After coaching her team to a record-setting 46-win season, ASU softball coach Linda Wells was upbeat last week as she looked back on ASU's 2002 campaign.
"We had moments of brilliance," said Wells, pointing to her team's second-half surge, which helped secure a trip for the Sun Devils to the elite Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., over Memorial Day weekend.
But Wells, who has been at ASU since 1989, acknowledged this, after all, was supposed to be the year it all came together for her club. With two of the program's most accomplished pitchers (Erica Beach and Kirsten Voak) in the circle this season, ASU figured to be a contender.
"We were talented and capable enough this year," Wells said.
And the hall of fame coach said she was most proud of her six departing seniors - players who had helped ASU reach the CWS in 1999.
"This was the class that took us as freshman," Wells said. "It would have been very disappointing not to go back with them."
Indeed, ASU's collection of seniors – pitchers Beach and Voak, catcher Bonnie Brannen as well as infielders Missy Hixon, Nichole Thompson and Erin Wardein – provided clutch plays when the Sun Devils needed them this year.
But the team's success was a collective effort on the part of all who wore the Sun Devil maroon and gold this year, as evidenced by the team's play after injuries to both Voak and Wardein limited the contributions of each down the stretch.
Along with the team's play, a 10-11 conference record – hardly a high water mark for most sports – was beneficial to ASU, Wells said, helping the Sun Devils gain momentum for the postseason.
"We played much better in the Pac-10 (this year) than we had in years.
"We went back (to the CWS) with a lot more maturity," said Wells, pointing to the championship game between California and UA as prove of her team's success this season.
"The only teams we lost to (California and UA) finished ahead of us."
Reach the reporter at al.stevens@asu.edu.
