Michigan Wolverines softball
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Wolverines
softball
team represents the University of Michigan
in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I competition. College softball
became a varsity sport at the University of Michigan in 1978. Carol Hutchins
has been the head coach since 1985. In 2005, Hutchins' team became the first softball team from east of the Mississippi River
to win the Women's College World Series
.
became the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines
softball team in 1985. When she took over as head coach, Hutchins reportedly "had a tiny salary, an only slightly larger budget, and had to take care of her own field, throwing down lime and riding the lawn tractor." Since Hutchins became Michigan's coach, the team has never had a losing season. Hutchins' teams have also won 12 Big Ten Conference
regular-season titles and 14 NCAA regional championships. She has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year on ten occasions and National Fastpitch Coaches Association ("NFCA") National Coach of the Year twice.
She led the Michigan softball team to its first NCAA Women's College World Series
championship in 2005. The decisive game was won in dramatic fashion, with a Samantha Findlay home run in the top of the 10th inning, producing a 4-1 final. The 2005 Michigan team was the first team from East of the Mississippi River
to win the Women's College World Series. The Ann Arbor News
described the team's accomplishment this way:
After Michigan beat No. 1 ranked Arizona in March 2005, Hutchins told a reporter, "Yes, there is softball east of the Rockies." The performance of the 2005 team also set Michigan records in several categories:
After winning the World Series, Hutchins and her team visited the White House in July 2005, where they met with President George W. Bush
, something Hutchins called "a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
In 2006, Hutchins was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame.
In March 2000, Hutchins recorded her 638th win, giving her more career wins than any other coach in University of Michigan history in any sport, male of female. In 2007, she became the seventh coach in NCAA softball history, and the first in any sport at the University of Michigan, to reach 1,000 career wins. After winning her 1,000th game, Hutchins told a reporter that her greatest pride did not come from the 1,000 wins, but from her ability to influence how her players look at life, "to get them to work together and to meet standards, to show them they can lead as women." When she was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame, her players presented her with a scrapbook with a note from one saying, "I came here a girl with potential and left here a woman with no limits." Hutchins noted that those 15 words matter more than the 1,000 wins.
In 2009, the Wolverines advanced to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City
. They won the first game against Alabama by a score of 6-1. In their second game, they lost a close game to Florida
by a score of 1-0. They were eliminated in a 7-5 loss to Georgia
on May 30, 2009.
Through the end of the 2009 season, Hutchins has a career record of 1,108-393-4 (.737 winning percentage).
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
team represents the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I competition. College softball
College softball
College softball is softball as played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education, predominantly in the United States. College softball is normally played by women at the intercollegiate level, whereas college baseball is normally played by men.As with other intercollegiate...
became a varsity sport at the University of Michigan in 1978. Carol Hutchins
Carol Hutchins
Carol "Hutch" Hutchins is an American softball coach. In 27 years as the head coach of Michigan Wolverines softball , she has more than 1,200 career wins, more than any other coach in University of Michigan history in any sport, male or female...
has been the head coach since 1985. In 2005, Hutchins' team became the first softball team from east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to win the Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
.
Soluk era
Gloria Soluk was the first head coach of the Michigan Wolverines softball team. She served as the head coach for three years from 1978 to 1980. In her three seasons as head coach, the Wolverines compiled a record of 50 wins and 25 losses for a .667 winning percentage.DeCarolis era
Bob DeCarolis was the Wolverines second head coach, holding that position from 1978 to 1984. In hs seven seasons as head coach, the Wolverines compiled a record of 114 wins and 81 losses for a .585 winning percentage. In 1982, DeCarolis led Michigan to a first place finish in the NCAA Regional Championships and a 3rd place finish in the NCAA Championship.Hutchins era
Carol HutchinsCarol Hutchins
Carol "Hutch" Hutchins is an American softball coach. In 27 years as the head coach of Michigan Wolverines softball , she has more than 1,200 career wins, more than any other coach in University of Michigan history in any sport, male or female...
became the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
softball team in 1985. When she took over as head coach, Hutchins reportedly "had a tiny salary, an only slightly larger budget, and had to take care of her own field, throwing down lime and riding the lawn tractor." Since Hutchins became Michigan's coach, the team has never had a losing season. Hutchins' teams have also won 12 Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
regular-season titles and 14 NCAA regional championships. She has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year on ten occasions and National Fastpitch Coaches Association ("NFCA") National Coach of the Year twice.
