- Members
- Karen Boyd
- Barb Priest
- Denise Baggio
- Sheryl Vrba
- Joy McGraw
- Jan Simmons
- Jil Doty
- Kim Avenarius
- Colleen Ryan
- Debbie Pogwizd
- Pat Norberg
- Sue Capell
- Lynn Burke
- Ann Huinker
- Joyce Bonifas
- Head Coach: Denise King
- Asst. Coach: Tom Vath
- In only the ninth year as an organized sport, the 1983 softball team set a model of success by finishing third in the nation at the 1983 NAIA National Tournament.
- The team's season record of 31-10 is the best finish by any Loras softball team since its inception as a varsity sport in 1975.
- Guided by all-American and individual Loras Hall of Famer Sheryl Vrba, the Duhawks set strikeout (177), earned run average (1.37) and shutouts (10) which still stand today.
Stories
The Loras College Women’s Softball Team battled its way to the NAIA National Softball Tournament from May 24-26 in Kearney, Nebraska. The Lady Duhawks earned the trip by taking the best-of-three playoff with Quincy College. It took just two games: 6-2 and 1-0. Coach King put it very well; “This team plays together and everybody has confidence in each other. If somebody is down, somebody else picks them up.” The Loras College women’s softball team took a 28-8 record to the tournament.
Ann (Huinker) Tressel, Sheryl (Vrba) Holien and Joyce Bonifas were named to the NAIA All-District Team.
In Kearney, the competition was fierce. On Tuesday, May 24, the Loras women won their first game 6-1, defeating Bloomfield, New Jersey. The Duhawks then had to face Emporia, Kansas, and lost 3-0. The loss put Loras in the loser’s bracket. On Wednesday Loras defeated Winona State 2-0. Loras then played Pacific University of Portland, Oregon, and won 5-4. The third game of the day featured Loras against St. Mary’s of San Antonio, Texas. Loras won 2-0. Thursday, Loras opened the day with Winthrop, South Carolina, and won 4-1. The Duhawks then played Kearney, Nebraska, and lost 1-0 on a no-hit decision in eight innings. Loras didn’t have much time between games, so had Loras been fresh like Kearney, it may have been a different outcome. Emporia, Kansas, went on to win the tournament and remain undefeated.
How does one put into words the amount of teamwork, cooperation and determination that was displayed during the 1983 Loras College women’s softball season? It truly was a team effort in every respect. Yes, we can look to Sheryl Vrba and Ann Huinker because they received NAIA All-Tournament and NAIA All-American Honors, but it wouldn’t be right to give them all the credit. Every coach, player, trainer and fan played a part in the success this team experienced.
Sheryl Vrba ended the season with a 26-5 personal record, and had a .043 earned run average that remains one of the best performances every delivered in NAIA tournament play. Sheryl pitched seven games in three days with a sore back. Sheryl is a team player. She is the first one to give the team credit for all of her success. It takes the whole team, not just one or two stars to make it happen. Ann Huinker’s batting average was .423, and she also had the most runs scored (28) for the season.
“Together everyone achieves more.”
