Arizona State Sun Devils Softball: A Legacy of Excellence
The Arizona State Sun Devils softball team has a rich and storied history, marked by consistent success and a commitment to excellence. Representing Arizona State University in NCAA Division I College softball, the team competes in the Big 12 Conference and calls Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, its home. Founded in 1967, the program has evolved into a national powerhouse, consistently producing top-tier talent and competing for championships.
Early Years and the Littlewood Era (1967-1989)
The Sun Devil softball team began its journey in 1967, but it was under the guidance of head coach Mary Littlewood in the 1970s that the program truly began to flourish. Littlewood established Arizona State as a force to be reckoned with, attracting some of the nation's best players. Among these early stars were Paula Miller, Marilyn Rau, Ginger Kurtz, and Judy Hoke, all of whom earned Amateur Softball Association All-American honors during their careers.
The 1972 and 1973 seasons saw the Sun Devils reach the pinnacle of collegiate softball, winning the Women's College World Series in both years. At the time, the Women's College World Series was not organized by the NCAA but by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) and the Amateur Softball Association.
The softball team continued to grow throughout the 1970s. They joined the Intermountain Conference in 1975. From 1976 to 1979, the Sun Devils made the AIAW Women's College World Series every year including a fourth-place finish in 1976 and 1977 and two ninth-place finishes in 1978 and 1979.
Littlewood continued to lead the program through the 1980s, navigating the changing landscape of collegiate softball as the NCAA officially began sponsoring the sport in 1982. Arizona State joined the Western Collegiate Athletic Association in 1980 and won the conference in 1980. The 1982 Sun Devil softball team went to the NCAA Women's College World Series in its first year organized by the NCAA. They finished fourth that year. From 1984 to 1987, ASU made four straight trips to NCAA Regionals and returned to the Women's College World Series in 1987 where they finished 7th.
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In 1986, the Pac-10 Conference began softball play with Arizona State as one of its members. They finished second in the conference in their first two seasons with the new conference. Mary Littlewood retired in 1989 after a long, successful run of coaching.
The Linda Wells Era (1990-2005)
Linda Wells, who came to Arizona State from Minnesota, was chosen to replace Littlewood for the 1990 season. In her first two seasons with the Sun Devils, the team won 43 both years and made NCAA Regionals both years also. The 1991 team went 15-5 in the competitive Pac-10 conference, which was good enough for a second-place finish. However, in the years following the 1991 season, the Sun Devils softball team began to slide slightly. The made a Regional in 1993, but failed to do so again until 1997. Despite struggling to finish above .500 in a very competitive Pac-12 conference, Arizona State continued to receive bids to the NCAA Tournament from 2000 to 2003, including an appearance in the Women's College World Series in 2002, again barely missing out on a chance to play for the national championship. Following a loss to Hofstra in the 2005 NCAA Tournament, Wells announced her retirement.
The Clint Myers Dynasty (2006-Present)
Clint Myers, who came from the junior college ranks, was hired to replace Linda Wells as head coach and has elevated the program to new level. His first season in 2006 saw the Sun Devils win a then school record 53 games and make a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series. The Sun Devils have made the Women's College World Series in five of his first six seasons. Myers has also guided the Sun Devil program to its first ever Pac-10 Conference championship in 2008.
The 2008 Sun Devil softball team finished the season with a school record 66 wins with only 5 losses. They also earned a school record 18 wins in the Pac-10 on their way to the conference championship. They earned a number six national seed to begin the NCAA tournament and hosted both the Regional and Super Regionals. The team shut out Stony Brook and Hawaii twice to earn a spot in Super Regionals. They played the 11-seeded Northwestern Wildcats in the Tempe Super Regional where they won the first two games of the series 3-1 and 9-0. In the first game of the 2008 Women's College World Series, Arizona State defeated Alabama, who was the tournament's three seed, 3-1. The Sun Devils had to score three runs in the 7th inning to beat the Crimson Tide. They then faced the UCLA Bruins, who they defeated 4-0 for a spot in the National Semifinals where they had to face Alabama again. The Sun Devils again defeated Alabama 3-1 for a spot in the National Championship three game series against the Texas A&M Aggies. The first game saw the Sun Devils defeat the Aggies 3-0.
Arizona State softball continues to be ranked among the best in the country. In 2010, the Sun Devils won 44 games and lost to the Florida Gators in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional, which was the first time in the Clint Myers era the Sun Devils did not make the Women's College World Series. In 2011, the Sun Devils won their second Pac-10 championship and earned the number one seed in the NCAA tournament. The Sun Devils again earned a spot in the 2011 Women's College World Series by winning the Tempe Super Regional against Texas A&M. The Sun Devils subsequently swept the WCWS and defeated the Florida Gators in two games for the 2011 NCAA national championship. National seeding began in 2005.
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Current Era
Currently, the Arizona State Sun Devils are led by head coach Megan Bartlett, who is in her 3rd season. The team continues to compete in the Big 12 Conference, striving to maintain its tradition of excellence and compete for championships.
A Program of Pride and Tradition
The Arizona State Sun Devils softball program boasts a proud history filled with remarkable achievements and unforgettable moments. From its humble beginnings to its current status as a national powerhouse, the program has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence, sportsmanship, and the development of student-athletes. With a passionate fan base and a dedicated coaching staff, the Sun Devils are poised to continue their legacy of success for years to come.
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