She led the Michigan softball team to its first NCAA Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
championship in 2005. The decisive game was won in dramatic fashion, with a Samantha Findlay home run in the top of the 10th inning, producing a 4-1 final. The 2005 Michigan team was the first team from East of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
to win the Women's College World Series. The Ann Arbor News
Ann Arbor News
The Ann Arbor News was a newspaper serving Washtenaw and Livingston counties in Michigan. Published in Ann Arbor, under various names from 1835 to 2009, The News was part of Booth Newspapers, owned by Advance Publications Inc. The News was published in the afternoons Monday through Friday and in...
described the team's accomplishment this way:
"What happened during the past five months might be the most unlikely accomplishment in the history of a storied athletics program, analogous to setting out to win an NCAA hockey title at the University of New Mexico. Then doing it. Now, before you dismiss that as hyperbole, consider a few factors. Like the fact that, because of cold weather, the Wolverines played their first 33 games on the road, roughly half the season. Try doing that in football or basketball. Then there's recruiting. Softball is still a sport dominated by West Coast talent. ... There's a reason no team East of the Mississippi had won an NCAA softball title until now."
After Michigan beat No. 1 ranked Arizona in March 2005, Hutchins told a reporter, "Yes, there is softball east of the Rockies." The performance of the 2005 team also set Michigan records in several categories:
- The team's 65 victories was the most in school history;
- The team recorded 32 consecutive victories between February 13, 2005, and March 30, 2005; and
- The team's 103 home runs tied for the second most in NCAA history.
After winning the World Series, Hutchins and her team visited the White House in July 2005, where they met with President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, something Hutchins called "a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
In 2006, Hutchins was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame.
In March 2000, Hutchins recorded her 638th win, giving her more career wins than any other coach in University of Michigan history in any sport, male of female. In 2007, she became the seventh coach in NCAA softball history, and the first in any sport at the University of Michigan, to reach 1,000 career wins. After winning her 1,000th game, Hutchins told a reporter that her greatest pride did not come from the 1,000 wins, but from her ability to influence how her players look at life, "to get them to work together and to meet standards, to show them they can lead as women." When she was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame, her players presented her with a scrapbook with a note from one saying, "I came here a girl with potential and left here a woman with no limits." Hutchins noted that those 15 words matter more than the 1,000 wins.
In 2009, the Wolverines advanced to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. They won the first game against Alabama by a score of 6-1. In their second game, they lost a close game to Florida
Florida Gators softball
The Florida Gators softball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of softball. The Florida Gators compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Southeastern Conference...
by a score of 1-0. They were eliminated in a 7-5 loss to Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs
The Georgia Bulldogs are the athletic teams of the University of Georgia. The Bulldogs compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and are members of the Southeastern Conference...
on May 30, 2009.
Through the end of the 2009 season, Hutchins has a career record of 1,108-393-4 (.737 winning percentage).
Year-by-Year Results
| Season | Overall Record | Big 10 Record | NCAA Tournament | NCAA Regional | Big 10 Tournament | Big 10 Regular Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 12-6 | |||||
| 1979 | 21-8 | |||||
| 1980 | 16-11 | |||||
| 1981 | 19-16 | |||||
| 1982 | 31-14 | |||||
| 1983 | 32-27 | 9-15 | 6th | |||
| 1984 | 32-24 | 12-12 | 4th | |||
| 1985 | 28-20 | 16-8 | 2nd | |||
| 1986 | 32-17 | 12-12 | 5th | |||
| 1987 | 39-17 | 17-7 | 2nd | |||
| 1988 | 29-20 | 15-9 | 2nd | |||
| 1989 | 42-20 | 16-8 | 2nd | |||
| 1990 | 29-27 | 12-12 | 4th | |||
| 1991 | 36-19 | 15-9 | 3rd | |||
| 1992 | 37-24 | 22-6 | 2nd | 1st | ||
| 1993 | 46-13 | 21-5 | 2nd | 1st | ||
| 1994 | 34-26 | 18-10 | T-3rd | |||
| 1995 | 50-12 | 22-6 | 7th | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 1996 | 51-14 | 20-4 | 7th | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 1997 | 56-16-1 | 18-4 | 5th | 1st | 1st | 2nd |
| 1998 | 56-7 | 22-1 | 5th | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 1999 | 51-13-1 | 21-3 | 5th | 2nd | 1st | |
| 2000 | 45-16-1 | 13-4 | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | |
| 2001 | 43-17-1 | 17-3 | T-7th | 1st | 2nd | 1st |
| 2002 | 50-11 | 15-3 | T-7th | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 2003 | 44-16 | 13-5 | 2nd | 4th | 2nd | |
| 2004 | 54-13 | 17-3 | T-7th | 1st | 1st | |
| 2005 | 65-7 | 15-2 | 1st(*) | 1st | 1st | 1st |
| 2006 | 44-15 | 14-4 | 1st | 1st | 2nd | |
| 2007 | 47-13 | 12-4 | 1st | 3rd | ||
| 2008 | 52-8 | 18-2 | 1st | T-1st | ||
| 2009 | 47-12 | 17-3 | 1st | 1st | ||
| 2010 | 49-8 | 18-1 | 1st | 1st | ||
| 2011 | 53-6 | 18-2 | 2nd | 1st | ||
| Total | 1,368-510-4 | 484-168 | ||||
| *Women's College World Series Women's College World Series The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series... |
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All-Americans
Michigan has had 16 NFCA first-team All-American selections.- 2009: Nikki NemitzNikki NemitzNikki Nemitz is an All-American pitcher for the Michigan Wolverines softball team. Nemitz earned first-team NFCA/Louisville Slugger All-American honors in 2009.-Regina High School:...
