Tracy Bunge was optimistic, but, at the same time, Kansas University’s softball coach admitted she was “a little worried.”
Bunge thought the Jayhawks had a chance to earn the school’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 1999, but she wasn’t telling her players because, she said, “You hate to get your hopes too high.”
So when the KU players learned Sunday night at the team honors dinner that they indeed had been picked for an NCAA berth, emotions ran high.
“It was pure bedlam,” Bunge said. “There was lots of screaming and even a few tears. They’re fired up. They’re ready to play tonight.”
Kansas, which finished 30-22 overall and 9-8 during the Big 12 Conference regular season, will face Georgia Tech (42-19) Friday in Athens, Ga. The other game in Athens will pit No. 10 seed Georgia against Tennessee Tech. Only the top 16 teams are seeded.
Curiously, the Jayhawks received another surprise more than an hour after the selections were announced. The original listing had KU matched against Virginia Tech.
“Apparently, there was some kind of error,” Bunge said. “It was up for about an hour before it was corrected.”
No doubt being a member of the Big 12 had a lot to do with the Jayhawks being accorded an NCAA berth. Eight of the league’s 10 schools that sponsor varsity softball were selected. The other seven are Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Nebraska.
During Sunday evening’s team dinner, junior shortstop Destiny Frankenstein, who set a school single-season home-run record with 13 and led the Jayhawks in batting average, was named team MVP and offensive player of the year.
Junior outfielder Ashley Frazer, who hit over .400 in conference games, was named most improved, and Elle Pottorf, a freshman catcher from Washburn Rural, was named defensive player of the year.
Freshman outfielder Cyndi Duran was recipient of the Jayhawk Pride Award.