UNIVERSITY CENTER – There were few dry eyes among the Bulldog softball players in crimson and gold colors on Sunday afternoon.
A 1-0 loss to Saginaw Valley State University, in the championship round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Midwest Sub-Regional Softball Tournament, brought to an end Ferris State University’s season and the careers of the five accomplished seniors: Sarah Mueller, Amanda Jager, Shannon Roney, Holly Bruntjens and Krystle Bailey.
Emotions were running high, as one would expect, following a team’s elimination game in an NCAA Tournament.
But, this is a high-achieving senior class that will have everything in the world to feel proud about in the years to come – as they begin reflection on their college softball careers.
“This is a big senior class and they have helped to set the bar high for future classes and they’ve done so much to help keep this program where it has been and where it continues to be,” Ferris head softball coach Keri Becker said as her team ends the season with a record of 35-10. “Past classes have worked hard to build (a strong program) and this class has worked hard to keep the tradition established.”
This senior class has been the picture of success taking Ferris to three straight NCAA regional tournaments (including winning the regional championship and advancing to the national championships last spring).
Ferris’ seniors hung tough this season as Ferris entered the spring with a big bull’s eye on its back. In spite of that, however, the team has never backed down from challenges. The Bulldogs handled the attention and, to their credit, thrived through most of the season.
The season-ending loss, as well as the reality of the end of college playing careers surely hurts, but that eventually will give way to a wonderful sense of athletic accomplishment, appreciation of a legacy that has been strengthened and lifelong friendships to cherish.
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