Fresno State Athletics
Softball National Championship Day
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - It was 10 year's ago that the Fresno State softball team and head coach Margie Wright won the school's first and only NCAA National Championship. The University, city and community will be honoring the student-athletes from that team and the National Championship all season, highlighted by a special reunion today at the Bingham Toyota Classic at Bulldog Diamond.
Last night the 1998 team was honored at halftime of the men's basketball game vs. Nevada, followed by a special reception at the Save Mart Center for the team and their families.
The Mayor's office has declared today Softball National Championship Day. The day will begin for the 1998 team as they will sign autographs for the fans on the concourse at Bulldog Diamond beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Prior to the Bulldogs 3:00 p.m. game vs. nationally ranked Houston, a special pre-game ceremony will take place on the field honoring the 1998 National Champions.
At that time, Deputy Mayor Jeff Eben will read the proclamation. Members from the 1998 team that are scheduled to attend the ceremony are: Nina Lindenberg, Candice Bowlin Reneau, Jaime Maxey, Amber Wall, Lindsay Parker Peters, Alicia Dowland, Daviana Wisener, Becky Witt Labandeira and head coach Margie Wright.
The 1998 National Championship
Fresno State captured its first National Championship and gave the University its first NCAA Division I Championship crown by any sport on May 25, 1998 while capping its season off with a No. 1 national ranking in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll on May 28.
From comeback performances to overcoming physical inuries, on thing that stood out above all was the team's composure and their belief in themselves. Without one another each would have stood alone. With each other's trust and unspoken bond of human strength and perseverance, a champion was born.
The 1998 Fresno State softball team accomplished what no other Bulldog athletic team has done - bringing home a NCAA Championship Title to the university and making the city and surrounding communities swell with pride.
The stage was set with a 22-player squad and a committed coaching staff. With the fans support and their faith in the Bulldogs, the ultimate dream was achieved in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium.
Taking it step-by-step, these Bulldogs captured a Western Athletic Conference Title, won their 11 NCAA Regional crown, and made history at the 1998 NCAA Women's College World Series by becoming only the fifth program to win an NCAA title.
Making its 17th straight NCAA Regional appearance and 21st postseason showing overall, Fresno State appeared in its 11th NCAA Women's College World Series out of 17 postseason championships since 1982. As the No. 7 seed, the Bulldogs captured their first softball national title in their fifth appearance in the NCAA Championship game after posting a 1-0 shutout win over No. 1 seed and top-ranked Arizona.
The Bulldogs broke Arizona's 29-game win streak as senior second baseman Nina Lindenberg's sixth inning home run snapped a string of 52-consecutive scoreless innings by Arizona pitchers. With the run, Fresno State tied its own single-season record in runs (374) that it set the previous year in 69 games. The Bulldogs also broke their own season record in batting average (.340) and fewest fielding errors (58).
Sophomore RHP Amanda Scott shut down the Wildcats on three hits and struck out six for her 14th shutout and 25th win. Scott tied three WCWS records in lowest ERA (0.00), fewest earned runs allowed (0), and fewest walks (0). In addition, Fresno State's team ERA of 0.00 tied for a series best.
Four Bulldogs were named to the 1998 NCAA All-College World Series team in senior center fielder Laura Berg, who finished her career ranked No. 1 all-time in career hits at Fresno State and No. 2 all-time in NCAA history, sophomore first baseman Angela Cervantez, Scott and Lindenberg. It marked the third time in school history that four Bulldogs were selected to an all-series team.
In addition, four Bulldogs were named All-Americans: Berg, Lindenberg and Scott along with freshman outfielder Becky Witt (second team), who also captured WAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Fresno State remained the only program to have qualified for each of the 17 NCAA Division I Women's Softball Championships.
In ther 13th season as head coach of the Fresno State softball program, Margie Wright directed the Bulldogs to their first national title after being national runner-up three previous times. In addition, Wright became only the third coach in NCAA Division I history to amass 800 or more career wins and ranked second among active coaches by wins.
Guiding the Bulldogs to the WCWS in nine of 12 seasons, Wright collected her ninth outright or shared conference title, a ninth regional championship crown, and her 13th-straight NCAA postseason appearance.
Fresno State softball, a nationally renowned program, has been at the forefront of college softball ever since the Bulldogs earned varsity status 30 years ago, in 1978.
