend.  We won the first round of regionals and are preparing for super regionals which are this upcoming weekend.

            Being a graduated college student is pretty weird.  Jess, Nancy, Erica, Ilia, and I wore our caps and gowns last weekend and walked across the stage in our Fieldhouse to collect our degrees.  My graduation ceremony was on Friday while the other four graduated on Saturday because of different majors.  We were able to go to each others ceremonies and some of our friends who weren't graduating came to celebrate as well.  It was such a great weekend and so special to share with my family and best friends.  I still can't believe that I am a college graduate.  It seems like just yesterday I was a whiny little freshman crying over being homesick. 

            Being in Lock Haven and not having anything to do besides softball is pretty strange.  Me and my roommates wake up, make breakfast which is usually pancakes and bacon.  We watch a lot of T.V., and snack all day.  Then we'll have practice where we work hard and focus on improving our game.  After that we'll come back to the house, eat snacks, watch more T.V. and make dinner.  Our days aren't extremely eventful but we enjoy the time to relax and the time we get to spend together. 

            The first round of regionals ended yesterday which was Sunday.  We won the PSAC tournament the weekend before by defeating Shippensburg University which advanced us to this past weekend where we played three games.  We were able to host the first round of regionals as we did the PSAC Tournament.  It is wonderful to be able to host these games and play on our home field.  We have a deep connection with our field and it means a lot to play and protect it. 

            Friday we defeated Bowie State University and then Saturday we played California University of Pennsylvania.  They are always tough competition for us and were we able to come out on top and win the game.  Every game we win gets us closer to our ultimate goal of competing for a national championship.  Sunday we were faced with Cal again and they had to defeat us twice to advance to the next weekend.  Our entire line-up contributed to the win over Cal which was 3-0, and our defense really stepped up to get the job done.  After winning this weekend we will again host Super-Regionals which is on Friday and Saturday.  We found out we are playing Kutztown University and it's a best of three series.  The anticipation and excitement is growing as the weekend gets closer and we as a team can't wait to continue our season together as it begins to come to an end.  Hopefully it's a happy ending!!  Go Haven!!