By: KSU Sports Information
Inside The First Season of Fast Pitch
The Kennesaw State Owls entered the 1991 softball season in completely unchartered territory, as it would be the first time they would be competing in fast-pitch. The Owls had begun competing in softball at the varsity level in 1985, but only in slow pitch, much different from the closer cousin of baseball that is currently seen all over the collegiate landscape throughout the country.
Owls head coach Scott Whitlock, who had joined the program prior to the 1986 season as an assistant coach to Medra Ashmore, the first head coach in the team’s history, had taken the reigns of the program in 1987 and had built quite a winning culture in a short period of time. By the time the 1990 season had come to a close, the Black and Gold had compiled a 228-39 record over six seasons, including a 153-15 mark under Whitlock. The squad had earned five consecutive Georgia Conference titles from 1986-1990, and had won the NAIA District 25 Championship three times during their slow-pitch years.
At the slow-pitch level, winning the NAIA district championship was as far as a team could go, no matter how well they performed. There was no national stage for the best teams in the land to compete for the ultimate crown. Enter the 1991 season for the Owls. Along with essentially changing sports, the Black and Gold were also given the opportunity to go as far as their talent would take them, as the NAIA held an annual national championship for fast-pitch softball.
Though his teams were accustomed to winning, getting to the national tournament in Columbia, Mo., would be a tall task for Whitlock and his squad as they adjusted to life outside of slow pitch. To make a tough situation even tougher, the state of Georgia at that time did not sponsor fast-pitch at the high school level, making it necessary to cull out-of-state, and even international, talent. With limited scholarship money available to them in the early days of the athletic department, he had to spend wisely, signing five transfers who had played fast-pitch at the collegiate level. The rest of the 1991 team was made up of six freshmen and 10 returnees who had competed with the Owls on their legendary slow-pitch teams.
Not surprisingly, the pitching, which is the most visible difference between the two formats of softball, was handled by a trio of newcomers, and was anchored by sophomore Dyan Mueller, a native of Canada, who went 29-7 with a 0.81 earned run average on her way to earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors. The other two pitchers on the staff were juniors Diane Parham and Keena Wood, who combined for a 12-4 record.
While a chunk of the offense was also taken care of by the newcomers, as fast-pitch veteran Leah Crawford led the way with a .382 batting average, the returnees were also able to make their share of adjustments at the plate and contribute towards what would be a special season. Sophomore Kelly McDuffie, who was just coming off an impressive freshman campaign that saw her win All-District and All-Conference honors, would make perhaps an even more impressive fast-pitch debut, finishing second on the team in batting average with a .338 mark and in stolen bases with 11. The lead speedster on the squad was freshman Tracey Britt, who led the team with 16 stolen bases while batting a solid .301.
The combination of veteran talent and pesky newcomers would lead the Black and Gold to a 35-9 mark in the regular season heading into the NAIA Tri-District 10 Tournament, with a trip to the coveted national tournament on the line. Along the way, the Black and Gold began to gain the attention of the softball world, as Mueller and McDuffie, along with Cindy Condra and Leah Crawford, would earn NAIA All-District honors that season. Their shutdown pitching, combined with a .286 team batting average, would help them outscore their opponents 321-111.
Heading into the Tri-District 10 Tournament, the Owls were facing the daunting task of facing regional powers Carson-Newman and Lander, both who had past experience in postseason at the fast-pitch level. As if they had been there for years, the Owls swept all three games they played, defeating Lander, 5-0, before taking down Carson-Newman in the next two contests, 4-2 and 2-1. For the first time, the Owls were headed to a national tournament, and in their first year of eligibility, no less.
Though the Owls wouldn’t have the storybook ending everyone would hope for and take home a national title, the Black and Gold certainly made sure their presence was felt at nationals, winning their first two games before falling to eventual champion Hawaii-Loa and then finally being eliminated two games later by Emporia State. The performance capped off a 41-11 season that successfully transitioned the Owls program to that of a powerhouse at the fast-pitch level, and set the stage for their dominance of the sport in the not-too-distant future.
A Former Owl Looks Back on the Early Days of Fast Pitch
"I remember how exciting it was for us to ride that wave of success, it being only the second season of fast pitch for us. The buzz around campus was all about how well we were doing, and I remember it gave all of us a great sense of pride in our school, as well as our sport."
Kim Lang
Infielder, 1990-92
From the Vault
May 11, 1991: Lady Owls Impress in Debut NAIA Year (Courtesy: Marietta Daily Journal)
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#5: Owls Win 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Title
#4: Owls Win 17-Inning Win Over Columbus St., 5/9/97
