The Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) Sea Lions softball team’s 2008 season ended May 21 with a 4-0 loss to the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps of Texas in the NAIA Tournament at Decatur, Alabama’s Wilson Morgan Softball complex, finishing third overall in the tournament.
“We were ranked No. 2 in the nation going in but [even] if we hadn’t made the Final Four, I would have felt good about this year. I feel the two teams that finished ahead of us are teams we could have beaten, even though for whatever reason we didn’t play well that day,” said PLNU head softball coach Dave Williams.
Despite the loss, the Sea Lions posted one their best seasons in school history with a 50-12 overall record, 20-4 in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC), runner-up in the GSAC, runner-up in the Region II tournament and an appearance in the nationals.
“We had a good season overall and had a lot of great individual accomplishments, including five All-Americans,” Williams said.
There were also individual milestones in 2008, such as senior Amanda Addie’s capture of the PLNU record for most stolen bases, which happened against Cal State San Marcos. Addie had broken Sea Lions’ assistant coach Cheryl Schaeffer’s school record of 169 against San Marcos and then broke Holly Haycroft’s NAIA record of 174 in a game against Vanguard. Addie finished the regular season with 175 stolen bases.
In 2008, there were six Sea Lions named to the All-GSAC team: outfielder Addie, senior catcher Allie Boeckelman, junior pitcher Melissa Gomez, sophomore pitcher Tyler Lent, junior infielder Kayla Luttmer and senior pitcher Paige Powell.
The NAIA Tournament also brought individual recognition to Addie, Powell, Gomez, Lent and Luttmers when they were named to the All-Tournament team. Addie and Gomez took first-team honors.
PLNU started the tournament with a pair of 4-0 victories over Dana, Neb., and William Carey, Miss., then lost to St. Gregory’s, Okla. 3-2. The team rebounded against Warner South 19-4, then lost again to Mobile, Ala. 6-4 and was forced into the loser’s bracket. The Sea Lions would take the next three games before losing to Lubbock Christian, Texas.
“When you get there, you either win or you don’t,” said Williams. “But as a coach, you ask yourself what changes you could have made to the roster or what you could have done differently.”
The Sea Lions have enjoyed a highly successful decade under Williams since 1998. Williams’ teams have posted 11 consecutive winning seasons, won three conference titles in 2002, 2003 and 2004, three Region II titles in 2001, 2003 and 2004, eight appearances in the nationals in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and two second-place finishes in the nationals in 2002 and 2007.
Williams’ teams have also posted an overall record of 476-157. Williams anticipates most of the team’s 2008 roster return next year.
The Sea Lions will lose 5 seniors, all of whom are starters. But the entire pitching staff from the current season is expected to return for 2009.