, at-large pitcher (1st team) - 2009: Amanda Chidester, utility non-pitcher (2nd team)
- 2008: Samantha Findlay, second base (1st team)
- 2008: Jordan Taylor, pitcher (2nd team)
- 2008: Alessandra Giampaolo, outfielder (2nd team)
- 2008: Nikki Nemitz, pitcher (3rd team)
- 2006: Jennie RitterJennie RitterJennie Ritter is an American former All-American right-handed softball pitcher from Dexter, Michigan. She is a Women's College World Series National Champion with the Michigan Wolverines, whom she played for from 2003-2006...
, pitcher (1st team) - 2006: Becky Marx, catcher (3rd team)
- 2005: Jennie Ritter, pitcher (1st team)
- 2005: Jessica Merchant, shortstop (2nd team)
- 2005: Tiffany Haas, 2nd base (1st team)
- 2005: Nicole Motycka, designated player (3rd team)
- 2004: Jessica Merchant, shortstop (2nd team)
- 2004: Nicole Motycka, pitcher (2nd team)
- 2004: Tiffany Haas, 2nd base (3rd team)
- 2003: Marissa Young, utility (2nd team)
- 2002: Stephanie Volpe, 3rd base (1st team)
- 2002: Marissa Young, pitcher (3rd team)
- 2001: Kelsey Kollen, 2nd base (1st team)
- 2001: Melissa Taylor, outfield (2nd team)
- 2000: Marissa Young, utility (3rd team)
- 2000: Stephanie Volpe, designated player (3rd team)
- 1999: Catherine Davie, outfield (2nd team)
- 1999: Kelsey Kollen, 2nd base (2nd team)
- 1999: Traci Conrad, 1st base (3rd team)
- 1998: Traci Conrad, 1st base (1st team)
- 1998: Sara Griffin, utility (1st team)
- 1998: Melissa Gentile, catcher (2nd team)
- 1998: Kellyn Tate, outfield (2nd team)
- 1997: Traci Conrad, at-large (1st team)
- 1997: Kelly Holmes, at-large (2nd team)
- 1996: Sara Griffin, utility (1st team)
- 1996: Kellyn Tate, outfield (3rd team)
- 1995: Kelly Kovach, pitcher (1st team)
- 1995: Sara Griffin, utility (1st team)
- 1993: Patti Benedict, outfield (1st team)
- 1992: Patti Benedict, outfield (3rd team)
- 1989: Jenny AllardJenny AllardJenny Allard is a former All-American softball player at the University of Michigan and the current head coach of the Harvard University softball team. Allard played for the Michigan Wolverines softball team from 1987-1990 where she was named an All-Big Ten player four straight years. She was a...
, utility (1st team) - 1987: Alicia SeegertAlicia SeegertAlicia Seegert is a former All-American softball player. Considered one of the best softball players ever to play for the University of Michigan Wolverines softball team, she set Big Ten Conference records for batting average , hits, total bases and RBIs...
, catcher (2nd team) - 1987: Vicki MorrowVicki MorrowVicki Morrow is a former softball pitcher and outfielder who played for the University of Michigan Wolverines softball team from 1983 to 1987. She was named Big Ten player of the year in 1987, selected to the Big Ten All-Decade Team, and inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of...
, designated player/utility (2nd team) - 1986: Alicia Seegert, catcher (1st team)