Every year, roughly 120 Division One Softball players are blessed with the opportunity to play the game they love 💘 at the highest level possible. Oklahoma City is the long time host to the College World Series of Softball and each season eight deserving teams earn the right to play in front of 10,000+ fans.
When Kate Gordon signed with James Madison University apon graduating from Page County High School, folks questioned why someone with her skill set would choose to play at a university without a true pedigree. That very question was asked by a reporter on her signing day?
Fast Forward to Kate’s Senior season and the Dukes were heading to Knoxville, Tennessee for the Regional tournament. When JMU advanced to the Super Regional to face the Missouri Tigers 🐅, the team was on the cusp of becoming one of just a handful of teams to earn a trip to the promise land without a seed by their name.
After a edge of your seat 💺 Best 2 out of 3 victory in Columbia, JMU advanced to the CWS for the first time in School history! The only downside was they would open against the Dynasty of Oklahoma University. This version of the Boomer Sooners might have been their most dominant season as it was a shock if they actually played a full seven innings to win a game.
Gordon won the game in extra innings with a Home Run that made two things possible. It gave me the most read story that I have ever written ( with some help from Chris Graham and his Agusta Free Press) and the second thing was it lead Sports Center that night.
There will be pages and pages about that day on OKC, no questions about that but today its about two people that weren’t in Oklahoma that day. Head Coach Alan Knight and little Sister Maddie Gordon. Page County High School was set to play their final regular season game at Stonewall Jackson High School around the same time but a victory would have been secured without Coach and team leader as the Generals were far from competitive at the time.
Not wanting to do anything that would be a distraction to his current team and its bid to give the School its fourth State Championship, both stayed at home.
I have no idea how many High School Softball teams there are every year in the World. I do know that 120 players from that group get to play in OKC each season and most coaches will not ever have the opportunity to watch one of their players perform on that stage.
Aaron Sorkin began his writing ✍ career with the Classic, A Few Good Men and it included a line from Demi Moore to Tom Cruise that fits this situation in a spot on manner. ” They’re fanatical about being Marines”
Some folks Coach High School Softball while others run a program. Then you have a third category for people like Coach Knight – Fanatical…
A.S.P.N on The Hill 