Northwestern University Athletics
"Our Moment Together" - By Sydney Supple
5/19/2023 10:17:00 AM | Softball
There is only one thing better than a Big Ten Championship…and that is TWO Big Ten Championships!
This past weekend's Championship marked the program's first Big Ten Tournament title since 2008, the first to sweep Big Ten Titles since 2019 Michigan, and the first to win on a walk-off since 2016 Minnesota. Those records just speak to what a challenge it is to win a tournament championship in which you are facing teams you have played up to three times already in the season and in a single elimination format where anything can happen.
Our team put our maturity on display last weekend, showing that we know how to handle the big moments and how we continue to believe in ourselves, no matter the score or inning. Thursday, we won a tight game with the dominance in the circle from Lauren Boyd and stellar defense around the entire field, even earning our second Sportscenter Top 10 Play highlight of the week with Skyler Shellmeyer's show-stopping dive into the outfield.
WHAT. A. CATCH.@skymy08 showing up and showing out.#GoCats | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/gUhcedg8P6
— Northwestern Softball (@NUSBcats) May 11, 2023
Friday, we came out hungry and put up three in the first inning then only continued to add to it until we secured our spot in the championship game after five innings. Saturday was the true testament of resiliency and what makes a championship team which is the mindset. For the first six innings, nothing felt like the game was going our way as a team with the way the only run scored and how everything we hit landed in the gloves of the other team. In reality, those things happen, but it is all about how you handle them, and as a team, we remained patient and trusted that our time was coming. The maturity was shown in our calmness, knowing that as long as there was an out left in the game, we still had confidence that whoever was up to bat was going to be our start. Jordyn led off the inning with a big base hit that had our dugout and the fans roaring. It was a moment that Kate would describe as "we smell blood, and we go in for the kill." When that happens, the game is over because we never hand the momentum back.
There are moments that live ingrained in your head as a player and bases loaded bottom of the seventh inning and a championship on the line, Maeve Nelson perfectly laces a change-up over the outfielder's head for a walk-off win as we all sprint out of the dugout into an entire group hug will forever be burned in my memory. A giant hug full of so many happy sighs, 'I Love You's', and cheering. It is in those moments that we all hold on tight to the people who are on this journey with you, because only you know what you all have endured getting to that point, and that makes the accomplishment that much sweeter.
While we enjoyed another celebration with our "sparkling water" and re-lived the moments on the bus ride home as 2x Big Ten Champions, we woke up the next morning with our minds focused on the exciting journey ahead of us as we entered NCAA Tournament time. On Sunday, our destination was determined by the selection committee, granting us home field advantage for Regionals. As a program being able to host extra weekends at The J is something that we hold very close to our hearts, knowing that it allows us to play at home in front of our community, which is the backbone of our program.
May is the most magical time of the year. That time is now when you play the games that will be remembered for years. As I walked into our stadium this week and saw all of the hosting banners go up, the giant lights being brought onto our field, and all of the ESPN and NCAA staff flooding our practices, I had goosebumps because this is what it is all about. As young softball players remained glued to their television all of May with so many exciting matchups and talented teams going head-to-head; it is still surreal to think that we are no longer the girls watching our role models play on television in the postseason, but we are those women playing on the field that people are watching. It is a touching moment that every year leaves my heart overfilled with the opportunities ahead of us. From here on out, each game determines our team's destiny and gives us an opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime.
My final message to you is let's pack The J like it has never been filled before. I want everyone across the country to see how many people show up for softball in Evanston and make a statement together. This is our home field and our moment together.
Sincerely,
Sydney #26
