Softball history
Before Title IX, the AIAW, and NCAA women’s sports at Texas, women’s Longhorn softball was successful at the intramural level. I Hope With Time This Site Can Add Some Historical Insight And Tell The Full And Compelling Story Of The Longhorn Softball Tradition.
A condensed bullet point history of Texas Longhorn softball l follows. Please go to the “credit” section of this website to view books you can purchase from many fine book stores about Texas Longhorn Sports or please visit the official University of Texas Longhorn site Texassports.com for more detailed information.
2006 softball Tina Boutelle, Amber Hall, Megan Willis
history of Longhorn Women’s softball from 1996 through 2015
-
5 College World Series appearances 1998 2003 2005 2006 2013, 2022, 2024
-
All-Time Overall Varsity Record 919-418-3 (.687)
-
NCAA Tournament Appearances 20 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005-19)
-
NCAA Super Regional Appearances Five (2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2019)
-
4 Big 12 Conference tournament championships 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005
-
3 National Players of the Year
-
25 All Americans
-
2 Olympians
-
Big 12 Coach of the year three times.
-
2003 won the Division Coaching staff of the year award
From 1996 to 2017 COACH CONNIE CLARK was THE SOFTBALL COACH.
Below Coach Clark Past and Present
Connie Clark was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Hall of Fame 2024 Class!! The 2009 Titan HOF inductee pitched two seasons (53-7 record, 0.37 ERA) before coaching at Florida State and the University of Texas.
Below ASSISTANT COACHES PAST AND PRESENT
The link below will access all the assistant coaches profiles on Texassports.com
http://www.texassports.com/coaches.aspx?rc=319&path=
It all began in the fall of 1995 with a bat, and four gloves. Head Coach Connie Clark and her four softball signees (Nikki Cockrell, Kimberly Lair, Ashley Hutchison, and Katherine Penders) hit the diamond… undeterred by the small numbers and optimistic about the future of Longhorn softball. The remainder of the team was composed of junior college transfers and walk-ons who survived a 40 player try-out. The team will play only at the club level for the 1996 season entering NCAA play for the 1997 season. Roy Velasquez complex was the first home for the Horns.
A celebration of Longhorn softball Greatness!
In 1996 softball was a club sport – record 1- 24
Guidorizzi, Ahumada, Martinz, and Hutchison are selected to the 1997 team.
1996- 1997- 30-24 Coach Connie Clark- The Fab 4, one coach and a volunteer are the beginning of Division I softball
A season of First
Kim Lair first official hit.
Angie Scharnhorst- first run batted in.
Cathie Johnson- first stolen base.
First out Nikki Cockrell on a pop-up.
Ashley Hutchison- first win
Jodie Reeves is an HOH inductee and All-American. She holds the Texas Career record for doubles (48)
Cockrell and Laura Hundley made the All-Region Academic team.
The first victory in Longhorn Women’s Softball history is against St. Edwards
1997-1998- 49-16 ranked 7th Coach Connie Clark
The Longhorns earned their first trip to the College World Series in their second season. Two years before softball was a Club Sport and the teams record was 1-25.
Softball Olympian pitcher Christa Williams leaves UCLA and joins the Longhorn softball team.
The Big 12 has 6 teams ranked in the top 25. The Longhorns winning record hovers around 50% against ranked teams.
The Longhorns were the youngest Program ever to qualify for CWS. It was one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of women’s college softball. In 1996 the Longhorn softball team was a non-athletic-department club sport and went 1-25. In 1997 they were 30-24, and in 1998 they were 49-16 and in the CWS.
Keely Franks and Jane Teixeira are tied for the Texas season record for games played (65).
Keely Franks is a CoSIDA Academic All-American
Longhorns lose to Michigan and Nebraska in the CWS.
February 7. 1998
Red and Charline McCombs softball stadium is the new home for the Longhorn softball team. McCombs’s unprecedented 3 million gift was the largest single donation to women’s athletics in Longhorn sports history.
1998- 1999-ranked 18th – 45-17 – Coach Connie Clark
In three years the Horns break the century mark with 100 career win.
Horns Beat Nebraska to win the Big 12 softball Tournament, and the team ends the season with the second best Big 12 batting average of .264.
Charla Moore as the number 2 pitcher beats some significant opponents.
Williams, Cockrell, Eastes and Keely Franks make the All Big 12 squad.
Texas has a record 10 players make the All-Academic first team.
Horns win 7 games this year by one run. Team shuts-out the Aggies three times.
2000- 30-27-1 Coach Connie Clark
Audrey Hendricks holds the Texas seasonal record for sacrifice hits (18)
Kathleen Richter and Keely Franks are CoSIDA Academic All-American (photos pending)
17 of the 52 games this year were against top 25 ranked teams.
Horns make the NCAA Regionals.
2001-24-29 Coach Connie Clark
Team beset with injuries. The team struggles all year long trying to hit the ball. At one point there were only 17 hits at 100 at bats.
