Penn State is in the NCAA softball tournament field for the 11th time in program history, but it’s been a while since the Nittany Lions have gone to a regional. Head coach Clarisa Crowell, who has guided the program back into the postseason, thinks the breakthrough is part of a years-long build.
Having not been to the NCAA tournament since 2011, Crowell credited the way the program responded from missing out while on the bubble a season ago. A year later, with some concerted effort, the Nittany Lions earned an at-large spot in the College Station Regional.
“I have to start with last years team,” Crowell said. “We were a bubble team and we were close to getting in last year. And I think with this team, we came into this year just saying and believing and just knowing that we were going to accomplish our mission, which was to obviously to make it to regionals and we were able to do that.”
She shared a turn of phrase that Penn State has used to build the baselines of success.
“But we’ve got a great group this year and we’ve been saying this all year: CCTB, which is chemistry, culture, talent and belief,” Crowell said. “And our kids really believed in that. And I think culturally we’re in a great spot. Our kids play the game really well together and they believe that we could be here. So like I said, just excited to be here.”
The hosts of Penn State’s regional are happy to have the honor
Texas A&M is making a 22nd straight appearance in the NCAA Softball Tournament but will host a regional at Davis Diamond for the first time in six years. That proves just how far the Aggies have come to Trinity Cannon during her career in College Station.
Cannon spoke about the development of their softball program during a press conference ahead of their regional on Wednesday. She said that she had just been speaking to one of her teammates about how unbelievable their position as a host is considering where they were upon her arrival in 2021. However, since this has come about, she gives all the credit to her team for getting there.
“I was telling Rylen (Wiggins) while we were throwing today,” Cannon said. “‘If you would’ve asked me my freshman year that we would be hosting my senior year?’ I would’ve never — this wouldn’t have been in my plan just because of how it was my freshman year.”
“I’m so thankful that the coaching staff has brought in these recruits and all these players to where we were able to do this,” Cannon said. “I think it’s just amazing, again.”
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