KENNESAW, Ga. – The ASUN Conference has recognized two banner seasons as the best in Kennesaw State softball program history. The 1995 and 1996 seasons both concluded as national championship years and highlight the legacy of KSU's outstanding softball history.
The Owls won the 1995 and 1996 NCAA Division II National Championship titles defeating Bloomsburg in 1995 and Nebraska-Omaha in 1996.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the 1995 Owls was the best softball team ever to represent Kennesaw State," said the team's head coach,
Scott Whitlock. "It was a complete squad. They could pitch, defend, hit - and they loved to compete. Man, they were a hard-nosed bunch. They hated losing."
In his 21 seasons coaching fastpitch, Whitlock compiled an overall record of 997-296 (.771), placing him near the top in most NCAA softball coaching categories. He currently serves as Senior Associate Athletics Director at KSU.
In 1995, Kennesaw State won an incredible 40 consecutive games between March 8 and May 13. The season's 53 wins are the third-most in Owl history.
"In '95 we also had a several players that could really hit on clutch situations," he said. "Colleen Thorburn,
Tonya Carlisle, and Cara Dornstauder come to mind."
Dornstauder and Kelly Rafter were named All-Americans both years while
Tonya Carlisle earned the honor in 1995; Rafter also was named the National Player of the Year in 1995.
"We had several All-Americans on the team. The headliner was pitcher, Kelly Rafter. She was awesome, and she did it again in 1996," said Whitlock. "That team took the coaching staff on a great ride. Our primary job as coaches in 1995 was to not mess things up. That team had a goal and were not going to be denied. They were a special bunch."
KSU also won the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament crowns both years.
"The 1996 team was such a surprise. The '95 team had been led by seniors, and going into the 1996 season, we felt that it was going to be a rebuilding year. We were wrong," said Whitlock. "What I didn't know at the season start was how quickly our freshman class would grow. We surrounded our seven freshmen with a core of veterans - Nada Hlohovsky, Cara Dornstauder, Kelly Rafter, and a few more - and away they went."
The Owls again were perfect in conference play with a 14-0 record, but suffered their first loss to a conference foe against Columbus State in the PBC tournament. The Owls bounced back and rode Rafter to the Women's College World Series, where she went 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA. In winning their second straight national title, the Owls joined Cal State Northridge and Cal State Bakersfield as just the third program to win back-to-back Division II softball titles.
"1996 wasn't as polished as 1995, but the 1996 bunch fed off of the '95 team's success and overachieved," said Whitlock. "That was a very special team."
