- Set Duhawk season marks with 137 strikeouts, 26 victories, 0.66 earned run average and 223.0 innings pitched helping, Loras to a third place finish in the NAIA and a 31-10 record in 1983.
- Named to the NAIA District 15, NAIA all-Tournament and NAIA All-American first teams during the 1983 seasons.
- Hurled back-to-back shutouts on May 8, 1983 leading Loras to the NAIA District 15 Championship.
- Concluded her career with 34-14 record, 266 strikeouts and a school record 1.20 earned run average.
- 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.
StorySheryl (Vrba) Holien The 1983 Loras College Women’s Softball Team:
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.”
1983 Loras Women’s Softball