Autumn Eastes, Charla Moore, Tiffiny Valdehueza, Kathleen Richter, Trisha Tatro
TOPPING THE CHARTS 2001
2002-50-13 Ranked #10- Coach Connie Clark
Horns are 3-0 against the Sooners this year.
Amy Bradford holds the Texas seasonal record for saves (5) and the fewest runs allowed (10).
Team sets record for wins in a season and its 200th career win
Coach Clark is Bit 12 Coach of the Year
Wins first Big 12 title
This team holds the Texas record for Most at bats ( 1659), most saves (8), fewest road losses (1)
NCAA Regionals
Texas wins their first Big 12 season championship and second Big 12 tournament to capture a #1 seed but lose to both O.U. and Texas A & M in double elimination at the qualifying CWS regional tournament.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
2002 -2003- 49-9 Ranked #4 Coach Connie Clark- earned college world series appearance
These Horns love playing at home winning all but 3 games at McCombs over two years.
Each player is trained to play two positions.
There are 5 first this year.
1) The Horns diamond is selected to host a regional bracket, and the team wins the tournament, qualifying for a spot at the CWS for women.
2) The team receives its first victory ever in WCWS play but loses to UCLA twice and finishing 3rd at the NCAA softball tournament.
3) The Longhorn won both the Big 12 tournament and regular-season championship.
4) The players won 20 games in a row.
5) For the first time, the Longhorn pitching staff had the best ERA in the nation.
CWS appearance 2-2. Team Loses to UCLA twice. 3rd place finish.
2004- 24-25 Coach Connie Clark
300th victory in the history of the program
2004- 2005- 49-13 ranked 4th- Coach Connie Clark- made the semi-finals at the college world series.
Melanie Jarrett is Academic MVP; Amy Bradford should get a perseverance award. She missed 1 1/2 years of play, undergoing 3 major surgeries for right knee and ankle injuries.
The softball stadium is updated with state-of-the-art technology and new amenities for the fans and student-athletes.
The 2005 Longhorns won because of pitching and great defense.
Bench collapses at McCombs softball field hurting 4 players.
Cat Osterman records two back-to-back no-hitters.
The horns make their 3 CWS tournaments in 9 years, and the team won 3 out of 4 of the Big 12 tournaments.
This team holds the Texas record for pitching with an ERA of (.60), most strike-outs,(330), and most shutouts (35)
Texas wins 2 and loses 2 at CWS. Michigan had Cat Osterman’s playbook and defeated her 3 times in two years.
2005- 2006- 55-9 ranked 5th Coach Connie Clark- made college world series
February 25th, 2006 Cat Osterman is the All-time NCAA strike-out leader.
The team sets the season record with 55 victories. 5th at the WCWS. Big 12 season champs
400th victory in the history of the program
TOP THE CHARTS 2006
Record for the largest attendance for a game (1,570), most wins and fewest losses, Most strike-outs by Texas pitchers ( 840), fewest triples by Texas Pitchers (0), longest winning streak (24), most shut-outs (35), fewest hits allowed (163), most home wins (32)
CWS appearance but Horns lose to Arizona and UCLA
2007- 35-20 Ranked 24th Coach Connie Clark
2007 – softball- Preseason, the team was #18, but in the latter part of the season, moved into the top 10.
Bottom row” Desiree Williams, Mickayla Padilla, Kori Cook, Erin Tresselt, Shannon Thomas, Kacie Gaskie, Tallie Thrasher, Torrey Schroeder
By Beating #2 Texas A & M the Horns moved to #8 in the USA Today poll
Other big victories for the year were 5-4 over O.U. and 4-1 over Cal-Fullerton
2008- 29-23-2 Coach Connie Clark
Team was composed of 9 freshmen and Sophomores and only one senior. Lost to Washington State at the NCAA regional. Team finished 4th in the Big 12 with a record 29-23-2. All Big 12 team included Denny, Loryn Johnson, Tallie Thrasher and Desiree Williams Williams tied Jody Reeves with 21 home runs for a career and scoring 108 runs.
The Horn’s softball team placed 4th in the Big 12 and lost in the Houston Regional to Washington State. Desiree Williams tied Jody Reeves with a record 21 homers for her career.
Back row – Hooks, Williams, Reliford, Thrasher, Tresselt, Denny, Chalk, Barnhill- Front row- Savony, Gaskin, Padilla, Schroeder, Cook, Melone, Saenz, Johnson
Qualified for NCAA Houston Regionals
500th victory in the history of the program
2008 Softball Loryn Johnson, Desiree Williams, Meagan Denny, Tallie Thrasher
2009- 40-20 Coach Connie Clark Qualified for NCAA Tusaloosa Regionals
front- Courtney Craig, Desiree Williams, Brittany Barnhill, Alexis Bennett, Amy Hooks; second row – Crystal Saenz, Kelly Melone, Brittany Chalk, Tallie Thrasher; third row Torrey Schroeder, Kacie Gaskin, Megan Paris, Nadia Taylor, Shelby Savony; back row – Kori Cook, Loryn Johnson, Erin Tresselt, Raygan Feight.
The softball team started the season 12-0, reaching the NCAA Regional semifinals but falling to #3 Alabama.
This team holds the Texas record for Highest slugging percentage (.545)
Desiree Williams holds the Texas Career record for games played (247), games started (247)
2010- 43-15 ranked 12th Coach Connie Clark
Texas loses to Missouri in Big 12 tournament play. In regional play the Horns lost to BYU and East Carolina.
This team Holds Texas season record for home runs (88) and slugging percentage (.545)
4th consecutive regular-season Big 12 Champ
Slide show below of 2010 and 2011 players
Taylor Hoagland, Loryn Johnson, Lexy Bennett, Tallie Thrasher, celebrate a Longhorn home rum
2011- 46-10 Ranked 20th Coach Connie Clark
Longhorns reach the NCAA regionals for the 7th consecutive year. Taylor Hoagland is a 2013 All American who holds the record for the longest game hitting streak (26) , the second longest game hitting streak (21), and most consecutive games reaching base (57). She holds the Texas Career record for runs scored ( 221), home runs (58), slugging percentage (.708), and walks (178), on-base percentage (.501), and runs scored (223). She’s also third all-time in RBIs with (149)
Amy Hooks is Big 12 Player of the year
2012- 47-13 RANKED 9TH Coach Connie Clark
NCAA Austin Super Regionals- loses to Oregon twice
600th victory in the history of the program
Team sets season attendance record (28,536), Runs scored (372), most hits (525), most doubles (86), runs batted – in (339),total bases (844)
Horns set a record by scoring 23 runs against Cal State Fullerton. Team was led by Lexy Bennett and Taylor Hoagland.
2012- 2013- 51-10 record ranked 3rd Coach Connie Clark
This team holds the Texas record for stolen bases (126)
Texas beats Nebraska in a competitive battle that includes 19 wins for Texas and 18 wins for Nebraska.
Ranked #3 in the nation. The team had a 17 game winning streak
This is the highest-rated team in Longhorn Sports history. Texas returned to the WCWS for the first time since 2006.
CWS appearance – Horns lose to Oklahoma and Tennessee
Blair Luna CAREER ACCOLADES
Earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America Second Team honors in 2010 and 2011 … named to the 2012 Easton All-America Second Team … a two-time USA Softball National Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist, in 2010 and 2011 … earned NFCA All-Central Region First Team honors in 2010 and 2011 and NFCA All-Central Region Second Team accolades in 2012 … selected to the All-Big 12 First Team in 2010 and 2011 … named All-Big 12 Second Team in 2012 … earned a spot on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2012 and Academic All-Big 12 Second Team in 2011 … the 2010 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year … earned a place on the 2010 USA National Futures Team … named the NFCA National Player of the Week twice (April 6, 2010, and March 22, 2011) … selected as the USA Softball National Player of the Week on March 22, 2011 … picked up Big 12 Pitcher of the Week accolades eight times during career (Feb. 16, 2010; March 22, 2010; April 6, 2010; April 27, 2010; Feb. 22, 2011; March 22, 2011; April 12, 2011; and April 26, 2011). CAREER RECORDS
Enters senior season tied with Erin Tresselt (2007-10) for first on career saves chart with seven … stands second to Cat Osterman (2002-06) on nearly every other Texas pitching record list including complete games (79 to 121), shutouts (35 to 85), strikeouts (1,006 to 2,265) and strikeouts per seven innings (10.63 to 14.34).
2014- 35-23 Coach Connie Clark
700th Victory in the history of the program
Texas is eliminated in NCAA Lafayette Regionals
This team holds the Texas record for Highest batting average (.333) and most triples (21)
Brejae Washington owns the Texas Career record for at-bats (697), hits (254), triples (20), stolen bases (130)
Lindsay Stephens is an All-American who holds the Texas Season record for runs batted in (66), total bases (134), and doubles (20). Career slugging percentage (.731),
2015- 38-17
This team holds the Texas record for most road wins (13)
Texas qualifies for the NCAA Los Angeles Regionals
1 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tuition $33,916
2 University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA) Tuition $39,602
3 Harvard University Tuition$47,074
4 Stanford University NCAA Division 1 Tuition$47,940
5 University of Florida Tuition$28,659
6 University of Michigan Tuition$45,410
7 University of California Tuition$40,191
8 University of Washington Tuition$34,791
9 University of California – San Diego Tuition $40,327
10 Duke University Tuition$51,265
11 University of Virginia Tuition$45,756
12 University of Georgia Tuition$29,844
13 Yale University Tuition $49,480
14 Georgia Tech Tuition$32,404
15 University of Texas – Austin Tuition$35,682
